PhD by Published, Creative or Established Work PhD
About this course
The Professional Doctorate by Published, Creative or Established Work is a distinctive course within Nottingham Trent University's portfolio of research degrees. Candidates who successfully complete the degree will be entitled to use the title ‘Doctor’.
This course is aimed at senior professionals who have already undertaken work at the highest level in their sphere of professional practice, and who now wish to convert that work into a doctoral degree. Applications are welcomed from the United Kingdom and internationally.
Candidates do not undertake new research during their time on the course. Instead, they must submit a portfolio of existing work in advance of enrolling on the course. This is evaluated by researchers with expertise in the relevant area, to ensure that it demonstrates doctoral level contribution to knowledge or practice. For example, the work may have advanced or changed the law, policy or practice in some way.
What you’ll study
While traditional academic outputs, such as peer reviewed journal articles, may form part of the portfolio, this is not essential. There is scope to include a range of non-traditional outputs within the portfolio, as long as these are of direct relevance to the needs of legal practice, commerce, industry, culture, society, and to the public and voluntary sectors. However, some level of dissemination will be required. While this does not necessarily require outputs to have been published in a conventional format, candidates must usually be able to demonstrate that their work has been made available to, or has conferred a benefit, beyond the individual’s own organisation.
While images, performances and artefacts can be considered for inclusion in the portfolio, in the context of law it is envisaged that outputs will predominantly be in a written format, such as:
- Driving or drafting of policies or procedures at national or international level e.g. via a leadership or draftsman role;
- Practice-related research or investigation carried out outside an academic context e.g. for a professional regulatory or organisation such as the Higher Education Academy;
- Judgments or arguments/opinions which advance or change the law or legal practice; and
- Outputs that have been adopted for use by a wider audience, locally, regionally, nationally or internationally, such as a legal profession or sub-section thereof.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
How you're taught
Successful applicants will work under the supervision of an academic expert to produce a unifying thesis (approximately 20,000 words). The thesis will engage critically with relevant theory and literature in the field, explain and contextualise the work, and demonstrate professional and/or organisational change as a direct result of the work.
The award is assessed by way of (a) the portfolio of work and unifying thesis; and (b) a viva voce examination.
Except for the viva voce examination, there is no requirement for attendance in Nottingham, though some candidates may choose to do so, in order to meet face to face with their supervisor
Careers and employability
Further details, including the profiles of current students undertaking Research degrees in Law, can be found on our Research degrees in Law page.
Entry requirements
You will need:
- An undergraduate degree with a higher degree and/or professional qualification (one of which must have been in legal studies).
- Whilst a holistic approach is taken to suitability, candidates are typically expected to have been working at a high level in a relevant legal field for a minimum of ten years post qualification.
- The relevant legal outputs should centre on a distinct legal theme, which prospective candidates will be asked to demonstrate during their application.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
You will need:
- An undergraduate degree with a higher degree and/or professional qualification (one of which must have been in legal studies).
- Whilst a holistic approach is taken to suitability, candidates are typically expected to have been working at a high level in a relevant legal field for a minimum of ten years post qualification.
- The relevant legal outputs should centre on a distinct legal theme, which prospective candidates will be asked to demonstrate during their application.
English language requirements: IELTS 6.5 (with minimum sub-scores of 6.0).
Applicants who have taken a higher degree at a UK university are normally exempt from the English language requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English language proficiency requirement will normally be asked to complete an English Language course.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Postgraduate preparation courses (Pre-Masters)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Pre-Masters courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Fees for 2024 entry are £4,786.
How to apply
All applicants will be required to submit a proposal to the Doctoral School which will be considered by the relevant School Research Degrees Committee (SRDC).
The proposal would normally include:
a) Details of the existing body of published, established or creative work to be considered for the research award; and
b) A one-thousand-word statement which sets out the significant contribution to knowledge; and
c) A statement which outlines the applicant’s contribution to the body of the existing published or creative works.
The School Research Degrees Committee will make a recommendation to the Doctoral School regarding the admission of the candidate.
In exceptional circumstances, a candidate may be admitted with the approval of the University Research Degrees Committee (URDC).
Prior to submitting your proposal, please contact the course leader, Pamela Henderson, for initial review of your body of work.
Visit the Doctoral School’s step by step guide to make an application.
Please read our notes on the University’s commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
All applicants will be required to submit a proposal to the Doctoral School which will be considered by the relevant School Research Degrees Committee (SRDC).
The proposal would normally include:
a) Details of the existing body of published, established or creative work to be considered for the research award; and
b) A one-thousand-word statement which sets out the significant contribution to knowledge; and
c) A statement which outlines the applicant’s contribution to the body of the existing published or creative works.
The School Research Degrees Committee will make a recommendation to the Doctoral School regarding the admission of the candidate.
In exceptional circumstances, a candidate may be admitted with the approval of the University Research Degrees Committee (URDC).
Prior to submitting your proposal, please contact the course leader, Pamela Henderson, for initial review of your body of work.
Visit the Doctoral School’s step by step guide to make an application.
Please read our notes on the University’s commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
