Just one in three UK universities publishes guidance on how students can do a PhD by publication, according to a new study which calls for the alternative doctoral format to be offered more widely.
In a review of research degree policies at 135 UK universities, only 44 had clearly stated institution-wide policies on how students could complete a PhD by submitting peer-reviewed papers, book chapters or conference proceedings in place of the traditional doctoral thesis.
Seventy-five universities had no publicly available information on alternative format doctorates, while two did not have institutional guidelines as they differed by department. Seven had guidelines that could be viewed only by university members.
The study, published in Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education, argues that the variable practice across the sector reflects a “fragmented policy landscape” in relation to a format that is widely available in Europe and Australia.
