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| Is a PhD the highest degree available? Find out here |
Actually, a handful of degrees either demand a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree or are regarded as requiring a higher level of education than a PhD. But it all relies on the nation's system that you are considering.
While some degrees do require a PhD to be admitted, not all nations have this requirement. The highest academic honor in the US is considered to be a PhD. However, in a number of European nations, particularly Germany (where it originated in the 17th century as a synonym for a doctorate), habilitation degrees are valued higher than PhDs.
Portugal (Agregaço), Brazil (livre-docência), Austria (Priv.-Doz.), France (Habilitation à diriger des recherches), Italy (Abilitazione scientifica nazionale), Romania (abilitare), Hungary (Dr. habil.), Switzerland (Dr. habil.), and Poland (Dr. habil.) are some examples of countries with research-directing qualifications (doktor habilitowany), just a few, each of which has/had its unique variation on habilitation. These credentials allow those who have earned a doctorate in philosophy to teach at the university level.
In contrast, a PhD is commonly regarded as the greatest academic qualification in the United States, where it is necessary to teach at the university level. It was not until the 19th century that this Latin term, which means to fit or make suitable, developed into a post-doctoral certification. This implies that two doctoral dissertations or theses must be completed in order to become a professor in Germany (the Inauguraldissertation and Habilitationsschrift). Although there has been a shift toward a system using junior professorships and away from the Habilitation degree in recent years, The higher qualification's completion is still encouraged.
The Postdoc/Habilitation is described as follows by the Free University of Berlin:
The Habilitation (postdoctoral university degree with lecture qualification) offers the credentials for scientific university teaching (=Lehrbefähigung) in the selected subject (=Habilitationsfach). Both computer science and mathematics are potential courses at this faculty. Candidate requirements are:
1. A publishing of one's most recent research findings, which serves as an equivalent to the aforementioned "Habilitationsschrift," or the submission of an all-encompassing monograph (Habilitationsschrift), which must be a major scientific contribution exceeding the norms of a dissertation.
2. a scientific discussion that is followed by a public talk on the topic.
3. lecture activity (Lehrtätigkeit) at a university of science in a field pertinent to the postdoctoral degree.
The Habilitation Regulations of October 4, 1999 are followed during the habilitation process.
In Russia and the former Soviet Union (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine), the Doctor of Sciences (Doctor Nauk/?????????? - a higher doctorate of the 2-tier doctorate system) is regarded as being equivalent to the habilitation degree. Although the Doctor of Sciences was the highest degree awarded in Russia from 1819 until 1917 (when it was abolished), it was not a part of a two-tier system in its earlier iteration. It was only complemented by the Candidate of Sciences when it was reestablished in 1934. (equivalent to a research doctorate).
Oxford regards the doctorates in divinity (DDiv) and civil law (DCL) as superior to all other degrees, including the doctorate in medicine (MD). Usually given for scholarly achievements above the PhD level, the DDiv
In contrast, the honorary doctor of divinity in the United States is a completely religious title with no academic significance, according to federal legislation from 1974. This is so that religious institutions can award religious degrees without being accredited or subject to government scrutiny in 20 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.
According to Oxford University, a number of academic degrees are superior to the PhD, including the Doctor of Music (D.Mus.) degree, which is superior to the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Due to these exemptions, the Universal Life Church (plaintiff in the case that established the exemption in 1974 and also lacking regional academic accreditation) now charges $19.99 for an honorary DDiv that serves as a memento of successful completion of unassessed, self-guided study in divinity.
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| Doctor of Divinity |
This degree has absolutely no academic relevance.
It is not comparable to Oxford's Doctor of Divinity degree.
Foreign degrees and postdoctoral training are regarded and valued. However, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is the highest academic degree that may be earned in the United States and serves as its closest academic equivalent. A professional resume or CV should include information about degrees beyond this one. No matter where you're from, Scholaro's international education specialists are ready to assist you maximize your academic achievements. Our team of experts and evaluators can give precise and quick evaluations for usage in any place in the world, whether you're looking for equivalency for your higher doctorate or enrolling in an advanced program abroad.
