Curious if anyone has experience with some of the distance doctorates from the UK. Any information or insight is appreciated. Regards
I'm not sure how much homework you've already done so maybe you already understand the British PhDs (99% of them) are research based dissertation-only programs. There are many opportunities across a wide range of disciplines. Just like anywhere else, some schools are well known with fantastic reps. Others less so. If you're looking for help choosing a specific program(s) it will good for us to know a bit about your area of interest, background and goals for the degree.
Technically, any PhD in the UK can be considered distance as all you need to do is negotiate skype meetings with your supervisor. The problem with these programs is that they are challenging in the way that there is only a dissertation and no coursework so you need to come in with enough research background. The other issue is money, many British schools charge per term about 18K pounds so if you take 4 years, this is about 72K pounds our around 100,000 USD. Assume also at least two trips, one for defense of proposal and for defense of dissertation so this can add up. The other issue is usability, the british PhD works well for adjunct work but it might not score so well for tenure track positions unless you finish it from a top UK school. Many schools do not like British PhDs because they lack the comprehensive exams, coursework, etc so they would prefer American over British degree things being equal.
I have found found quite a few recently that do have coursework, just not in the traditional way within the "major." Several have some form of research courses to complete in the first 12 - 24 months while on a probationary period which rolls you into the thesis phase. At HW it is exams, at Leicester it is online courses, etc. I am not sure what could be negotiated if you already have any/all of the research courses they require. Also, you will need to already have a research proposal planned out. Some are fine with a few pages others want it completely thorough. To answer your original question, there are definitely a few people around here that are in process, recently completed, or quit from the programs you are checking into.
This is true, I have heard that "insufficient rigor" mantra from U.S. faculty regarding Brit dissertation-only PhD programs. I don't know why, particularly, because if you can prove up the ability to do legitimate PhD-level research in an 80,000+ word dissertation that's heavy on the quant and necessarily includes knowledge in statistical methodologies that you'd pick up in the formal coursework and necessarily includes the sort of heavy-lifting lit review that they'd teach you in a U.S. program, then what's the difference, at the end of the day? If I can build a staircase that an engineer deems sound, should anyone concern themselves with how I obtained the knowledge? Is it even relevant? We had a Brit PhD on our faculty, and he was really, really good (in fact, he was too good, we couldn't keep him, he moved on after a few years, taking a position as a department chair at a larger university), but he'd gotten his PhD at a top 15 Brit university. The best way to get the TT faculty position is very conventionally, by getting a PhD residentially at a B&M U.S. university that's accredited at the highest level. If that avenue's not open, then maybe one can do the less conventional route, but they'd better be making up for that deficiency by presenting regularly at conferences in whatever region they'd like to land a job and becoming a known quantity--and better yet, turning some of those presentations into pubs. People also need to be very realistic about their prospects if they get a PhD from a for-profit, because even if they do publish and present regularly, the doors will almost certainly be forever closed for TT positions (and likely even non-TT) at big universities. The only types who seem to accomplish that feat are those who've already established themselves in academia, masters-only, then they do the for-profit PhD route while teaching. Even then, it's usually only the somewhat less august institutions at which people pull this off, such as FHSU (while a perfectly fine school, very legit, they're not exactly on the same level as the University of Kansas a few hours down I-70 from them).
Yes, am considering for teaching but adjunct or community college would be fine. There is provincial bias everywhere but I don't feel concerned about having a degree in the "Queen's English". I thought there might be a good value proposition (i.e. I've seen some great deals on distance degrees from excellent schools in the UK). I didn't realize UK PhDs could run so expensive.
Some of them are quite reasonably priced. Heriot-Watt/Edinburg Business School has an inexpensive (< $30K USD) business PhD, Leicester (I can't remember how much, but it's reasonable) does PhDs at a distance and the University of Reading charges distance PhD students half price (approx $5,000 pounds a year for U.S.-based internationals).
The British PhD would score better than a degree from an American for profit school. I believe the British PhD would be comparable to your typical state non highly ranked American University. I believe most people prefer the for profit PhD mainly because feasibility, the British PhD would not be easy and it is going to require quite a bit of time. I know at least two people that started but never finished. The for profit Universities have the advantage that degrees are quite feasible for busy people with hectic schedules. You can still land a decent job at a community college with a for profit PhD.
Methinks you may be right on the "won't be easy part". An associate is doing a "part-time distance" masters from a Russell uni. From what she describes it is very rigorous; particularly with a full time job.
Many people come to this forum with the idea to do a British PhD thinking it would be easier as there is course work. The reality is that I don't remember even one person from this board that has earned a British PhD. Rich Douglas earned a Doctor of Social Science degree from a British school but not a PhD, he is the only one that I recall from this board earning a British Doctorate. Most people end doing a PhD at a for profit mainly because feasibility, these program are designed for the family man with work responsibilities that can only spare 5 to 10 hrs a week and cannot afford to wait 6 years to get one.
