what is the title for a phd holder

How to Correctly Use the Titles Dr. & PhD With a Name

How to Reference a Person With a PhD

When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., degree, that person is subsequently referred to as “doctor” in formal speech. The same is true of a person who is a medical doctor, psychologist, dentist or veterinarian. In formal speech, that person should be referred to as “doctor.” However, the rules are different in written form when addressing someone who is called “doctor” in formal speech. In written form, the titles “Dr.” and “Ph.D.” are not interchangeable.

Determine the Type of Doctor

First, you should identify what type of doctor you are addressing. Doctors of medicine and psychology, doctors of dentistry and doctors of veterinary medicine must be addressed differently in comparison to academic doctors who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. Be advised that there are different types of doctoral degrees. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is just one kind of doctoral degree. There’s also, for example, a Doctor of Education doctoral degree and a Doctor of Psychology doctoral degree. The titles associated with the various doctoral degrees are not interchangeable. Only a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree should be addressed as Ph.D.

Addressing a Doctor in Writing

Place the title of “Dr.” before the name of a person who is a doctor of medicine or psychology, doctor of dentistry, or doctor of veterinary medicine. For example Dr. George Ross. Always write the word “doctor” in its abbreviated form when it goes before the person’s name. Never write, for example, Doctor George Ross. Do not combine the title of “Dr.” with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. Never write, for example, “Dr. George Ross, Ph.D.,” even if the person is a medical doctor who has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Pick one title. Do not use the “Dr.” title when referring to someone who is solely an academic doctor.

Put a comma followed by the title “Ph.D.” after the name of a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. For example Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Do not combine the title of “Ph.D.” with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. For instance, even if the person being addressed is a doctor of medicine who has also earned a Ph.D., never write, for example, Dr. Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Pick one title. Do not use the “Ph.D.” title when referring to someone who not earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree.

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Maya Austen began freelance writing in 2009. She has written for many online publications on a wide variety of topics ranging from physical fitness to amateur astronomy. She's also an author and e-book publisher. Austen has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the New England Institute of Art and currently lives in Boston, Mass.

How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

—- For more on the the use of Port-Nominal Abbreviations , see that page . —- For more on use of an Honorary Doctorate , see that page . How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Here are the forms to use when addressing a person addressed as Dr. See the discussion below “How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name 1-2-3-4-5” for more information on who typically does use Dr. as part of their name and who does not.

—- Envelope or address block on letter or email to their office/place of work: ——– (Full Name), (Post-nominal abbreviation for doctorate held). ——– ( Name of office/place of work if  appropriate) ——– (Address)

—- Social/Personal envelope: ——– Dr. (Full Name) ——– (Address)

—- Salutation – for both official & social: ——– Dear Dr. (Surname):  How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name: 1-2-3-4-5

—- #1) Holders of doctorates who work in academia or research institutions are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ professionally and socially in a salutation or conversation. Thus, a Ph.D. professor at a college, a Ph.D. in biology doing scientific research, and a Ph.D. principal at an elementary school all use Dr. (Name) and everybody thinks it is normal.

—- NOTE: At some universities it is traditional to address faculty holding of academic doctorates as ‘Mr. (Name)’ or ‘Professor (Name)’ and not to address as ‘Dr. (Name)’. For those outside the academic community it is acceptable to follow the insider’s rule or to address holders of doctorates as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in writing or oral address.

—- #2) Protestant clergy with doctorates are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in a salutation or conversation. I specify ‘Protestant’ here because not all clergy is. For example, neither priests – addressed in a salutation or conversation as Father [Name] – nor rabbis – addressed as Rabbi [Name] –  holding doctorates are ever addressed as Dr. [Name] . In a salutation or conversation they stick with Father[Name] and Rabbi [Name].

—- #3) Holders of doctorates who work outside academia or research don’t always prefer to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’. in a salutation or conversation. —- —- A) In the USA ‘Dr.’ may be used depending on the work environment and/or when the degree isn’t pertinent to the conversation. E.g., a Ph.D. in finance working at a bank or a Ph.D. in American history working in software development are not likely to insist on being addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’ . But always ask for their preference. Use of, or omitting, the honorific can be a sensitive issue to some individuals! —- —- B) And, outside the U.S.A. everyone holding a doctorate will want to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in every instance.

—- #4) In hospitals and healthcare environments historically there was a practice that only physicians (medical doctors, osteopaths, dentists, podiatrists, veterinarians, etc. ) are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’. This was explained to be out of consideration for the patients who want to know who ‘the doctors’ are and who are nurses and allied healthcare professionals.

—- That made for some unhappy professionals who earned doctorates in hospital administration, pharmacy, physical therapy and nursing, etc. – who felt they too were properly addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ . It’s my understanding that today all the holders of doctorates are addressed as Dr. (Name) and hospitals (etc.) have figured out other ways to define which doctor is a physician, which is a physical therapist and which is a nurse anesthetist.

—- #5) All that said, ultimately how one is addressed by others is up to the individual and usually everyone goes along. For example, if you and I meet a woman who identifies herself as ‘Monsignor Alice’ … I think it is unlikely she’s a Roman Catholic Monsignor. And, it’s unusual she has only one name, like Pink, Rhianna, Sting, Cher, or Madonna. But we should directly address her in conversation as ‘Monsignor Alice,’ it’s nice to meet you …’ because that’s what she says her name is. How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

—- But, when she’s out of range, we will all be talking about her.

—- —- – Robert Hickey

Related Healthcare Links -V — — Chiropractor / Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine -V — — Dentist / Doctor of Dentistry -V — — Medical Doctor / Doctor of Medicine -V — — Military Physician / Armed Services -V — — Optometrist / Doctor of Optometry -V — — Osteopath / Doctor of Osteopathy -V — — Podiatrist / Doctor of Podiatry -V — — Veterinarian / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

More Related Healthcare Links: -V — — Person holding a doctorate -V — — Pharmacist / Doctor of Pharmacy -V — — Psychologist -V — — Therapist

Related Links: —- —- —- Principal —- —- —- Headmaster —- —- —- President College University —- —- —- President of a School —- —- —- Chancellor —- —- —- Professor

When To Use Dr. (Name) and When To Use (Name), Ph.D.?

My daughter is receiving her Ph.D. and will be teaching. I would like to give her a name plate for her desk. Should it be ‘Dr. (Full Name)’ or ‘(Full Name), Ph.D. ‘? ——————- – AP

Dear AP,   How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

‘(Full Name), Ph.D.’ is the official form of her name. You will use it on the envelope, or in the address block of a letter, when you write to her with regard to her professional pursuits. This is the form the university will use when she is listed among the faculty. It is used by the degree holder, when specifying the exact degree is pertinent – like on business cards or in a list of academics.

‘Dr. (Full Name)’ is the social form of her name. You will use it when you write her name on a personal letter’s envelope, e.g., one sent to her home. This is the form everyone will use on the envelope when they send her a birthday or holiday card. It is rarely used by the degree holder since one does not correctly give oneself an honorific. The degree holder – in their signature or when introducing him or herself – just uses their name … no ‘Dr.’ It’s up to the other person to add the ‘Dr.’ E.g., I just introduce myself as ‘Robert Hickey’ – never ‘Mr. Robert Hickey.’

Sometimes you will observe a physician in a healthcare setting introducing him or herself as ‘Dr. (Name)’ – but there it is for the patient’s benefit to know they are the physician in a field of people wearing seemingly identical white coats!

‘Dr. (Surname)’ is the conversational form of her name. Use it both officially and socially in a letter’s salutation as well as in oral conversation.

So, for an office name plate use the official form of her name – (Full Name), Ph.D.

– Robert Hickey

Doctors present the official form of their name to the public:  (Full Name) (Pertinent post-nominals for the service offered).   The social form of their name does not include their degree: Dr. (Full Name).   In both official and social salutations and conversations patients use Dr. (Name).

If My Doctorate is in Music, am I ‘Dr.’?

I hold a DMA, Doctorate in Music, from a Boston university and am a Church Music Director. Please could you advise me as to whether it is acceptable for the church where I work to list me in the service bulletins as: ‘Dr. (First name) + (Last name) ‘? —————- – CJ

Dear CJ: How to Use a Doctorate with your Name It is correct to list yourself in the bulletin using the professional form of your name … (First name) + (Last name), DMA.    It specifies your academic credential in your professional domain.

Among protestant denominations many address their clergy with a doctorate orally and in a salutation as  Dr. (Surname).   If your church is one of those, and it is your preference is to be Dr. (Surnhttps://formsofaddress.info/wp-admin/post.php?post=13983&action=edit#ame), tell everyone that it is your preference to be addressed Dr. (Surname).

Usually academics and researchers who go by Dr. (Surname) professionally – use Dr. (Surname)  socially. But ultimately whether a particular Ph.D. holder is ‘Dr. (Name)’ socially … especially outside of healthcare, academia or research … is at the preference of the bearer. Some insist, some don’t care, others say they answer to anything they are called. Ultimately your name belongs to you and if you want to be Dr. (Surname), then it’s your right to request everyone address you that way.

– Robert Hickey   How to Use a Doctorate with your Name

May I Call Myself Dr. (Name)  if my Degree Is Not Related to the Service I Offer?

I have a Ph.D. and license in counseling. Recently I sent out an announcement for a yoga class I will be teaching. The state of Colorado says I should not teach yoga as   “Dr. (Name)”. How can I convince them I can? ——– – Kevin S., Ph.D., L.P.C., C.M.T., I.K.Y.T.A. ,  Counseling, Yoga Therapy, Integrative Health & Healing

Dear Dr. Kevin, How to Use a Doctorate with your Name

Your Ph.D. is in a field not related to the service you are offering.

A couple of typical practices I observe in the USA come to mind:

Professionals use with their name the degrees pertinent to their profession service. The degrees and certifications are provided for the benefit of the public so the public can quickly evaluate your credentials.

Here’s what I mean by pertinent . A pastor who would be the Reverend (Full Name)  & Pastor (Name) at church on Sundays, would not use the Reverend (Full Name) & Pastor (Name)  when teaching English Monday through Friday, at the local high school. That he or she is the Reverend  might be mentioned in a complete biography or introduction. It just isn’t part of his/her name at school.

So, I can see if you are using ‘Dr. (Name)’ when offering a class in yoga, and your doctorate is not directly to the service you are offering, say a doctorate physical therapy or kinesthetics …. it would be confusing to me … and the state officials must think it is misleading to the public.

– Robert Hickey How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Should I Use Dr. or Ph.D. on an Invitation?

If a person holds a Ph.D., should his or her name be ‘Dr. (name)’ a wedding invitation? Or ‘( Name), Ph.D.’ ?  Is this true for the father of the bride?  The groom?  Is the rule for names on wedding invitations and wedding envelopes different that the guidelines for social correspondence? ————– – Beverly Russell, Winchester, Virginia

Dear Ms. Russell: Wedding invitations and their envelopes are social correspondence. Post-nominal abbreviations ( Ph.D. is a post nominal abbreviation) aren’t used on social correspondence:

—- —- DON’T use Ph.D.

—- —- DO use Dr. (Name)

Another question that typically comes up is whether to use Doctor or Dr. (spelled out or abbreviated) on the invitation or on the mailing envelope?

The rule is to spell out everything and not to use abbreviations unless space is an issue.

But, Mr., Mrs., Dr., and Ms. (for which there is no spelled-out version) are typically used on invitations and when addressing invitations in even the most formal circles. I think ‘Doctor (Name)’ looks oh-so-highly precious, but I know some wedding planners who would wrestle me to the mat on that one.

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them. ___ What I don’t cover on this site are  many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions , etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—- #1)    At right  on desktops , at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones , is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—- #2)   If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail . I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so  (unless I am traveling.)   Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—- #3)   If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Recommended Resources:    The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW)  and  Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)     For more information see the Protocol Resources page.

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How to Properly Address a PhD

By: Author Dr. Patrick Capriola

Posted on Published: February 5, 2021

Honorifics play an important role in the English language. Not only do honorifics signify rank, but they help to convey courtesy and respect. In academia, honorifics are especially important, so it’s vital to address someone correctly. Many people wonder if they should address a PhD as doctor.

You should address a PhD with the honorific term “Doctor,” followed by their name in both spoken and written situations. The term strictly applies to anyone who has obtained a PhD degree, MD (Doctor of Medicine), or JD (Doctor of Law). English derives the honorific “Doctor” from the Latin word docere, which means “to teach,” and it applies to a PhD because they have reached a level where they can teach others.

Honorifics exist across all languages and cultures and are significant when using and understanding a language. Who should have the title of “Doctor” is widely debated by the academic world, revealing just how important honorifics are in modern-day English.

What Is a PhD?

A PhD is also known as a Doctor of Philosophy. A PhD is considered a terminal degree in the academic world, which means that the person has obtained the highest formal degree in a specific field ( source ). 

A Doctor of Philosophy is considered to be the traditional doctoral degree. However, over the years, many other types of doctoral degrees have been introduced. Examples of these include the EdD, a Doctor of Education, and DBA, a Doctor of Business ( source ).

Furthermore, a Doctor of Philosophy is considered an academic degree, while other types of doctorates are deemed professional degrees.

If you are considering pursuing a PhD, then you may be interested in exploring this article, “ How to Set and Follow Through on Academic Goals; Examples for Success .”

How and When to Use the Honorific “Dr.”

The honorific “Doctor” or “Dr.” should be used when addressing someone with a PhD, whether via written or verbal correspondence, and it applies to both males and females.

People working towards a PhD, also known as an ABD (All but Dissertation), should not be given the title of “Doctor.” Instead, you should refer to them as “Mr.” or “Ms.” until they have officially completed their PhD.

Undoubtedly, the candidate who has earned their doctorate has worked hard, so it is understandable why they deserve to be addressed correctly. 

The Prenominal and Postnominal

When discussing the subject of addressing someone with a PhD, it’s vital to consider the prenominal “Dr.” and the postnominal “PhD.”

Dr . Douglas Ferguson (Dr. is the pronominal)

Douglas Ferguson, PhD (PhD is the postnominal)

When someone earns the title of “Dr.,” they lose the previous honorifics they may have carried, such as “Mr.” or “Ms.”

A postnominal and pronominal are never used together at the same time.

Furthermore, when discussing these terms grammatically, the prenominal is used in the third person, while the postnominal is most often used in the first person. However, this may change depending on the context.

Written 

In academic circles, a considerable amount of correspondence is done via email and the written word. If you want to send a letter addressed to someone with a PhD, such as a cover letter, you use the prenominal “Dr.” 

When writing in a formal or professional context, you do not need to include the first name.

Dear Dr. Fergsuon, I hope this email finds you well.

In written correspondence, if you are receiving an email from someone with a PhD, they may choose to sign off with either the prenominal or the postnominal.

Regards, Dr . Douglas Ferguson

Regards, Douglas Ferguson, PhD

If you are uncertain, check your previous correspondence with them. Most people will have a footer at the end of their email, which tells you their qualifications. 

When addressing a person with a PhD verbally, you never use the postnominal.  

Good morning Dr . Ferguson

Dr . Ferguson, I have a question regarding the upcoming exams.

That was an interesting lecture today, Dr . Ferguson.

When Is It “Dr.” and When Is It “Professor?”

Whether to use the term “Dr.” or “Prof.” will depend on several factors. “Professor” is a higher rank than “Dr.”

However, the title only exists within a university context. Someone with a PhD will always hold the title of “Doctor”; however, they would still have to meet other commitments to become a Professor.

It is important to remember that not all those with the title “Professor” have a PhD, so the terms aren’t always exchangeable. 

Often the person lecturing you will indicate how they wish to be addressed. They may want you to call them “Dr.” or “Prof.” or even by their first names. However, it is not recommended to call someone by their first name unless requested to do so.

If a person has a doctorate, the general rule is to call them “Dr.,” whether they are lecturing you or not.

When it is appropriate to use the term ‘Professor’ differs from country to country. In America and Canada, anyone lecturing is generally granted the name “Professor” despite factors such as seniority and tenure.

However, in countries such as the UK and Germany, only full-time professors may be called “Professor.”

The list of academic ranks changes from country to country, but we can examine three examples to get a general idea.

United States

• Distinguished, Endowed, or University Professor
• Associate Professor
• Assistant Professor
• Master Instructor
• Senior Instructor
• Lecturer/Research Associate
• Part-time Lecturer

United Kingdom

• Distinguished Professor/Chair
• Full Professor/Reader
• Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor
• Assistant Lecturer/Clinical Lecturer 
• Associate Lecturer/Teaching Assistant/Departmental lecturer

South Africa

• Full Professor
• Senior Lecturer
• Junior Lecturer

Honorifics in English

An English honorific refers to a prefix that occurs before a person’s name ( source ). Honorifics are not considered to be positions or titles that can appear without the person’s name, for example, the Queen or the President.

In English, honorifics are also often used to distinguish between males and females. However, some honorifics, such as “Dr.” and “General,” apply to both males and females.

This is because when these honorifics were first used, only males were able to obtain said titles.

Honorifics are an essential part of the English Language and must be used when formally addressing people, whether it be verbal or written. 

Who Should Be Called “Doctor”?

In the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. James P. Winter, a professor at the University of Windsor, argues that those with a PhD are the only ones who are entitled to be called “Doctor.”

In his argument, Winter poses some interesting questions concerning the evolution of the word “Doctor” and how it has changed over the last 700 years.

Winter argues that due to inappropriate use, the term “Doctor” has become overused and underappreciated.

Winters stated that in many countries, such as Canada, healthcare professionals who don’t have a medical degree, such as pharmacists, are allowed to call themselves “Doctor.”

Winters looks at the term from both a historical and linguistic point of view to support his argument. As the term “Doctor” is adopted from the Latin word docere, meaning “to teach,” those with the title should be teaching others. He argues that teaching others is not common practice outside of academia.

Furthermore, he argues that the title of “Doctor” originated in the 1300s when it was only used to describe distinguished scholars. 

Winter goes on to state that PhDs are the highest degree that anyone can obtain from a university, while many health professionals only achieve undergraduate degrees. He considers MDs to be professional degrees and not truly doctorates. 

He concludes that PhDs are the only “real” doctors as dictated by linguists and history. Many academics share Winter’s feelings, with many PhD holders feeling that they have earned the right to be called “Doctor.”

Dr. Fern Riddle, a historian and author, started a debate on Twitter in 2018 when she claimed she wanted only to be referred to only as “Doctor” rather than “Ms.” or “Miss” because she had earned her authority ( source ).

Her opinions received backlash when people called her arrogant and entitled. Yet, many female PhD holders prefer to be called “Doctor.”This is because it illustrates their achievement and status irrespective of whether they are married. 

Those in the medical field argue that the term “Doctor” is significant because it makes patients feel at ease. As such, any health professional who is helping someone should be allowed to bear the honorific ( source ). 

Who should rightfully be called “Doctor” is a topic that is continuously debated.

The reality is that the term “Doctor” has changed over the years to encompass a much wider circle of people. This includes not only professionals and academics but males and females. 

Whatever your perspective, it is clear that the title of “Doctor” is still much sought after and revered, and that is not likely to change anytime soon.

Final Thoughts

Those who have obtained a PhD have done so by working hard and dedicating years of their life to academia. As such, it is important when dealing with someone who has a PhD that you address them correctly.

The term “Doctor” and to whom it is applied is constantly changing from country to country. It remains to be seen who else will be awarded the title in the future and how those who hold the title will react to its evolution.

Universities vs. University’s: Understanding the Difference between Plural and Possessive

Sunday 21st of February 2021

[…] For an article on how to properly address a Ph.D., make sure you read our article on this subject. […]

The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

PhD FAQs – A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Doctoral Study

Tempted to do a PhD but have lots of questions? Hopefully this collection of popular PhD FAQs will help you to tick a few off the list!

Note – If you’re already sure that you want to do a PhD, and are looking for guidance on the applications process, check out my post on How to apply for a PhD which includes advice from successful PhD applicants. My post-PhD reflections on the things I regretted from my own PhD may be useful for you too, you can find that post here .

Let’s start with the absolute basics of PhDs!

What does PhD stand for?

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. Doctor of Philosophy ? No matter which subject area your PhD is in you’ll become a Doctor of Philosophy because philosophy derives from Greek to mean “Love of wisdom” which make a bit more sense.

What is a PhD?

A PhD is a type of research degree classified as a doctorate. You get a PhD by doing original research into a topic, typically for at least three years.

There are loads of other types of doctorate and a PhD is simply the most common. EngD is another which is relatively common for industry-funded engineering students here in the UK.

PhD & DPhil what’s the difference?

There is no real difference between a PhD and DPhil, they’re both Doctor of Philosophy qualifications. A small number of historic institutions in the UK such as Oxford and York offer DPhils but the degree itself is equivalent.

How common are PhDs amongst the population?

Approximately 1% of the working population (25-64 years old) have a PhD. This varies a lot by country:

Can you call yourself Doctor with a PhD?

Yes you can. Though to avoid confusion with medical doctors, rarely will PhD-holders use the “Dr” title outside of their workplace.

Sometimes PhD-holders will add the abbreviation PhD after their name if they want to make it clear they are a non-medical doctor, for example “Jeff Clark PhD”.

What have I done about my title since getting my PhD? Nothing so far!

Why do a PhD?

Unlike a lot of other degrees, most PhD students get paid to study . Read more in the finances section below.

There are lots of potential reasons to want to do a PhD. The PhD students from our monthly PhD Profiles series said the following:

Sara found research the most enjoyable part of her undergraduate degree and a PhD was a way to carry on with research.

Ornob wants to pursue a career in evolutionary biology so began with a PhD in the field.

Vivienne has aspirations to be a professor so a PhD is a job requirement to progress in academia.

Jeff (me!) had an interest in the field and enjoyed research. I wrote a whole post with a deep dive on why I decided to do a PhD here .

Floor had enjoyed research during her Masters and didn’t think that she wanted a career in industry, so decided to do a PhD.

It’s important to mention that you don’t need to have a desire to stay in academia to do a PhD. In fact, even if you do want to go into academia afterwards, it’s probably good to know early on just how competitive it can be. Many people sadly cannot make a career out of academia long term.

Enjoy the subject matter and want to spend a few years researching it? That is reason enough to do a PhD. I’ve also now written a whole post about the benefits of having a PhD .

Applying for a PhD

Do you need a masters degree to do a phd.

No you don’t necessarily need a Masters degree to do a PhD as long as you can demonstrate you’d be suitable for a PhD without it.

For a more in-depth answer see the separate post here :

Can You Get a PhD Without a Master’s?

If you don’t have a Masters, I’d recommend checking out Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) which offer combined Masters + PhD courses. We have discussed CDTs with a graduate in Floor’s post here .

What grades do you need to do a PhD?

Entry requirements for PhDs can vary. In regards to the UK system usually you’d generally be expected to have at least a 2:1 from your undergraduate degree, plus some research experience.

My experience : I (narrowly) got first class honours in my undergrad (MEng) which certainly does help. But if you can demonstrate aptitude in research you usually don’t need a 1:1. It would be expected for you to have done well in any research projects. If you can get your name on a publication then even better!

The easiest way to find out what is expected is to check the PhD advert for entry requirements. For details on applying for a PhD, including how to find PhD adverts, check out my guide here :

How to apply for a PhD

I work in industry, can I come back and do a PhD?

Absolutely! I worked for almost four years between finishing my first degree and starting my PhD.

A PhD is more similar to a job than any other point in your education, so if you’ve spent time in a structured role it can provide you with a good work ethic. If your time in industry adds relevant skills and experience to your application, even better!

I’ve met loads of people older than me who are pursuing PhDs. If it’s your dream, it’s never too late to start a PhD!

What is the social life of a PhD student like?

Let me get this out the way first: PhD students should be able to have a life outside of the lab! If a PhD student has no time away from research I would personally suggest that they were doing things wrong.

Even if you really enjoy your project, it is good for your mental health to have a social life!

No matter the size of your research group there are often departmental and university-wide events. Plus, besides everyone you may meet through your research and department, PhD students can still join societies and sports clubs through the students’ union. I spent one of my birthdays during my PhD on the beach in Morocco with the surf club, don’t let being a PhD student put your off getting involved!

Check out the full post I’ve written: Do PhD Students Have a Social Life? Sharing My Experiences Making Friends and Avoiding PhD Loneliness

If you do go on to do a PhD, make sure to make the most of all the opportunities ! Your time as a PhD student is fantastic for personal growth.

How much holiday do PhD students get?

Sadly unlike undergraduates, PhD students don’t follow fixed semesters. This means no more three month long summer holiday, sorry!

However most departments recommend PhD students take 7-8 weeks of holiday a year , which is more than practically any job outside of academia.

I kept track of all the time off I took during my PhD and you can find the details here , including a month by month breakdown:

Do PhD Students Get Holidays? Sharing How Much Annual Leave I Take

Getting a PhD

How much work is a phd.

For a month I tracked how many hours I was working and what I was working on, so you can see a breakdown of my calendar here . I found I was working for roughly 40 hours a week. Now that I’ve recently finished my PhD, I’d say that that amount of hours was pretty representative of the whole PhD.

How Much Work is a PhD?

I do of course know some people who worked much longer hours, but most PhD students were on a similar schedule to me. Working roughly 9-5 on weekdays. Treat it like a job and you’ll be fine. PhD students don’t need to be slaving away long hours.

I managed to be strict with my time, largely avoiding work late nights or going in at the weekends. One of the main perks of doing a PhD is that you have autonomy and can be flexible with when you work. As long as you get the work done, any reasonable supervisor won’t mind when you’re there.

Yes I’ve heard stories of PhD students having to clock in and out with an expectation that they spend a certain number of hours in the office. I personally think this is stupid and doesn’t build trust. Try to speak to current PhD students from the group when choosing a supervisor .

How is a PhD assessed?

What you submit at the end of your research varies between universities and countries. Sometimes it’s a thesis and other times it can be a bunch of published papers. In all situations you give some kind of presentation and answer questions about your work.

In the UK you usually submit a thesis in preparation for a viva voce . The viva is an oral exam where you discuss your research with several academics and at least one will be an expert in your field. My viva wasn’t as scary as I thought it might be, but nonetheless it was five hours ( FIVE HOURS! ) long. At the end of your viva you’ll get told the outcome of your PhD with any changes to be made to your thesis.

There is often no requirement , to publish your work in journals during a PhD in the UK but it does help.

In other countries you may have to publish a certain number to pass your PhD and effectively these can be submitted instead of the thesis. This approach makes much more sense to me.

How long does it take to get a PhD?

In the UK, typically between three and four years to complete your research and submit the thesis. It can then take a few months for the exam (viva voce) to take place and then for any corrections to the thesis to be made.

Nosey about my PhD? For me personally, I started the PhD on 1st October 2016, submitted my thesis on 17th February 2020, had the viva on 25th March, submitted my minor corrections on 30th March and had the email to say it was officiated on 1st April 2020. Yep, April Fool’s Day…

When you realise your degree certificate will forever say your PhD was awarded on April Fools Day! #academiclife @imperialcollege pic.twitter.com/hKsGFyuc0x — Jeff Clark (@savvy_scientist) April 14, 2020

We cover all the stages of a PhD here, including putting the length of a PhD in the perspective of a whole career:

How Long Does It Take To Get A PhD?

Are PhDs really difficult?

No, well not how you might think.

You don’t need to be a genius, but you do have to be smart with how you work. Here I go into how a PhD is pretty different to all the prior years spent in education:

How Hard is a PhD?

Check out my new post covering academic challenges and failures relating to my own PhD: Overcoming Academic Challenges and Failure During a PhD

Money-Related Questions

How much does a phd cost.

If you have funding, which is explained below, all your fees are paid for by the funding source. If you are looking to self-fund, then you’ll have to pay bench-fees/tuition fees, which are usually approximately £4,000 a year for home students in the UK.

Fees vary massively depending on both the country the PhD work takes place in and where you’re from. For example, I believe Australian universities charge around $100,000 in fees to overseas PhD students. Of course ideally you have funding which covers both this and pays a stipend!

Do PhD students pay taxes?

In the UK, PhD students do not pay income tax, national insurance, council tax and student loan repayments. This means that if you can secure funding, even though you may earn less than friends in typical jobs, you get to keep all your earnings!

Do PhD students get paid?

Most PhDs, at least in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) get a stipend: basically a tax-free salary.

How much do PhD students get paid?

At the time of writing, most PhD students in the UK get around £16,000 a year . Doesn’t sound like a lot, but:

• As mentioned above, you don’t pay income tax, national insurance, council tax or make any student loan repayments. My most popular post is this one , comparing the income of PhD students vs grad jobs and the difference really isn’t that big. Plus it’s only for 3 to 3.5 years!
• You’re getting paid to learn science, working on something you’re really interested in. It’s amazing.
• You have a lot more freedom than practically any “proper job”.
• You’re getting paid, to be a student…

PhD Salary UK: How Much Do PhD Students Get Paid Compared to Graduates?

In summary, PhD stipends are really not that different to grad starting salaries. Please don’t be put off from a PhD simply because for a few years you might be earning a bit less than if you were working in another job.

Depending on what you want to do with your career, having a CV may lead to higher salaries. What is 3 years of lower wages out of a 40+ year career? The answer: nothing!

Where do I find PhD funding?

Getting funding will likely be the biggest hurdle for you to secure a PhD. I have a post here detailing the different types of funding and how you can find a project with funding attached.

How to Find PhD Funding in the UK

Can you self-fund a PhD?

Yes you can self-fund a PhD, and some students are in a position to do so. Just be careful that you account for university fees and not just your living costs.

Are you allowed to have another job at the same time?

Most universities encourage you to get involved with work within your department as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA). Some countries even insist that you work a certain number of hours as part of a contract for your monthly stipend.

Working as a GTA you might be invigilating exams, helping in tutorials, marking coursework etc and at Imperial you usually earn around £15-£26 an hour.

If you’re looking to work a full time job in tandem with your PhD (and doing the PhD full time), it is best checking your university’s policy. Some may have regulations against you working over a certain number of hours which could impede you from concentrating on the PhD.

There are extra ways to make money on the side which I address here :

How to Earn Money Online for Students

Can you get a mortgage as a PhD student?

Since I did my PhD in London I didn’t even consider buying somewhere during my PhD. I’m not interested in being tied into a massive mortgage for 25 years to buy a shoebox!

If I’d accepted my PhD offer for a CDT at Leeds I certainly would have tried to buy somewhere with my partner. I found this page useful when doing research. Buying a property with a partner who has a normal job would definitely make the mortgage application a whole lot more successful.

Will a PhD help your career?

This depends on what you want to do with your career. Some example scenarios:

• Staying in academia – a PhD is usually required
• Certain technical jobs in industry – a PhD may be required or a big bonus
• Non-technical jobs – a bonus

I do not imagine any scenarios where having a PhD is worse than not having one. It is true though that for certain careers there may be other things you could do which would be a better use of your time, for example gaining more direct work experience.

If you want to do a PhD that shouldn’t stop you though, and considering the length of your career taking a few years out for a PhD is inconsequential.

Whichever career path you fancy taking, if you are at all interested in doing a PhD I think you should at least apply.

PhDs in London

Can someone afford to live in london as a phd student.

Yes! I lived in London for my PhD and actually was able to save money every single month while taking many holidays and not living in a tent.

I have a few posts sharing my experiences living in London which you may find useful:

For a month last year I tracked all my expenses to get an idea of my costs living in London as a student, you can find it here .

Sharing my monthly living expenses as a student in London: September 2019

Related to reducing costs, I learned to cycle in London and loved it. It saved me about £100 a month too!

Learning to cycle in London: my first 1000 miles

On top of that, for the whole of 2019 (third year PhD) I tracked my money, and the report is here :

My personal finances report for 2019

Where is good to live in London?

I’ve lived in three different houses during my PhD in London and have a pretty good idea now of good places to live in London. You can read this whole post talking about living in London as a student and the associated costs including a breakdown of rent :

London student accommodation: Breaking down the cost of living in London for students

Bonus: Read the journeys of PhD students

Before I started my PhD I had a ton of questions and nobody who I could ask about their experience. The reality is that many of these PhD FAQs have a variety of answers as everyone’s PhD story is different. Therefore if you’d like to hear first hand from people who are going through the journey check out my series of PhD profiles , with a new profile every month. You can also discover some of their top tips for applying!

If you’d like personalised help with your PhD application I am now starting to offer a small number of one-to-one sessions. Please contact me to find out more or click here to book a call.

Is there anything else you’d like to know to help with a potential PhD application? Let me know and I’ll write about it! You can subscribe to stay up to date here:

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How Do You Address Someone With a PhD Degree?

In academia and professional settings, knowing how to properly address someone with a PhD is crucial.

Jun 26, 2024

In today's diverse academic and professional landscape, knowing how to properly address individuals with advanced degrees is an essential social and professional skill. This guide focuses on the etiquette surrounding the PhD title, offering comprehensive insights into when and how to use it appropriately.

Understanding the PhD Title

A PhD, which stands for Doctor of Philosophy, represents the pinnacle of academic achievement in many fields. Despite its name, a PhD is not limited to philosophy; it can be earned in various disciplines, from sciences and humanities to arts and engineering. This prestigious degree signifies:

• Extensive expertise in a specific field of study
• Completion of original research that contributes new knowledge to the field
• The ability to conduct independent research and analysis
• A high level of critical thinking and problem-solving skills

It's important to note that while a PhD holder is referred to as "Doctor," this doesn't necessarily mean they are a medical doctor. The title "Doctor" in this context acknowledges their advanced level of education and expertise in their field of study.

When to Use "Dr." as a Title

Using the title "Dr." for PhD holders is generally appropriate in many contexts, especially in academic and professional settings. Here's a more detailed look at when and where to use this title:

Academic Settings

• In universities or research institutions
• During academic conferences or seminars
• In scholarly publications or academic journals
• When introducing speakers at academic events

Professional Contexts

• In formal business correspondence
• During professional conferences or meetings
• In industry publications or reports
• When introducing experts in their field at events or in media

Formal Correspondence

• In official letters or emails
• On business cards or professional profiles
• In formal invitations or announcements

Public Recognition

• When acknowledging contributions or achievements
• In press releases or media interviews
• On plaques or awards

It's worth noting that some PhD holders may prefer not to use the title outside of professional or academic settings. This personal preference often stems from a desire to maintain a more casual or approachable demeanor in social situations. When in doubt, it's always best to ask for their preference. 

Addressing Someone with a PhD in Email

Email communication often requires a balance between formality and friendliness. When writing to someone with a PhD, especially for the first time or in a professional context, it's best to err on the side of formality. Here are some guidelines:

• "Dear Dr. [Last Name],"
• "Hello Dr. [Last Name],"
• If they sign as "John," you can address them as "John" in your reply
• If unsure, you can ask: "How would you prefer I address you in our correspondence?"
• In the body of the email, continue to use "Dr. [Last Name]" until invited to do otherwise
• "Best regards,"
• "Sincerely,"
• "Thank you,"

Remember, it's always better to start formal and become more casual if invited, rather than starting too casually and potentially appearing disrespectful.

Easily pronounces technical words in any field

Using the Title in Person

Face-to-face interactions require a nuanced approach to addressing someone with a PhD. Here are some scenarios and how to handle them:

First Meetings

When meetings someone with a PhD for the first time, especially in a professional or academic setting:

• "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. [Last Name]."
• "Thank you for joining us, Dr. [Last Name]."

Introductions

When introducing a PhD holder to others:

• "I'd like to introduce Dr. [Last Name], who specializes in [field of study]."
• "This is Dr. [First Name] [Last Name], our expert in [area of expertise]."

Ongoing Interactions

After the initial introduction, follow the PhD holder's lead:

• If they invite you to use their first name, you can do so in subsequent interactions
• If they continue to use formal titles, maintain that level of formality

Social Settings

In more casual environments, it's often acceptable to use first names, but when in doubt, ask:

• "How would you prefer I address you in this setting?"

Envelope and Formal Letter Etiquette

When addressing formal letters or envelopes to someone with a PhD, there are a few accepted formats:

• Dr. [Full Name], PhD Example: Dr. Jane Smith, PhD
• [Full Name], PhD Example: Jane Smith, PhD
• Dr. [Full Name] Example: Dr. Jane Smith

The choice between these formats often depends on the level of formality and the specific requirements of the communication. For instance, when submitting a paper to an academic journal, you might use the second format to clearly indicate the author's credentials.

Proper Salutation in Various Contexts

In universities or research institutions, formality is key:

• Written: "Dear Dr. [Last Name],"
• Verbal: "Dr. [Last Name]" or "Professor [Last Name]" if they hold a professorship

Professional Conferences

At conferences, titles are commonly used in introductions and presentations:

• "Our next speaker is Dr. [Full Name], an expert in [field]."
• "We're honored to have Dr. [Last Name] sharing insights on [topic]."

In casual situations, follow the PhD holder's lead:

• If they introduce themselves by their first name, it's usually fine to use it
• If unsure, you can politely ask, "How would you prefer to be addressed?"

Common Questions About Addressing PhD Holders

Should i use "dr." or "phd" after the name.

Generally, use "Dr." before the name rather than "PhD" after it. For example:

• Correct: Dr. Jane Smith
• Less common: Jane Smith, PhD

The exception is in formal academic writing or when listing credentials, where "Jane Smith, PhD" might be appropriate.

Can I use "Mr." or "Ms." instead of "Dr."?

It's best to use "Dr." unless the person has indicated otherwise. Using "Mr." or "Ms." for someone with a PhD can be seen as diminishing their academic achievements. If you're unsure of someone's credentials, it's better to ask or research before addressing them.

How do I address someone with multiple doctoral degrees?

If someone holds both a PhD and an MD, for instance, you can use either "Dr." or their professional title, depending on the context. In medical settings, "Dr." would typically refer to their MD, while in academic settings, it might refer to their PhD. When in doubt, you can ask which title they prefer in the current context.

What about cultural differences in using titles?

It's important to be aware that the use of academic titles can vary significantly across cultures. In some countries, academic titles are used much more frequently in everyday life, while in others, their use is more restricted to professional settings. When dealing with international colleagues or in multicultural settings, it's helpful to research or inquire about local customs.

Addressing someone with a PhD correctly is more than just a matter of etiquette; it's a show of respect for their academic achievements and expertise. While using "Dr." is generally appropriate in formal and academic settings, it's essential to be attentive to individual preferences and context. The key is to be respectful, adaptable, and willing to ask when unsure.

Remember these key points:

• Use "Dr." in formal and academic settings unless told otherwise
• In email, start formal and adjust based on the recipient's response
• In person, use the title for introductions and follow the individual's lead
• Be aware of context - what's appropriate in a university might differ in a social setting
• When in doubt, it's always acceptable to politely ask for preference

By following these guidelines, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the etiquette of addressing PhD holders in various situations, showing respect for their accomplishments while maintaining professional and social grace.

Doctorate Addressing

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How to Address a PhD in Email

Last Updated: May 12, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure . Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 64,595 times.

Writing an email to a college professor with a Ph.D.? Do you call someone with a Ph.D. a doctor? Figuring out the right way to address someone with a doctorate is a lot easier than it may seem, and we’re going to break this down so that you can get it right. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to address someone with a Ph.D.

Do you address someone with a Ph.D. as a doctor?

How to Address an Email to Multiple Professors

• “Dear Professor Jones, Professor Smith, and Professor Ali.”
• “Dr. Jones, Dr. Smith, and Professor Ali,”
• “Dr. Jones and Professor Smith,”

What is the proper way to write a name with Ph.D.?

• You may have seen Ph.D. holders put “Ph.D.” at the end of their name. This is something authors do, but you shouldn’t need to write it this way.

Do you call a professor a doctor?

• You’re very unlikely to get into any trouble by referring to your college teacher as “professor,” even if they are a doctor. At worst, they’ll kindly correct you.
• In the United States, it is generally seen by most educators as socially acceptable to address a doctor who is also a professor as “professor.” It’s not technically correct, but you’re unlikely to offend any of your educators. As such, you can usually call a doctor a professor or Dr. in email. [4] X Research source

How do you address Ph.D. students?

• A Ph.D. student is not a doctor yet, but they may still be a professor.
• “Professor” traditionally refers to tenure-track educators at the collegiate level, but there’s no harm or risk of offense by calling an adjunct instructor, lecturer, or TA, “professor.” [6] X Research source
• “Miss” has historically been used to address unmarried women, while “Mrs.” has referred to married women. These titles are going out of style since many people find them offensive, so you’re best off skipping these.

Do the rules for addressing Ph.D. holders ever change?

• For example, in Canada, you are not “officially” allowed to refer to non-medical doctors as “Dr.” You would address them as “Mr. Jones, Doctor of Mathematics.”
• This also applies to the “Jimmy Jones, Ph.D.” form, too. In the United Kingdom, for example, you don’t use any periods. Someone in the UK would write, “Jimmy Jones, PhD” without the punctuation.

Expert Q&A

• It doesn’t matter if someone has a Ph.D. is in philosophy, education, biology, math, or any other discipline. If a person has obtained a doctorate degree, they’re a doctor—even if they don’t see patients. [8] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Ph.D. is shorthand for doctor of philosophy. The word “doctor” comes from the Latin word “docere,” which means “to teach.” In ancient times, “Philosophy” was used to refer to any academic field. [9] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• The only exception, at least in the United States, are people with a law degree (they are technically “Juris Doctors”, or J.Ds). You do not use a special title or honorific to address someone with a law degree. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2guides/guides/wrtps/index-fra.html?lang=fra&lettr=indx_catlog_p&page=9e-8ycfVZx-4.html
• ↑ https://www.purdue.edu/advisors/students/email.php
• ↑ https://www.minotstateu.edu/careers/pages/cover-letter-salutation.shtml
• ↑ https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/different-genres/sending-email-to-faculty-and-administrators
• ↑ https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/what-should-i-call-my-professor/
• ↑ https://healthenews.mcgill.ca/use-of-dr-doctor-in-quebec-and-updating-your-honorific-in-mcgills-systems/
• ↑ https://www.cmaj.ca/content/re-who-entitled-be-called-doctor
• ↑ https://www.franklin.edu/blog/doctorate-vs-ph-d-what-are-the-differences

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Criteria and Etiquette for Addressing Someone With a PhD Title

• John Garger
• Categories : Postgraduate , Education
• Tags : Education postgraduate topics doctorate

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume…

The PhD is a mysterious degree for many people who have never gone through the process. The term doctor is usually associated with

someone who holds a medical degree (like scientist/missionary/explorer Dr. Livingstone) and actively practices medicine. Calling someone doctor who doesn’t have a medical degree can seem awkward or inappropriate.

The criteria for whether it is appropriate to address or introduce someone as doctor is quite clear. Unfortunately, there are times when addressing someone as doctor can seem pretentious when taken out of context. Read on for five tips concerning the etiquette of addressing and introducing someone who holds a PhD.

1 - Formal and Academic Situations

In formal or academic social situations, it is most appropriate to address someone who holds a PhD as doctor. This is true for both face-to-face and written communication. Someone with a PhD has completed extensive study and research in his or her area of expertise. In academic situations, assume that it is always appropriate to use the prefix Dr and allow the individual the opportunity to decide whether he/she prefers to be addressed in common.

2 - University Setting

Most people who hold a PhD are professors in a university setting. In some universities, all titles are dispensed with and everyone addresses everyone else with a first name only. Some universities reserve this privilege to professors who hold the same rank. It isn’t uncommon for senior faculty (associate professors, full professors) to expect junior faculty (assistant professors) to address them with a formal title attached. Your best bet in these situations is to assume a formal address until you learn the particulars and norms of the culture.

3 - Doctoral Students

It is never appropriate to address or introduce a doctoral student as doctor. Until someone has the degree, never address him/her as doctor or with PhD after the name. Some ABD doctoral students whose graduation is imminent will prematurely take on the prefix Dr and place PhD after their name. This is inappropriate and would not be tolerated in most academic circles.

4 - Written Communication

In written communication, it is usually not necessary to use the Dr prefix and also affix the letters PhD after the last name of someone who holds a PhD; use either one or the other but not both. For situations in which you want to give the PhD holder his or her due respect, use the prefix Dr. In situations where you want to be clear which type of degree the individual has, affix PhD at the end of the person’s name. However, this is for written addresses and introductions only. In speech, prefix the individual’s name with Dr but never speak the letters PhD.

5 - Breaking the Rules

Although the criteria for calling someone Dr are quite clear, it is perfectly fine to break the rules based on the individual’s preferences. Some doctors I know will correct you if you call them Mr or Ms while others aren’t concerned about projecting their academic achievements to others in public. The one rule you should always remember when addressing someone who has completed the study and research necessary to be called Dr is assume a formal address unless otherwise directed by the individual.

Image Credit: [Wikimedia Commons]( https://heritage.scotsman.com/timelines.cfm?cid=1&id=40822005 through en-wiki), in the public domain

Can a PhD be called Doctor? Doctoral Degree Titles

If someone holds a PhD, they are able to call themselves Doctor. The doctor title is very prestigious and often projects expertise and respect in those who decide to use it.

A person with a PhD can be called Dr. However, many people with PhD degrees choose not to use their official titles unless they are communicating in an official capacity or are working in a professional role where they use their PhD.

I reserve the use my PhD title when I am giving a talk as it provides immediate credibility whereas, I do not often use my doctor title in many other instances.

When I first got my PhD I used my doctor title a lot more than I do now. I guess, the novelty has worn off and I have decided that it is not something that defines who I am as a person and, therefore, I would only use it in an official capacity.

Should PhDs use the title “doctor” after their doctorate? 

It is a personal choice for a PhD holder to use the title of “doctor”.

In many countries, it is common practice to use the title when referring to someone with a doctoral degree.

The title of doctor holds a significant level of prestige, and it generally signifies a high level of education and expertise in a particular field. Which is why it is important to use it in an official capacity.

Those who have earned a PhD have spent many years researching, writing and defending their work and have earned the right to use the title if so desired.

The title of doctor can also be used by medical professionals, and it is important to clarify the intended meaning when using the title to avoid confusion.

The decision to use the title of doctor is a personal one that should be made with an understanding of its significance and potential implications.

Even though the original use of the doctor title was for scholars, nowadays there are several different professional qualifications that can use the doctor title.

There are many honorific doctor titles, including those found in the table below.

The use of the doctor term for many healthcare-related qualifications can cause a fair bit of confusion about what qualification the person has achieved.

If you have any doubt about what degree a person holds look at the letters after their name.

If you want to know more about the doctor title check out my other article:

• How to use the PhD title and all the little doctorate “rules”
• Is a PhD a Doctor? [The full guide]

When can a PhD student be called doctor? After their dissertation?

A PhD student can be called doctor after successfully completing all the requirements of their program, including passing their dissertation defense.

More specifically, many universities only allow you to use the doctoral title after confirmation of your degree.

The University of Adelaide says that you can use it from your conferral date:

Students can be conferred on one of five dates during the year and for PhD students the conferral date will be the first available following the completion of all the academic requirements of your degree, including final thesis lodgement and the disbursement of any outstanding financial obligations to the University.

Personally, I felt comfortable using the doctor title as soon as I receive my notification letter from the University referring to me as Dr Stapleton. It was from this moment that I started using the doctor title.

There would be nothing wrong with someone using the doctor title after they have successfully defended their PhD – it just comes down to a matter of personal preference.

The title “Doctor” can still be used informally for those who hold other doctoral degrees such as a JD (Doctor of Law) or an EdD (Doctor of Education).

A PhD student can only be referred as a “Doctor” upon the completion of their doctoral program and after receiving their degree.

Why is PhD called doctor of philosophy?

A Ph.D. is called a Doctor of Philosophy because historically, philosophy was considered the foundation of all knowledge.

The word “philosophy” itself means the love of wisdom, and the pursuit of truth through reason and logic.

In medieval Europe, philosophy encompassed all forms of intellectual inquiry, including:

• mathematics,
• and history.

As universities developed and specialized in particular disciplines, the title of Doctor of Philosophy became associated with the highest level of academic achievement in any field.

This means that a Ph.D. is not limited to the study of philosophy but refers to any individual who has demonstrated the ability to conduct original research in their chosen field and make a significant contribution to advancing knowledge.

A Ph.D. signifies not only mastery of a specific subject but also the ability to think deeply and critically about complex problems. There are now many professional doctorates that include the doctor titleIn recognition of the hard work and deep thinking required to complete.

Wrapping up

Yes, PhD holders can be called Doctor.

Once you’ve completed a PhD and been conferred by your university and institution you can officially use the Dr title before your name and the PhD tag after your name.

Many doctoral degree holders only use their academic title in official settings such as academia and official duties.

Even though I was very excited about receiving my doctor title, after a couple of years the novelty wears off and I only use my official titles in the same way that someone would want to include Mr, Mrs, or Ms.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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• v.190(21); 2018 May 28

Whom should we really call a “doctor”?

This is in response to the News article by Roger Collier. 1 These days many health professionals use the title “doctor.” Indeed, The Canadian Press Stylebook now decrees that the title of doctor should be reserved for physicians. Physicians, surgeons, dentists, chiropodists, university professors and, in some countries, pharmacists describe themselves as doctors. This raises the question — are they? To answer this question, one has to examine that title from both linguistic and historical standpoints.

The word doctor is derived from the Latin verb “docere,” meaning to teach, or a scholar. Only by special arrangement do any of the preceding professionals teach. Only university professors with a doctoral degree normally teach at a university. Historically speaking, the title doctor was invented in the Middle Ages to describe eminent scholars. These doctorates date back to the 1300s. Such people were accorded a lot of respect and prestige.

The PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest graduate degree awarded by our universities.

Health professionals receive undergraduate degrees in medicine. These are professional degrees, and not really doctorates. The MD degree is not a part of graduate faculties at North American universities.

It has now become fashionable to award so-called Doctor of Law degrees to undergraduate law school graduates in the form of a Juris Doctor or JD degree, including at the University of Windsor. These, too, are merely undergraduate degrees.

Because of the respect and prestige, medical schools, particularly in Scotland, started to address their graduates as doctors in the 17th century. The argument was that graduates of such schools obtain a bachelor’s degree before joining medical school. There are problems with such logic, namely, a degree past a bachelor’s degree could potentially be a master’s degree, but not a doctoral degree.

A doctoral degree (PhD) is a degree that one earns after a master’s degree. A PhD entitles a person to use the title doctor. These are the social and physical scientists who conduct and evaluate published research. A PhD degree is normally obtained after six to eight years of hard work past the bachelor’s degree.

When we are asked in a physician’s or a dentist’s office what kind of doctor we are, we respond, “the real one.” We are the ones who teach the others.

We hope that this contribution helps in clearing up the confusion in the community about the title doctor.

The Canadian Press should change its policy and stylebook to reflect these facts and this history.

This contribution should not be construed as an attack on any professional or group of professionals. The main purpose here is to educate the public.

Competing interests: None declared.

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What Should You Call a Professor?

• By Dr Harry Hothi
• August 18, 2020

As you progress through your higher education at university, you’re going to come across many different academic job titles. Most you’ll have heard of already, some you won’t have; our guide on this will help you better understand what each of these mean.

Another thing you’ll soon realise is that within STEM subjects at university, virtually all of the academics delivering lectures and supervising undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD projects have PhDs or similar research degrees such as a DPhil.

If you take a look at their university profile pages, some academics have Dr. in front of their names whilst others have Professor (sometimes shortened to Prof). This can start to get confusing, especially if you’re planning your first one-on-one meeting with the academic, perhaps to start a research project under their supervision; what do you call them? How do you address them?

Let’s say your supervisor’s name is James Bond and they have a PhD; should you call him Mr Bond, Dr Bond, Professor Bond or simply James? The easiest way to definitively answer that question would be to just ask your supervisor what he’d prefer (he’ll probably correct you if you get it completely wrong anyway!).

It is important though that you have an understanding of the significance of these different terms and why formally you might call someone with a PhD a Doctor, whilst someone else who also has a PhD could be a Professor.

To help you with this, I’ve written a list of answers to the most commonly asked questions I’ve heard around the subject.

If someone has a PhD, are they a Doctor?

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. If an individual holds a PhD degree, common terminology dictates that they have a doctorate, doctoral degree or a PhD in XXXX (fill in the blank here, e.g. PhD in Materials Science). PhD holders are entitled to write doctor (shortened to Dr) in front of their names and so may be called Dr. Surname. An individual with a PhD is not a Medical Doctor unless they also hold a medical degree, such as an MBBS in the UK.

How do you to address someone with a PhD?

Someone with a PhD can use the title Dr. Surname and your safest bet as a student would be to use this term when meeting a PhD holder within a formal academic or research setting; they may ask you to just use their first name or tell you that it’s actually Professor Surname! In job environments where a PhD is of less direct significance to the office environment (e.g. a Maths PhD working in banking), it’s less likely that an individual would use the doctor title in their name and you may not even know that they hold a PhD.

Do you call a Professor with a PhD a Doctor?

The distinction to be clear of here is that the title of Dr. is used to denote a PhD degree holder (or a similar doctoral degree) whilst the title of Professor is an academic job title given to an individual employed by the University as a Professor. If an academic uses the title Professor, then they should be called Professor Surname even if they have a PhD, which most STEM Professors will. It’s accepted that the title of Professor is higher than a Doctor.

Who can be called a Professor?

An academic should only be called Professor Surname if they hold the job title of professor at a university. Some universities in the UK and elsewhere also employ academics as associate professors, typically the equivalent to senior lecturers, in addition to full professors. However usually only full professors are addressed as Professor Surname.

Do you need a PhD to be a Professor?

In most STEM subjects, holding a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree is essentially a pre-requisite to becoming a professor. However, you do not always need a PhD to be a professor in other disciplines; there are certainly very successful professors within the area of modern languages, for example, that hold Master’s level degrees but not doctorates.

Is a Professor higher than a Doctor?

It is widely accepted that the academic title of Professor is higher than a Doctor, given that the job title of professor is the highest academic position possible at a university. Remember that the Doctor title here refers specially to a PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) holder and not a medical doctor. There are certainly many examples of medical doctors holding both their medical degree (e.g. MBBS) and a PhD; these are clearly highly motivated, research minded doctors, many of whom balance their clinical work with work as a senior lecturer or even go on to become a professor themselves.

This post should answer most, if not all, of the questions you had about the use of Professor and Doctor titles within a university setting. Do check out our article on the hierarchy of academic job titles in the UK and feel free to get in touch if you have any more questions.

Learn 10 ways to impress a PhD supervisor for increasing your chances of securing a project, developing a great working relationship and more.

Need to write a list of abbreviations for a thesis or dissertation? Read our post to find out where they go, what to include and how to format them.

Is it really possible to do a PhD while working? The answer is ‘yes’, but it comes with several ‘buts’. Read our post to find out if it’s for you.

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An In Press article is a paper that has been accepted for publication and is being prepared for print.

This post explains where and how to write the list of figures in your thesis or dissertation.

Harneet’s heading into the fourth year of her PhD at the University of Leicester. Her research looks at the electrical currents in the Earth’s magnetosphere: how they change with time, and under different conditions.

Gareth is getting ready for his PhD viva at Aberystwyth University and has been researching bacteria living inside coastal plants that can help other plants grow in salt contaminated soils.

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Professional Title Etiquette: When to Use Your Dr. Title

Socially as well as professionally, medical doctors, dentists, and other professionals are addressed by, and introduced with, their titles. People who have earned a Ph.D. or any other academic, nonmedical doctoral degree have the choice of whether to use "Dr." both professionally and socially.  If, when meeting people with doctorates, you're unsure how to address them, "Dr." is always correct.  If they'd rather the title be dropped, they will let you know.

It's more common for women to use the title "Doctor" socially as well as professionally than in the past. When a married woman uses the title "Dr." (either medical or academic) socially, addressing social correspondence to the couple is a little trickier. If her husband is not a doctor, address letters to Dr. Sonia and Mr. Robert Harris. Her name comes first because her professional title "outranks" his social title. If her husband is also a doctor, the address is either The Drs. (Doctors) Harris or Drs. Sonia and Robert Harris (the order of the names doesn't matter).

The Reverend

In introductions and correspondence, many Protestant clergy are referred to as "The Reverend." While business correspondence is addressed to The Reverend James Norris, (D.D., if held), social correspondence is slightly different: The Reverend (Mr./Dr.) and Mrs. James Norris. In conversation, a clergyman or clergywoman is addressed as Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms./Pastor/Rector/Reverend Norris.

Addressing a husband or wife who are both "Reverends" follows the same format as a husband and wife who are both doctors: The Reverends Norris or The Reverend Mrs./Ms. Patricia Norris and the Reverend Mr. James Norris. If either of the couple also has a doctorate degree, that person's name would go first: The Reverend Dr. James Norris and The Reverend Mrs./Ms. Patricia Norris.

Today "Esquire" is largely confined to business correspondence between attorneys and justices of the peace. An alternative is to write:

Mr. David Bowman

Attorney at Law

using two lines, no indent, and including the titles Mr. or Ms.

When "Esq." or "Esquire" is used, the name is never preceded by Mr., Ms., Mrs., or other titles such as Dr., and is written David Bowman, Esq. "Esquire" isn't used in introductions: "I'd like to introduce attorney David Bowman/Mr. David Bowman/David Bowman." It also isn't used for social correspondence, as when writing to a lawyer and his or her spouse or addressing a social invitation. Mr. and Mrs. David Bowman is the correct form.

Professional Designations

Professional designations such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CLU (Certified Life Underwriter) are only used on business cards or business correspondence. They follow a person's name, and Mr. or Ms. isn't used: Martha Dawes, CPA; Phillip Olner, CLU. If a person has more than one designation, they're listed in the order received: Phillip Olner, CLU, CFP. Socially, use Mr., Ms., or Mrs. without the professional designation: Ms. Martha Dawes.

Other Titles

Every day we run into people who have an official title. The police officer at the desk is Sergeant Flynn; the head of the fire department is Chief Elmore; the club chef is Chef Rossi; the pilot on your plane is Captain Howe; and so forth. When on the job, such people are always addressed by their titles, just as they are when the matter at hand is related to their work. Socially, many don't use their titles, though they may. Sometimes a title sticks: A local judge, for example, who's been called by his title for a number of years, is usually addressed as "Judge" even after his retirement.

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Who gets to be called ‘doctor’?

Go to med school, earn an m.d. and the “dr.” honorific gets tacked on to your last name. some women — and ph.d.s — say they get the courtesy title, and respect, less often..

We call physicians "doctor." Should we do the same for people with PhDs? (Credit: Bigstock)

This story is from The Pulse , a weekly health and science podcast.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.

Molecular biologist Adam Ruben has a Ph.D.

There was one time when he made a conscious choice to refer to himself as Dr. Ruben — when he emailed an airline to complain about a messed up flight.

“We had to spend a night in some city and I was trying to get a refund for our hotel bill, so I signed the email Dr. Ruben,” he said. “And I know that’s kind of an icky thing to do but I have heard that you get better service when you use the term doctor.”

It kind of worked: He got his refund — after three months.

“It’s not outright wrong and the world should forgive me,” he said.

Ruben has been thinking about the doctor honorific for a while. He polled his friends and acquaintances with Ph.D.s on Facebook and Twitter about whether or not they call themselves doctor.

Some said they’ve earned it. Others said it seems a little pretentious.

“A surprising number of people all had the same concern about using the term doctor: if they were going to be on an airplane when somebody needs a doctor,” Ruben said.

This sort of happened to Ruben several years ago, but when he was on the ground.

Besides being a biologist, he’s also a writer and comedian. He was at a Story Collider storytelling event, performing for an audience of mostly graduate students.

“And somebody actually had a medical emergency in the middle of the show. He fainted and needed an ambulance,” Ruben recalled.

As he described it at the time, someone asked if there was a doctor in the room and about 200 people with Ph.D.s kind of looked around at each other frantically.

Some EMTs helped the guy.   He was okay in the end and the show went on .

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After checking in on social media, Ruben wrote about his informal poll for the journal Science. He heard from female engineers with Ph.D.s who said they are under-represented in their field, and feel like they need to put doctor in front of their names to get the same respect that male engineers get.

Epidemiologist Beth Linas also earned a Ph.D., and she wants media outlets to refer to people with Ph.D.s as doctor, especially if we’re interviewing them about their area of expertise.

“Someone comes up [to me] on the street and says hello to me, they can address me as Beth, but if I’m being called upon for my background in infectious disease, epidemiology or digital health which is the other area that I study, I think I should be recognized as Dr. Beth Linas.”

Linas has been thinking about this issue and wrote a commentary about the congressional hearings with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and research psychologist Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school.

“There was a lot of chatter online and on Twitter about how in written media, she wasn’t being addressed as Doctor Ford, I started noticing it in other publications and other outlets,” said Linas.

Some NPR listeners complained about the “insidious bias” of the radio network calling Kavanaugh “Judge Kavanaugh” but not calling Ford “Dr. Ford.”

The NPR ombudsman explained that like many media outlets, NPR follows the Associated Press stylebook, which says if someone practices medicine, NPR calls them doctor. If it’s someone with a Ph.D., it’s up to the individual media outlet.

On the radio, we don’t have a lot of time, and every word counts. Saying someone is a doctor or saying they have a Ph.D. can be a little vague. Ultimately that doesn’t give the listener much information. So for clear and efficient communication, our policy at “The Pulse” is to introduce someone as an epidemiologist, or pediatrician — being specific about a person’s expertise when we can.

Linas said her concern comes from an issue of representation.

“There are a lot of women, and particularly women of color that really struggle to make their way in science and stay in science, and we face a lot of obstacles, and I think it’s important for women also to be recognized.”

There’s a study that backs her up: researchers found that male doctors introduce their male colleagues as “Dr.” around 70 percent of the time, but introduce their female colleagues as doctor a little less than half the time.

Linas says if media outlets refer to people with Ph.D.s as doctor, especially when we’re interviewing them about their area of expertise, then it shouldn’t be that hard to tell who is the kind of doctor who can help you when someone needs an ambulance — and who’s best suited to give you statistics on the next flu outbreak.

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Honorific and academic titles

In spoken English, titles are generally not used, with the exception of Mr, Mrs, Ms, professor and doctor. When listing names in writing, other academic titles are included, such as BA, MA, PhD – all of which come after the surname.

Example : Ms N. Jones MA

In 'prof.' a full stop is used, unlike in any of the other titles (see above and below). Please note: when used as a title, it should start with a capital. Example : Professor Shaw / Prof. Shaw

PhD: when addressing a PhD in a letter, use 'Dr'. Example : Dear Dr Doe. On the envelope, use PhD. Example : To Jane Doe PhD ('Mr' or 'Mrs' is omitted).

In English, unlike in Dutch, only the highest academic title is used.

If Dutch titles are retained, they are italicized in order to indicate the title is foreign. Example : rector magnificus . International titles such as 'Prof.' and 'Dr' are the exception to this rule. Please note that all abbreviations of Dutch titles are written with a full stop (in Dutch Dr gets a full stop too: dr.).

Use of Dutch titles in English texts:

Use lower case letters when used generically, except at the beginning of a sentence. Example : 'All the personal managers of the region were present.' 'A head of department is responsible for ….'

Use capitals when referring to a specific person with this title. Example : 'She became Head of Department at the council.' 'As the Personnel Manager of EUR, he feels responsible for this.'

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(Exclusive) Max Holloway Approves 3 Possible Women’s BMF Champs

Christopher de santiago | 8 hours ago.

A BMF title for the ladies? Max Holloway says that'd be "pretty sick".

The UFC's "Baddest Motherf*****" belt was introduced in 2019 and was passed down from Jorge Masvidal to Justin Gaethje, who then lost the title to Max Holloway in a battle of the ages at UFC 300 that ended with Gaethje going face first into the canvas thanks to a buzzer beater KO from Holloway.

Holloway's epic performance brought upon a new meaning to BMF, putting a new spin on it as the "Blessed Man Forever" belt and "Blessed" he is, granted another shot at the featherweight title against Ilia Topuria in his return to the Octagon at UFC 308 on Oct. 26.

Of course, others see the BMF title in a different light, with their holders having to have a certain tenacity about them. Some fighters have even suggested a women's fight for the silver strap, with that idea coming from former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade earlier this year at UFC 300.

Win or lose, Andrade has been in dog fights all of her career across three different weight classes in the UFC, with the Brazilian bruiser fighting some of the baddest women on the planet including Joanna Jedrzejcyzk and Rose Namajunas, along with current champions Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko, ranked pound-for-pound #1.

(Exclusive) Max Holloway Talks Absent BMF Belt vs. Ilia Topuria

Holloway On The Idea Of A Women's BMF Belt

While not a member of the UFC brass, the 32-year-old Holloway is the leading authority on the BMF title (seeing as he still has it), so what does the third titleholder have to say about the fourth potentially being a woman?

"I think they should," Holloway told MMA Knockout (courtesy of Stake ), when asked if the women will get their own BMF title, in time. "I think so. There's a bunch of BMF fights in the women category for sure. Some of them are crazy, bro. I mean, some of them wanna fight men sometimes. They're insane. If that's not a BMF, I don't know what it is."

The UFC's three BMF champions consist of Jorge Masvidal, Justin Gaethje and Holloway, three fan-favorites across three weight classes, welterweight, lightweight and featherweight. This got me thinking, who'd be their counterparts in the women's divisions?

Off the top of my head, I went with retired Hall of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk, two-time champ and top flyweight contender Rose Namajunas, and the consensus greatest female fighter of all time, former two-division champion Amanda Nunes (also retired).

"I'm Forgetting Some, But There's A Bunch Of Killers"

So, are these three women in or are they out? In a conversation full of "killers", Holloway says they're all in.

"Rose for sure. Joanna for sure. If Amanda Nunes is still around 100%, how you deny her a shot at that? There's a bunch of them, bro. They're killers. They're a bunch of killers. I'm forgetting some, but there's a bunch of killers."

"To have a BMF title for a woman, it'd be pretty sick," Holloway said.

Rose Namajunas threw out the idea of a women's BMF title following her win over Tracy Cortez in Denver, later admitting it was more of a joke in the moment.

For Jedrzejcyzk, Poland's first-ever UFC Champion is settling into her second year of MMA retirement, though she apparently told former foe Andrade she'd consider coming back for a crack at the inaugural women's BMF title - if they were to make one, that is.

"I told [Andrade], I miss MMA. She asked me what would tempt me to come back, money or some name, I told her it was probably just the BMF belt," Jedrzejczyk told Paweł Wyrobek in Polish. "I told her I only see three names for this fight and one of them is you, of course Rose who I lost the belt to in 2017."

I've just had a conversation with Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The former UFC champion received an interesting offer from a rival organization and commented on Jessica Andrade's words about BMF Belt. pic.twitter.com/xgeMUSZwQg — Paweł Wyrobek (@pablopolsport) September 3, 2024

Will we ever see BMF titles in both the men's and women's divisions? Only time will tell, but as for right now, the current BMF titleholder Holloway is prepping for war against the undefeated Ilia Topuria in Abu Dhabi, come Oct. 26.

(Exclusive) Adrian Lee Talks Combat Sports Future after ONE 168

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CHRISTOPHER DE SANTIAGO

Christopher De Santiago is a 22 year-old journalist from Gainesville, Texas with years of experience covering MMA.

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Watch CBS News

What we know about the Hezbollah pagers that exploded in Lebanon

By Emmet Lyons , Joanne Stocker

Updated on: September 19, 2024 / 9:29 AM EDT / CBS News

A Hungarian official told CBS News Thursday that a Bulgaria-based company had purchased pagers from Taiwan that were eventually sold to Hezbollah, before exploding in the hands, pockets and bags of thousands of the Iran-backed militant group's members earlier this week in Lebanon. 

Hungarian outlet Telex had reported Wednesday that a Sofia-based company called Norta Global Ltd. Was behind a deal to sell the pagers and that a Hungarian firm connected with the transaction had not manufactured or sold the pagers. A Hungarian official told CBS News those reports were accurate. 

The new information about the origin of the exploding pagers came a day after Taiwanese company Gold Apollo said it had authorized the use of its trademarked branding on the pagers that exploded Tuesday across Lebanon and Syria, but that the devices were actually manufactured and sold by Bac Consulting KFT — a company based in Budapest, Hungary. 

Thousands of pagers held by Hezbollah members exploded almost simultaneously across Lebanon and Syria Tuesday, killing at least 12 people and wounding 2,750, according to Lebanon's public health minister. 

"We authorize BAC to use our brand trademark for product sales in designated regions, but the design and manufacturing of the products are solely the responsibility of BAC," Gold Apollo said in a statement posted on its website. "Regarding the AR-924 pager model mentioned in the recent media reports [about Lebanon], we clarify that this model is produced and sold by BAC."

Gold Apollo's founder and CEO Hsu Ching-kuang told NPR on Wednesday that "there was nothing in those devices that we had manufactured or exported to them [BAC]."

The pagers "were entirely different" from Gold Apollo's designs and used a chip that Gold Apollo does not use in its own models, Hsu said. 

Hsu told NPR that Gold Apollo's relationship with Bac Consulting began three years ago, and he described the Hungarian company's money transfers as "strange." 

Bac Consulting had paid Gold Apollo from a Middle Eastern bank account that was blocked at least once by Gold Apollo's Taiwanese bank, Hsu said. 

"It was very inconvenient," he told NPR, adding: "You have to deal with these risks when doing global trade."

In a post on Wednesday on social media, Zoltan Kovács, the spokesperson for the Hungarian prime minister's office, said Bac Consulting "is a trading intermediary, with no manufacturing or operational site in Hungary. It has one manager registered at its declared address, and the referenced devices have never been in Hungary."

"During further investigations, Hungarian national security services are cooperating with all relevant international partner agencies and organizations," Kovács said. 

Business records accessed by CBS News from Hungary's Ministry of Justice show that Bac Consulting was registered as a company in May 2022.

Separate records reviewed by CBS News show that Norta Global Ltd. was registered as a company in Bulgaria in April 2022, with its sole owner listed as a Norwegian citizen named Rinson Jose. Global Norta is described on its website — which has since been taken offline — as offering a range of services "from outsourcing, consulting, tech and payment integration, analysis, promotion of techno products and services, as well as the estimation and processing of relevant commercial transactions."

Images circulated widely on social media showed the explosions hitting seemingly unsuspecting Hezbollah members across Lebanon. The CBS News Confirmed team has verified the location of one video showing a man's bag exploding as he looks over fruit on display at a supermarket in Lebanon's capital city of Beirut. There were a number of other shoppers around him, but none appeared to be affected by the explosion at his hip. 

A statement released by Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militant group and political faction based in Lebanon, confirmed that the pager explosions had targeted their members. It laid the blame firmly on Israel, vowing a "harsh response that the criminal enemy must await for the massacre it committed." 

It remains unclear exactly how many Hezbollah pagers exploded on Tuesday. But a senior Lebanese security official and another source told the Reuters news agency that Israel's Mossad intelligence agency had planted a small amount of explosives inside 5,000 of the devices, which it said were ordered by Hezbollah months before the blasts.

The devices were brought "into the country [Lebanon] in the spring," the security source told Reuters. 

A delegation of Israeli lawmakers had visited Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in April, with the intention of "leveraging our industrial strengths and continuing to deepen our partnership," according to a statement released by the Taiwanese president's office at the time. 

While Israeli officials have not commented publicly on the explosions, a U.S. official told the AP that Israel had briefed the U.S. about the operation Tuesday after its conclusion. American officials have said the U.S. had no prior knowledge of the operation and no involvement in it.

Bac Consulting and its mysterious CEO

CBS News has asked Bac Consulting in Budapest to comment on where and how its devices are manufactured and sold, but had not received an answer either over the phone or via email by the time of publication. 

The company's LinkedIn profile does not mention manufacturing services, describing its work as "business consulting and services."

The company's listed CEO is Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono. Her personal LinkedIn profile says she's done work for a number of organizations, including work with the European Union Commission, UNESCO, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Barsony-Aricidiacono has reposted on her LinkedIn profile conspiracy theories about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy and COVID-19 vaccines. She also reposted a video from a Turkish photographer that appeared to express support for the people of Gaza.

In one post, Barsony-Aricidiacono claimed Bac Consulting could help clients secure EU funding for green energy projects. 

CBS News has reviewed business records that showed that Barsony-Aricidiacono had registered another company under her name in France, in the Paris suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux. The documents describe the business as a company that "specialized in the sector of business consulting and other activities."

The company was registered in December 2015 and dissolved in September 2016, the records showed. 

On Barsony-Arcidiacono's LinkedIn profile, she describes herself as working as a "Scientific & Strategic Advisor" over a 12 year period from January 2012 to the present and claims she's worked in "Paris, Budapest, London, NYC, Africa, Peru, Argentina, Indonesia, ME [Middle East]."

The AR-924 pager model was advertised by Gold Apollo as a "rugged" device. They require a lithium battery, according to advertising of the product on Gold Apollo's website. That advertising has been removed from the Taiwanese company's website.

More from CBS News

More deadly blasts reported in Lebanon day after Hezbollah pagers explode

Israel and Hezbollah exchange new fire after exploding pager attack

Exploding pagers kill Hezbollah members, others; thousands wounded

Israel's long, largely unclaimed history of secret ops and assassinations

Arsenal wonderkid smashes UEFA record at age of 14 hours before Atalanta clash

Arsenal are set to take on Italian side Atalanta in their Champions League opener and one of their brightest talents has already become a UEFA record holder ahead of the game in Bergamo

• 17:49, 19 Sep 2024
• Updated 22:17, 19 Sep 2024

Max Dowman has made Arsenal history after the 14-year-old smashed the record for the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Youth League history.

The Gunners youngster started in his side’s European clash with Italian side Atalanta on Thursday evening. The game took place ahead of the two teams’ senior sides opening up their Champions League campaigns against each other later in the day.

The tournament sees under-19 sides coming up against each other, but Dowman was given the opportunity to impress at the age of just 14. And despite his side losing 4-1 to the Italians, on an individual level he made a name for himself.

Dowman is now the youngest player in the history of the competition to find the net at just 14 years, 8 months, and 19 days old. Former Borussia Dortmund star Youssoufa Moukoko was the previous record holder after finding the net at 14 years, 11 months and three days old back in 2019.

It was not the only record that Dowman broke during his latest outing. He also became the youngest ever player to appear for Arsenal in the competition - beating out Kaylen Hinds who played who was just 15 when he appeared in 2013.

Dowman has already made a major impression at London Colney, training with the Gunners first-team and the U18 side, while he was given the squad number 99 ahead of the current campaign.

Arsenal youth coach Jack Wilshere previously backed him for a bright future after his under-18s debut aged 13. The former midfielder said: “There's always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

How far will Arsenal go in the Champions League? Share your predictions in the comments below

"He can be more consistent but he’s only 14 and hasn't even started his GCSEs yet. We need to find a balance of letting him play and enjoy because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can.”

Dowman will be aiming to extend his positive form in the UEFA Youth League when they next take on French giants Paris Saint-Germain in just under a fortnight’s time.

Arsenal’s senior side being their Champions League campaign against Atalanta on Thursday night. They travel to Bergamo to take on Atalanta without injured midfielders Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino, but boosted by the return of Declan Rice , who was suspended for the win over Tottenham .

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Money blog: Pound hits two-year high after interest rate announcement; economist predicts when rate will hit 3%

The Money blog is your place for personal finance and consumer news. The Bank of England has held the interest rate at 5% - pushing the pound up after the announcement. Leave a comment in the box below.

Thursday 19 September 2024 20:28, UK

Interest rate held

• Bank of England keeps interest rate at 5%
• If you're on these two types of mortgage, you'll be disappointed
• Economist predicts when interest rate will hit 3%
• Pound hits two-year high after announcement
• Ed Conway: Bank doesn't want to rush - but some worry strategy is dangerous

Essential reads

• Britons warned against posting their voice online
• UK's cheapest city for renters revealed
• Cheap Eats: Top chef picks eats in Scotland - and shares cheap pizza recipe

Tips and advice

• This savings account is 'obvious choice' for anyone aged 18 to 39  
• How you could minimise impact of budget tax rises
• What temperature should I set my thermostat?
• Money Problem: 'My holiday cottage was cancelled with one day's notice'

Ask a question or make a comment

A prolific shoplifter who was arrested almost 400 times and "plagued" her local area has been banned from all but three stores across a huge area of the North East.

Tanya Liddle, 43, amassed a total of 171 convictions, most of which are for shoplifting, and she wore disguises to avoid being recognised.

One of her latest crimes saw her walk out of a TK Maxx carrying £1,500 worth of bags.

Police applied for a civil injunction against the prolific thief, which was granted at Newcastle Civil Court last week. It is the strictest ever in the force area, which covers more than 2,000 square miles in the North East of England.

She is now banned from entering any shops, apart from a pharmacy, a supermarket and a clothing retailer.

Shops are dealing with an epidemic of stealing, with last year the worst on record for shoplifting, according to the Office for National Statistics.

More than 430,000 cases were recorded, an increase of more than a third from the year before.

Read the full report here:

The UK operator of TGI Fridays has gone into administration as the hospitality firm scrambles to sell its chain of 87 restaurants.

Hostmore said it had appointed joint administrators from Teneo. 

The company is in the process of trying to sell the UK restaurants to new owners, which it hopes to complete by the end of September. If successful, it would save 4,500 jobs and keep the brand alive on the British high street. 

Next has warned it could be forced to close some of its stores after it lost a landmark legal case over equal pay.

The retailer is planning to appeal against the decision last month that saw more than 3,500 former and current workers win their claim after a six-year battle. 

The tribunal rules Next failed to demonstrate the lower basic wage paid to sales consultants compared with warehouse operatives was not the result of sex discrimination. The ruling paves the way for 60,000 Asda workers who are pursuing a similar claim.

Next - which is led by chief executive Lord Wolfson - cautioned that while it is confident of winning its appeal, if it did not it could be forced to shut shops due to soaring costs.

The head of Britain's financial watchdog has warned the UK economy faces an "uphill battle" without better financial education in schools.

Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the  Financial Conduct Authority , said the UK needs to tackle the "root causes of financial exclusion".

The rise in digital money products means companies, such as the FCA and other public sector bodies, need to work with the working-age population.

Money blog regular and  Savings Champion  co-founder Anna Bowes has the latest on what today's interest rate decision means for savers...

"This base rate hold was widely anticipated, given that inflation still appears to be a little sticker than hoped. And while it's bad news for borrowers, it means some respite for savers. 

"But they can't afford to rest on their laurels. 

"While many accounts are paying more than the current rate of inflation, there are still accounts out there paying less. There is no need to suffer - you can make your cash work harder if you review, ditch, switch and perhaps fix! 

"While the base rate has remained at 5% on this occasion, the trajectory is expected to be downwards from here, so it makes sense to fix now if you can.

"Remember that most fixed-term bonds will not allow access until maturity, so you need to be confident that you won't need your money within the term. 

"Fixed-term ISAs, on the other hand, do allow access, but normally with a hefty penalty."

Interest ates will not return to those lows seen between 2008 and 2020, says Helen Thomas, a former adviser to George Osborne.

Three to five percent rates should be expected over the next few years, she says, adding: "We are in a higher inflation world."

The next big event is Rachel Reeves' first budget as chancellor on 30 October, which will affect the Bank's approach to interest rates, says Ms Thomas.

"They'll want to see, like we all will, what is in there and what impact that could have on the economy."

She continues: "I think that there will be more interest rate cuts to come, but the key here is still inflation.

"I think most people watching will still feel that price rises are hurting them in their pocket."

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

The good news kept on coming for people heading to the United States from the UK. 

The pound hit a more than two-year high after the latest interest rate news from the Bank of England. 

One pound briefly bought $1.33, a high not seen since March 2022. The gain eased back, though, and a pound now buys $1.3283. 

The pound buying more dollars means importing goods that are paid for in dollars, such as oil, is cheaper. But it can also make exporting UK goods less competitive.

Currencies are strengthened by higher interest rates so the news of the rate being kept high helped lift the pound against an already weakened dollar. 

As the pound was raised by higher interest rates, the dollar was pushed down by the jumbo cut from its central bank the Federal Reserve.

Slowly does it.

That's the overarching message to take away from the Bank of England's latest monetary policy decision. 

Unlike the Federal Reserve, the US central bank, which decided yesterday to cut interest rates by half a percentage point - more than many had expected - the Bank wanted to signal today that it's in no rush.

Alongside the decision to leave borrowing costs on hold at 5%, the Bank's governor also signalled that he and the rest of the Monetary Policy Committee were in no rush to cut them again.

Provided there aren't any inflation surprises, he said, "we should be able to reduce rates gradually over time. But it's vital that inflation stays low, so we need to be careful not to cut too fast or by too much."

Even so, the Bank is expected to carry on cutting rates in the coming months. Indeed, economists think the Bank will cut rates in November by at least a quarter percentage point, followed by more cuts next year, taking borrowing costs down towards 3% by next summer.

That's largely because inflation is now considerably lower than it was in recent years, and because there is evidence that high interest rates are starting to weigh down economic activity. The longer those rates stay high, the bigger the depressive impact they have on the UK.

But that raises another issue. For some economists, the Bank of England's gradualist approach is dangerous. They worry that higher rates, which deter companies and individuals from spending and investing, is causing unnecessary damage.

That helps explain why one of the MPC members, Swati Dhingra, voted to reduce rates at this meeting. But the rest of the committee was of one mind. No point in rushing. 

Whether they are right is something we'll find out in the coming months.

We are only expecting one more cut this year, but rates could start falling faster next year, says Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics. 

He says "the pace of cuts may quicken next year with rates eventually falling to 3% rather than to the 3.25-3.50% priced into markets".

The Bank's policy statement said a "gradual approach" to changing rates "remains appropriate".

Mr Dales says: "The contrast between this and the Fed's jumbo 50bps rate cut last night makes sense as the Bank has yet to shift from worrying less about inflation and worrying more about weak activity. Indeed, core CPI inflation in the UK is currently 3.6% compared to 2.6% on the Fed's preferred PCE measure."

As a result, he says markets are pricing in a "slower pace of rate reductions in the UK than in the US. 

"We think over the next 6-9 months the Bank will cut rates a little slower than market pricing. We're expecting one more 25bps cut this year (at the next meeting in November) rather than two cuts. 

"In the second half of 2025, though, we think a more marked easing in inflation will prompt the Bank to speed up and eventually cut rates to 3%."

If you are two particular types of mortgage, today's news will have been particularly disappointing: tracker and standard variable rates. 

A tracker mortgage is usually tied to the Bank of England base rate, plus a certain percentage.

A standard variable rate (SVR) mortgage is one with an interest rate that can change at any time. Lenders set their own SVR but it can influenced by factors including the BoE base rate.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, says: "When they opted for these deals, they'll have hoped rate cuts would come thick and fast, but cuts have been decidedly skinny and sluggish. 

"Fortunately, there's some hope ahead, with the market expecting more cuts this side of Christmas, and the prospect of their finances finally easing a little. The vast majority of the mortgage market is still fixed, and there's better news for those looking for a new deal or facing a remortgage, because the market has already priced in the cuts it's expecting over the next couple of years. "

The average two-year fixed rate is currently 5.37% which, while high, is a far cry from three months ago when it was almost 6%.

Some lenders are now launching rates below 4%, which bodes well for buyers. 

"This is particularly good news for higher earners, who are carrying bigger mortgages, for whom the prospect of remortgaging onto a higher rate was particularly alarming," says Ms Coles.

She adds: "The hold on rates isn't the most significant thing driving sentiment right now, so is unlikely to move the market. Buyers are benefiting from wages outstripping inflation - making them feel wealthier. 

"Meanwhile, mortgage rates have been falling, making properties feel more affordable. The longer this continues, the more positive sentiment is likely to be, and the better the chances of a lively property market as we go through the rest of the year."

Sticky services inflation was enough to prevent a cut, says KPMG UK chief economist Yael Selfin.

But a weakening labour market "should see interest rates being cut in November" regardless of core inflation, she says.

Core inflation refers goods and services inflation excluding food and energy, which are more volatile sectors.

"The MPC [Monetary Policy Committee] seems comfortable with a more gradual pace of one cut per quarter, coinciding with revised Bank's forecasts given the relatively steady macroeconomic environment."

Ms Selfin continues: "Despite today's decision, the language in the statement still leaves the door open for further easing."

She said KPMG expected the pace of cuts to pick up in 2025, down to 3.5%.

The nine members of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee say their decision was guided by the need to "squeeze inflationary pressures out of the system" - in other words, they want to help bring inflation down to the target rate of 2%.

The latest figures released yesterday showed that inflation remained unchanged at 2.2% - slightly above that target.

Given this, the committee says, "a gradual approach" is best.

"Monetary policy will need to continue to remain restrictive for sufficiently long until the risks to inflation returning sustainably to the 2% target in the medium term have dissipated further," it adds.

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What to call someone that is currently studying for their PhD?

I'm using a PhD student as a reference for an application, and I wonder what title I should use for her. She hasn't yet got her PhD title but is still writing her thesis. Is there a name for that position?

• 7 Uhm, "PhD student"? –  Federico Poloni Commented Mar 25, 2017 at 20:40
• 3 PhD Candidate? PhD Researcher? –  TEK Commented Mar 25, 2017 at 20:54
• 5 PhD student till they pass their comprehensive exam then, Phd candidate (this is what's often followed in STEM and US) –  The Guy Commented Mar 25, 2017 at 20:56
• 3 If you are applying for a PhD, it is a very bad idea to list a PhD student as a reference. –  sean Commented Mar 25, 2017 at 22:54
• 2 Just use their name. –  JeffE Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 3:45

4 Answers 4

The title would likely be "Mr." / "Mrs." / "Ms.". There is no prepended academic title that means "will likely have a doctorate at some point".

In other news, a PhD student is probably not a good reference in the first place. You should look for somebody who has been in the game a bit longer and provide a reference that more plausibly compares you against a wider range of previous students.

I would use Mary Smith, Ph.D. Candidate

In my social sciences field (in the USA), Ph.D. Candidate is the accepted title once you defend your dissertation prospectus. Since the process is formal and sometimes arduous, we are very careful not to refer to a Ph.D. Candidate as a Ph.D. Student. Everyone distinguished between these two ranks in their email signatures and websites.

Also, the OP doesn't note the type of position that this person is being used as a reference for. IF it is an academic application, I would recommend a more senior reference. If you need a character or skills reference for some sort of non-academic position (where references are only checked as a formality by the HR department), this is less of a problem.

• 2 Are you certain this is something that is common to your field and not just your field AND country? –  Tobias Kildetoft Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 15:39
• 1 Could be. Will edit to reflect. –  Dawn Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 16:08
• 1 @PeteL.Clark - In my applied math department, one had to present and defend the thesis proposal. Typically this was done when one was approximately halfway through the project, and the advisor was confident the topic was workable. (I don't remember exactly what this exam was called.) –  aparente001 Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 17:56
• 1 I took an extremely cursory look for math (plain old) and saw that such an exam sometimes results in Admission to Candidacy, involving oral questions on the proposed area of research. –  aparente001 Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 20:46

Another alternative that sounds slightly more formal and hasn't been mentioned yet is doctoral student .

You can put "ABD" after her name. From Wikipedia :

"All but dissertation" (ABD) is a mostly unofficial term identifying a stage in the process of obtaining a research doctorate in the United States and Canada.

You could also say

Marie Smith, PhD candidate.

• 11 You can do that, but don't. –  JeffE Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 3:45
• 1 @JeffE - Your comment would be infinitely more useful with some reasoning added. –  aparente001 Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 3:52
• 5 @aparente: See academia.stackexchange.com/questions/28717/… for some opinions about "ABD." In my experience this is a kind of pseudo-title. For one thing, it is often used for people who used to be in a PhD program but dropped out, and there is something off-puttingly coy about this to many people.... –  Pete L. Clark Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 7:18
• 2 ...It is also used in different ways in different academic fields. In parts of humanities and the social sciences, one can spend multiple years just writing the thesis, often in a remote location and without taking further coursework. In that case ABD really describes a different career stage. In my PhD program I (and most other students) passed all my exams in my first year, so I was "ABD" for 9 out of the 10 semesters and was resident and registered for courses the whole time. So using this title would sound pretentious and silly. –  Pete L. Clark Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 7:22
• 5 Note that, outside the USA, the phrase "ABD" is meaningless. And, frankly, it sounds ridiculous. Oh, this person has done "all but" the single largest thing that needs to be done. Is that sarcastic? –  David Richerby Commented Mar 26, 2017 at 10:24

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