/guid/9202a8c04000641f80000000000135e6 rename

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated PhD (also Ph.D.), for the Latin philosophiæ doctor, meaning ...

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated PhD (also Ph.D.), for the Latin philosophiæ doctor, meaning "teacher of philosophy", or alternatively, DPhil, Dr. phil. or similar, for the equivalent doctor philosophiæ, is an advanced academic degree awarded by universities. In many English-speaking countries, the PhD is the highest degree one can earn and applies to graduates in a wide array of disciplines in the sciences and humanities. The PhD or equivalent has become a requirement for a career as a university professor or researcher in most fields. The detailed requirements for award of a PhD degree vary throughout the world. In some countries (the US, Canada, Denmark, for example), most universities require coursework in addition to research for PhD degrees. In many other countries (especially those with a greater degree of specialization at the undergraduate level, such as the UK) there is generally no such condition. It is not uncommon, however, for individual universities or departments to specify additional requirements for students not already in possession of a master's degree. In countries requiring coursework, there is usually a prescribed minimum amount of study — typically two to