Editing Doctorate (section)

==Types==
{{further|Doctor (title)}}
Since the [[Middle 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 doctorate===
Research doctorates are awarded in recognition of publishable academic research, at least in principle, in a [[Peer review|peer-reviewed]] [[academic journal]]. The best-known research degree in the [[English-speaking world]] is the [[Doctor of Philosophy]] (abbreviated PhD<ref name="QAA Doctorate"/><ref name="US Doctorate">{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/doctorate.doc |title=Structure of the U.S. Education System: Research Doctorate Degrees |publisher=[[U.S. Department of Education]] |access-date=1 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127015732/http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/doctorate.doc |archive-date=27 January 2012 }}</ref> or, at a small number of  British universities, DPhil<ref>{{cite web|url = https://uni-of-oxford.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/185|title = University of Oxford answers|website = University of Oxford|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151017035026/https://uni-of-oxford.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/185|archive-date = 2015-10-17|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/research/bucsis/research-programme|title=BUCSIS Research Programme|quote=We offer research degrees both at Master's level (represented by the two-year MPhil programme) and at DPhil (PhD level).|publisher=[[University of Buckingham]]|access-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622010519/http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/research/bucsis/research-programme|archive-date=22 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/Graduate/dphil-in-economics|title=DPhil in Economics|publisher=[[University of Oxford]] Department of Economics|quote=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.|access-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014652/http://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/Graduate/dphil-in-economics|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>) 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.<ref name="US Doctorate"/><ref>[https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/earned-doctorates/2022 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)2022]</ref> Other research-oriented doctorates (some having a professional practice focus) include the [[Doctor of Education]] (EdD<ref name="QAA Doctorate"/><ref name="US Doctorate"/>), the [[Doctor of Science]] (DSc or ScD<ref name="US Doctorate"/>),[[Doctor of Arts]] (DA<ref name="US Doctorate"/>), [[Doctor of Juridical Science]] (JSD or SJD<ref name="US Doctorate"/>), [[Doctor of Musical Arts]] (DMA<ref name="US Doctorate"/>), [[Doctor of Professional Studies]]/Professional Doctorate (ProfDoc or DProf),<ref name="QAA Doctorate"/> [[Doctor of Public Health]] (DrPH<ref name="US Doctorate"/>), [[Doctor of Social Science]] (DSSc or DSocSci<ref name="QAA Doctorate"/>), [[Doctor of Management]] (DM, DMan or DMgt),<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Grabowski |first1=Louis |last2=Miller |first2=Jeanette |date=2015 |title=Business Professional Doctoral Programs: Student Motivations, Educational Process, and Graduate Career Outcomes |url=http://ijds.org/Volume10/IJDSv10p257-278Grabowski0957.pdf|journal=International Journal of Doctoral Studies|volume=10|pages=257–278 |doi=10.28945/2295 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herts.ac.uk/research/research-degrees-and-doctoral-college|title=Research degrees: Doctoral College|publisher=[[University of Hertfordshire]]|access-date=4 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004003451/http://www.herts.ac.uk/research/research-degrees-and-doctoral-college|archive-date=4 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Doctor of Business Administration]] (DBA<ref name="US Doctorate" /><ref name="QAA DBA" />), [[Doctor of Engineering]] (DEng, DESc, DES or EngD)<ref name="US Doctorate" /><ref name="UK-EngD">{{cite web|url=http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/coll/engdoctorate|title=Engineering doctorate|work=epsrc.ac.uk|access-date=2016-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604093547/https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/coll/engdoctorate/|archive-date=2016-06-04|url-status=live}}</ref> the German engineering doctorate ''[[Doktoringenieur]]'' (''Dr.-Ing.''), natural science doctorate ''Doctor rerum naturalium'' (''[[Dr. rer. nat.]]''), and economics and social science doctorate ''Doctor rerum politicarum'' (''[[Dr. rer. pol.]]''). The UK [[Doctor of Medicine]] (MD or MD (Res)) and [[Doctor of Dental Surgery]] (DDS) are research doctorates.<ref name="QAA Doctorate" /> The [[Doctor of Theology]] (ThD<ref name="US Doctorate" /><ref name="QAA Doctorate" /> or DTh), [[Doctor of Practical Theology]] (DPT)<ref name="QAA Doctorate"/> and the [[Doctor of Sacred Theology]] (STD,<ref name="US Doctorate"/> or DSTh) are research doctorates in theology.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.americangraduateeducation.com/folder1/subfolder4/doctorate_programs.htm|title=Research Doctorate Programs|work=americangraduateeducation.com|access-date=2008-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503033614/http://www.americangraduateeducation.com/folder1/subfolder4/doctorate_programs.htm|archive-date=2008-05-03|url-status=live}}</ref>

Criteria for research doctorates vary but typically require completion of a substantial body of original research, which may be presented as a single [[thesis]] or [[dissertation]], 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 (called ''viva (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===
{{Main|Licentiate (degree){{!}}Licentiate}}
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uhr.se/globalassets/_uhr.se/internationellt/nqf/12-5202-10-national-qualifications-framework.pdf|pages=14–15, 26|title=National Qualifications Framework|date=May 2011|access-date=1 October 2016|publisher=Swedish National Agency for Higher Education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014127/https://www.uhr.se/globalassets/_uhr.se/internationellt/nqf/12-5202-10-national-qualifications-framework.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden originally abolished the Licentiate in 1969 but reintroduced it in response to demands from business.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.unica-network.eu/sites/default/files/Rectors_05_2005_Doctorate_studies_EU_%26_USA_status_%26_prospects-1.pdf|page=202|work=Doctoral Studies and Qualifications in Europe and the United States: Status and Prospects|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|editor-first=Jan|editor-last=Sadlak|date=2004|title=Sweden|first=Helena|last=Mähler|access-date=1 October 2016|isbn=92-9069-179-4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002103857/http://www.unica-network.eu/sites/default/files/Rectors_05_2005_Doctorate_studies_EU_%26_USA_status_%26_prospects-1.pdf|archive-date=2 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Finland also has a two-year doctoral level licentiate degree, similar to Sweden's.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oph.fi/english/curricula_and_qualifications/higher_education/university_education/university_degrees|title=University Degrees|publisher=Finnish National Board of Education|access-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014152/http://www.oph.fi/english/curricula_and_qualifications/higher_education/university_education/university_degrees|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Outside of Scandinavia, the licentiate is usually a lower-level qualification. In Belgium, the licentiate was the basic university degree prior to the [[Bologna Process]] and was equivalent to a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulbright.be/study-in-belgium-and-luxembourg/university-education/|title=University Education|publisher=[[Fulbright Commission]] Belgium and Luxembourg|access-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002025243/http://www.fulbright.be/study-in-belgium-and-luxembourg/university-education/|archive-date=2 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://belgium.usembassy.gov/organizations/american-studies/|title=American Studies|publisher=[[Embassy of the United States]] Brussels|quote=The degree is open to everyone (including non-Belgians) who has earned the B.A. (in Belgium: licentiaat or licence) or an equivalent degree|access-date=1 October 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In France and other countries, it is the bachelor's-level qualification in the Bologna process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usa.campusfrance.org/en/page/licence-masters-doctorate-and-other-academic-programs|title=Licence, Master's, Doctorate and Other Academic Programs|publisher=Campus France|access-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014111/http://www.usa.campusfrance.org/en/page/licence-masters-doctorate-and-other-academic-programs|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.educatio.va/content/cec/it/studi-superiori-della-santa-sede/quadro-nazionale-delle-qualifiche/qualifications-framework.html|title=Quadro Nazionale delle Qualifiche della Santa Sede [National Qualifications Framework of the Holy See]|publisher=Congregazione per l'Educazione Cattolica|access-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005000537/http://www.educatio.va/content/cec/it/studi-superiori-della-santa-sede/quadro-nazionale-delle-qualifiche/qualifications-framework.html|archive-date=5 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Higher doctorate and post-doctoral degrees {{anchor|Higher}}{{anchor|Post}}<!--[[Higher doctorate]] and [[Post-doctoral degree]] redirect here-->===
{{redirect-distinguish|Post-doctoral degree|Postdoctoral researcher}}
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 the [[Doctor of Science]] (DSc or ScD), [[Doctor of Divinity]] (DD), [[Doctor of Letters]] (DLitt or LittD), [[LLD|Doctor of Law or Laws]] (LLD), and [[Doctor of Civil Law]] (DCL) degrees found in the UK, Ireland and some Commonwealth countries, and the traditional doctorates in [[Scandinavia]] like the [[Doctor Medicinae (Danish and Norwegian degree)|Doctor Medicinae]] (Dr. Med.).

The [[habilitation]] 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 in [[Germany]], [[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".<ref>Christian Fleck, ''Sociology in Austria'', Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.</ref> 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 in [[German language|German]]-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 as [[Privatdozent]]. In Austria, the habilitation bestows the graduate with the ''facultas docendi'', ''venia legendi.'' Since 2004, the honorary title of "Privatdozent" (before this, completing the habilitation resulted in appointment as a civil servant). In many [[Central and Eastern Europe]] countries, the degree gives ''venia legendi'', Latin for "the permission to lecture", or ''ius 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 the [[Russian Federation]] or [[Ukraine]] 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 "[[Doctor of Civil Law|DCL]], ''[[honoris causa]]''", "Hon [[Doctor of Laws|LLD]]", or "[[Doctor of Letters|LittD]] ''[[honoris causa|h.c.]]''".

===Professional doctorate===
{{see also| Professional degree|List of doctoral degrees in the US}}

Depending on the country, professional doctorates may also be research degrees at the same level as [[PhD]]s. The relationship between research and practice is considered important and [[professional degree]]s 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",<ref name="QAA Doctorate"/> or may use the more generic titles "Professional Doctorate", abbreviated "ProfDoc" or "DProf",<ref name="QAA Doctorate"/> "[[Doctor of Professional Studies]]" (DPS) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fordham.edu/info/25472/doctor_of_professional_studies_program|title=Doctor of Professional Studies Program|website=[[Gabelli School of Business]]|publisher=[[Fordham University]]|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017221544/https://www.fordham.edu/info/25472/doctor_of_professional_studies_program|archive-date=17 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stjohns.edu/academics/schools-and-colleges/college-professional-studies/programs-and-majors/homeland-security-doctor-professional-studies|title=Homeland Security, Doctor of Professional Studies {{!}} St. John's University|website=www.stjohns.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823111155/https://www.stjohns.edu/academics/schools-and-colleges/college-professional-studies/programs-and-majors/homeland-security-doctor-professional-studies|archive-date=2018-08-23|url-status=live}}</ref> or "Doctor of Professional Practice" (DPP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rgu.ac.uk/health-professions/study-options/postgraduate-research/doctorate-for-professional-practice1/|title=Doctorate of Professional Practice|publisher=[[Robert Gordon University]]|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017221603/http://www.rgu.ac.uk/health-professions/study-options/postgraduate-research/doctorate-for-professional-practice1/|archive-date=17 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soa.cmu.edu/dpp|title=Doctor of Professional Practice|publisher=[[Carnegie Mellon University]]|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008180818/http://soa.cmu.edu/dpp/|archive-date=8 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the US, professional doctorates (formally "doctor's degree – professional practice" in government classifications) are defined by the [[US 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 professional [[licensure]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/VisGlossaryPopup.aspx?idlink=942|title=Doctor's degree-professional practice|website=National Center for Educational Statistics|publisher=[[US Department of Education]]|access-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902084332/https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/VisGlossaryPopup.aspx?idlink=942|archive-date=2 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/VisGlossaryPopup.aspx?idlink=941|title=Doctor's degree-research/scholarship|website=National Center for Educational Statistics|publisher=[[US Department of Education]]|access-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902151628/https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/VisGlossaryPopup.aspx?idlink=941|archive-date=2 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/VisGlossaryPopup.aspx?idlink=943|title=Doctor's degree-other|website=National Center for Educational Statistics|publisher=[[US Department of Education]]|access-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902084414/https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/VisGlossaryPopup.aspx?idlink=943|archive-date=2 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> All of these are considered doctoral degrees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/glossary.asp|website=National Center for Educational Statistics|publisher=[[US Department of Education]]|title=Glossary|access-date=2 September 2018|quote=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.<br />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).<br />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).<br />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.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902220649/https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/glossary.asp|archive-date=2 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmec.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/95/QA-Statement-2007.en.pdf|title=Canadian Degree Qualifications Framework|publisher=Council of Ministers of Education, Canada|quote=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)|access-date=3 October 2016|work=Ministerial Statement on Quality Assurance of Degree Education in Canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314190602/http://www.cmec.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/95/QA-Statement-2007.en.pdf|archive-date=14 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aqf.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AQF-qualification-titles-PDF-2B3-1b.pdf|title=AQF qualification titles|publisher=Australian Qualifications Framework Council|access-date=3 October 2016|date=June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213104206/http://www.aqf.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/aqf-qualification-titles-pdf-2b3-1b.pdf|archive-date=13 December 2016}}</ref> In the Philippines, the University of the Philippines Open University offers a Doctor of Communication (DComm) professional doctorate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fics.upou.edu.ph/programs/doctor-of-communication/|title=Doctor of Communication – Faculty of Information and Communication Studies|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref>

All doctorates in the UK and Ireland are third cycle qualifications in the [[Bologna 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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://courses.aber.ac.uk/postgraduate/professional-doctorate-agriculture/|title=Aberystwyth University – Professional Doctorate in Agriculture D4201 DAg|publisher=[[Aberystwyth University]]|access-date=11 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112050336/https://courses.aber.ac.uk/postgraduate/professional-doctorate-agriculture/|archive-date=12 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name=FHEQ>{{cite web|quote='doctoral degree' is used only in respect of qualifications at level 8 on the FHEQ/SCQF level 12 on the FQHEIS.|pages=16–17, 30, 36|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf|title=The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|date=November 2014|access-date=2016-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083730/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="QAA Doctorate">{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Doctoral-Degree-Characteristics-15.pdf|title=Characteristics Statement: Doctoral Degree|date=September 2015|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|access-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014333/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Doctoral-Degree-Characteristics-15.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="QAA DBA">{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Status-DBA-in-the-UK-2016.pdf|title=Status of the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) in the UK|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|date=2016|access-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917161418/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Status-DBA-in-the-UK-2016.pdf|archive-date=17 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eua.be/eua/jsp/en/upload/Review%20of%20Professional%20Doctorates_Ireland2006.1164040107604.pdf|title=Review of Professional Doctorates|publisher=National Qualifications Authority of Ireland|date=October 2006|website=[[European Universities Association]]|access-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006040606/http://www.eua.be/eua/jsp/en/upload/Review%20of%20Professional%20Doctorates_Ireland2006.1164040107604.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/gradschool/about/external/publications/professional.pdf|title=Professional Doctorate Awards in the UK|first=Kathryn|last=Brown|first2=Carlton|last2=Cooke|name-list-style=amp|publisher=UK Council for Graduate Education|website=[[University of Leicester]]|access-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014317/https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/gradschool/about/external/publications/professional.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, in Australia, the term "professional doctorate" is sometimes applied to the ''[[Doctor of Juridical Science#Australia|Scientiae Juridicae Doctor]]'' (SJD),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.handbook.uts.edu.au/courses/c02027.html |title=C02027v4 Doctor of Juridical Science |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814155125/http://www.handbook.uts.edu.au/courses/c02027.html |archive-date=2010-08-14 |access-date=26 October 2010 |date=30 October 2009 |publisher=[[University of Technology Sydney]] |website=UTS Handbook |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://courses.handbooks.uwa.edu.au/courses/c2/2081|website=UWA Handbooks 2010|title=Doctor of Juridical Science (20810)|date=24 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010094002/http://courses.handbooks.uwa.edu.au/courses/c2/2081|archive-date=10 October 2010|access-date=26 October 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> which, like the UK professional doctorates, is a research degree.<ref>[http://www.atax.unsw.edu.au/study/docs/research-programs.pdf Doctor of Philosophy. Doctor of Juridical Science. Master of Laws by Research. Master of Taxation by Research. Faculty of Law] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706120526/http://www.atax.unsw.edu.au/study/docs/research-programs.pdf |date=2011-07-06 }}, The University of New South Wales 2009</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law.monash.edu.au/research/sjd.html|title=Higher Degrees by Research|work=monash.edu.au|access-date=2009-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912173054/http://law.monash.edu.au/research/sjd.html|archive-date=2009-09-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Honorary doctorate===
{{main|Honorary degree}}
When a university wishes to formally recognize an individual's contributions to a particular field or [[philanthropy|philanthropic]] efforts, it may choose to grant a doctoral degree {{lang|la|honoris causa}} ('for the sake of the honor'), waiving the usual requirements for granting the degree.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://berkley-u.edu/hon_deg.html |title=University of Berkley. Doctoral, Masters, Bachelors and Associate Degrees Online |access-date=2008-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930110055/http://berkley-u.edu/hon_deg.html |archive-date=2008-09-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/040510_doctorates.html|title=Three to Receive Honorary Degrees for Contributions to Science and Technology, and Public Policy|work=cmu.edu|access-date=2008-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709031847/http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/040510_doctorates.html|archive-date=2008-07-09|url-status=live}}</ref> Some universities do not award honorary degrees, for example, [[Cornell University]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp%3D1052974800#question19 |title=Dear Uncle Ezra: Question 19|publisher = Cornell University|date = 15 May 2003 |access-date=2010-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825190643/http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=1052974800#question19 |archive-date=2010-08-25 }}</ref> the [[University of Virginia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginia.edu/registrar/records/05-06gradrec/chapter4/chapter4-1.htm#honorary|title=University Regulations: Academic Regulations: Graduate Record 2005–2006|work=virginia.edu|access-date=2021-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010224513/http://www.virginia.edu/registrar/records/05-06gradrec/chapter4/chapter4-1.htm#honorary|archive-date=2008-10-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2001/commdegrees.html|title=No honorary degrees is an MIT tradition going back to ... Thomas Jefferson|date=8 June 2001|work=MIT News|access-date=10 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060414025857/http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2001/commdegrees.html|archive-date=14 April 2006|url-status=live}}</ref>