PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio

A PhD pathway designed around your research outputs

A PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio provides an opportunity to obtain a PhD based on research that has already been undertaken and published, or artefacts that have already been produced. Your PhD can be based on one of our many subject areas.

Who is the PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio for?

This PhD award recognises those who have made an independent and original contribution to knowledge through their publications or creative work in a range of fields.

What publications can be used?

The materials may consist of peer-reviewed academic papers, book chapters, scholarly monographs, journal articles, or equivalent materials accepted for publication, as well as performances, exhibitions, artefacts, and musical compositions exhibited or performed.

The PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio requires the submission of the published/creative work and the thesis. The thesis should be in the region of 15,000 to 30,000 words. The work submitted shall reflect the same academic standards as those which operate for a PhD based upon an approved programme of supervised work.

What does the PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio involve?

As a PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio student, you will be enrolled part-time and will be expected to submit the thesis on your publications/creative work within 24 months of enrolment.

How is the programme structured and supported?

You will have regular meetings with your supervisors who will advise you on which of your publications/creative work should form your final submission, and who will guide you on writing the thesis. The PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio is examined at the same academic standard as the traditional PhD.

What subject areas can this PhD be based in?

Your PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio can sit within any of our available PhD subject areas .

What are the entry requirements?

To be considered for a PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio, you will need to have held an undergraduate and postgraduate degree from a UK institution, or recognised equivalent, for at least five years.

You are also required to have at least five years appropriate experience in the relevant field, as well as applicable publications/materials or creative work.

What are the start dates and fees?

This part-time degree (between 12 and 24 months) has start dates throughout the year:

You can choose to join the course with our distance learning option (for UK and international students) or our on campus option (UK students only).

Fees per year:

• September
• February
• May.
• £2,450 – UK
• £8,000 – International.

How to put an application together

Please complete the PhD by prior publication/portfolio application form template (.docx, 88.39KB) and submit this with your application.

Additional FAQs

• What types of work can be submitted as part of the portfolio? The PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio is distinguished from other doctoral degrees in that the candidate is permitted to submit work from any part of their career. The works may include papers, journal articles, chapters, scholarly monographs, books, research reports or, in creative disciplines, performance, exhibition, artefacts, or musical compositions. At least one of the works will normally have been created within two consecutive years prior to the date of initial enrolment. If reliant on publications, the preferred submission is six to ten sole-authored, or “first-authored”, papers published in reputable, peer-reviewed academic journals, and/or scholarly monographs, supplemented by co-authored papers, chapters or research reports. The works will normally be in the public domain. Manuscripts of works submitted for publication, but not yet accepted, are not eligible for submission. Any work not in the public domain, such as a confidential research report, is not eligible for submission. In the creative disciplines, not all the work submitted must be in the public domain, for example, one-off performances or exhibitions. These works will be subject to equivalent forms of peer or critical review.

What types of work can be submitted as part of the portfolio?

• What standards must the submitted works meet? Regardless of the number of individual works, quantity will in all cases be superseded by considerations of quality, coherence and the overall contribution to knowledge which, taken together, the body of work represents. The published/creative works shall be accompanied by a thesis. The published or other works submitted may have been published, performed, installed or exhibited at any time during the candidate’s research career, but the set of works must represent a coherent programme of research and make an original contribution to the present state of knowledge. The published works should include a significant proportion of recently published material.

What standards must the submitted works meet?

• What if my portfolio includes co‑authored work? Where multi-authored works are included, candidates are required to submit evidence of their individual contribution to the work.

What if my portfolio includes co‑authored work?

• Can I resubmit work that has been used for another award? The works shall not have been previously submitted for any other award except where the examiners recommended that the degree was not to be awarded. In this case applicants may not register for a PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio within a period of three years from the date of the original examination.

Can I resubmit work that has been used for another award?

• Does my work need to be in English? The work submitted for examination must be in English. Where work has originally been published in a language other than English, a certified translation must be provided.

Apply to our PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio

Choose to apply for either distance learning (for UK and international students) or on campus (UK students only).

• Apply for on campus
• Apply for distance learning

PhD subjects

You can carry out a PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio in any of our available PhD areas.

Our Graduate school

You will become a member of the dedicated UWL Graduate School, as well as the school in which you are being supervised.

That means you will get university-wide support and the opportunity to meet and develop your research alongside doctorate students from other disciplines.

Find out more

• Research Centres and Groups Find out about our multi-disciplinary areas of expertise, research, and teaching.

Research Centres and Groups

• Research impact Learn how our research has helped communities locally, nationally and internationally.

Research impact

• The Graduate School If you are interested in studying for a PhD or Professional Doctorate, the Graduate School is here to support your research.

Research areas