doctoral
relating to a doctorate or PhD
About study or work for the highest level of university degree (a doctorate).
[doctoral] [degree/student/program/thesis]
- She completed her doctoral research on climate policy last year.
- He is applying to several doctoral programs in computer science.
- The university offers generous funding for doctoral students.
- Her doctoral dissertation focuses on language acquisition in children.
- They hosted a special workshop for new doctoral candidates.
- She is doing her doctoral studies in physics.
- He wrote a long doctoral thesis about robots.
- The school has a very good doctoral program.
- Many doctoral students also work as teachers.
- She finished her doctoral degree in four years.
- Base: doctoral
doctoral candidate
1advanced student in a doctorate
A doctoral student who has finished certain steps (like exams) and is officially accepted to work mainly on their dissertation.
- After passing her exams, she became a doctoral candidate in sociology.
- The grant is only open to doctoral candidates in their final year.
doctoral degree
1a doctorate-level university degree
A university degree at the highest level, such as a PhD or other doctorate.
- She received her doctoral degree in engineering from MIT.
- Many universities now offer online options for earning a doctoral degree.
doctoral dissertation
1long research paper for a doctorate
A very long and detailed research paper that a student must write to finish a doctoral degree.
- He is working day and night on his doctoral dissertation.
- Her doctoral dissertation was later published as a book.
doctoral program
1course of study for a doctorate
An organized course of study and research at a university that leads to a doctoral degree.
- She was accepted into a doctoral program in psychology.
- The university’s doctoral program is known for strong research training.
doctoral student
1student studying for a doctorate
A person who is studying at a university to get a doctoral degree.
- As a doctoral student, he also teaches two undergraduate classes.
- The conference offered reduced fees for doctoral students.
doctoral thesis
1written thesis for a doctorate
A long piece of writing that shows a student’s research and ideas, written to complete a doctoral degree.
- His doctoral thesis focuses on machine learning in medicine.
- She defended her doctoral thesis in front of a committee of professors.
- She spent five years collecting data for her doctoral thesis.
- His doctoral thesis explores new methods in data security.
- The university archives keep a copy of every doctoral thesis.