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Doctorate by Published, Established and Creative Works PhD

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.

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

Staff Profiles

Pamela Henderson - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham Law School

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

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

UK students

This Doctorate is open to candidates who are either:

a. Graduates of at least five years' standing; 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; 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 of £6,000 when you've accepted your offer to study at NTU. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, before the start date of your course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about advance payments, 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

Most modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) - meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

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, you can email our Student Money Team or phone us 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.

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.