Doctor of Philosophy

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil) is a type of doctorate degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree, named after its historic roots as a Doctorate licensed to one allowed to profess a Philosophia, was formally awarded by European universities since the Medieval era circa 1150-1200. PhDs are awarded for a wide range of programs in the sciences (e.g., biology, physics, mathematics, etc.), engineering, and humanities (e.g., history, English literature, musicology, etc.). The PhD is a terminal degree in many fields.