university of bolton phd by publication

Why get a PhD by publication (and other career tips)

Finding the ‘golden thread’ in your academic path can offer an opportunity to reflect and grow, writes James Derounian

James Derounian

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Towards the end of my full-time academic career, during a 2020 Covid lockdown, I submitted my PhD by published work. In this article, I argue that this doctoral route offers academics – whether newbies or gnarled veterans – a precious chance to reflect, achieve and grow.

A doctorate by published work can be approached in two ways. If you don’t have a PhD, it can be researched and written as a prospective thesis, which can enable you to pursue research and journal-article production that map out a coherent path. Or, if you are like me, you can work on a retrospective doctorate, identifying a “golden thread” through which to look back and make sense of your academic career. The academic Susan Smith has written the gospel on this subject, entitled, would you believe, PhD by Published Work – which I heartily recommend.

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As Smith suggests, my endeavour in this doctorate aligned with the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education’s 2011 requirement to present a “series of peer-reviewed academic papers, books, citations or other materials that have been published…accompanied by a substantial commentary linking the published work and outlining its coherence and significance”.

So I selected nine of my academic publications – a single-authored chapter in an edited book, single-authored journal articles, co-authored academic articles, co-authored project reports for the Higher Education Academy – plus 10 practitioner publications of mine that supported my case but were not formally included. I argued that together these made an original, significant contribution to scholarship and public knowledge equivalent in scope and esteem to work required for a traditional PhD. Furthermore, I demonstrated my unique input to scholarship in the fields of higher education pedagogy and community development, as well as the sufficiency and coherence of this work and accompanying publications.

The “golden thread” or commentary in my case reflected on a central theme from previous publications, namely to explore and determine the nature and degree of connectedness between HE teaching and learning, and community development theory and practice. Somewhat to my relief, I discovered that my 40-plus-year academic career did, indeed, have some coherence. And the process of looking back bore out Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard’s 1843 contention that life “can only be understood backwards; but must be lived forwards”.

Tried-and-tested advice for a successful academic career

Beyond the career-defining interrogation of a PhD through exploring your own published works, I offer four further career tips that have stood me in good stead.

1. Follow your interests

First, (as far as possible) be true to yourself and follow what interests you, whether in teaching, research, administration or consultancy (rather than where management might push you). An example of this  for me was undertaking consultancy work reviewing community development projects and activities. These examples of action research then provided up-to-date case studies to feed into student contact sessions. Of course, there will be horse trading, whereby you might have to give ground to gain some. Such is life.

2. Get the balance right

This links to my second suggestion: try, for example via annual staff appraisals, to work towards your preferred balance of teaching-admin-research-consultancy. For example, I volunteered to look after work-based modules, such as internships, across my department because I came into academia from practice and believed in the value of work experience for undergraduates; and I researched and published on this topic in academic journals and books. To vary the metaphor, seek to steer the ship that is you and your career rather than be bounced by the strong tides of administrative urgency.

3. Be a good colleague

Third, make alliances and friendships with colleagues – seek those with humanity who are not just work dominated or totally driven. As Iain Hay comments in his 2017 book  How to Be an Academic Superhero , connect to “good colleagues; be a good colleague…to the best of your abilities, try to help out…The web of obligations is two-sided and you will receive reciprocal favours over time”. I deliberately worked with other national teaching fellows (NTF) at my higher education institution to seek to influence teaching policies and practices, similarly helping applicants to gain an NTF on the basis of climbing a mountain and helping colleagues to make the ascent. It helped others and I felt good in offering a hand.

4. Never stop learning

Finally, keep learning as you proceed (in your academic career); don’t assume you have “arrived” (down that road lie fossilisation and lack of currency). In this vein, I undertook a beginners’ Spanish module, joining in like any other student in the class. As well as giving me words of use when I visited the Alhambra in Granada, it taught me valuable lessons for teaching: how you need to be ever so careful and clear in what you say and how you say it, pause regularly to check that students understand what has just been covered and have time to ask questions.

Oh, and enjoy the ride! Yes, there are downsides to academic life, such as the administrative tail wagging the teaching dog, insecure short-term job contracts…but, equally, I maintain that an academic life can give you so much freedom as well as the ability to travel, write, teach, publicise research findings to improve life and the planet…

James Derounian lectures on community governance. He is a national teaching fellow and a visiting professor at the University of Bolton, UK.

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Studying for a research degree is a uniquely rewarding experience that can change your life as well as your career. Don’t let issues surrounding funding prevent you from studying a research degree, there are many avenues to explore when funding your tuition fees and your living costs whilst you study.

Postgraduate Research Annual Tuition Fees New Students 2023/24 (1)

Please see below for indicative information about the annual tuition fees  (1)  payable by postgraduate research students.

Click here to download the Postgraduate Research Annual Tuition Fees for new students 2023/24

The fees for the Centre for Islamic Finance are £13,550 per year for all Home/EU/International Full Time students and £6775 per year for all Home/EU/International Part Time students

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(1) Tuition fees for students admitted under individual or collective collaborative arrangements with external organisations will normally vary from those presented here. Tuition fees may also be supplemented by additional charges or fees as agreed with the student or sponsor.

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- See more at: http://www.bolton.ac.uk/Research/Prospective-Students/Tuition-Fees-for-Postgraduate-Research-Degrees.aspx#sthash.FOfimBb0.dpuf

UK Government PhD Doctoral Loans

The UK government has announced that it will be introducing new research and doctoral loans of up to £25,000 from September 2018. In the  House of Commons Briefing Paper ‘Postgraduate loans in England’ (Dec 2017)  the following is stated:

Non-means tested loans of up to £25,000 will be available to eligible students under the age of 60 as a contribution towards the costs of completing a doctoral qualification.

Eligible students ordinarily resident in England will be able to take their loan to any UK university with degree awarding powers. Individuals ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will not be eligible for loans.

The repayment rate for the loans will be 6%. For students also with a masters loan, repayment will be taken through one single postgraduate loan repayment of 6%.

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University Of Bolton Research Funding Initiatives

Ainsworth Travel Scholarships Scheme (2018): This scheme aims to provide support for research-related academic travel for registered PhD students of the University of Bolton. The scheme will provide a small number of travel grants up to a maximum of £500 per applicant. Reasonable costs associated with travel such as accommodation and subsistence should be bid for as part of the award.  Find out more here .

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Postgraduate - PhD & MPhil

Key information, course overview.

You may already be working professionally in the field you wish to research. You may already have extensive knowledge of your field. You may be a business professional with the basis of your research in mind, looking for a way to formalise and extend your knowledge and skills within the framework of a research degree. The award of a UK doctorate is based solely upon individual research, presented in the form of a thesis. We expect prospective candidates to have a good honours degree or its equivalent in a relevant discipline. You may also have an appropriate masters degree, or other demonstrable research experience and writing skills. The doctorate-level programmes at the Centre for Islamic Studies are intended for professionals, graduates and career-minded individuals seeking to develop as a managerial, industrial, or an academic professional in their chosen field of study. You should be seeking the knowledge that will allow you to respond operationally and strategically to the demands of, and function effectively within, a wide range of business and academic environments, and have a desire to make a significant contribution to knowledge and your own career development. 

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As a research student, you will be supported by a supervisory team of academics with industry experience who will guide you through the programme of your studies. You will be expected to participate in seminars, conferences, research training workshops and relevant events. It is also expected that you will have the commitment and willingness to assume responsibility for your personal development, and the intellectual capacity to assimilate, manipulate and master advanced levels of knowledge appropriate to your area of research.

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The cost to full time students is £12,000 a year with an expected completion within 3 years.  The cost to part time students is £6,000 a year with an expected completion within 5 years. (The University of Bolton charges the same study fees for both home and international CIF students)

For further information please contact;

Professor Mohammed Abdel-Haq Director of the Centre for Islamic Finance Email:  [email protected]

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What is a dissertation?

How is a dissertation or thesis useful as a source for my topic?

How do I evaluate if a dissertation or thesis is relevant to my topic?

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Study Postgraduate

Phd by published work, what is phd published work.

A PhD awarded for the submission of a portfolio of published research to the standard of a regular PhD.

Who can apply?

Candidates may apply for the PhD by published work under Regulation 38 and the associated Guidance on the Requirements for the Award of Research Degrees .

Candidates must be either:

• Members of academic staff or administrative or library staff of equivalent status of the University. Normally has been employed by the University for at least three years immediately prior to the submission of published work; or
• Graduates of at least seven year’s standing normally holding a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Please note: You do not need to be a Warwick graduate to be able to apply for the PhD by published work.

Application Process

• Candidates must make a research application using the standard online Postgraduate Application Form
• Candidates must apply for the PhD most relevant to the portfolio of work that they will be submitting
• Candidates should state clearly on the form that they wish to be considered for the PhD by Published Works
• Candidates should then submit their CV (this can be uploaded with their application) and copies of the Works to be considered
• Candidates should submit between 3 - 8 publications, which will form the intellectual basis of the examination for the award, for consideration (this may vary dependent on the discipline and focus of the candidate's research)
• Submissions should include further contextual information regarding the publications, including, but not limited to, the profile of journals that articles have been published in, the candidate's individual contribution to each of their publications, the number of citations, and their significance to the field.

Consideration Process

• The Head of the relevant Department will initially consider the submission. (S)he will appoint an Academic Advisor to provide guidance to the candidate on the presentation of the published work.
• The Academic Advisor should produce a statement that outlines the Candidate's suitability for admission to a PhD programme, an assessment of the quality of publications presented, and any further relevant details regarding the Candidate, including their employment (current or past), area of expertise and profile within their discipline/field of research.
• If the Head of Department is satisfied with the submission, (s)he will ask that the Chair of the Faculty Education Committee consider the submission.
• If the Chair of the relevant Faculty Board is of the view that the Works are of the appropriate standard, (s)he will make a recommendation to the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies that the candidate is admitted to the PhD.
• An offer can only be made once the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies has given his/her approval following consideration of the aforementioned recommendation.
• Candidates should be aware that a successful application does not guarantee the award of the degree – candidates are required to successfully complete the examination process as set out in the Guide to Examinations for Higher Degrees by Research .

Period of Registration

• The normal period of registration will be for 12 months.
• Where the candidate is not a member of the staff of the University, submission for examination for the degree of PhD may be made after a minimum period of six months' registration.
• Where the candidate is a member of the staff of the University, submission for examination for the degree of PhD may be made after a minimum period of three months' registration.
• During the period of registration, students will additionally need to submit the Works to be assessed and a Covering Document of between 5,000 and 10,000 words setting out the relationship between the Works presented, the significance of the Works as a contribution to original knowledge within the relevant field, and, as an appendix, a full bibliography of all of the works ever published by the candidate.
• The normal fee is an amount equivalent to one year’s full-time fee for the traditional PhD in the relevant academic year and department regardless of the date of submission of the work.
• The fee for members of staff and for graduates of the University is charged at 20% of the home full-time postgraduate research fee.

Further information

• All inquiries regarding applying for a PhD by published work should be directed to the Postgraduate Admissions team.
• For detailed information on the requirements for an examination of the PhD by published work, see Regulation 38 and the associated Guidance on the Requirements for the Award of Research Degrees , and the Guide to Examinations for Higher Degrees by Research .
• For information on the fees for your registration for the PhD by published work, please consult Student Finance .

Useful Links

• Postgraduate Admissions
• Student Finance
• Regulation 38
• Guidance on the Requirements for the Award of Research Degrees  
• Guide to Examinations for Higher Degrees by Research