REGULATION 3A: - Keele University
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Regulation 3A: Research Degrees by Published Work - PHD

Contents

1. Standard of Award

2. Eligibility

3. Application Procedure

4. Supervision

5. Submission

6. Examination

7. Appeals

8. Academic Misconduct

The University may award research degrees by published work to individuals who have demonstrated a sustained record of academic publication.

The degrees to which a candidate may proceed under this Regulation are those of PHD (Doctor of Philosophy).

1. Standards of Award

1.1 Candidates for the degree of PhD by publication shall be required to meet the same standards of award as candidates for the PhD by supervision. (See Regulation 2D and Code of Practice Annex A1)

1.2 The PhD by publication award is based on the submission of a critical overview and portfolio of evidence containing peer reviewed published work and other outputs.

2. Eligibility

2.1 In order to be eligible to submit for a degree by published work, a candidate must fulfil at least one of the following criteria:

       a) be a graduate of this University of at least six years standing

       b) hold a Masters Degree of this University of at least five years standing

       c) be a graduate of any other University approved for this purpose of at least six years standing and have been a full-time member of the academic staff of this University for at least three years

       d) be any other person associated with the work of the University whose qualifications are deemed by the Research Degrees Committee, on behalf of Senate, to be acceptable

2.2 The University will normally only consider applications in relation to subjects for which it currently offers supervision for a research degree and where appropriate supervision is available.

3. Application Procedure (Prima Facie Case)

3.1 To apply for a PhD by Published Work a candidate must, in the first instance, submit the following to the Head of Planning and UK/EU Admissions:

a) a statement of the intended award

b) a critical commentary, including a précis of the work to be submitted and a justification for the award, not exceeding 500 words

c) their curriculum vitae (CV), including a full list of publications

d) a proposed title

3.2 The Head of Planning and UK/EU Admissions will consult with the appropriate Research Institute to confirm that there is a prima facie case that the application is appropriate and that appropriate supervision is available prior to arranging for the Research Degrees Committee to consider the application. The Research Degrees Committee may take additional advice from within the University or externally.

3.3 If the Research Degrees Committee determines that a prima facie case exists, the candidate will be required to make a submission within six calendar months of the notification from the Research Degrees Committee meeting.

3.4 The approved title will be confirmed by the Research Institute Committee, and the Research Degrees Committee on behalf of Senate will appoint two external examiners and an independent chair.

4. Supervision

4.1 Candidates for a PhD by Published Work will be provided with an appropriate supervisor.

5. Submission

5.1 The candidate must submit to the appropriate Research Institute three copies of a portfolio including the published works and a critical commentary of no more than 10,000 words. The contents of the portfolio are agreed by Senate from time to time and are laid out in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees.

5.2 The contents of the submission must be in the English language unless specific permission to the contrary has been granted by Research Degrees Committee.

5.3 Outputs which have previously been considered by this or any other University for an award may not be resubmitted.

6. Examination

6.1 The examiners will examine the work submitted; write independent reports, and a further joint report agreeing their recommendation to Research Degrees Committee. They will make a recommendation to Research Degrees Committee who, after consideration, shall make a recommendation to Senate.

6.2 An oral examination is required for all submissions.

6.3 Recommendations available to examiners of research degrees are:

       i) the student be awarded the degree for which he/she has made a submission; or

       ii) the student be awarded the degree for which he/she has made a submission once revisions to the critical commentary have been made to the satisfaction of the examiner(s); or

       iii) the student should be not awarded any degree nor be permitted to re-present the thesis, nor submit to any further examination.

       iv) the examiners are unable to come to a joint recommendation and an additional examiner or examiners should be appointed whose decision shall resolve the matter.

Research Degrees Committee will communicate the outcome of the examination process to the candidate and any subsequent instructions prior to approval at Senate.

7. Appeals

7.1 Appeals can only be made following the outcome of the award and will follow the procedures laid out in Regulation 7.

8. Academic Misconduct

8.1 Any allegation of academic misconduct shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedures. Academic misconduct is most likely to be, but is not exclusively, c ollusion, where a piece of work is prepared by more than one student, including work deriving from a piece of authorised collaborative group-work, and is presented in whole or in part for assessment as if it were the student’s own work.

8.2 Any such investigation shall be carried out by a panel consisting of a senior member of the academic staff nominated by the Vice-Chancellor as chair, the Dean or his/her nominee from the Faculty in which the alleged offence has taken place and one other Dean or his/her nominee.

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