Group's call for a 'third way' towards PhDs based on the European experience

A third way of getting a PhD should be introduced, according to the United Kingdom Council for Graduate Education.

At present, British students submit a dissertation for a traditional PhD while researchers submit a series of published papers for higher doctorates. The traditional dissertation should be supplemented with published papers, suggests a council report published next week. This combined approach would bring PhDs in line with other European Union countries.

Keith Wilson of the University of Hertfordshire said: "In Holland and Sweden PhDs are entirely or largely based on published work. People fall into two camps as to whether they like the idea or not."

Professor Wilson's report, based on 100 questionnaires returned from more than 60 institutes in 24 countries, will recommend that the current regulations be harmonised. "At the same time (placing greater emphasis on published work) could help to discourage verbose, unfocused traditional theses."

The nature of British PhDs has been under review for some time. Employers are concerned that postdocs lack communication skills and business acumen.

The research councils are worried that students take too long to complete their PhDs. Many students take more than four years to complete their three-year PhDs. In subjects where there is a long time between the submission of a paper to a journal and its eventual acceptance, this could further slow the award of a PhD. The report is against making pre-publication mandatory for this reason.