PhD or Dr.: What the difference really is.
Both titles represent the same level of qualification, but stem from different traditions. In practice, another question is key: how and where are you permitted to use the title?
Both PhD and Dr. denote the third level of higher education. The ‘Dr.’ with a subject suffix follows the German-speaking tradition, whilst the PhD is the internationally recognised form. A PhD from an EU or EEA country may generally be used in Germany as ‘Dr.’ without any additional designation, provided it was awarded following a research-based doctoral programme.
Origin of the two titles
The doctoral degree with a subject-specific suffix, such as Dr. rer. pol., Dr. iur. or Dr.-Ing., stems from the continental European tradition and also specifies the subject area. The PhD originates from the Anglo-Saxon world and is awarded across disciplines, even well beyond the field of philosophy, from which the name derives.
In terms of content, there is no systematic difference between the two. Both require an independent academic achievement and are at the same level within the European Qualifications Framework. German-speaking universities now also award the PhD in many subjects, in some cases alongside the traditional doctoral degree.
What the subject suffixes mean
The suffix indicates the subject area of the faculty that awarded the degree. It says nothing about the quality and very little about the content: depending on the institution, a thesis in economics may lead to a Dr. rer. pol., Dr. rer. oec., Dr. sc. oec. or a PhD.
This is only relevant in one practical respect: in the case of foreign degrees, you must not add the German subject suffix. Anyone holding a PhD from another EU country should use the title ‘Dr.’ without a suffix, not ‘Dr. rer. pol.’.
What applies to the title
It is not the title itself that is decisive, but the country of origin and the procedure. For Germany, this means: a doctoral degree, including a PhD, obtained in an EU or EEA country may be used as “Dr.” without a subject-specific suffix or an indication of origin, provided it was obtained through an academic doctoral procedure.
For degrees from outside the EU and the EEA, separate decisions by the Kultusministerkonferenz apply, some of which include lists of countries and provisions for individual cases. Classification is carried out by the anabin and the Central Office for Foreign Education. Honorary doctorates are exempt from these regulations and must continue to be denoted by the suffix ‘h.c.’.
What this means for your choice
Do not choose based on the title, but on the subject, supervision and procedure. A Dr. iur. is the expected form in a legal context; a PhD signifies the same level in an international context and is immediately understandable in English-language CVs.
Caution is advised if a provider advertises using the title rather than the awarding university. The degree is only as valuable as the higher education institution and the process behind it, and both can be checked in advance.
Frequently asked questions.
Is a PhD the same as a Dr.?+
Both denote the same level of qualification. The title follows the respective university’s tradition, not a difference in rank.
Can I use the title ‘Dr.’ in Germany if I have a PhD?+
For degrees from EU and EEA countries, the answer is generally yes, without a subject designation and without an indication of origin, provided that the degree is based on an academic doctoral process.
Can I add a subject-specific suffix?+
No. For foreign degrees, the title ‘Dr.’ is to be used without any additional designation. Adding a subject-specific designation would not be permitted.
Is a doctoral degree the same as a doctorate?+
A doctoral degree is the process; the doctorate is the result. Colloquially, the two are treated as synonymous, but formally they are two different things.
What is a Dr. h.c.?+
An honorary doctorate. It is awarded without a doctoral process and may only be used with the suffix ‘h.c.’ or ‘E.h.’.
Which title should I aim for?+
The one that is customary in your discipline and your field. More important are the awarding university and a standard procedure.
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