We are quite familiar with fake news because of misinformation being spread through social media.
Fake news gained popularity in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to be part of our lives. But would you think people could fake academic qualifications? That too a Doctor of Philosophy–commonly referred to as a PhD. It is appalling to read about the recent crisis of desperation that has led individuals in Fiji to obtain PhDs from bogus institutions. The Fijian media highlighted that seven cases were being investigated by the
Higher Education Commission Fiji (HECF) of fake PhDs from overseas institutions since 2008. In this article, we wish to clarify how authentic PhDs are earned so that individuals interested in pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy can learn about the processes involved.
A PhD is the highest academic qualification that is awarded by a university. This should not be confused with the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) that qualifies one as a medical doctor. With an MBBS the profession is a medical doctor, but with a PhD the profession is generally an academic, a researcher to a specialist in the field of study. Those interested in going into academia can read our earlier article Stepping into academia (see The Fiji Times, 21-12-2024). A full time PhD can take up to three years for those in the humanities field and up to five years for those in the science field. However, a student enrolled for part-time PhD study can take up to eight years to complete. We share this to illustrate how fake PhDs usually take less than 12 months to obtain.
Presently, there is limited data on the total number of universities offering fake PhDs. However, various countries’ education authorities and higher education commissions released a list of fraudulent institutions. Countries including India, China, United States, and the United Kingdom released this list. One of the major reasons for the lack of specific data is because these “degree mills” operate worldwide, making a universal count impossible, though they are a persistent problem for students seeking legitimate education and for employers verifying credentials. In terms of individuals attaining fake PhDs, the problem is widespread and linked to a billion-dollar industry run by unaccredited online institutions and diploma mills such as Axact. Reports indicate that thousands of fake qualifications are sold annually, with over 3000 fake degrees purchased in the UK alone – including by medical professionals and an estimated 50,000 fake PhDs distributed each year in the United States, a figure that surpasses the number of genuine doctorates.
It can be alluded to that some students do not wish to spend so many years in a Doctor of Philosophy program. They are desperate to:
(1) complete the studies in the shortest time possible,; and
(2) to have the “Dr” title. Australian scholar, Associate Professor Finex Ndhlovu calls this the “microwave generation” where individuals want results as quickly as possible with little to no effort at all. Needless to say, a PhD requires considerable perseverance, patience, critical thinking, and exceptional research skills. Due to these pivotal factors, individuals are lured by fake tertiary institutions for faster pathways in obtaining a PhD. This is often accompanied by a partial scholarship by the enrolling institution and customised to the students need such as online offering without milestones or a faster completion track.
A typical PhD journey starts with the submission of a research intent to prospective supervisors. If they are satisfied that the research can become a viable project to supervise, they will support formal enrolment into the program.
Once in, you would need to submit a rigorous research proposal that will outline the significance of your proposed study, the need for it, the methodology you envisage to employ, its limitations and possible original contributions to knowledge. These contributions can be categorised as theoretical, empirical, or methodological. Once the committee or panel approves the research proposal, you become a PhD candidate, collect data, work on the analysis then write the findings as a thesis.
Depending on the field, a thesis can be between 50,000 to 100,000 words. Once the supervisors have deemed the thesis ready for examination, it is submitted to external examiners who are academics – experts in the field of research. Some universities also have an oral defence as a requirement called viva voce that takes place after the thesis has been examined. It is after their scrutiny and fulfilment of any amendment recommended by the examiners that the university makes a decision to award the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Another question people usually ask is if an Honorary doctorate is the same as a PhD? In short, the answer is no. An honorary doctorate is a degree that a university awards to honour a person who has made an outstanding contribution beyond the classroom. It could be given to a scientist who has revolutionised the way we view the world, an artist whose work has inspired millions, a public figure, or a person who has dedicated years to serving a charity. It is not like a traditional doctorate degree, which involves years of rigorous research and study as we have highlighted in this article. An honorary doctorate is about recognising impact – manner in which the university can officially honour an individual’s contributions and achievements.
A Doctor of Philosophy is often regarded as the pinnacle of academic achievement because it represents a substantial contribution to human knowledge through original research. This is why some ethical and integrity questions arise when we associate fake PhD holders to Fiji’s education system. Foremost, what examples are we setting in the Fijian society by obtaining a PhD by deception? Is the Dr title more significant than what the actual contribution of a PhD is? How are we going to justify to Fiji’s future generations by allowing fake PhD qualifications to exist and be welcomed in our work sector? If there is inclusion and normalisation of leaders and members of the academic community with fraudulent PhDs, how would you expect them to make any virtuous contributions to Fiji?
Through this piece, we have tried to provide a clear distinction between a genuine PhD and a fake one, underscoring that a legitimate PhD represents years of rigorous study, original research, and intellectual contribution, while a fake PhD merely imitates the title without the substance, effort, or integrity behind it. A real PhD demands scholarly excellence, whereas fake degrees are products of deceit and shortcuts, obtained within months from unaccredited “degree mills.” The link between the two lies in the deceptive imitation of authenticity – where fake PhDs exploit the prestige of genuine qualifications to gain social, professional, or financial advantage. Our article reminds aspiring scholars that the “Dr” title should symbolise contribution to knowledge, not convenience or vanity. The warning from Higher Education Commission — Fiji is a timely one — encouraging vigilance, integrity, and a renewed respect for the sanctity of education.
- DR PRASHNEEL R GOUNDAR was awarded the Research and Training Program International PhD scholarship by the Australian Government in 2021.
- RAVNIL NARAYAN is a PhD candidate in Applied Linguistics and a Lecturer at the Fiji National University. The views expressed in this article are their own. Email: prgoundar@gmail.com or ravnilnarayan@gmail.com
