PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work

Program Overview

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Existing Published or Creative Work PhD

Overview

A PhD by Published or Creative Work is designed for individuals with an existing portfolio of published work addressing a central research question. This degree will be awarded to a candidate who has critically investigated an approved topic and demonstrated an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field.

Why us?

• A PhD is “probably the most internationally transferable qualification” according to the Higher Education Policy Institute.
• Typically, candidates are academics with high-quality research outputs who have not previously undertaken a PhD.
• This is the fastest route to a PhD, usually taking less than 12 months to complete.
• Based on outputs that you have already produced, such as articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Course Structure

A submission for PhD by Published or Creative Works may be awarded on the basis of existing published work or creative output that shows evidence of originality and independent critical judgment at the level appropriate for the award. All work should normally have been published in the last ten years and be traceable in publicly available databases such as catalogues and must be accessible to scholars or other interested persons. The work submitted must have been subjected to peer review by the relevant academic community.

There is no defined number of publications but candidates need to ensure that the range of publications demonstrates that their work forms a coherent and significant contribution to knowledge. This should be of an acceptable national, or preferably international, standing. For a substantial proportion of all the publications submitted, the candidate must be the sole or senior author.

If your application is successful, you will be assigned one or more supervisors who will advise on which of your publications should form your final submission to be examined and how your commentary should be written. The commentary (usually between 10,000 and 20,000 words) describes the aims of the research you have undertaken to produce your publications, incorporates a critical discussion of the impact of your work and will be examined through an oral defence.

Entry Requirements

• We don’t currently display entry requirements for Ireland. Please contact the Student Admin team.
• All candidates should hold at least an honours degree (first or upper second class), or equivalent.

To apply, please complete the online application form, together with the following documents to be uploaded through the application portal:

• Details of Published or Creative works
• Statement of Authorship - This statement is made by collaborating researcher(s) confirming the contribution you have made to the research. This statement is only required if all or parts of the work are the result of collaborative research. Please arrange for the collaborators to complete the pro-forma if this applies to your work
• Qualification certificates
• Birth certificate or personal details page of the passport
• Curriculum Vitae

Without all of the above documents, we will not be able to make you an offer on this programme.

In addition, in the ‘personal statement’ section of the online application form, please provide a statement of no more than 1000 words outlining:

• How and in what respect the work has made a significant and coherent contribution of knowledge.
• The impact within its discipline
• The methodologies used
• An appropriate contextualisation of the research
• Clear indication of any parts of the work which may have been carried out in collaboration with other parties/authors

Duration of programme: Minimum period of registration is six months and maximum two years.

The intake dates are 1 October, 1 February and 1 May each academic year.

Fees and Finance

Fees are £8,000.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

If you are applying for a student loan to finance part-time study, the loan must be taken over the maximum permitted time of six years. If you are applying for a student loan to finance full-time study, the loan must be taken over the maximum permitted time of four years.

Career Ready

There is pressure on teaching staff at universities to demonstrate that they have higher qualifications than those whom they are teaching. A PhD is often required for academic posts in research-intensive institutions.

A doctorate is becoming an increasingly common requirement for recruitment and promotion in university teaching roles.

A PhD also adds credibility in applications for research funding.

Doctorates are now held by at least eight out of ten full-time teaching staff in top institutions, based on data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

The PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work is a fast track for you to gain doctorate-level recognition for work that you have already done. It is therefore well suited to academic staff who would like to develop their careers.

More broadly, the achievement of a doctorate demonstrates your ability to make a major contribution to the development of new ideas, techniques and approaches. There is a strong association between successful postgraduate study and professional employment, according to the Higher Education Policy Institute.

Program Outline

Extracted Information from University of Sunderland PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work Program:

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Degree Overview:

• Overview:
• This program is designed for individuals with existing portfolios of published work related to a central research question.
• The degree is awarded to candidates who have critically investigated a topic and demonstrated research methods appropriate to their chosen field.
• Submissions may comprise academic papers, creative practice, artifacts, curatorial productions, or other forms of published work.
• Objectives:
• To convert existing research outputs into a formal qualification.
• To increase employability and open up new career opportunities.
• To progress academic careers and add credibility to research funding applications.
• Description:
• The program is a fast track to a PhD, typically taking less than 12 months to complete.
• It is based on the candidate's existing outputs, such as peer-reviewed journal articles.
• The program aims to equip candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful researchers in their chosen field.

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Outline:

• Content:
• The program focuses on the critical analysis and reflection of the candidate's existing research outputs.
• Candidates will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of research methods and their ability to apply them to their chosen field.
• The program also includes a commentary of 10,000-20,000 words, which describes the aims of the research, discusses the impact of the work, and includes an oral defense.
• Structure:
• The program is based on a portfolio of existing published work.
• Candidates will be assigned supervisors who will advise them on which publications to submit and how to write their commentary.
• The program typically takes 6 months to 2 years to complete.
• The program offers three intake dates per year: October 1st, February 1st, and May 1st.
• Course Schedule:
• The program is flexible and can be tailored to the individual needs of the candidate.
• Candidates will work closely with their supervisors to develop a schedule that meets their learning goals.
• Individual Modules:
• The program does not have specific modules.
• Instead, the focus is on the candidate's existing research outputs and their ability to critically analyze and reflect on their work.

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Assessment:

• Assessment methods:
• The program uses a variety of assessment methods, including written assignments, presentations, and an oral defense.
• The commentary is a major component of the assessment, accounting for a significant portion of the overall grade.
• Assessment criteria:
• The assessment criteria are based on the University's Research Degree Regulations and Assessment Criteria.
• These criteria focus on the originality, significance, and impact of the candidate's research.

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Teaching:

• Teaching methods:
• The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including individual supervision, group seminars, and workshops.
• The emphasis is on independent learning and critical thinking.
• Faculty:
• The program is taught by experienced researchers with expertise in a variety of fields.
• The faculty is committed to providing students with the highest quality of education and support.
• Unique approaches:
• The program offers a unique opportunity for candidates to gain a PhD based on their existing research outputs.
• This allows candidates to fast-track their academic careers and achieve their research goals.

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Careers:

• Career paths:
• The program prepares graduates for a variety of careers in research, academia, and industry.
• Graduates may pursue careers as researchers, lecturers, professors, consultants, or policy advisors.
• Career opportunities:
• The program opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities, both nationally and internationally.
• Graduates are well-positioned to secure positions in research-intensive institutions and organizations.
• Career outcomes:
• Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields.
• Many graduates have secured prestigious research positions and made significant contributions to their chosen disciplines.

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Other:

• Duration of program: Minimum 6 months, maximum 2 years.
• Entry requirements: Honours degree (first or upper second class) or equivalent.
• Application process: Online application form with required documents.
• Fees: £6,000 for UK/EU students, £7,000 for international students.

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Additional notes:

• The program is designed for individuals with existing published work.
• The program is a fast track to a PhD, typically taking less than 12 months to complete.
• The program is based on the candidate's existing outputs, such as peer-reviewed journal articles.
• The program aims to equip candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful researchers in their chosen field.

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Please note:

This information is based on the provided context and may not be exhaustive. Please refer to the official University of Sunderland website for the most up-to-date information.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

• £6,000 if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled
• £7,000 if you are an international student