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Doctorate by Published, Established and Creative Works PhD

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  • Level of study:
    PhD
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
  • Start date:
    October 2025 and January 2026
  • Duration:
    12 – 24 months
  • Attendance:
    Part-time
  • Course delivery:
    Online
law reports on a shelf

About this course

The Professional Doctorate by Published, Established and Creative Works 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.

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.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

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

Who will teach you?

  • Pamela Henderson

    Pamela Henderson

    Senior Lecturer

    Pamela Henderson is a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University and mainly teaches on the undergraduate courses.

    Visit Pamela Henderson's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

This Doctorate is open to candidates who are either:

a. Graduates of at least five years' standing from another NTU course; or

b. Current employees of an institution accredited for research degrees or of another research organisation recognised for this purpose by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) or nominee of at least three years standing at the date of submission.

All applicants will be required to submit a proposal to the NTU Doctoral School which will be considered by the relevant School Research Degrees Committee. Please see our additional requirements for more information.

International students

This Doctorate is open to candidates who are either:

a. Graduates of at least five years' standing from another NTU course; or

b. Current employees of an institution accredited for research degrees or of another research organisation recognised for this purpose by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) or nominee of at least three years standing at the date of submission.

All applicants will be required to submit a proposal to the NTU Doctoral School which will be considered by the relevant School Research Degrees Committee. Please see our additional requirements for more information.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

To find out more, please visit our fees and funding for research students page.

Doctoral loans

Student Finance England and Student Finance Wales provide a non-means-tested Doctoral loan to help with course fees and living costs for a postgraduate research course. Use the links to check if you are eligible.

Studentships

Every year, we provide fully-funded PhD studentships, with opportunities across all our academic disciplines. These are open to UK and International students and applications usually open in October.

Sign up for emails and we’ll let you know when the next NTU studentships are released.

Funded projects

We advertise funded PhD projects throughout the year. See what projects are currently available.

Find out more

Find out how much a research degree will cost and explore different types of research funding.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

To find out more, please visit our fees and funding for research students page.

Studentships

Every year, we provide fully-funded PhD studentships, with opportunities across all our academic disciplines. These are open to UK and international students and applications usually open in October.

Sign up for emails and we’ll let you know when the next NTU studentships are released.

Funded projects

We advertise funded PhD projects throughout the year. See what projects are currently available.

Living costs

Visit managing your money to get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced explore different types of research funding.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

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Cost of living in Nottingham
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Money advice for international students

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.

  • Employability Promise

    Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

  • Assessed work-like experience

    We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

  • NTU Enterprise

    If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Applying

UK students

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.

Apply now

International students

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 application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply now

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on +44 (0)115 848 2999.

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