tohtori

Tohtori is a Finnish term for a holder of a doctoral degree. In Finland, tohtori is a formal title applied to anyone who has earned a doctoral-level qualification in any field. The degree is awarded after completing original research presented in a doctoral dissertation and successfully defended in a public examination (väitöskirja and väitöstilaisuus). Doctoral degrees include filosofian tohtori (PhD), lääketieteen tohtori (Doctor of Medicine), teknologian tohtori (Doctor of Technology), oikeustieteen tohtori (Doctor of Laws), and others. The title is used in formal contexts and, in written form, as a post-nominal designation, for example, Maria Mehtäläinen, filosofian tohtori. In speech, it is common to address such individuals as Tohtori Mehtäläinen.

In everyday language, physicians who are medical doctors are usually called lääkäri, unless they hold a doctoral degree in addition to their medical qualification, in which case tohtori may be used.

Etymology: tohtori is the Finnish form of the concept of a learned person who teaches and endorses knowledge; the term derives from the Latin 'doctor' and entered Finnish via older influences such as Swedish and other European languages.

The system of doctoral education is governed by Finnish higher education legislation; the doctorate is the highest level of university degree in Finland. The process typically involves coursework, independent research, a dissertation, and a public defense.