Adoctorate (from Latindoctor, meaning "teacher") ordoctoral degree is a postgraduateacademic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalismlicentia docendi ("licence to teach").
In most countries, a research degree qualifies the holder to teach at university level in the degree's field or work in a specificprofession. There are a number of doctoral degrees; the most common is theDoctor of Philosophy (PhD), awarded in many different fields, ranging from thehumanities toscientific disciplines.
Many universities also awardhonorary doctorates to individuals deemed worthy of special recognition, either for scholarly work or other contributions to the university or society.
The termdoctor derives from Latin, meaning "teacher" or "instructor". The doctorate (Latin:doctoratus) appeared inmedieval Europe as a license to teach Latin (licentia docendi) at auniversity.[1] Its roots can be traced to theearly church in which the termdoctor referred to theApostles,church fathers, and otherChristian authorities who taught andinterpreted the Bible.[1]
The right to grant alicentia docendi (i.e. the doctorate) was originally reserved to theCatholic Church, which required the applicant to pass a test, take anoath of allegiance, and pay a fee. TheThird Council of the Lateran of 1179 guaranteed access—at that time essentially free of charge—to all able applicants. Applicants were tested for aptitude.[2] This right remained a bone of contention between the church authorities and the universities, slowly distancing themselves from the Church. In 1213 the right was granted by thepope to theUniversity of Paris, where it became a universal license to teach (licentia ubique docendi).[2] However, while thelicentia continued to hold a higher prestige than thebachelor's degree (baccalaureus), the latter was ultimately reduced to an intermediate step to the master's degree (magister) and doctorate, both of which now became the accepted teaching qualifications.[2] According to Keith Allan Noble (1994), the first doctoral degree was awarded in medieval Paris around 1150 by the University of Paris.[3]
George Makdisi theorizes that theijazah issued in early Islamicmadrasahs was the origin of the doctorate later issued in medieval Europeanuniversities.[4][5]Alfred Guillaume andSyed Farid al-Attas agree that there is a resemblance between theijazah and thelicentia docendi.[6] However,Toby Huff and others reject Makdisi's theory.[7][8][9][10]Devin J. Stewart notes a difference in the granting authority (individual professor for theijzazah and a corporate entity in the case of the university doctorate).[11]
Thedoctorate of philosophy developed in Germany in the 17th century (likelyc. 1652).[12] The term "philosophy" does not refer here to the field or academic discipline ofphilosophy; it is used in a broader sense under its originalGreek meaning of "love of wisdom". In most ofEurope, all fields (history, philosophy,social sciences,mathematics, andnatural philosophy/natural sciences)[13] were traditionally known as philosophy, and inGermany and elsewhere in Europe the basic faculty ofliberal arts was known as the "faculty of philosophy". The Doctorate of Philosophy adheres to this historic convention, even though most degrees are not for the study of philosophy. Chris Park explains that it was not until formal education and degree programs were standardized in the early 19th century that the Doctorate of Philosophy was reintroduced in Germany as a research degree,[14] abbreviated as Dr. phil. (similar to Ph.D. in Anglo-American countries). Germany, however, differentiated then in more detail between doctorates in philosophy and doctorates in the natural sciences, abbreviated asDr. rer. nat. and also doctorates in the social/political sciences, abbreviated as Dr. rer. pol., similar to the other traditional doctorates in medicine (Dr. med.) and law (Dr. jur.).
University doctoral training was a form ofapprenticeship to aguild. The traditional term of study before new teachers were admitted to the guild of "Masters of Arts" was seven years, matching the apprenticeship term for other occupations. Originally the terms "master" and "doctor" were synonymous, but over time the doctorate came to be regarded as a higher qualification than themaster's degree.
University degrees, including doctorates, were originally restricted to men. The first women to be granted doctorates wereJuliana Morell in 1608 at Lyons[15] or maybe Avignon (she "defended theses" in 1606 or 1607, although claims that she received a doctorate incanon law in 1608 have been discredited),[citation needed]Elena Cornaro Piscopia in 1678 at theUniversity of Padua,Laura Bassi in 1732 atBologna University,Dorothea Erxleben in 1754 atHalle University andMaría Isidra de Guzmán y de la Cerda in 1785 atComplutense University, Madrid.[16]
The use and meaning of the doctorate have changed over time and are subject to regional variations. For instance, until the early 20th century, few academic staff or professors inEnglish-speaking universities held doctorates, except for very senior scholars and those inholy orders. After that time, theGerman practice of requiring lecturers to have completed a research doctorate spread. Universities' shift to research-oriented education (based upon the scientific method, inquiry, and observation) increased the doctorate's importance. Today, a research doctorate (PhD) or its equivalent (as defined in the US by theNSF) is generally a prerequisite for anacademic career. However, many recipients do not work in academia.
Professional doctorates developed in the United States from the 19th century onward. The first professional doctorate offered in the United States was theMD at Kings College (nowColumbia University) after the medical school's founding in 1767.[17] However, this was not a professional doctorate in the modern American sense. It was awarded for further study after the qualifying Bachelor of Medicine (MB) rather than a qualifying degree.[18] The MD became the standard first degree in medicine in the US during the 19th century, but as a three-year undergraduate degree. It did not become established as a graduate degree until 1930. As the standard qualifying degree in medicine, the MD gave that profession the ability (through theAmerican Medical Association, established in 1847 for this purpose) to set and raise standards for entry into professional practice.[19][20]
In the shape of the German-style PhD, the modern research degree was first awarded in the US in 1861, atYale University.[21] This differed from the MD in that the latter was a vocational "professional degree" that trained students to apply or practice knowledge rather than generate it, similar to other students in vocational schools or institutes. In the UK, research doctorates initially took higher doctorates in Science and Letters, first introduced atDurham University in 1882.[22] The PhD spread to the UK from the US via Canada and was instituted at all British universities from 1917. The first (titled a DPhil) was awarded at theUniversity of Oxford.[23][24]
Following the MD, the next professional doctorate in the US, theJuris Doctor (JD), was established by the University of Chicago in 1902. However, it took a long time to be accepted, not replacing the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) until the 1960s, by which time the LLB was generally taken as a graduate degree. Notably, the JD and LLB curriculum were identical, with the degree being renamed as a doctorate, and it (like the MD) was not equivalent to the PhD, raising criticism that it was "not a 'true Doctorate'".[25][26] When professional doctorates were established in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they did not follow the US model. Still, they were set up as research degrees at the same level as PhDs but with some taught components and a professional focus for research work.[27]
Now usually called higher doctorates in the United Kingdom, the older-style doctorates take much longer to complete since candidates must show themselves to be leading experts in their subjects. These doctorates are less common than the PhD in some countries and are often awardedhonoris causa. Thehabilitation is still used for academic recruitment purposes in many countries within the EU. It involves either a long new thesis (a second book) or a portfolio of research publications. The habilitation (highest available degree) demonstrates independent and thorough research, experience in teaching and lecturing, and, more recently, the ability to generate supportive funding. The habilitation follows the research doctorate, and in Germany, it can be a requirement for appointment as aPrivatdozent or professor.
Since theMiddle Ages, the number and types of doctorates awarded by universities have proliferated throughout the world. Practice varies from one country to another. While a doctorate usually entitles a person to be addressed as "doctor", the use of the title varies widely depending on the type and the associated occupation.
Research doctorates are awarded in recognition of publishable academic research, at least in principle, in apeer-reviewedacademic journal. The best-known research degree in theEnglish-speaking world is theDoctor of Philosophy (abbreviated PhD[28][29] or, at a small number of British universities, DPhil[30][31][32]) awarded in many countries throughout the world. In the US, for instance, although the most typical research doctorate is the PhD, accounting for about 98% of the research doctorates awarded, there are more than 15 other names for research doctorates.[29][33] Other research-oriented doctorates (some having a professional practice focus) include theDoctor of Education (EdD[28][29]), theDoctor of Science (DSc or ScD[29]),Doctor of Arts (DA[29]),Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD or SJD[29]),Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA[29]),Doctor of Professional Studies/Professional Doctorate (ProfDoc or DProf),[28]Doctor of Public Health (DrPH[29]),Doctor of Social Science (DSSc or DSocSci[28]),Doctor of Management (DM, DMan or DMgt),[34][35]Doctor of Business Administration (DBA[29][36]),Doctor of Engineering (DEng, DESc, DES or EngD)[29][37] the German engineering doctorateDoktoringenieur (Dr.-Ing.), natural science doctorateDoctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.), and economics and social science doctorateDoctor rerum politicarum (Dr. rer. pol.). The UKDoctor of Medicine (MD or MD (Res)) andDoctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) are research doctorates.[28] TheDoctor of Theology (ThD[29][28] or DTh),Doctor of Practical Theology (DPT)[28] and theDoctor of Sacred Theology (STD,[29] or DSTh) are research doctorates in theology.[38]
Criteria for research doctorates vary but typically require completion of a substantial body of original research, which may be presented as a singlethesis ordissertation, or as a portfolio of shorter project reports (thesis by publication). The submitted dissertation is assessed by a committee of, typically, internal, and external examiners. It is then typically defended by the candidate during an oral examination (calledviva (voce) in the UK and India) by the committee, which then awards the degree unconditionally, awards the degree conditionally (ranging from corrections in grammar to additional research), or denies the degree. Candidates may also be required to complete graduate-level courses in their field and study research methodology.
Criteria for admission to doctoral programs vary. Students may be admitted with a bachelor's degree in the US and the UK However, elsewhere, e.g. in Finland and many other European countries, a master's degree is required. The time required to complete a research doctorate varies from three years, excluding undergraduate study, to six years or more.
Licentiate degrees vary widely in their meaning, and in a few countries are doctoral-level qualifications.Sweden awards the licentiate degree as a two-year qualification at the doctoral level and the doctoral degree (PhD) as a four-year qualification.[39] Sweden originally abolished the Licentiate in 1969 but reintroduced it in response to demands from business.[40] Finland also has a two-year doctoral level licentiate degree, similar to Sweden's.[41] Outside of Scandinavia, the licentiate is usually a lower-level qualification. In Belgium, the licentiate was the basic university degree prior to theBologna Process and was equivalent to a bachelor's degree.[42][43] In France and other countries, it is the bachelor's-level qualification in the Bologna process.[44] In the Pontifical system, the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) is equivalent to an advanced master's degree, or the post-master's coursework required in preparation for a doctorate (i.e. similar in level to the Swedish/Finnish licentiate degree). While other licences (such as the Licence in Canon Law) are at the level of master's degrees.[45]
A higher tier of research doctorates may be awarded based on a formally submitted portfolio of published research of an exceptionally high standard. Examples include theDoctor of Science (DSc or ScD),Doctor of Divinity (DD),Doctor of Letters (DLitt or LittD),Doctor of Law or Laws (LLD), andDoctor of Civil Law (DCL) degrees found in the UK, Ireland and some Commonwealth countries, and the traditional doctorates inScandinavia like theDoctor Medicinae (Dr. Med.).
Thehabilitation teaching qualification (facultas docendi or "faculty to teach") under a university procedure with a thesis and an exam is commonly regarded as belonging to this category inGermany,Austria,France,Liechtenstein,Switzerland,Poland, etc. The degree developed in Germany in the 19th century "when holding a doctorate seemed no longer sufficient to guarantee a proficient transfer of knowledge to the next generation".[46] In many federal states of Germany, the habilitation results in an award of a formal "Dr. habil." degree or the holder of the degree may add "habil." to their research doctorate such as "Dr. phil. habil." or "Dr. rer. nat. habil." In some European universities, especially inGerman-speaking countries, the degree is insufficient to have teaching duties without professor supervision (or teaching and supervising PhD students independently) without an additional teaching title such asPrivatdozent. In Austria, the habilitation bestows the graduate with thefacultas docendi,venia legendi. Since 2004, the honorary title of "Privatdozent" (before this, completing the habilitation resulted in appointment as a civil servant). In manyCentral and Eastern Europe countries, the degree givesvenia legendi, Latin for "the permission to lecture", orius docendi, "the right to teach", a specific academic subject at universities for a lifetime. The French academic system used to have a higher doctorate, called the "state doctorate" (doctorat d'État), but, in 1984, it was superseded by the habilitation (Habilitation à diriger des recherches, "habilitation to supervise (doctoral and post-doctoral) research", abbreviated HDR) which is the prerequisite to supervise PhDs and to apply to Full Professorships. In many countries of the previous Soviet Union (USSR), for example theRussian Federation orUkraine there is the higher doctorate (above the title of "Candidate of Sciences"/PhD) under the title "Doctor of Sciences".
While this section has focused on earned qualifications conferred in virtue of published work or the equivalent, a higher doctorate may also be presented on an honorary basis by a university — at its own initiative or after a nomination — in recognition of public prestige, institutional service, philanthropy, or professional achievement. In a formal listing of qualifications, and often in other contexts, an honorary higher doctorate will be identified using language like "DCL,honoris causa", "HonLLD", or "LittDh.c.".
Depending on the country, professional doctorates may also be research degrees at the same level asPhDs. The relationship between research and practice is considered important andprofessional degrees with little or no research content are typically aimed at professional performance. Many professional doctorates are named "Doctor of [subject name] and abbreviated using the form "D[subject abbreviation]" or "[subject abbreviation]D",[28] or may use the more generic titles "Professional Doctorate", abbreviated "ProfDoc" or "DProf",[28] "Doctor of Professional Studies" (DPS)[47][48] or "Doctor of Professional Practice" (DPP).[49][50]
In the US, professional doctorates (formally "doctor's degree – professional practice" in government classifications) are defined by theUS Department of Education's National Center for Educational Statistics as degrees that require a minimum of six years of university-level study (including any pre-professional bachelor's or associate degree) and meet the academic requirements for professionallicensure in the discipline. The definition for a professional doctorate does not include a requirement for either a dissertation or study beyond master's level, in contrast to the definition for research doctorates ("doctor's degree – research/scholarship"). However, individual programs may have different requirements.[51][52] There is also a category of "doctor's degree – other" for doctorates that do not fall into either the "professional practice" or "research/scholarship" categories.[53] All of these are considered doctoral degrees.[54]
In contrast to the US, many countries reserve the term "doctorate" for research degrees. If, as in Canada and Australia, professional degrees bear the name "Doctor of ...", etc., it is made clear that these are not doctorates. Examples of this include Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Juris Doctor (JD). Contrariwise, for example, research doctorates like Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Social Science (DSS) qualify as full academic doctorates in Canada though they normally incorporate aspects of professional practice in addition to a full dissertation.[55][56] In the Philippines, the University of the Philippines Open University offers a Doctor of Communication (DComm) professional doctorate.[57]
All doctorates in the UK and Ireland are third cycle qualifications in theBologna Process, comparable to US research doctorates. Although all doctorates are research degrees, professional doctorates normally include taught components, while the name PhD/DPhil is normally used for doctorates purely by thesis. Professional, practitioner, or practice-based doctorates such as the DClinPsy, MD, DHSc, EdD, DBA, EngD and DAg[58] are full academic doctorates. They are at the same level as the PhD in the national qualifications frameworks; they are not first professional degrees but are "often post-experience qualifications" in which practice is considered important in the research context.[27][28][36][59] In 2009 there were 308 professional doctorate programs in the UK, up from 109 in 1998, with the most popular being the EdD (38 institutions), DBA (33), EngD/DEng (22), MD/DM (21), and DClinPsy/DClinPsych/ClinPsyD (17).[60] Similarly, in Australia, the term "professional doctorate" is sometimes applied to theScientiae Juridicae Doctor (SJD),[61][62] which, like the UK professional doctorates, is a research degree.[63][64]
When a university wishes to formally recognize an individual's contributions to a particular field orphilanthropic efforts, it may choose to grant a doctoral degreehonoris causa ('for the sake of the honor'), waiving the usual requirements for granting the degree.[65][66] Some universities do not award honorary degrees, for example,Cornell University,[67] theUniversity of Virginia,[68] andMassachusetts Institute of Technology.[69]
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InArgentina the doctorate (doctorado)[70] is the highest academic degree. The intention is that candidates produce original contributions in their field knowledge within a frame of academic excellence.[71] A dissertation or thesis is prepared under the supervision of a tutor or director. It is reviewed by a Doctoral Committee composed of examiners external to the program and at least one examiner external to the institution. The degree is conferred after a successful dissertation defence.[72] In 2006, there were approximately 2,151 postgraduate careers in the country, of which 14% were doctoral degrees.[71] Doctoral programs in Argentina are overseen by theNational Commission for University Evaluation and Accreditation [es],[73][failed verification] an agency in Argentina's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.[74]
TheAustralian Qualifications Framework (AQF) categorizes tertiary qualifications into ten levels that are numbered from one to ten in ascending order of complexity and depth.[75] Of these qualification levels, six are for higher education qualifications and are numbered from five to ten.[75] Doctoral degrees occupy the highest of these levels: level ten.[75]: 63 All doctoral degrees involve research and this is a defining characteristic of them.[75]: 63 There are three categories of doctoral degrees recognized by the AQF: research doctorates, professional doctorates and higher doctorates.[75]: 63–64
Research doctorates and professional doctorates are both completed as part of a programme of study and supervised research.[75]: 63 Both have entry requirements of the student having a supervisor that has agreed to supervise their research, along with the student possessing an honours degree with upper second-class honours or better or a master's degree with a substantial research component.[76][77] Research doctorates are typically titled Doctor of Philosophy and they are awarded on the basis of an original and significant contribution to knowledge.[75]: 63 Professional doctorates are typically titled Doctor of (field of study) and they are awarded on the basis of an original and significant contribution to professional practice.[75]: 63
Higher doctorates are typically titled similarly to professional doctorates and are awarded based on a submitted portfolio of research that follows a consistent theme and is internationally recognized as an original and substantive contribution to knowledge beyond that required for the awarding of a research doctorate.[75]: 64 [78][79] Typically, to be eligible to be awarded a higher doctorate a student must have completed a research doctorate at least seven to ten years prior to submitting the research portfolio used to award them a higher doctorate.[78][80]
Doctoral candidates are normally required to have amaster's degree in a related field. Exceptions are based on their individual academic merit. A second and a third foreign language are other common requirements, although the requirements regarding proficiency commonly are not strict. The admissions process varies by institution. Some require candidates to take tests while others base admissions on a research proposal application and interview only. In both instances however, a faculty member must agree prior to admission to supervise the applicant.
Requirements usually include satisfactory performance in advanced graduate courses, passing an oral qualifying exam and submitting a thesis that must represent an original and relevant contribution to existing knowledge. The thesis is examined in a final public oral exam administered by at least five faculty members, two of whom must be external. After completion, which normally consumes 4 years, the candidate is commonly awarded the degree ofDoutor (Doctor) followed by the main area of specialization, e.g.Doutor em Direito (Doctor of Laws),Doutor em Ciências da Computação (Doctor of Computer Sciences),Doutor em Filosofia (Doctor of Philosophy),Doutor em Economia (Doctor of Economics),Doutor em Engenharia (Doctor of Engineering) orDoutor em Medicina (Doctor of Medicine). The generic title ofDoutor em Ciências (Doctor of Sciences) is normally used to refer collectively to doctorates in the natural sciences (i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biological and Life Sciences, etc.)
All graduate programs in Brazilian public universities are tuition-free (mandated by theBrazilian constitution). Some graduate students are additionally supported by institutional scholarships granted by federal government agencies like CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) and CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Pessoal de Ensino Superior). Personal scholarships are provided by the various FAP's (Fundações de Amparo à Pesquisa) at the state level, especially FAPESP in the state ofSão Paulo, FAPERJ in the state ofRio de Janeiro and FAPEMIG in the state ofMinas Gerais. Competition for graduate financial aid is intense and most scholarships support at most 2 years of Master's studies and 4 years of doctoral studies. The normal monthly stipend for doctoral students in Brazil is between US$500 and $1000.
A degree ofDoutor usually enables an individual to apply for a junior faculty position equivalent to a USassistant professor. Progression to full professorship, known asProfessor Titular requires that the candidate be successful in a competitive public exam and normally takes additional years. In the federal university system, doctors who are admitted as junior faculty members may progress (usually by seniority) to the rank of associate professor, then become eligible to take the competitive exam for vacant full professorships. In São Paulo state universities, associate professorships and subsequent eligibility to apply for a full professorship are conditioned on the qualification ofLivre-docente [pt] and requires, in addition to a doctorate, a second thesis or cumulative portfolio of peer-reviewed publications, a public lecture before a panel of experts (including external members from other universities), and a written exam.
In recent years some initiatives as jointly supervised doctorates (e.g. "cotutelles") have become increasingly common in the country, as part of the country's efforts to open its universities to international students.[81]
Denmark offers two types of "doctorate"-like degrees:
For the ph.d. degree, the candidates (ph.d. students or fellows) – who are required to have a master's degree – enroll at a ph.d. school at a university and participate in a research training program, at the end of which they each submit a thesis and defend it orally at a formaldisputation. In the disputation, the candidates defend their theses against three official opponents, and may take opponents or questions from those present in theauditorium(ex auditorio).
For the higher doctorate, the candidate (referred to aspræses) is required to submit a thesis of major scientific significance, and to proceed to defend it orally against two official opponents, as well as against any and all opponents from the auditorium (ex auditorio) – no matter how long the proceedings take. The official opponents are required to be full professors. The candidate is required to have a master's degree, but not necessarily a ph.d.
The ph.d. was introduced as a separate title from the higher doctorate in 1992 as part of the transition to a new degree structure, since the changes in the degree system would otherwise leave a significant amount of academics without immediately recognizable qualifications in international settings. The original vision was purported to be to phase out the higher doctorate in favor of the ph.d. (or merge the two), but so far, there are no signs of this happening.[83] Many Danish academics with permanent positions wrote ph.d. dissertations in the 90s when the system was new,[82] since at that time, a ph.d. degree or equivalent qualifications began to be required for certainacademic positions in Denmark. Until the late 20th century, the higher doctorate was a condition for attaining full professorship; it is no longer requiredper se for any positions, but is considered amply equivalent to the ph.d. when applying for academic positions.
In Egypt, the highest degree doctorate is awarded byAl-Azhar University est. 970, which grants ( العالمية Ālimiyya\Habilitation).
The Medical doctorate (abbreviated as M.D.) is equivalent to thePh.D. degree.[85] To earn an M.D. in a science specialty, one must have a master's degree (M.Sc.) (or two diplomas before the introduction of M.Sc. degree in Egypt) before applying. The M.D. degree involves courses in the field and defending a dissertation. It takes on average three to five years.
Many postgraduate medical and surgical specialties students earn a doctorate. After finishing a 6-year medical school and one-year internship (house officer), physicians and surgeons earn the M.B. B.Ch. degree, which is equivalent to a USMD degree. They can then apply to earn a master's degree or a speciality diploma, then an MD degree in a specialty.
The Egyptian M.D. degree is written using the name of one's specialty. For example, M.D. (Geriatrics) means a doctorate inGeriatrics, which is equivalent to a Ph.D. in Geriatrics.
The Finnish requirement for the entrance into doctoral studies is a master's degree or equivalent. All universities have the right to award doctorates.[86] Theammattikorkeakoulu institutes (institutes of higher vocational education that are not universities but often called "Universities of Applied Sciences" in English) do not award doctoral or other academic degrees. The student must:
The way to show that these general requirements have been met is:
Entrance to a doctoral program is available only for holders of a master's degree; there is no honors procedure for recruiting Bachelors. Entrance is not as controlled as in undergraduate studies, where a strictnumerus clausus is applied. Usually, a prospective student discusses their plans with a professor. If the professor agrees to accept the student, the student applies for admission. The professor may recruit students to their group.[87] Formal acceptance does not imply funding. The student must obtain funding either by working in a research unit or through private scholarships. Funding is more available for natural and engineering sciences than in letters. Sometimes, normal work and research activity are combined.[88]
Prior to introduction of the Bologna process, Finland required at least 42 credit weeks (1,800 hours) of formal coursework. The requirement was removed in 2005, leaving the decision to individual universities, which may delegate the authority to faculties or individual professors. In Engineering and Science, required coursework varies between 40 and 70ECTS.
The duration of graduate studies varies. It is possible to graduate three years after the master's degree, while much longer periods are not uncommon. The study ends with a dissertation, which must present substantial new scientific/scholarly knowledge. The dissertation can either be a monograph or it an edited collection of 3 to 7 journal articles. Students unable or unwilling to write a dissertation may qualify for alicentiate degree by completing the coursework requirement and writing a shorter thesis, usually summarizing one year of research.
When the dissertation is ready, the faculty names two expert pre-examiners with doctoral degrees from the outside the university. During the pre-examination process, the student may receive comments on the work and respond with modifications.[89] After the pre-examiners approve, the doctoral candidate applies the faculty for permission to print the thesis. When granting this permission, the faculty names theopponent for the thesis defence, who must also be an outside expert, with at least a doctorate. In all Finnish universities, long tradition requires that the printed dissertation hang on a cord by a public university noticeboard for at least ten days prior to for the dissertation defence.[90]
The doctoral dissertation takes place in public. The opponent and the candidate conduct a formal debate, usually wearingwhite tie, under the supervision of the thesis supervisor. Family, friends, colleagues and the members of the research community customarily attend the defence. After a formal entrance, the candidate begins with an approximately 20-minute popular lecture (lectio praecursoria), that is meant to introduce laymen to the thesis topic. The opponent follows with a short talk on the topic, after which the pair critically discuss the dissertation. The proceedings take two to three hours. At the end the opponent presents their final statement and reveals whether he/she will recommend that the faculty accept it. Any member of the public then has an opportunity to raise questions, although this is rare. Immediately after the defence, the supervisor, the opponent and the candidate drink coffee with the public. Usually, the attendees of the defence are given the printed dissertation.[91] In the evening, the passed candidate hosts a dinner (Finnish:karonkka) in honour of the opponent. Usually, the candidate invites their family, colleagues and collaborators.[92]
Doctoral graduates are often Doctors of Philosophy (filosofian tohtori), but many fields retain their traditional titles: Doctor of Medicine (lääketieteen tohtori), Doctor of Science in technology (tekniikan tohtori), Doctor of Science in arts (Art and Design), etc.
The doctorate is a formal requirement for a docenture or professor's position, although these in practice requirepostdoctoral research and further experience. Exceptions may be granted by the university governing board, but this is uncommon, and usually due to other work and expertise considered equivalent.
HistoryBefore 1984 three research doctorates existed in France: theState doctorate (doctorat d'État, "DrE", the old doctorate introduced in 1808), the third cycle doctorate (doctorat de troisième cycle, also called doctorate of specialty,doctorat de spécialité, created in 1954 and shorter than the State doctorate) and thediploma of doctor-engineer (diplôme de docteur-ingénieur created in 1923), for technical research.
During the first half of the 20th century, following the submission of two theses (primary thesis,thèse principale, and secondary thesis,thèse complémentaire) to the Faculty of Letters (in France, "letters" is equivalent to "humanities") at theUniversity of Paris, the doctoral candidate was awarded theDoctorat ès lettres. There was also the less prestigious "university doctorate",doctorat d'université, which could be received for the submission of a single thesis.
In the 1950s, theDoctorat ès lettres was renamed toDoctorat d'État.[93] In 1954 (for thesciences) and 1958 (for letters andhuman sciences), the less demandingdoctorat de troisième cycle degree was created on the model of the AmericanPh.D. with the purpose to lessen what had become an increasingly long period of time between the typical students' completion of their Diplôme d'études supérieures, roughly equivalent to aMaster of Arts, and theirDoctorat d'État.[93]
After 1984, only one type of doctoral degree remained: the "doctorate" (Doctorat). A special diploma was created called the "Habilitation to Supervise Research" (also translated as "accreditation to supervise research";Habilitation à diriger des recherches), a professional qualification to supervise doctoral work. (This diploma is similar in spirit to the older State doctorate, and the requirements for obtaining it are similar to those necessary to obtaintenure in other systems.) Before only professors or senior full researchers of similar rank were normally authorized to supervise a doctoral candidate's work.[94] Now habilitation is a prerequisite to the title of professor in university (Professeur des universités) and to the title of Research Director (Directeur de recherche) in national public research agency such asCNRS,INRIA, orINRAE.
AdmissionToday, the doctorate (doctorat) is a research-only degree. It is a national degree and its requirements are fixed by the minister of higher education and research. Only public institutions award the doctorate. It can be awarded in any field of study. Themaster's degree is a prerequisite. The normal duration is three years. The writing of a comprehensive thesis constitutes the bulk of the doctoral work. While the length of the thesis varies according to the discipline, it is rarely less than 150 pages, and often substantially more. Some 15,000 new doctoral matriculations occur every year and ≈10,000 doctorates are awarded.[95]
Doctoral candidates can apply for a three-year fellowship. The most well known is theContrat Doctoral (4,000 granted every year with a gross salary of 1758 euros per month as of September 2016[update]).
Since 2002, candidates follow in-service training, but there is no written examination for the doctorate. The candidate has to write a thesis that is read by two external reviewers. The head of the institution decides whether the candidate can defend the thesis, after considering the external reviews. The jury members are designated by the head of the institution. The candidate's supervisor and the external reviewers are generally jury members. The maximum number of jury members is 8. The defense generally lasts 45 minutes in scientific fields, followed by 1 –2+1⁄2 hours of questions from the jury or other doctors present. The defense and questions are public. The jury then deliberates in private and then declares the candidate admitted or "postponed". The latter is rare. New regulations were set in 2016 and do not award distinctions.
The title of doctor (docteur) can also be used by medical and pharmaceutical practitioners who hold a doctor's State diploma (diplôme d'État de docteur, distinct from thedoctorat d'État mentioned above). The diploma is a first-degree.
A guideline with good practices and legal analysis has been published in 2018 by the Association nationale des docteurs (ANDès) and the Confédération des Jeunes Chercheurs (CJC) with funding from the French Ministry of research.[96]
Doctoral degrees in Germany are research doctorates and are awarded by a process calledPromotion. Most doctorates are awarded with specific Latin designations for the field of research (except for engineering, where the designation is German), instead of a general name for all fields (such as thePh.D.). The most important degrees are:
The concept of a US-styleprofessional doctorate as an entry-level professional qualification does not exist. Professional doctorates obtained in other countries, not requiring a thesis or not being third cycle qualifications under the Bologna process, can only be used postnominally, e.g., "Max Mustermann, MD", and do not allow the use of the title Dr.[97]
In medicine, "doctoral" dissertations are often written alongside undergraduate study therefore,European Research Council decided in 2010 that such Dr. med. degrees do not meet the international standards of a Ph.D. research degree.[98][99] The duration of the doctorate depends on the field: a doctorate in medicine may take less than a full-time year to complete; those in other fields, two to six years.
Over fifty doctoral designations exist, many of them rare or no longer in use. As a title, the degree is commonly written in front of the name in abbreviated form, e.g.,Dr. rer. nat. Max Mustermann orDr. Max Mustermann, dropping the designation entirely. However, leaving out the designation is only allowed when the doctorate degree is not an honorary doctorate, which must be indicated byDr. h.c. (from Latin honoris causa). Although the honorific does not become part of the name, holders can demand that the title appear in official documents. The title is not mandatory. The honorific is commonly used in formal letters. For holders of other titles, only the highest title is mentioned. In contrast to English, in which a person's name is preceded by at most one title (except in very ceremonious usage), the formal German mode of address permits several titles in addition to "Herr" or "Frau" (which, unlike "Mr" or "Ms", is not considered a title at all, but anAnrede or "address"),including repetitions in the case of multiple degrees, as in "Frau Prof. Dr. Dr. Schmidt",[100] for a person who would be addressed as "Prof. Schmidt" in English.
In the German university system it is common to write two doctoral theses, the inaugural thesis (Inauguraldissertation), completing a course of study, and thehabilitation thesis (Habilitationsschrift), which opens the road to a professorship.[101] Upon completion of the habilitation thesis, aHabilitation is awarded, which is indicated by appendinghabil. (habilitata/habilitatus) to the doctorate, e.g.,Dr. rer. nat. habil. Max Mustermann. It is considered as an additional academic qualification rather than an academic degree formally. It qualifies the owner to teach at German universities (facultas docendi). The holder of aHabilitation receives the authorization to teach a certain subject (venia legendi). This has been the traditional prerequisite for attainingPrivatdozent (PD) and employment as a full universityprofessor. With the introduction ofJuniorprofessuren—around 2005—as an alternative track towards becoming a professor at universities (with tenure),Habilitation is no longer the only university career track.
InIndia, doctorates are offered by universities. Entry requirements include master's degree. Some universities consider undergraduate degrees in professional areas such as engineering, medicine or law as qualifications for pursuing doctorate level degrees. Entrance examinations are held for almost all programs. In most universities, coursework duration and thesis is 3–7 years. The most common doctoral degree is Ph.D.
Until the introduction of thedottorato di ricerca in the mid-1980s, thelaurea generally constituted the highest academic degree obtainable in Italy. The first institution inItaly to create a doctoral program wasScuola Normale Superiore di Pisa in 1927 under the historic name"Diploma di Perfezionamento".[102][103] Further, thedottorato di ricerca was introduced by law and presidential decree in 1980,[104][105] in a reform of academic teaching, training and experimentation in organisation and teaching methods.[106][107]
Italy uses a three-level degree system following theBologna Process. The first-level degree, called alaurea (Bachelor's degree), requires three years and a short thesis. The second-level degree, called alaurea magistrale (Master's degree), is obtained after two additional years, specializing in a branch of the field. This degree requires more advanced thesis work, usually involving academic research or an internship. The final degree is called adottorato di ricerca (Ph.D.) and is obtained after three years of academic research on the subject and a thesis.
Alternatively, after obtaining thelaurea or thelaurea magistrale, one can complete a "Master's" (first-level Master's after thelaurea; second-level Master's after thelaurea magistrale) of one or two years, usually including an internship. An Italian "Master's" is not the same as a master's degree; it is intended to be more focused on professional training and practical experience.
Regardless of the field of study, the title for Bachelors Graduate students isDottore/Dottoressa (abbrev.Dott./Dott.ssa, or asDr.), not to be confused with the title for the Ph.D., which is insteadDottore/Dottoressa di Ricerca. Alaurea magistrale grants instead the title ofDottore/Dottoressa magistrale. Graduates in the fields of Education, Art and Music are also calledDr. Prof. (or simplyProfessore) orMaestro. Many professional titles, such asingegnere (engineer) are awarded only upon passing a post-graduation examination (esame di stato), and registration in the relevant professional association.
TheSuperior Graduate Schools in Italy[108] (Italian:Scuola Superiore Universitaria),[109] also calledSchools of Excellence (Italian:Scuole di Eccellenza)[108][110] such asScuola Normale Superiore di Pisa andSant'Anna School of Advanced Studies keep their historical"Diploma di Perfezionamento" title by law[103][111] andMIUR Decree.[112][113]
Until the 1990s, most natural science and engineering doctorates in Japan were earned by industrial researchers in Japanese companies. These degrees were awarded by the employees' former university, usually after years of research in industrial laboratories. The only requirement is submission of a dissertation, along with articles published in well-known journals. This program is calledronbun hakase (論文博士). It produced the majority of engineering doctoral degrees from national universities. University-based doctoral programs calledkatei hakase (課程博士), are gradually replacing these degrees. By 1994, more doctoral engineering degrees were earned for research within university laboratories (53%) than industrial research laboratories (47%).[114] Since 1978, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) has provided tutorial and financial support for promising researchers in Asia and Africa. The program is called JSPS RONPAKU.[115]
The only professional doctorate in Japan is the Juris Doctor, known asHōmu Hakushi (法務博士)[116] The program generally lasts two or three years. This curriculum is professionally oriented,[117] but unlike in the US the program does not provide education sufficient for a law license. All candidates for a bar license must pass the bar exam (Shihou shiken), attend the Legal Training and Research Institute and pass the practical exam (Nikai Shiken orShihou Shushusei koushi).[118]
The traditional academic system of theNetherlands provided basic academic diploma:propaedeuse and three academic degrees:kandidaat (the lowest degree), depending on genderdoctorandus ordoctoranda (drs.) (with equivalent degrees in engineering – ir. and law – mr.) anddoctor (dr.). After successful completion of the first year of university, the student was awarded the propaedeutic diploma (not a degree). In some fields, this diploma was abolished in the 1980s. In physics and mathematics, the student could directly obtain akandidaats (candidate) diploma in two years. The candidate diploma was all but abolished by 1989. It used to be attained after completion of the majority of courses of the academic study (usually after completion of course requirements of the third year in the program), after which the student was allowed to begin work on their doctorandus thesis. The successful completion of this thesis conveyed thedoctoranda/us title, implying that the student's initial studies were finished. In addition to these 'general' degrees, specific titles equivalent to thedoctorandus degree were awarded for law:meester (master) (mr.), and for engineering:ingenieur (engineer)(ir.). Following the Bologna protocol the Dutch adopted the Anglo-Saxon system of academic degrees. The old candidate's degree was revived to become the bachelor's degree and the doctorandus' (mr and ir degree) were replaced by master's degrees.
Students can only enroll in a doctorate system after completing a research university level master's degree; although dispensation can be granted on a case-by-case basis after scrutiny of the individual's portfolio. The most common way to conduct doctoral studies is to work aspromovendus/assistent in opleiding (aio)/onderzoeker in opleiding (oio) (research assistant with additional courses and supervision), perform extensive research and write a dissertation consisting of published articles (over a period of four or more years). Research can also be conducted without official research assistant status, for example through a business-sponsored research laboratory.
The doctor's title is the highest academic title in the Netherlands and Flanders. In research doctorates the degree is always Ph.D. or dr. with no distinction between disciplines, and can only be granted by research universities.
Every Ph.D. thesis has to be promoted by research university staff member holdingius promovendi (the right to promote). In the Netherlands all full professors have ius promovendi, as well as other academic staff granted this right on individual basis by the board of their university (almost always senior associate professors).[119] The promotor has the role of principal advisor and determines whether the thesis quality suffices and can be submitted to the examining committee. The examining committee is appointed by the academic board of the university based on recommendation of the promotor and consists of experts in the field. The examining committee reviews the thesis manuscript and has to approve or fail the thesis. Failures at this stage are rare because promotors generally not submit work they deem inadequate to the examining committee, supervisors and promotor lose prestige among their colleagues should they allow a substandard thesis to be submitted.
After examining committee approval, the candidate publishes the thesis (generally more than 100 copies) and sends it to the examining committee, colleagues, friends and family with an invitation to the public defence. Additional copies are kept in the university library and theRoyal Library of the Netherlands.
The degree is awarded in a formal, public, defence session, in which the thesis is defended against critical questions of the "opposition" (the examining committee). Specific formalities differ between universities, for example whether a public presentation is given, either before or during the session, specific phrasing in the procedure, and dress code. In most protocols, candidates can be supported byparanymphs, a largely ceremonial role, but they are formally allowed to take over the defence on behalf of the candidate. Doctoral candidates The actual defence lasts exactly the assigned time slot (45 minutes to 1 hour exactly depending on the university) after which the defence is suspended by thebedel who stops the examination, frequently mid sentence. Failure during this session is possible, but extremely rare. After formal approval of the thesis and the defence by the examining committee in a closed discussion, the session is resumed and the promotor grants the degree and hands over the diploma to the candidate, and usually congratulates the candidate and gives a personal speech praising the work of theyoung doctor (laudatio), before the session is formally closed.
Dutch doctors may use PhD behind their name instead of the uncapitalized dr. before their name.[120] Those who obtained a degree in a foreign country can only use one of the Dutch title dr. if their grade is approved as equivalent by theDienst Uitvoering Onderwijs[121] though according to theopportunity principle, little effort is spent in identifying such fraud.
Those who have multiple doctor (dr.) titles may use the title dr.mult.[120] Those who have received honoris causa doctorates may use dr.h.c. before their own name.[120]
The Dutch universities of technology (Eindhoven University of Technology,Delft University of Technology,University of Twente, andWageningen University) also award a 2-year (industry oriented)Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng), renamed EngD from September 2022 onwards,[122] which does not grant the right to use the dr. title abbreviation. In 2023, a pilot started at universities of applied sciences with a professional doctoral programme, in which the focus is on applying knowledge to improve or solve professional processes or products.[123][124]
InBelgium'sFlemish Community the doctorandus title was only used by those who actually started their doctoral work. Doctorandus is still used as a synonym for a Ph.D. student. Thelicentiaat (licensee) title was in use for a regular graduate until the Bologna reform changed the licentiaat degree to the master's degree (the Bologna reform abolished the two-year kandidaat degree and introduced a three-year academic bachelor's degree instead).
InPoland, an academic degree ofdoktor 'doctor' is awarded in sciences and arts upon an examination and defence of adoctoral dissertation. As Poland is a signatory to theBologna Process, doctoral studies are a third cycle of studies following thebachelor's (licencjat) andmaster's (magister) degrees or their equivalents.[a] Doctoral student is known asdoktorant (masculine form) ordoktorantka (feminine form). Doctorate is awarded within specified brach and discipline of science or art by university or research institute accredited by theminister responsible for higher education.[125][126] The title is abbreviated todr in nominative case.[127]
Doctors may further go ahabilitation process.[126]
Introduced in 1819 in theRussian Empire, the academic titleDoctor of the Sciences (Russian:Доктор наук) marks the highest academic level achievable by a formal process.
The title was abolished with the end of the Empire in 1917 and revived by theUSSR in 1934 along with a new (lower) complementary degree of aCandidate [Doctor] of the Sciences' (Russian:Кандидат наук).[128] This system is used since with minor adjustments.
TheCandidate of the Sciences title is usually seen as roughly equivalent to theresearch doctorates in Western countries while theDoctor of the Sciences title is relatively rare and retains its exclusivity. Most "Candidates" never reach the "Doctor of the Sciences" title.
Similar title systems were adopted by many of theSoviet bloc countries.
Doctoral degrees are regulated by Royal Decree (R.D. 778/1998),[129]Real Decreto (inSpanish). They are granted by the university on behalf of the king. Its diploma has the force of a public document. The Ministry of Science keeps a national registry of theses called TESEO.[130] According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), fewer than 5% of M.Sc. degree holders are admitted to Ph.D. programmes.
All doctoral programs are research-oriented. A minimum of 4 years of study is required, divided into 2 stages:
Since September 2012 and regulated by Royal Decree (R.D. 99/2011) (in Spanish),[131] three marks can be granted: Unsatisfactory (No apto), Pass (Apto) and "Cum laude" (Apto Cum Laude) as maximum mark. In the public defense the doctor is notified if the thesis has passed or not passed. TheApto Cum Laude mark is awarded after the public defense as the result of a private, anonymous vote. Votes are verified by the university. A unanimous vote of the reviewers nominates Doctors grantedApto Cum Laude for an "Extraordinary Award" (Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado).
In the same Royal Decree the initial 3-year study period was replaced by a Research master's degree (one or two years; Professional master's degrees do not grant direct access to Ph.D. Programs) that concludes with a public dissertation calledTrabajo de Fin de Máster orProyecto de Fin de Máster. An approved project earns a master's degree that grants access to a Ph.D. program and initiates the period of research.
A doctorate is required in order to teach at the university.[132] Some universities offer an online Ph.D. model.[133]
OnlyPh.D. holders,Grandees andDukes can sit and cover their heads in the presence of the King.[134]
From 1857,Complutense University was the only one in Spain authorised to confer the doctorate. This law remained in effect until 1954, when theUniversity of Salamanca joined in commemoration of its septcentenary. In 1970, the right was extended to all Spanish universities.[135]
All doctorate holders are reciprocally recognised as equivalent in Germany and Spain (according to the "Bonn Agreement of November 14, 1994").[136]
The doctorate has long existed in the UK as, originally, the second degree in divinity, law, medicine and music. But it was not until the late 19th century that the research doctorate, now known as the higher doctorate, was introduced. The first higher doctorate was theDoctor of Science atDurham University, introduced in 1882.[22] This was soon followed by other universities, including theUniversity of Cambridge establishing its ScD in the same year, theUniversity of London transforming its DSc from an advanced study course to a research degree in 1885, and theUniversity of Oxford establishing itsDoctor of Letters (DLitt) in 1900.[137][138]
The PhD was adopted in the UK following a joint decision in 1917 by British universities, although it took much longer for it to become established. Oxford became the first university to institute the new degree, although naming it the DPhil.[137] The PhD was often distinguished from the earlier higher doctorates by distinctive academic dress. At Cambridge, for example, PhDs wear a master's gown with scarlet facings rather than the full scarlet gown of the higher doctors, while theUniversity of Wales gave PhDs crimson gowns rather than scarlet.[139] Professional doctorates were introduced in Britain in the 1980s and 1990s. The earliest professional doctorates were in the social sciences, including theDoctor of Business Administration (DBA),Doctor of Education (EdD) andDoctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy).[140]
Today, except for those awardedhonoris causa (honorary degrees), all doctorates granted by British universities are research doctorates, in that their main (and in many cases only) component is the submission of an extensive and substantial thesis or portfolio of original research, examined by an expert panel appointed by the university. UK doctorates are categorised as:[28]
TheQuality Assurance Agency states in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (which covers doctorates but not higher doctorates) that:[27]
Doctoral degrees are awarded to students who have demonstrated:
- the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication
- a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice
- the general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems
- a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry
In the UK, the doctorate is a qualification awarded at FHEQ level 8/level 12 of the FQHEIS on thenational qualifications frameworks.[27][28][141] The higher doctorates are stated to be "A higher level of award", which is not covered by the qualifications frameworks.[28]
These are the most common doctorates in the UK and are normally awarded as PhDs. While the master/apprentice model was traditionally used for British PhDs, since 2003 courses have become more structured, with students taking courses in research skills and receiving training for professional and personal development. However, the assessment of the PhD remains based on the production of a thesis or equivalent and its defence at aviva voce oral examination, normally held in front of at least two examiners, one internal and one external.[28] Access to PhDs normally requires anupper second class or first classbachelor's degree, or amaster's degree. Courses normally last three years, although it is common for students to be initially registered forMPhil degrees and then formally transferred onto the PhD after a year or two. Students who are not considered likely to complete a PhD may be offered the opportunity to complete an MPhil instead.[142]
Integrated doctorates, originally known as 'New Route PhDs', were introduced from 2000 onwards. These integrate teaching at master's level during the first one or two years of the degree, either alongside research or as a preliminary to starting research. These courses usually offer a master's-level exit degree after the taught courses are completed. While passing the taught elements is often required, examination of the final doctorate is still by thesis (or equivalent) alone.[28] The duration of integrated doctorates is a minimum of four years, with three years spent on the research component.[143]
In 2013,Research Councils UK issued a 'Statement of Expectations for Postgraduate Training', which lays out the expectations for training in PhDs funded by the research councils.[144] In the latest version (2016), issued together withCancer Research UK, theWellcome Trust and theBritish Heart Foundation, these include the provision of careers advice, in-depth advanced training in the subject area, provision of transferable skills, training in experimental design and statistics, training in good research conduct, and training for compliance with legal, ethical and professional frameworks. The statement also encourages peer-group development through cohort training and/or Graduate schools.[145]
Higher doctorates are awarded in recognition of a substantial body of original research undertaken over the course of many years. Typically the candidate submits a collection of previously published, peer-refereed work, which is reviewed by a committee of internal and external academics who decide whether the candidate deserves the doctorate. The higher doctorate is similar in some respects to thehabilitation in some European countries. However, the purpose of the award is significantly different. While the habilitation formally determines whether an academic is suitably qualified to be a university professor, the higher doctorate does not qualify the holder for a position but rather recognises their contribution to research.[22]
Higher doctorates were defined by the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) in 2013 as:[22]
an award that is at a level above the PhD (or equivalent professional doctorate in the discipline), and that is typically gained not through a defined programme of study but rather by submission of a substantial body of research-based work.
In terms of number of institutions offering the awards, the most common doctorates of this type in UKCGE surveys carried out in 2008 and 2013 were theDoctor of Science (DSc),Doctor of Letters (DLitt),Doctor of Law (LLD),Doctor of Music (DMus) andDoctor of Divinity (DD); in the 2008 survey theDoctor of Technology (DTech) tied with the DD.[22] The DSc was offered by all 49 responding institutions in 2008 and 15 out of 16 in 2013 and the DLitt by only one less in each case, while the DD was offered in 10 responding institutions in 2008 and 3 in 2013. In terms of number of higher doctorates awarded (not including honorary doctorates) the DSc was most popular, but the number of awards was very low: the responding institutions had averaged an award of at most one earned higher doctorate per year over the period 2003–2013.[22]
Most British universities award degreeshonoris causa to recognise individuals who have made a substantial contribution to a particular field. Usually an appropriate higher doctorate is used in these circumstances, depending on the candidate's achievements. However, some universities differentiate between honorary and substantive doctorates, using the degree ofDoctor of the University (D.Univ.) for these purposes, and reserve the higher doctorates for formal academic research.
U.S. research doctorates are awarded for advanced study followed by successfully completing and defending independent research presented in the form of a dissertation. Professional degrees may use the term "doctor" in their titles, such asJuris Doctor andDoctor of Medicine, but these degrees rarely contain an independent research component and are not research doctorates.[146] Law school graduates, although awarded the J.D. degree, are not normally addressed as "doctor". In legal studies, theDoctor of Juridical Science is considered the equivalent to a Ph.D.
Many American universities offer the PhD followed by a professional doctorate or joint PhD with a professional degree. Often, PhD work is sequential to the professional degree, e.g., PhD in law after a JD or equivalent[147][148][149][150] inphysical therapy after DPT,[151][152] inpharmacy after Pharm.D.[153][154] Such professional degrees are referred to as an entry-level doctorate program[155][156][157] and Ph.D. as a post-professional doctorate.[152]
The most common research doctorate in the United States is theDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). This degree was first awarded in the U.S. at the 1861Yale University commencement.[158] TheUniversity of Pennsylvania followed in 1871,[159] withCornell University (1872),[160]Harvard (1873),[161]Michigan (1876)[162] andPrinceton (1879)[163] following suit. Controversy and opposition followed the introduction of the Ph.D. into the U.S. educational system, lasting into the 1950s, as it was seen as an unnecessary artificial transplant from a foreign (Germany) educational system, which corrupted a system based on England'sOxbridge model.[164]
Ph.D.s and other research doctorates in the U.S. typically entail successful completion of coursework, passing acomprehensive examination, anddefending a dissertation.[165]
The median number of years for completion of U.S. doctoral degrees is seven.[38] Doctoral applicants were previously required to have amaster's degree, but many programs accept students immediately following undergraduate studies.[166][167] Many programs gauge the potential of applicants to their program and grant a master's degree upon completion of the necessary course work. When so admitted, the student is expected to have mastered the material covered in the master's degree despite not holding one, though this tradition is under heavy criticism.[168] Successfully finishing Ph.D. qualifying exams confers Ph.D. candidate status, allowing dissertation work to begin.
The International Affairs Office of the U.S. Department of Education has listed 18 frequently awarded research doctorate titles identified by theNational Science Foundation (NSF) as representing degrees equivalent in research content to the Ph.D.[169][170][171]
Many fields offer professional doctorates (or professional master's degrees) such asengineering,pharmacy,medicine, etc., that require such degrees for professional practice orlicensure. Some of these degrees are also termed "first professional degrees", since they are the first field-specific master's or doctoral degrees.
A Doctor of Engineering (DEng) is a professional degree. In contrast to a PhD in Engineering where students usually conduct original theory-based research, DEng degrees are built around applied coursework and a practice-led project and thus designed for working engineers in the industry. DEng students defend their thesis at the end of their study before a thesis committee in order to be conferred a degree.
A Doctor of Pharmacy is awarded as the professional degree in pharmacy replacing a bachelor's degree. It is the only professional pharmacy degree awarded in the US. Pharmacy programs vary in length between four years for matriculants with a B.S./B.A. to six years for others.
In the twenty-first century professional doctorates appeared in other fields, such as theDoctor of Audiology in 2007. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses were expected to completely transition to theDoctor of Nursing Practice by 2015, and physical therapists to theDoctor of Physical Therapy by 2020. Professional associations play a central role in this transformation amid criticisms on the lack of proper criteria to assure appropriate rigor. In many cases master's-level programs were relabeled as doctoral programs.[172]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(December 2018) |
A doctoral degree can be revoked or rescinded by the university that awarded it. Possible reasons include plagiarism, criminal or unethical activities of the holder, or malfunction or manipulation of academic evaluation processes.[173]
{{cite book}}:|journal= ignored (help)In the 1930s, the renowned Orientalist Alfred Guillaume noted strong resemblances between Muslim and Western Christian institutions of higher learning. An example he cited is the ijazah, which he recognized as being akin to the medieval licentia docendi, the precursor of the modern university degree.
It remains the case that no equivalent of the bachelor's degree, the licentia docendi, or higher degrees ever emerged in the medieval or early modern Islamicmadrasas.
The license to teach law and issue legal opinions [...] is the type of ijazah that resembles the medieval European university degree most closely [...] The main difference between the two is that the granting authority is an individual professor, in the Islamic case, rather than a corporate institution in the case of the university. Despite this point, Makdisi has likened the ijazat al-ifta' wa'l-tadris to the medieval Latin licentia docendi and suggests that it served as a model for that degree.
King's College organized a medical faculty in 1767 and was the first institution in the North American Colonies to confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The first graduates in medicine from the College were Robert Tucker and Samuel Kissarn, who received the degree of Bachelor of Medicine in May 1769, and that of Doctor of Medicine in May 1770 and May 1771, respectively.
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)The UK higher doctorate has a long history with the first (a DSc) being offered by Durham University in 1882
The first Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in the UK was awarded by the University of Oxford in 1917
'doctoral degree' is used only in respect of qualifications at level 8 on the FHEQ/SCQF level 12 on the FQHEIS.
We offer research degrees both at Master's level (represented by the two-year MPhil programme) and at DPhil (PhD level).
The DPhil is the name Oxford gives to its doctoral degree rather than the more familiar name PhD. used in most other universities, but the structure of the degree is identical to that of the PhD at leading economics graduate schools worldwide.
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)The degree is open to everyone (including non-Belgians) who has earned the B.A. (in Belgium: licentiaat or licence) or an equivalent degree[permanent dead link]
Doctor's degree: The highest award a student can earn for graduate study. The doctor's degree classification includes such degrees as Doctor of Education, Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor of Public Health, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in any field such as agronomy, food technology, education, engineering, public administration, ophthalmology, or radiology. The doctor's degree classification encompasses three main subcategories—research/scholarship degrees, professional practice degrees, and other degrees—which are described below.
Doctor's degree-research/scholarship: A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Examples of this type of degree may include the following and others, as designated by the awarding institution: the Ed.D. (in education), D.M.A. (in musical arts), D.B.A. (in business administration), D.Sc. (in science), D.A. (in arts), or D.M (in medicine).
Doctor's degree—professional practice: A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study such that the total time to the degree, including both preprofessional and professional preparation, equals at least 6 full-time-equivalent academic years. Some doctor's degrees of this type were formerly classified as first-professional degrees. Examples of this type of degree may include the following and others, as designated by the awarding institution: the D.C. or D.C.M. (in chiropractic); D.D.S. or D.M.D. (in dentistry); L.L.B. or J.D. (in law); M.D. (in medicine); O.D. (in optometry); D.O. (in osteopathic medicine); Pharm.D. (in pharmacy); D.P.M., Pod.D., or D.P. (in podiatry); or D.V.M. (in veterinary medicine).
Doctor's degree—other: A doctor's degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor's degree—research/scholarship or a doctor's degree—professional practice.
Though considered to be bachelor's programs in academic standing, some professional programs yield degrees with other nomenclature. Examples: DDS (Dental Surgery), MD (Medicine), LLB, or JD (Juris Doctor)
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