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Landscapes and Narratives of PhD by Publication pp 1–9 Cite as

Introduction: Demystifying the PhD by Publication

• Sin Wang Chong   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4519-0544 3 &
• Neil H. Johnson   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8604-1193 4  
• First Online: 28 September 2022

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This chapter documents the rationale for compiling a collection on the PhD by Publication. The aim of the book is to “demystify” this alternative route of doctoral education because there is a dearth of publications (journal articles or books) on this PhD route which is gaining popularity around the world. This book attempts to “demystify” PhD by Publication by identifying pertinent issues and (mis)conceptions pertaining to policies and practices through research, research syntheses, and surveys of university policies on the PhD by Publication internationally (Part I – Landscapes of PhD by Publication). Another layer of “demystification” pertains to experience (Part II: Narratives of PhD by Publication). The inclusion of reflective and autobiographical accounts by PhD by Publication supervisors, students, and graduates internationally provides a vivid insider’s perspective toward this PhD route. This chapter closes with an outline of each chapter of the book.

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Chong, S. W. (2020). PhD by published work and “doctorateness”: My experience at a UK university. Innovative Practice in Higher Education, 4 (1), 1–12. http://journals.staffs.ac.uk/index.php/ipihe/article/view/204/319

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Chong, S. W. (2021). Demystifying commentary guidelines of PhD by published work in the UK: Insights from genre analysis. In Innovations in education and teaching international (pp. 1–10). Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2020.1871396

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Hyland, K. (2015). Genre, discipline and identity. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 19 , 32–43.

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Jackson, D. (2013). Completing a PhD by publication: A review of Australian policy and implications for practice. Higher Education Research and Development, 32 (3), 355–368. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2012.692666

O’Keeffe, P. (2019). PhD by publication: Innovative approach to social science research, or operationalisation of the doctoral student … or both? Higher Education Research and Development, 39 (2), 288–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1666258

Smith, S. (2017). Supervising on a PhD by published work route: An exploration of the supervisory role. Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung. Journal for Higher Education Development, 12 (2), 19–43.

Smith, S. (2019). The challenge of supervising students who are doing a PhD by published work . Trust Me! Blog. Retrieved from https://eprints.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/id/eprint/5648/1/TheChallengeOfSupervisingStudentsWhoAreDoingAPhdByPublishedWorkAM-SMITH.pdf

Wilson, K. (2002). Quality assurance issues for a PhD by published work: A case study. Quality Assurance in Education, 10 (2), 71–78. https://doi.org/10.1108/09684880210423555

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Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Sin Wang Chong

Wearside View, St Peter’s Campus, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK

Neil H. Johnson

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Chong, S.W., Johnson, N.H. (2022). Introduction: Demystifying the PhD by Publication. In: Chong, S.W., Johnson, N. (eds) Landscapes and Narratives of PhD by Publication. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04895-1_1

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04895-1_1

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• Postgraduate
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Doctor of Philosophy

Course details.

PhD Research

Each unique structured Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) project is carried out over a minimum of three years and a maximum of six years (full-time).

Within this time you will be guided through your research project with the support of your supervisors and the RCSI School of Postgraduate Studies

Develop your skills as a researcher at RCSI

You will have a range of resources, research development opportunities and training at your disposal during your PhD, including:

• Core and optional modules as part of our research development training – all PhD scholars are expected to complete all four (PC01-PC04) core modules as part of their degree.
• Access to the Vitae Researcher Development Framework , which allows you to map your competencies, identify areas for improvement and develop transferable skills
• International placements – we have a competitive award for those without funding who can apply for three-month international secondment award (RCSI-funded).
• Dissemination of your research. The perfect starting point for this is our annual Research Day ; apply for a poster or oral presentation and practice key presenting and communication skills.
• Dedicated write-up space in our Postgraduate Suite in our new Library.

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Key milestones

Below is a timeline of a typical structured four-year PhD programme.

1. Project proposal

With the help of your supervisors, you will submit a comprehensive project proposal when applying to RCSI. This will help you to form a solid plan and kick-start your research.

2. Research development

Participate in the four core modules  (PC01-PC04) on offer during your studies.

3. Annual progress review

You submit an annual progress review at the end of your first year. Following each annual review, an oral presentation is conducted to assess your progression, by two independent staff members, who decide on your continued registration.

4. Submit your thesis

You will submit a thesis completion plan nine months before your planned submission. Once your thesis is submitted – at any time in your fourth year of study – one external examiner and one internal examiner will assess your thesis. Thesis examination details are available here .

5. Graduation

If the thesis is deemed of sufficient quality, you will be conferred with a PhD in your chosen field.

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• About the RCSI Repository

Welcome to the RCSI Repository

The RCSI Repository is  an open access repository of research and scholarly output of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The service is maintained and managed by RCSI Library.

The RCSI repository uses Figshare , an online platform for citing, sharing, and discovering research.

For more info or support email: [email protected]

The RCSI Repository is a place to make all your research citable, shareable, and discoverable.

Some of the features of the RCSI Repository include the following:

Your research is assigned a Handle or a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) which means you can cite it as a research output alongside your paper or as a freestanding piece of data

The RCSI Repository complies with funder mandates around making data openly accessible and storing it in perpetuity

You can use the RCSI Repository to make your data private or share it with the world by making it public

Data that is uploaded to the RCSI Repository is marked for indexing in Google Scholar and Google Dataset Search, increasing the exposure of your research

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The RCSI is now offering the opportunity to those with a record of publications in biomedical, clinical and health services research to complete a PhD by prior published works. This route allows surgical trainees and surgeons who have sufficient research experience at doctoral level, as demonstrated through already published material, to gain academic recognition for their work over a minimum registration period of one year.

Surgeons, surgical trainees and NCHD's who have published their own original research, which examiners deem has made a significant contribution to knowledge, can obtain a PhD award in recognition of this work when it is presented in the form of a coherent thesis and successfully assessed in a viva voce examination.

Applications will open on 1 October 2021 and close on 24 October 2021. Apply here.

For any queries, please contact [email protected]

To learn more about the PhD by Prior Publication offered by RCSI and to view the course information brochure   Click Here

New Publication!

Meaning-making Systems: A Multimodal Analysis of a Latinx Student’s Mathematical Learning

Posted in: Research Publications

Mathematics Education doctoral student Tara Pizzi recently published a paper alongside Dr. Hector Morales Jr. ( Northeastern Illinois University ), Dr. Kathryn Chval ( University of Illinois at Chicago ), and MSU faculty Dr. Joseph DiNapoli in the International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education . The article describes a classroom episode of one student’s use of multiple resources to create mathematical meaning.

This is Tara’s first peer-reviewed journal publication; congratulations on this milestone, Tara!

Access the Article

NRSP March 2024 Featured Publication – Dr. Rachel Odes

Nursing Research and Sponsored Programs is pleased to highlight this past month’s Featured Publication by Assistant Professor Dr. Rachel Odes, PhD, RN!

Media coverage suggests that hospital workplace violence spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic, but few data sources provide insight into changes during this time. One exception is California’s unique workplace violence reporting system. Dr. Odes and colleagues looked at incident reports and hospital volume data to track trends in different types of hospital units before, during, and after the onset of the pandemic. They found the number of reported incidents remained similar during the pandemic to the number of incidents pre-pandemic, even as patient volume dropped – particularly in the Emergency Department. As hospitals grapple with staffing shortfalls, it is important to address healthcare worker safety concerns, including violence. Also emphasized is the importance of states implementing comprehensive incident reporting systems.

Odes, R.*, Lee, S. J., Hong, O, & Jun, J. 2023. The effect of COVID-19 on workplace violence in California’s hospitals: An interrupted time series analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79 [6], 2337-2347. *UW-Madison School of Nursing

This post was authored by Emma Schaefer on 04/02/2024.