Characteristics Statements describe the distinctive features of qualifications at particular levels within the Qualifications Frameworks. They describe the qualifications in terms of their purpose, general characteristics and generic outcomes, but do not include subject level detail.

On this page you will find the Characteristics Statement for Doctoral Degrees. A short summary of the Statement is published below.

The doctoral degree is one of the most high-profile and respected postgraduate qualifications in UK higher education. The PhD (or DPhil) covers a wide variety of subjects, as well as delivery modes (including part-time and distance learning).

Doctoral degrees can also take the form of ‘professional, ‘practice-based’ or ‘practice-led’ doctorates, which were developed to allow employed professionals to re-engage with research methodologies. These programmes have a different structure from traditional PhDs, with intensive taught modules at the beginning of study.

Whatever their form, all doctoral graduates will have demonstrated an original contribution to knowledge in their subject, field or profession, through original research or the original application of existing knowledge or understanding.