Doctorate

A Doctorate is an academic degree of the highest level. The most common type is a PhD (Philosophiæ Doctor or Doctor of Philosophy), awarded for the completion of a doctoral thesis. (Some British universities, including York, Oxford and Sussex call this degree a DPhil.) Minimum periods vary considerably: In the UK, the minimum time for completing a PhD is 3 years from time of enrolment (which usually takes place after the award of a bachelor's or master's degree). However, completions within this period are exceptional; most candidates spend considerably longer. In the US, the normal minimum 4 years past secondary education, although many fields have longer normative times.

Although the PhD is almost universally accepted as the standard qualification for an academic career, it is a relatively new invention. The older-style doctorates (now usually called "Higher Doctorates") take much longer to complete, since candidates must show themselves to be leading experts in their subjects. These doctorates are now becoming rare, and are usually only awarded as Honorary Degrees.

Higher Doctorates:

• DD (Divinitatis Doctor or Doctor of Divinity)
• LL.D (Legum Doctor or Doctor of Laws, mostly honourific)
• DLitt (Doctor of Letters)
• DMus (Doctor of Music)
• DTech (Doctor of Technology)
• MD (Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine) (UK)

Other Doctorates:

• DBus (Doctor of Business)
• DEng (Doctor of Engineering)
• Ed.D (Doctor of Education)
• J.D. (Juris Doctor or Doctor of Law)
• MD (Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine) (US)

See also:

• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Degrees of Oxford University