List of doctoral degrees awarded by country

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The list of doctoral degrees awarded by country includes all doctoral degrees worldwide.

Contents

Argentina

Czech Republic and Slovakia

The system of Czech and Slovak doctoral degrees has been inherited from Czechoslovakia and is for a large part identical.

Doctoral degrees gained after graduation

These degrees are written before the name and are considered as professional doctorates comparable to the US Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.

Doctoral degrees gained by thesis, viva voce and rigorous examination

These degrees are written before the name.

Doctoral degrees gained after a rigorous examination are popularly called small doctorate (malý doktorát in Czech or Slovak). Applicants need a master's degree or a post-graduate degree (5 years+) comparable to Master level or higher and have to write a thesis of 50,000-80,000 words and defend this thesis in a viva voce and a rigorous examination in at least 2-3 subjects.

Doctoral degrees gained after post-graduate study

These degrees are written after the name.

Doctoral degrees gained after post-graduate study are popularly called great doctorate (velký doktorát in Czech).

Other doctoral degrees

These degrees are written after the name.

Both Czech and Slovak orthography state that the 'philosophiae doctor' is abbreviated as 'PhD.' in analogy to all of the other degrees, however, perhaps under influence of international use of 'Ph.D.', this foreign form is used in the Czech Law of the Academic and Scientific Degrees. [1] In fact, Czech lawgivers have enacted an orthographical mistake.

Denmark

The Danish ph.d. degree has no further subdivisions and grants the holder the postposed title of ph.d.. The higher doctor grants the holder the title of dr. or doktor. In the case of an honorary doctorate, h.c. (honoris causa) is added. The higher doctorate is issued in varieties dependent on the field: [2]

Finland

This list is comprehensive list of doctoral decrees granted by Finnish universities, based on the Government decree on university degrees. The English translations are official. [3]

France

Germany

Ireland

Netherlands

The Netherlands does not distinguish between different research doctorates bestowed by research universities. All research doctorates are Ph.D. without any further specification. These doctorates are the only Dutch doctorates formally allowing the use of the title "doctor". The Netherlands has one professional doctorate in Engineering bestowed by the (research) universities of technology (at its start called PDEng - professional doctorate in engineering but since renamed). Since 2023, Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences have piloted the Professional Doctorate (UAS-PD), a practice-oriented doctoral program designed to develop research professionals within applied sciences. Unlike traditional PhD programs, the UAS-PD emphasizes solving practical challenges in professional contexts. Van Houten [4] critically compares the UAS-PD with professional doctorates in the United Kingdom, noting differences in orientation, programme structure, and challenges related to international recognition of the degree. The exact naming of a future title was still not settled upon by mid 2025. [5]

Pakistan

South Africa

See: List of universities in South Africa

Sri Lanka

United Kingdom

First doctorates

Graduate-entry degrees in which the candidate must prepare (usually over a period of three or four years full-time, under the supervision of a more experienced researcher) a thesis or other portfolio of publishable research, demonstrating a contribution to knowledge in the chosen field. The Quality Assurance Agency categorises doctorates into three types: "subject specialist doctorates", "doctorates by publication", and "professional and practice-based (or practitioner) doctorates". Doctorates in the last category, such as the EdD, DClinPsych, DBA and EngD, have a greater emphasis on applied research and professional practice, however they still contain a substantial research component. [6]

Subject specialist doctorates

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil) [6]
    • Integrated subject specialist doctorates are usually qualified as 'Integrated PhD', 'PhD by integrated study' or 'PhD with integrated study'. [6]
  • European Doctorate (DocEuro) [7]

Doctorates by publication

  • Doctor of Philosophy by publication or Doctor of Philosophy by published works (PhD or DPhil) [6]

Professional and practice-based (or practitioner) doctorates

If not given a generic title, these are frequently titled 'Doctor of [subject name]', with the abbreviation D[subject abbreviation] or [subject abbrecation]D. [6]

Generic titles:

Health, Medicine and related subjects:

  • Professional Doctorate in Advanced Healthcare Practice (DAHP) [14]
  • Doctor of Applied Education and Child Psychology (Ap.Ed and ChildPsy D) [6]
  • Doctor of Applied Educational Psychology (Professional Training) (DAppEdPsy) [15]
  • Doctor of Applied Psychology (Education) (DAppPsyEd) [16]
  • Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy or DClinPsych) [6] [8]
  • Doctor of Clinical Science–Psychotherapy (DClinSci–Psychotherapy) [8]
  • Doctor of Counselling Psychology (DCounsPsy) [8]
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) [6]
  • Doctor of Dental Science (DDSc) [8]
  • Doctor of Educational Psychology (DEdPsy) [6] [8]
  • Doctor of Forensic Psychology Practice (Foren.Psy.D or DForenPsy) [6] [17]
  • Doctor of Health Research (DHRes) [6]
  • Doctor of Health Science (HScD) [6]
    • Doctor of Health Science (Clinical) (HScD (Clin)) [6]
  • Doctor of Health Studies (DHS) [14]
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD or MD (Res)) [6] [8] (In most universities this degree is a first doctorate, although some classify it as a higher doctorate.)
  • Doctor of Occupational Psychology (DOccPsych) [8]
  • Doctor of Psychology (DPsych) [8]
  • Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) [6] [8]
  • Professional Doctorate in Workplace Health and Wellbeing (DocWHW) [18]

Other subjects:

  • Doctor of Architecture (DArch) [8]
  • Professional Doctorate in Architecture, Design and Built Environment (DArch) [19]
  • Professional Doctorate in Agriculture and Food (DAgriFood) [19]
  • Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) [6] [8]
  • Doctor of the Built Environment (DBEnv) [20]
  • Doctor in Civil Engineering (EngD) [21]
  • Doctor in Construction (EngD) [21]
  • Doctor of Construction Management (DConsMgt) [20]
  • Doctorate in Creative Arts (DCreative) [19]
  • Professional Doctorate in Criminal Justice (DCrimJ) [19]
  • Professional Doctorate in Security Risk Management (DSyRM) [19]
  • Doctorate in Criminology and Criminal Justice (DCCJ) [19]
  • Professional Doctorate in Applied Criminology (DAppCrim) [19]
  • Professional Doctorate in Data Science (DDataSci) [19]
  • Doctorate in Design/Doctor of Design (DDes) [19] [21]
  • Doctor of Digital Media (DDM) [21]
  • Doctor of Education/Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) [6] [8] [22]
  • Doctor of Engineering (EngD or DEng) [6] [8] [23]
  • Doctor of Fashion Industry (DFI) [21]
  • Doctor of Fine Art (DArt) [8]
  • Doctorate in Fine Arts/Doctor of Fine Art (DFA) [19] [21]
  • Doctorate in Heritage (DHeritage) [19]
  • Doctor of Legal Practice (DLegalPrac) [21]
  • Professional Doctorate in Applied Linguistics (DAppLing) [19]
  • Doctor of Management (DMan) [24]
  • Doctor of Ministry (DMin) [6]
  • Doctorate in Music (DMus) [6]
  • Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA or AMusD) [8]
  • Doctor of Practical Theology (DPT) [6]
  • Doctor of Public Management (DPM) [25]
  • Doctor of Public Policy (DPP) [19]
  • Professional Doctorate in Policy Research and Practice (DPRP) [19]
  • Doctor of Real Estate (DRealEst) [21]
  • Professional Doctorate in Security Risk Management (DSyRM) [19]
  • Doctor of Social and Public Policy (SPPD) [14]
  • Doctor of Social Practice (DSocPrac) [21]
  • Doctor of Social Science/Doctorate in Social science (DSocSci) [6] [19]
  • Doctor of Social Work (DSW) [14]
  • Doctorate in Sport and Exercise (DSE) [19]
  • Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) [6] [8]
  • Professional Doctorate in Pastoral Theology (DPT) [19]
  • Doctor of Practical Theology (DPT) [6]
  • Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology (DPracTheol or DThM) [6]
  • Professional Doctorate in Veterinary Science (DVet) [19]
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) [26]
  • Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVet Med, DVSc or DVS) [8] [26]

Higher doctorates

Higher doctorates are awarded to established academics in recognition of a substantial body of original research undertaken over the course of many years. Typically, the candidate will submit a collection of work which has been previously published in a peer-reviewed context and/or as specialist textbooks and pay an examination fee. The university then assembles a committee of academics, both internal and external, who review the work submitted and decide whether the candidate has satisfied the requirements for the award.

Higher doctorates can also be awarded as honorary degrees, but these are differentiated from the equivalent degrees earned by presenting a body of work to be reviewed.

Honorary doctorates

All levels of degree - though usually of master's level and above - can be awarded as honorary degrees. However, some universities have a degree which is only awarded honoris causa:

No longer awarded

United States

Research degrees

The National Science Foundation recognizes the following as research degrees: [36]

Professional degrees

See also

References

  1. ↑ Czech law No. 111/1998 Sb.—The University Law (in Czech) Archived 2008-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Bekendtgørelse om doktorgrader". Retsinformation.dk. 14 August 1996. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  3. ↑ Annex to the Government Decree on University Degrees (Asetus yliopistojen tutkinnoista, 794/2004) Retrieved 5-5-2008. Partly English.
  4. ↑ Houten, Maarten M. Van (2021-12-30). "Anders dan 'Doctor' of 'PhD': Waarom het Professional Doctorate in Nederland niet het academische professional doctorate in het Verenigd Koninkrijk is". Tijdschrift voor Hoger Onderwijs (in Dutch). 39 (3–4): 23–35. doi: 10.59532/tvho.v39i3-4.13389 . ISSN   2468-9483.
  5. ↑ https://international.hu.nl/hu-international/data/onderzoek/content/professional-doctorate [ bare URL ]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 "Characteristics Statement: Doctoral Degree" (PDF). Quality Assurance Agency. February 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "Regulations for the Degree of European Doctorate (DocEuro)". University of Nottingham . Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Tom Bourner; Rachel Bowden; Stuart Laing (2001). "Professional Doctorates in England". Studies in Higher Education. 26 (1): 65–83. doi:10.1080/03075070124819. S2CID   143094391.
  9. ↑ "REGULATIONS FOR THE AWARD OF THE UNIVERSITY'S DEGREES OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY, DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, AND PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATE" (PDF). Glasgow Caledonian University . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "Doctor of Professional Practice". University of Wales Trinity Saint David . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "Doctorate in Professional Practice". Swansea University . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "The Doctorate in Professional Studies". University of Middlesex . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Ordinance 2: Degrees" (PDF). University of Bradford . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Professional Doctorates". Cardiff University . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Doctorate of Applied Educational Psychology (Professional Training) Regulations". University of Nottingham . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Doctorate of Applied Psychology (Educational) Regulations". University of Nottingham . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "Doctor of Forensic Psychology Regulations". University of Nottingham . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Professional Doctorate in Workplace Health and Wellbeing (DocWHW) Regulations". University of Nottingham . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Careers Research & Advisory Centre (January 2016). "Provision of professional doctorates in English HE institutions" (PDF). HEFCE . Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Academic Regulations for Research Programmes 2016/17" (PDF). University of Salford. July 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Code of Practice For Research Degrees" (PDF). Nottingham Trent University . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) Regulations". University of Nottingham . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "DEng in Renewable Energy Marine Structures (EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training)". University of Oxford . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "Professional Doctorate in Management". University of Hertfordshire . Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  25. ↑ "Doctor of Public Management Regulations". University of Nottingham . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  26. 1 2 "Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Surgery Regulations". University of Nottingham . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  27. 1 2 "Report of the review of higher degrees" (PDF). University of Oxford. 2016. p. 2. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "University of London Awards" (PDF). University of London . Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Cambridge glossary". University of Cambridge . Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ordinances and Regulations: Higher Doctorates". University of Manchester. June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  31. ↑ "Doctor of Medicine". University of Edinburgh . Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  32. ↑ "Doctor of Medicine". University of Bath . Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  33. ↑ "Report of the review of higher degrees" (PDF). University of Oxford. 2016. p. 6. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  34. ↑ "Ordinance governing the Degrees of Doctor of Engineering, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Science or Doctor of Technology" (PDF). University of Bradford . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  35. ↑ Nicholas Groves (2011). Shaw's Academical Dress of Great Britain and Ireland. Burgon Society. pp. 46, 156–160, 302. ISBN   9780956127235.
  36. ↑ "Research degrees included in the Survey of Earned Doctorates: 2011–15" (PDF). National Science Foundation. December 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
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