The route to a doctorate by previously published work is currently offered by many universities, but is generally restricted to university staff, or in some cases to existing alumni. At European-American University this route is open to all candidates meeting the necessary academic prerequisites, and can in some cases include subject areas that are not otherwise offered by the University. The award will be available to those who have published substantial work representing an original and significant contribution to their discipline, usually in the form of books and scholarly articles that have been made available to the public in a recognized format. Interdisciplinary work can also be considered. Submission is made via a portfolio of this work together with an accompanying paper that places the work in its context.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is available via this route, as is the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Arts (D.A.), Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) and Doctor of Music (D.Mus.) Also available are the higher doctorates of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) and Doctor of Science (D.Sc.). The higher doctorate is an earned rather than an honorary award and represents a standard significantly beyond the Ph.D.

Candidates for the Ph.D. by published work will normally hold a master’s degree or have an equivalent background. Application is initially for pre-cognition, in which it is established whether or not the candidate has made a credible case for the award of the degree. The candidate submits the following with the pre-cognition fee:

a) a title page setting out the name of the individual and the title of the award sought;
(b) details of the individual’s existing qualifications;
(c) a critical commentary on the submission comprising a review of the contribution the work makes to the academic field in question (not to exceed 10,000 words);
(d) a list of publications in the order submitted;
(e) copies of the published material, duly ordered.

The University will then examine the submission and, if the standard for the degree is met, the candidate will then submit the degree fee and proceed to graduation.

Candidates for higher doctorates will normally hold a Ph.D. or equivalent background. The standard demanded for higher doctorates is significantly higher than the Ph.D.