Program Overview

PhD by Prior Published Work

The PhD by Prior Published Work is a doctoral program offered by University College Cork (UCC). This program is designed for individuals who have already published a substantial body of research output and wish to submit this work for consideration for a PhD degree.

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for this program, applicants must:

• Hold a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) with at least a Second Class Honours Grade 1.
• Demonstrate a substantial body of published research output, as per disciplinary norms.
• Identify a coherent subset of published research output that will form the basis of the PhD thesis.

Application Process

The application process involves the following steps:

1. Initial contact with the relevant School/Department/Unit to discuss suitability and the formal application process.
2. Submission of an application via UCCApply, including:
   • The name of the Lead Supervisor and co-supervisors or advisor.
   • A Curriculum Vitae.
   • A list of published research output, demonstrating the applicant's ability as a researcher.
   • A summary of the contribution to knowledge represented by the published output.
   • A statement identifying where and when the research contributing to the published output was undertaken.
   • In cases where work was written in collaboration with others, a statement quantifying the applicant's contribution.
   • Identification of the subset of published research output to be included in the thesis, with a statement establishing how these works constitute a coherent body of study.

Evaluation Process

The application will be evaluated by the appropriate Unit Graduate Studies Committee, which may:

• Invite the applicant to present their research.
• Consult with the Professor of the Discipline and external experts.
• Consider the number and quality of individual outputs, the proportion of sole and principal author outputs, and the coherence of the subset of outputs.

Registration and Approval

If the application is approved, the applicant must register as a PhD student for a minimum of one year. The registration period will be determined by the local Graduate Studies Committee. All applications are finally approved by the relevant College Graduate Studies Committee.

Updated Information

This information was last updated on 11 February 2025.