doctorstitel

Doctorstitel is a designation used to identify individuals who have earned a doctoral-level degree or hold a professional medical doctorate. The precise form and rules for its use vary between languages and countries. In many places the title is represented as Dr. before the name, though some jurisdictions also permit or require the use of a post-nominal credential (for example PhD or MD) after the name. The core common element is that the holder has completed a doctoral level program and defense or an equivalent criterion set by a recognized degree-granting institution.

Origins trace back to medieval universities, where doctors were authorized to teach and adjudicate in their faculties. Over time the doctorate became the highest level of academic qualification and spread across fields such as the sciences, humanities, and professional domains.

Usage differs. In several European countries the title Dr. is used by graduates of doctoral study, and in some cases physicians with a medical doctorate also use the title. In other regions the medical degree is the separate professional credential (for example MD) and the prefix Dr. may be reserved for researchers who hold a doctoral degree. In formal correspondence, the title is typically used with the surname (Dr. Smith) and may be retained in legal name records.

Ethical use is regulated by educational and professional bodies; misrepresenting oneself as holding a doctoral title can be subject to sanctions. The concept also intersects with non-European traditions where different titles or honors apply.