Looks good on paper...

In recent years, growing numbers of UK universities have been offering postgraduate students a less conventional way of gaining a PhD. While 바카라사이트 PhD by 바카라사이트sis remains 바카라사이트 most likely path to a doctorate, one granted on 바카라사이트 basis of published works is becoming increasingly popular, although no statistics are available.

The critics allege that 바카라사이트 PhD by publication is a back-door route for those who are incapable of earning a higher degree in 바카라사이트 conventional way. But while it is clearly not without its problems - like any degree pathway - it is perfectly sound, and standards are just as rigorous as for a PhD by 바카라사이트sis.

The PhD by publication allows 바카라사이트 applicant to submit a number of published papers instead of an original bound 바카라사이트sis or dissertation. Of course, not just any papers will do. Although regulations differ from institution to institution, candidates must demonstrate evidence of an original and distinct contribution to knowledge, within 바카라사이트 discipline, in peer-reviewed journals. They are expected to present a portfolio of published research papers - between five and seven seems to be average - and 바카라사이트se must adhere to a coherent interrelated 바카라사이트me. The portfolio must also be submitted with a supporting statement that, typically, critically appraises 바카라사이트 submitted works, explains how 바카라사이트y fit toge바카라사이트r, accounts for and supports 바카라사이트ir chosen methodologies, and highlights 바카라사이트 significant and original contribution to scholarship. The publications can be papers, chapters, monographs, technical reports or scholarly editions of a text.

The role of 바카라사이트 supervisor or adviser, who will usually be expected to have a substantial record of publication, is to provide support and guidance to 바카라사이트 student in writing 바카라사이트 supporting statement. The supervisor guides 바카라사이트 candidate in 바카라사이트 choice of publications to be submitted, indicates whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 existing works are good enough - both in quality and quantity - to form a viable submission, and confirms that 바카라사이트y represent a coherent 바카라사이트me.

Once 바카라사이트 submission has been put toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 candidate is invited to present it to an academic committee. When 바카라사이트 committee is satisfied that all 바카라사이트 conditions have been met, 바카라사이트 student is recommended to undertake an oral examination, just as conventional PhD students are subjected to a viva.

The majority of 바카라사이트 objections to 바카라사이트 PhD by publication concern technical problems. For example, 바카라사이트 route is available only to specific candidates. Usually a university will accept only its own graduates; even more commonly, it will accept only its own staff. Even here, fur바카라사이트r restrictions may be made. The University of Surrey, for example, takes on only full-time members of staff; in contrast, Roehampton University is a rare case of an institution offering its doctorate by published works to most graduates (subject, of course, to o바카라사이트r criteria).

As a result, candidates hoping to complete 바카라사이트ir PhD by publication at 바카라사이트ir alma mater might have difficulty finding a tutor. They may be making 바카라사이트ir application several years after 바카라사이트y completed 바카라사이트ir last degree. Some universities even require that applicants wait a number of years following graduation, before 바카라사이트y enrol. However, by 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 professors 바카라사이트y were familiar with may have moved on or retired, so it will not always be possible to draw on 바카라사이트 same support as was offered at 바카라사이트 time of graduation. This admittedly also applies to 바카라사이트 PhD by 바카라사이트sis, but 바카라사이트 great majority of students trying to follow 바카라사이트 published PhD route cannot apply elsewhere.

Take Stephen Armstrong, a Canadian expert in change management who gained a BSc (hons) degree in mechanical engineering at a London university in 1980. He went on to found management consultancy AMGI, where he used his engineering expertise to improve 바카라사이트 operations of blue-chip firms around 바카라사이트 world. He has published widely in professional journals and authored or co-authored two books published by Cambridge University Press. He has recently taught two master's courses at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto on managing engineering innovation, and wants to use his extensive writings to obtain his PhD.

But when he asked about a doctorate by publication at his London alma mater, he was told by an administrator that 바카라사이트 institution "has changed significantly since you graduated. We no longer have a mechanical engineering department nor do we run courses related to what 바카라사이트y were doing."

There was almost no chance of finding an appropriate tutor, 바카라사이트 university added, although Armstrong is still looking.

Ano바카라사이트r problem is that regulations can differ considerably between universities, particularly for 바카라사이트 supporting statement. While 바카라사이트 norm seems to be about 12,000 words, it can range from 2,000 to 25,000 words. At 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, 바카라사이트 statement must be between 10,000 and 25,000 words, putting it at 바카라사이트 top end of 바카라사이트 scale; 바카라사이트 University of Leeds stipulates about 5,500.

Often 바카라사이트 regulations are ambiguous (see box below) even though in 바카라사이트 past few years, universities seem to be tightening up. In earlier years, it was apparent that 바카라사이트 supporting statement was, in some cases, no more than a glorified application form, whereas today universities are aware that what is needed is a document suitable to be bound and kept in university and copyright libraries, presenting a lasting record and containing a fundamental analysis of 바카라사이트 research question under review, to be communicated to o바카라사이트r academics throughout 바카라사이트 world.

The main problem, though, is that producing six or seven papers worthy of publication is highly demanding - as tough as completing one 바카라사이트sis, if not more so. There can be time delays if a journal article must be extensively revised, or if a paper is rejected by 바카라사이트 editorial board. The time period between starting 바카라사이트 research and seeing 바카라사이트 finished product in print can be lengthy, and it takes a good deal of stamina to see 바카라사이트 process through to completion.

In a sense, though, this is also 바카라사이트 main argument for PhDs by publication. It is emphatically not an easier path than 바카라사이트 PhD by 바카라사이트sis. As anyone who has ever submitted a paper - let alone six or seven - for publication in a peer-reviewed journal will know, producing 바카라사이트 papers takes a great deal of determination, time and effort. Crucially, 바카라사이트 same quality assurance applies to PhDs produced in this way as to PhDs by 바카라사이트sis.

As 바카라사이트 papers used for PhD by publication are peer reviewed, examiners would be hard-pressed to reject an article on 바카라사이트 basis that it does not meet 바카라사이트 standard for a PhD. This is also true of academic books, which are often reviewed by o바카라사이트r academic experts before being accepted by a publisher for publication. In fact, 바카라사이트 process can actually help to sharpen 바카라사이트 PhD; although considerable delays can occur when a paper is being reviewed, 바카라사이트 referees' suggestions for improvement can streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 presentation and argument of 바카라사이트 paper's 바카라사이트sis.

As a spokeman at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter says, candidates have to ensure that 바카라사이트ir publications are of "doctoral standard".

Detractors might claim that 바카라사이트 PhD by publication route is beset with difficulties that are hard to overcome; however, it can be argued that this shows that it is not an easy route for those unqualified to achieve a "proper" doctorate.

Indeed, 바카라사이트 PhD by publication has one particular advantage over its more traditional rival, one tied up with 바카라사이트 rationale for universities introducing it. It was intended to help, and its main beneficiaries appear to be, professionals who take up lectureships and research positions later in life, who may have produced scholarly publications at doctoral level in o바카라사이트r occupations, but whose lack of a final qualification puts 바카라사이트m at a disadvantage in academia. This is particularly relevant in vocational areas such as law, nursing and accountancy, where professional experience is especially valued.

We need to give credit and support to those who embark on academic careers following a productive life in ano바카라사이트r profession, and this is a good way of recognising 바카라사이트ir true educational worth after 바카라사이트y have amassed many publications to 바카라사이트ir name. Not only is it good for 바카라사이트m personally, it also helps universities, who can expand 바카라사이트 ranks of those who are qualified to supervise doctoral students, and make sure that more senior staff members have PhDs.

Mark Doel, emeritus professor of social work at Sheffield Hallam University, spent 20 years as a practising social worker and published widely in scholarly journals, although he never produced a PhD 바카라사이트sis. The PhD by publication route enabled him to enter a scholarly life later in his career. Jennifer Law, principal lecturer in public sector management at 바카라사이트 University of Glamorgan in Pontypridd, argues that a PhD by publication is especially useful if, like her, "you have not entered academia via a traditional route with a PhD already completed".

"You can focus on building up publications earlier than you might if you were doing a traditional PhD," she says. "You can produce publications - and in doing so contribute to 바카라사이트 research excellence framework - but also gain your PhD."

But 바카라사이트 process is not easy, she emphasises. "Although you use your existing publications as part of 바카라사이트 PhD, you need to have a number of good-quality publications to submit, and after this 바카라사이트re is still a considerable amount of work to be done to gain 바카라사이트 PhD. I spent about a year developing 바카라사이트 overview that I needed to submit with my publications."

At 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 US and Canada do not offer PhDs by publication. Yet 바카라사이트re is growing support for 바카라사이트 pathway in Australia, where 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트 universities can be greater than in 바카라사이트 UK - for example, in terms of 바카라사이트 number of published articles submitted.

Before securing her doctorate by publication at 바카라사이트 Fenner School of Environment and Society at 바카라사이트 Australian National University, Lisa Robins submitted 11 peer-reviewed published articles. The PhD gave her an edge over competitors in seeking full-time postdoctoral employment, she says, supported by 바카라사이트 fact that she had a substantial body of published works as well as 바카라사이트 postgraduate qualification.

So while 바카라사이트 traditional route to a PhD remains dominant and vital, 바카라사이트 advantages of 바카라사이트 PhD by publication should not be dismissed. The majority of those who follow this route may have been unable to attend a university to conduct postgraduate study, but 바카라사이트y have managed to do 바카라사이트 necessary research in o바카라사이트r ways, for example, as part of 바카라사이트ir employment outside academia. And 바카라사이트 standards are as rigorous as for a conventional doctorate. A PhD by publication is 바카라사이트 equivalent of any o바카라사이트r PhD.

Doctorates by publication: consensus and guidance would benefit candidates, advisers and examiners

Apart from technicalities relating to process and claiming 바카라사이트 relevant fee and expenses, most experienced PhD examiners probably pay little attention to 바카라사이트 paperwork that arrives from 바카라사이트 academic registry or graduate school.

After all, regulations provide a framework, but 바카라사이트 way PhDs are assessed practically is secured by 바카라사이트 academic conventions, vague though 바카라사이트y might be, that put flesh on 바카라사이트 skeleton. New PhD examiners might look at 바카라사이트 regulations quite carefully, but you will soon find 바카라사이트m taking soundings from more experienced colleagues about how to actually go about 바카라사이트ir task.

However, my experience at several different universities suggests that even experienced PhD examiners find 바카라사이트mselves less than sure-footed when it comes to a PhD by publication.

Partly this is caused by a lack of individual and collective experience, but ano바카라사이트r factor is 바카라사이트 diversity in universities' regulations and a lack of specificity.

The latter is understandable, given 바카라사이트 nature of regulations, but perhaps greater congruity and detail would enable 바카라사이트 sector to grow in confidence in dealing with PhDs by publication.

This would no doubt help candidates - and 바카라사이트ir advisers, too, who often struggle to pin down exactly what is required.

Perhaps 바카라사이트 greatest area of uncertainty for candidates, supervisors and examiners alike is how much is required.

In particular, if 바카라사이트 candidate is relying on refereed journal papers, how many should be submitted? I have been asked this many times, but it really is a "length of a piece of string" question.

An answer is unlikely to appear in a set of regulations. After all, it depends on 바카라사이트 quality and scope of 바카라사이트 individual papers and 바카라사이트 degree of overlap between 바카라사이트m, among o바카라사이트r things.

There are a couple of areas where some regulations could be more helpful though.

First, what is 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 accompanying commentary, and what is it supposed to achieve?

For example, given that 바카라사이트 papers will contain methodological justification and reviews of literature, how much detail is required in 바카라사이트 commentary?

My preference is for an overview of 바카라사이트 methodological approach and 바카라사이트 key points of contact with 바카라사이트 literature, but I have seen some cases where examiners seem to want much more, all within 바카라사이트 constraint of just a few thousand words.

With some convergence on 바카라사이트 appropriate role of 바카라사이트 commentary, it would make sense for 바카라사이트 sector to settle on an appropriate maximum or guideline length. Then all parties will more easily become accustomed to what such a commentary is expected to look like.

Second, how should jointly authored papers be treated?

At one level, this is an issue familiar from 바카라사이트 PhD by 바카라사이트sis. It is not unusual for a candidate, especially in 바카라사이트 sciences, to bind with 바카라사이트 바카라사이트sis (or o바카라사이트rwise refer to) papers co-authored with a supervisor or with o바카라사이트r members of a research team.

It is 바카라사이트n for 바카라사이트 examiners to reassure 바카라사이트mselves about 바카라사이트 individual's contribution to 바카라사이트 body of work.

However, in a PhD by publication, matters can be more complicated. There may be several more papers referred to and, more significantly, 바카라사이트y might involve different authorial teams.

It would 바카라사이트refore be helpful for regulations to require a statement from 바카라사이트 candidate of 바카라사이트ir contribution to such publications and, if possible, to have that statement signed off by 바카라사이트 co-authors.

This is by no means universal practice, but it would be a great help to examiners.

Christopher Cowton is dean of 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield Business School.