Routes to a research degree at Coventry Dr Heather Sears

1. Routes to a research degree at Coventry Dr Heather Sears

2. Routes for Staff to do a PhD at Coventry University • Traditional PhD (part-time) • PhD by Publication • Professional Doctorates – Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)

3. Where Are You in Your Development?

4. Entry criteria for applicants to doctoral degrees at CU i) A Postgraduate Masters Degree with Merit or above or with a minimum overall average mark of 60% or above in a relevant discipline/subject area and a minimum mark of 60% in the project element or equivalent or ii) First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a relevant discipline/subject area or an approved equivalent award with a minimum mark of 60% in the project element or equivalent; or iii) The applicant has appropriate research and/or professional experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of achievement.

5. Doctoral College Homepage https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/ResearchDegrees/Pages/Doctoral-College-Home-Page.aspx CU Research Degree Frameworks https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/ResearchDegrees/Pages/Programme-Information-and-Checklists.aspx

6. Traditional PhD Route (part-time) • Formal research training leading to a professional research qualification • Six –years part-time independent research • Enrolled on a research programme • Have a dedicated supervisory team (typically three academic staff)

7. PhD by Publication The Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) by Publication is awarded based on the submission of a critical overview and publication of evidence containing peer reviewed published work, artefacts, exhibitions, designs, performances or other outputs.

8. The route to obtaining a PhD by Publication Stage 1: Development of the portfolio of evidence Stage 2: Development of the prima facie case and peer review Stage 3: Enrolment, development of the critical overview and examination PhD by Publication – Guidance and Lifecycle https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/ResearchDegrees/Pages/PhD-by-Portfolio-Student-Lifecycle.aspx

9. What does a PhD by Publication look like? Part A: the Collection of Outputs The normal expectation would be that the publication of evidence would comprise a minimum of four outputs with at least 50% of the outputs being in peer review journals or equivalent peer reviewed artefacts. Part B: the Critical Overview A narrative of 10,000 – 15,000 words that: indicates the context and rationale for the submitted work coherently links the selected outputs together provides an opportunity to reflect on the portfolio of evidence place your work in the relevant disciplinary context make the claim for the original contribution to knowledge

10. Part A: The collection of outputs The award would normally be based upon a portfolio of publications comprising one or more of the following types of output: a) papers in peer reviewed journals; b) published conference proceedings; c) monographs; d) books; e) chapters in books; f) other published work; g) applied research project reports or materials; h) software programmes or multimedia packages; i) videos/films or other records of the creative, artistic, performance or design process; j) patents; k) other peer or critically reviewed publications or artefacts.

11. Part B: The Critical Overview The overview should provide the following: An autobiographical context for the publication of evidence. A chronological description tracing the development of the publication of evidence. An evaluative description of the originality of each output. An evaluative review of the contribution made by the publication of evidence to the subject or discipline area and any subsequent developments since the work was completed, including published reviews of any of the submitted works and/or evidence of citation frequency of any of the submitted works (where practicable and available). A description, synthesis and evaluation of any links between the outputs and the development of the publication of evidence. A critical reflection using an appropriate methodology, model or theory on the candidate’s development as a research practitioner. Full statements on the extent of the contributions of all other persons where some or all of the outputs submitted are collaborative. Conclusions and suggestions for future work

12. PhD vs PhD by Publication? Academic Standards No difference - Original, independent and significant research that makes a contribution to knowledge Process Different – PhD by Publication: research has already undertaken and been published, you are effectively seeking assessment and accreditation that your research has PhD equivalence Examination and Award No difference

13. PhD by Publication - exemplars Thorley, M. (2016) The unexplored impact of emergent technologies on music industry stakeholders: aspirants, producers and consumers. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/42e3ee1b-3756-494c-9f5d-adec1b485be2/1/ Ramskill, R.D. (2009) A Composer's search for a distinctive voice in an era of musical diversity. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/055dca33-3667-66e2-3e96-1c3864ed3127/1/ King, V. (2013) I and we : towards an understanding of collaborative educational research contribution. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/648213ba-696d-4231-ba12-d350e03ba9bb/1/ Christensen, J. (2015) Topology optimisation of structures exposed to large (non-linear) deformations. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/7c0729ce-e19c-414c-9542-c39527d54752/1/ Scullion, P.A. (2010) Towards a social model of disability: challenging disability discrimination in adult nursing. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/9308b19f-63f8-4037-832c-10eb67cfe3e9/1/ Berkeley, N. (2011) The role of mature sectors in promoting regional economic development in the West Midlands. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/33d24b15-8f7c-49bf-ad95-75d2c7d3e8f9/1/ Parkes, J. (2010) The Safety and effectiveness of interventions for aggression in mental health nursing. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/f7b88b70-44a9-8c21-e94f-2a5688fbddf4/1/ Osmond, J. (2014) Identifying Threshold Concepts in Design. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/725e09d0-de02-4ef6-be34-da7909983438/1/ PhD by published work : a practical guide for success Susan Smith (Susan V.), author. London : Macmillan Education/Palgrave London : Macmillan Education/Palgrave 2015

14. Professional Doctorate • Developing a ‘researcher professional’ rather than the ‘professional researcher’ • Still require the candidate to make an original contribution to knowledge but this is within their professional context and relates to their professional practice

15. Professional Doctorates at CU Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) • Portfolio approach • Developing abilities and capabilities necessary to become an advanced practitioner, including an understanding of research appropriate to doctoral level study Engineering Professional Doctorate (EngD) • Typically two years taught provision and then a significant research project

16. Professional doctorates and the Coventry DBA Professional doctorates are for practising managers with the experience and roles which will facilitate impactful change in their organisations as a result of their research. Professional doctorates contain significant taught elements to develop research skills, but the final award of the doctorate is largely based on a portfolio of research outputs, presented in a thesis. The DBA is located within the Centre for Business in Society in the Faculty of Business and Law

17. DBA Programme details Research projects will normally be located within the candidate's profession or practice. A research topic is selected and a set of projects examines aspects of this topic, culminating in an over-arching reflection and set of insights. This reflective contribution forms the closing part of the thesis, along with a conclusion. Candidate's research will result directly in organisational or policy-related change. Professional doctorates will be assessed through submission of a portfolio of outputs presented in a ‘thesis’ and an individual oral examination ('viva' or 'viva voce').

18. DBA programme structure and support

19. DBA Programme details The DBA takes 4 to 6 years…… • Phase one (modules) is intended to take a year; • Phase two (research projects) will take one to two years; • Phase three (the reflection and the thesis production) will take one to two years. Candidates can exit at the end of phase two and be considered for the award of an MA in Professional Practice. The programme is cohort-based, with 10-12 benefitting from blended learning, mentored by a supervisory team throughout their degree.

20. Admissions to DBA Additional requirements are that candidates: have a minimum of five years practitioner experience in a relevant field  are undertaking a role within an appropriate setting, and at a level of seniority, that will allow the implementation of innovation and change necessary to meet the requirements of the programme have an identified mentor who is an experienced practitioner in a relevant field

21. Applications to DBA Candidates must apply through the University’s Doctoral Admissions Process and they must complete the DBA application form. This includes an explanation of the subject area likely to form the focus of the studies leading to the final research thesis, showing how their own experiences, roles and career plan underpin this selection. However, a full research proposal is not expected at this stage; this will be produced during phase one of the DBA. Candidates will need to produce evidence of their academic qualifications or professional experience. They will need to have two references, plus evidence that funding is secure for their fees and that a practitioner mentor has been selected. Short-listed candidates will be interviewed before a place on the programme is recommended.

22. Staff Doctorate Programme Staff who are accepted onto the programme will have: fees paid access to an enhanced programme of support and activity 20% of their time ring-fenced for doctoral research up to an additional 3 weeks in a single block over the summer (or an equivalent period of time outside of peak periods) to provide focused writing time.

23. Staff Doctorate Programme – post application Activity designed to facilitate peer support and ring-fenced time for postgraduate research and writing. The SDP support programme includes:  • SHUT UP AND WRITE! Sessions • Catch-up seminar meetings • Regular academic writing workshops • On-line community support • Writing retreats Post application support

24. Academic Regulations Section 8: Regulations for Research Degrees other than by Submission of Portfolio Section 9: Regulations for the Award of Higher Doctorates and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees by Portfolio http://www.coventry.ac.uk/life-on-campus/the-university/key-information/registry/academic-regulations/?theme=main

25. Further information Part-time PhD and DBA – how to applyhttp://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/making-an-application/ Doctoral College https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/ResearchDegrees/Pages/Doctoral-College-Home-Page.aspx PhD - Curriculum Framework https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/ResearchDegrees/Pages/PhD-Student-Lifecycle.aspx PhD by Publication - Lifecycle and Guidance https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/ResearchDegrees/Pages/PhD-by-Portfolio-Student-Lifecycle.aspx