PhD by Publication

What is a PhD by Publication?

We want to support applicants with an extensive research contribution who have published in peer-reviewed journals to obtain recognition for the research expertise they have gained and their contribution to their field, while not following the traditional route to a PhD.

The PhD by Publication enables the approved candidate to submit their previously published work (excluding self-published) as the equivalent to a thesis submission for the award of a PhD.

As well as standard academic or creative peer-reviewed academic papers, ‘published work’ may include books, performance, exhibited works and installation, and/or media of various kinds, as defined in relevant regulations and policies, provided that it is made available in an appropriate recorded format. Please see our standard PGR award requirements.

Published work must:

1. form a coherent body of research
2. be timely and current as determined by academic judgement
3. demonstrate sufficient substance and significance as to meet the criteria for the Doctor of Philosophy as specified in regulation 4.69

The published work submitted must be formally published by the date of registration; works not yet submitted for publication are ineligible for submission.

The PhD by Publication must include works of an equivalent quantity and quality to that expected for the award of a PhD by thesis submission. If an applicant does not have the equivalent quantity of published work, it may be possible to supplement with new (supervised) research, which would be considered as PhD by part published work and part thesis.

Criteria for candidacy

A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Publication must be either:

• be a graduate of this University, or
• a current member of staff of the University and its Partner Institutions or have been a member of staff of the University and its Partner Institutions within the past 12 months, or
• be a graduate of another University with at least five year’s standing, normally holding a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and evidence of substantial professional work experience,

and have published work of a nature and depth consistent with the doctoral level research and/or practice.

In all cases, a written critical analysis (between 7,000 – 10,000 words) should accompany the published work (or Practice as Research submission). The critical analysis should provide an introduction to your publications, demonstrating the coherence of the work and contextualising the published work within the discipline. The analysis should also outline the contribution the published work makes to the relevant field(s).

Current members of staff applying for candidacy for PhD by Publication, who also meet the requirement to be considered a staff candidate (regulation 4.43 and 4.44) will need to be examined in accordance with that regulation.

Registration and fees

The maximum period of study for PhD by Publication is normally six months. However, the Executive Dean or nominee can exceptionally permit a period of up to twelve months (particularly if greater supervisory input is required for the written critical analysis). Admission to the approved period will commence at the standard entry points in October, January and April.

The fee for supervision and examination for the PhD by Publication is £4,786.

You will be registered as a part-time, Distance Learning, student for the approved duration of your registration period. You will be expected to liaise with your supervisor remotely when working on your critical commentary and preparing your thesis by published work submission.

Examination arrangements for PhD by Publication

Candidates for the award of PhD by Publication must attend a viva, except when the Executive Dean or nominee may, on sufficient grounds submitted by the examiners, excuse a candidate from the viva.

The examination follows the same process as a standard PhD examination. The examination and viva for staff candidates is conducted by two external examiners appointed by the Executive Dean or nominee. The Executive Dean or nominee shall also appoint an Independent Chair for the viva examination of all staff candidates.

Examination outcomes

The examiners for a submission by publication may recommend any result available in regulation 4.42.

The following examination results are available for a PhD by Publication.

For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy:

• pass
• pass subject to minor corrections to the summary
• resubmission of published work on one further occasion only
• award of Master of Philosophy
• fail

The examiners may determine that the work is not of a standard to award a PhD but may recommend an alternative award, as follows.

For the degree of Master of Philosophy:

• pass
• pass subject to minor corrections to the summary
• resubmission of published work on one further occasion only
• award of Masters by Dissertation
• fail

For the degree of Masters by Dissertation:

• pass
• pass subject to minor corrections to the summary
• resubmission of published work on one further occasion only
• fail.

In cases of resubmission of published work on one further occasion, if the examiners determine that the resubmitted thesis still does not meet the requirements of the award, they may recommend the award of a lower award or a ‘fail’.

Application process

To apply for admission to PhD by Publication candidature, a potential candidate should consult with the Head of the relevant academic Department/School within which they want to be supervised for the award. We would recommend discussing your planned application and who may be a good supervisor for your period of registration.

Advice can be sought from the PGRE Team at pgresearch@essex.ac.uk if you are unsure which academic department to contact in the first instance.

As part of your formal application, you will complete the Application for a PhD by Publication form (.pdf) and submit this, along with your published work, and your plans to develop the critical analysis under the supervision of an appointed supervisor/supervisory team. Applications should be sent to the PGRE Team  at pgresearch@essex.ac.uk who will liaise with the academic department.

The Head of Department will consider your application and assess whether your publications are of a nature consistent with the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy; they make a recommendation to the Executive Dean, or nominee, outlining your eligibility (or ineligibility) for admission to the PhD by Publication. The Head will complete the relevant section of the Application for a PhD by Publication form (.pdf) and include:

• a list of the publications or other outputs on which the assessment for the degree is to be based, accompanied by the Head’s assessment on the suitability of the submitted work. The quality of the publisher/venue/outlet(s) (i.e. scholarly journals, scholarly texts, curated productions) within which publications or other outputs have been published and the timeliness of the research must be included in the assessment, as part of the recommendation
• the supervisor(s) to be appointed to support the writing of the critical analysis and advise the candidate on the inclusions of published work and coherence of the body of research work
• a recommendation regarding the duration of registration (based on the extent of additional preparatory work required pre-thesis submission) of between 6 – 12 months.

The Executive Dean or nominee will determine whether the intended submission meets the criteria for admission to PhD by Publication, and an offer of admission will be made accordingly.

Pre-submission requirements for accepted PhD by Publication candidates

The Head of Department or nominee shall recommend for approval by the Faculty Dean Postgraduate the names of two examiners, one of whom shall be an external examiner.

This recommendation could be made at the time of recommending candidacy or during the period of registration but should not normally be made no later than three months before the expected date of the submission of the work to be examined.