In the thick of it: a candid look at the lived experience of online PhDs with publications or creative works

Abstract This article presents a cooperative inquiry into the lived experience of pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree with publications or creative works. Drawing on the insights of five online PhD students and their two supervisors in an Australian online program, the research objective is to present perspectives contemporaneous with the online doctoral journey and address the research question: What are the strengths and challenges in undertaking a PhD with publication or creative works, and how do these differ according to personal backgrounds and academic disciplines? The research uncovers: first, the importance of passion, motivation, emotional aspects, and connections supporting these types of doctoral journeys; second, that navigating the formidable pressures and celebrating the rewards of publishing and creating is part of the process; and third, the integral partnership between supervisors and students in an online environment is essential in creating outputs. These themes were typical for the five student co-inquirers, but how they manifested differed relative to each individual’s personal and professional backgrounds. This research expands current conversations about the emotional, psychological, and structural dimensions, adding nuance to the existing literature. It provides others considering enrolling, currently studying or who are new to supervising these types of online PhDs with valuable insights that can benefit the future cohort of PhD candidates, particularly as universities address recent trends of declining enrolments in doctoral programs.