Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Published Work

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

1.1      

Doctoral degrees are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

• The creation and interpretation of new knowledge through original research or other advanced scholarship, which is of a quality to satisfy peer review, which extends the forefront of the discipline and which merits publication.
• A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice.
• The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and the ability to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems.
• A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry.

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

• Make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches. 

And holders will have:

• The qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

1.2      

All candidates must enrol as students of Swansea University and pay the appropriate fees prescribed by the University. As enrolled students, candidates must comply with the University’s academic and general regulations.

1.3      

Candidates may not concurrently be enrolled on another programme leading to the award of a qualification in this or another university/institution without the express permission of the Chair of the Academic Regulations and Cases Board.

1.4      

All candidates are required to monitor the University email account allocated throughout the candidature period as all electronic correspondence from the University will only be sent to the candidate’s University email account. All candidates are strongly advised to use the allocated University email account when communicating with the University.

1.5     

The level of study of the research degree governed by these regulations shall be at Level 8 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ Level 8).

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

2.1      

A candidate for the degree of PhD by Published Work must hold an initial degree of a UK university or another university approved by Senate and normally hold a Master’s degree of a UK university or another university approved by Senate.

2.2      

A candidate shall submit a list of the published works to be considered together with a statement of the applicant’s contribution to any multi-authored papers/collaborative work to the relevant Executive Dean or nominee. The decision as to whether an applicant should be admitted to a proposed programme of research shall rest with the Executive Dean or nominee.

2.3     

All candidates must matriculate before the submission of work for examination in accordance with the general University regulations governing Matriculation.

2.4     

All candidates are required to comply with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

3.1      

A candidate shall be required to complete a minimum period of candidature of six months from the date of enrolment during which the candidate will prepare the submission and critical review under the guidance of an adviser (as set out in section 5 on the left of this page).

 4.1

All candidates are required to submit for the degree no later than 12 months after the date of enrolment.

  4.2

Where a candidate fails to submit for the degree by the maximum submission date the University may require the candidature to be terminated.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Published Work.

5.1      

Every candidate will have an adviser appointed by the candidate’s Executive Dean or nominee.

5.2      

The adviser must be a member of staff at Swansea University. The adviser will support, advise and guide the candidate through the process of submission and examination of the published work.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Published Work.

6.1      

Normally, only work published in scholarly books and journals will be eligible for consideration. All work must have been published in such a way as to be generally available for consultation by scholars or other interested persons. 

6.2   

Published work submitted for the degree must constitute a corpus of publication tending towards a coherent thesis, rather than a series of disconnected publications.

6.3      

Published work submitted for the degree must have been published within the five years previous to the date of submission. In exceptional circumstances, the respective Head of College may make a case to the Academic Regulations and Cases Board for publications outside this period to be considered.

6.4   

Published work submitted for the degree must be substantially different from any work which may have previously been submitted for any degree at this or any other institution.

6.5      

The work to be submitted shall comprise:

• An abstract providing a summary of the published work containing all of the main concepts and conclusions of the published work that shall be no more than 300 words in length;
• A summary sheet listing all of the published work submitted together with a statement of the extent of the candidate’s contribution to multi-authored work, substantiated by all the co-authors;
• A copy of each publication numbered in accordance with 6.5b) above;
• A critical review stating the aims and nature of the research, the inter-relationship between the published work and the main contribution and/or addition to learning of the published work;

Evidence of the status of all the published work submitted. 

6.6      

Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Published Work shall be required to submit two copies of the work as described in 6.5 above for examination.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Published Work.

7.1      

Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Published Work shall be examined in three parts:

• The first part shall take the form of a critical review of 5,000 to 10,000 words stating the aims and nature of the research, the inter-relationship between the published work and the main contribution and/or addition to learning of the published work;
• The second part shall take the form of the published work;
• The third part shall take the form of an oral examination (viva voce) as detailed in paragraph 9 below.

7.2      

The Executive Dean may delegate the administrative tasks concerning the submission and examination of a thesis to a member of their staff and shall also nominate a Chair of the Examining Board who should be a member of staff of the Faculty/School with appropriate experience who has not been otherwise directly involved in the preparation of the submission or component publications.

7.3      

The Examining Board may require the candidate to sit a written examination.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

8.1      

All Examining Boards for candidates shall consist of the following individuals:

• An independent Chair, who will be the Head of College or a member of staff with appropriate experience nominated by the Head of College. The Chair of the Examining Board is required to chair the oral examination and any meeting of the examiners.
• Two external examiners appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

8.2      

The Chair of the Examining Board shall be independent in the examining process and shall be responsible to the Postgraduate Research Committee for the conduct of the examination.

8.3      

The candidate’s adviser or any member of staff involved in the preparation of the submission shall not be permitted to be part of the Examining Board, although the adviser may be invited by the Chair of the Examining Board, with the express prior written permission of the candidate, to attend the oral examination in an advisory role. An adviser may speak only when invited to do so by the Chair.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

9.1      

The Examining Board shall be required to conduct an oral examination of candidates for research degrees in all cases.   

9.2      

All oral examinations must take place at Swansea University within six months of the date of submission for the degree.

9.3      

A candidate requiring special provision for the oral examination is required to notify the Executive Dean or nominee prior to the submission of the thesis. Arrangements will be put in place as outlined in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. 

9.4      

A candidate’s adviser shall have the right to convey to the Chair of the Examining Board any concerns relevant to a candidate’s submission or its examination which the adviser considers the Board should take into account prior to reaching its decision. The adviser shall convey these concerns, in writing, both to the Chair and to the candidate as soon as practicable after the presentation of the submission to the Examining Board and, in any event, early enough to allow the candidate sufficient time prior to the examination of the submission (including any oral examination) to consider the points made and prepare a response.

9.5      

The oral examination shall be conducted in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. The recommendation of the Examining Board shall be presented to the Progression and Awards Board for confirmation.

10.1   

For Aegrotat guidance regulations refer to the link below. 

aegrotat-award-regulations

For Posthumous guidance regulations refer to the link below. 

posthumous-award-regulations

11.1   

Candidates who are not recommended by the Examining Board for the award of the degree in respect of which they submitted their thesis may appeal against the decision reached and request an academic appeal. All appeals shall be conducted in accordance with the Swansea University Accuracy of Published Marks procedures or Academic Appeals procedures.

12.1   

Allegations of academic misconduct shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Academic Misconduct procedures and regulations. Allegations of academic misconduct received by the University after the degree has been conferred upon the candidate shall be considered by the degree awarding institution.

13.1   

Allegations regarding fitness to practise shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Fitness to Practise regulations.

14.1   

Students who feel dissatisfied with the teaching and learning, facilities or services provided by the University, or with the way the University, its students or its staff have acted or omitted to act, should follow the procedures set out in the Swansea University Complaints Procedure.

15.1

International students who need a visa to study in the University should be aware that their continued study at the University is dependent upon them meeting the conditions of their visa and the time-limits set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). For more information please refer to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas.

15.2

Decisions taken by the University with regard to a candidate’s enrolment status, academic performance, progression and award shall be made in accordance with the University’s academic and financial regulations and shall not be informed by visa restrictions and time-limits set by the UKVI. However, continued study is conditional upon meeting the University’s requirements and holding a valid visa. Students who have any concerns or queries regarding their visa should contact International@CampusLife.