The phrase “publish or perish” has become a defining feature of modern academic life. For many early-career researchers—and especially PhD students—the expectation to produce high-quality publications has grown increasingly intense. Publishing is widely seen as the gateway to academic credibility, career progression, and research visibility. Yet behind this familiar mantra lies a complex system of pressures, incentives, and structural challenges that shape what research gets produced and who succeeds in academic careers.
What Is “Publish or Perish”?
The phrase “publish or perish” refers to the widespread belief that academics must continually publish research in order to secure jobs, promotions, funding, and long-term career stability. In other words, if researchers do not publish, they risk professional stagnation or, worse, becoming irrelevant within their field.
Publish or Perish Meaning & Origin
The idea emerged in the early twentieth century but became especially prominent after the 1950s, as universities expanded and research output became a key metric for institutional reputation. Over time, publication expectations intensified, fuelled by global university rankings, competitive hiring processes, and the rise of performance-based research assessments.
In practice, publish or perish means that publications—particularly peer-reviewed journal articles—act as evidence of intellectual contribution. They serve as the currency of academia, determining which scholars gain recognition and which ideas gain traction.
Why Publishing Matters in Academia
1. Career Progression
Publishing is central to career development in academia. Hiring committees often look closely at a candidate’s publication record when assessing their potential as a future researcher and educator. Promotion systems, too, frequently rely on publication metrics. In many universities, researchers must show continual output to move from lecturer to senior lecturer or from assistant professor to associate professor. For early-career academics, a strong cluster of publications can:
- Strengthen applications for postdoctoral positions
- Demonstrate independence and research capability
- Provide evidence of productivity and scholarly engagement
In many doctoral programmes, students are in fact encouraged to plan for publishing already during the last period of your PhD and before graduation.
➡️ For detailed advice on choosing appropriate journals, preparing manuscripts, and navigating peer review you can read our guide on How to Publish a Research Paper: A Guide for Students
Research Visibility and Impact
Publishing is also about making knowledge public. Journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers allow you to contribute to debates, refine ideas, and engage with scholarly communities. The more visible a piece of research becomes—through citations, downloads, or social media engagement—the greater its potential influence.
Publishing also affects how a researcher is perceived within a field. A well-cited article or a respected monograph can help establish someone as an expert in a specific topic area, opening doors to collaborations, invitations to speak, and more.
💡 If you’re aiming to transform your thesis into published outputs, our detailed blog on How to Get Your PhD Thesis Published walks you through the steps—from identifying suitable outlets to preparing for submission.
Funding and Grants
Grant application panels usually evaluate the applicant’s track record, with publications serving as strong evidence of academic potential. In highly competitive funding rounds, researchers with fewer publications may find it more difficult to secure grants, even if their proposed project is strong.
Funding bodies often look for:
- A consistent publication record
- Outputs in reputable journals
- Evidence that previous research has been disseminated effectively
This is one reason why publishing early and often feels essential for researchers seeking long-term academic careers.
How “Publish or Perish” Affects PhD Students
Pressure to Publish Early
Although publication expectations vary across disciplines, many PhD students now feel compelled to start publishing before they complete their doctoral thesis. In STEM subjects, it is increasingly common for a PhD to include a portfolio of published or publishable papers. In the social sciences and humanities, while monograph-style theses remain the norm, supervisors often encourage students to publish at least one journal article before graduation.
This trend is driven partly by competition in the academic job market and partly by the desire to demonstrate readiness for postdoctoral research.
Balancing Publishing With Thesis Work
A major challenge for PhD students is balancing the demands of producing original research for their thesis with the time-consuming process of drafting, revising, and submitting articles. You may ask yourdelf:
- Should I focus on writing my thesis or preparing journal manuscripts?
- How many publications are “enough”?
- How do I choose between writing for my doctorate and writing for journals?
These decisions can be difficult, and expectations may vary significantly between supervisors, departments, and universities.
Mental Health and Workload
The publish-or-perish culture contributes to high levels of stress and burnout among doctoral researchers. PhD students frequently experience:
- Anxiety around journal rejection
- Fear of falling behind peers
- Pressure to meet supervisory expectations
- Feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome
The peer-review process itself can be emotionally draining. Reviewers may request substantial revisions or reject articles for reasons that feel unclear or unfair. Learning to accept and respond to feedback constructively becomes an essential skill.
Critiques of the Publish-or-Perish Culture
Quantity Over Quality
A common criticism of the publish-or-perish system is that it incentivises quantity over quality. You may feel pressured to produce multiple shorter papers—sometimes referred to as “salami slicing”—rather than taking the time to develop more substantial, innovative ideas.
This can lead to:
- Fragmented publications
- Research that prioritises quick results
- Lower replication rates or reduced methodological rigour
The pressure to publish can therefore undermine the very aim of academic inquiry: to generate robust, meaningful knowledge.
Impact on Research Innovation
A risk-averse culture can limit creativity. If a researcher worries that unconventional topics or methods might struggle to get published, they may gravitate towards safer, more mainstream ideas. As a result, innovative, interdisciplinary, or speculative research may receive less attention than it deserves.
How to Navigate the Publish-or-Perish Landscape
Strategic Publishing During Your PhD
Publishing strategically is more effective than publishing frequently. Here are some ideas:
- Identifying journals that align closely with their research
- Targeting outlets with appropriate scope and readership
- Integrating publication planning into their research timeline
It can also help to start small. Book reviews, commentary pieces, and co-authored papers can offer valuable experience with academic writing and peer review before tackling a major journal submission.
Collaborating Effectively
Co-authorship can help you develop research skills, build networks, and increase publication output. Working alongside supervisors, peers, or postdoctoral researchers can provide guidance and reduce the burden of writing alone.
Understanding disciplinary norms around authorship order is also essential. In some fields, the first author is the primary contributor; in others, the last author holds seniority.
Becoming Peer-Review Ready
Mastering the peer-review process is a long-term skill. Learn how to:
- Respond calmly to reviewer comments
- Revise manuscripts effectively
- Strengthen arguments and clarify methodologies
- Build resilience after rejection
Rejection is normal—even senior academics regularly have papers turned down. The goal is not to avoid failure but to iterate, refine, and persist.
FAQs About Publication During Your PhD
How many publications does a PhD student need?
There is no universal requirement. Some PhD students complete their degree without any publications, especially in the humanities. Others, particularly in STEM, may graduate with several journal articles. What matters most is the quality of your research and the expectations within your discipline or programme.
Do all fields expect PhD students to publish?
No. Expectations vary widely. Disciplines with fast-moving research environments—such as biotechnology or computer science—tend to expect early publications, while fields like history or philosophy may place more emphasis on monograph-length theses.
How do you deal with rejection from journals?
Rejection is an inevitable part of academic publishing. The key is to treat feedback as constructive, revise the manuscript, and submit it to another suitable journal. Many published articles were rejected several times before finding the right home.
Can you get an academic job without many publications?
Yes, especially if you have strengths in other areas such as teaching, professional experience, or engagement. However, publications do remain an important factor in competitive hiring processes, particularly for research-focused roles.
Conclusion
The publish-or-perish culture shapes academic life in profound ways. While publishing is essential for career development, research visibility, and funding opportunities, it also imposes significant pressures—especially on PhD students navigating the early stages of their academic journey.
Understanding the system, developing a strategic publication plan, and building resilience through the peer-review process can help mitigate some of these challenges. Ultimately, academic publishing should be seen as a meaningful way to share knowledge rather than a constant race for output.
Need Help With Publishing?
If you’re preparing to publish during your PhD or want expert support developing journal-ready work, explore our journal publication services tailored for PhD students. We help you refine manuscripts, strengthen arguments, and navigate the submission process with confidence.
