Doctor of Letters
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A Doctor of Letters, also termed Doctor of Literature in some countries, is the holder of a terminal degree in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. In the United States, at universities such as
Bahram Beyzai, dressed in a traditional University of St. Andrews black cassock, having just received a D.Litt. honoris causa, June 2017
Mark Twain (right), wearing the full-dress gown of a University of Oxford Doctor of Letters. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters in 1907.
Doctorate
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A doctorate or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism licentia docendi.
Doctor of Letters
…in mind." Depending on the country, the degree awarded may also be a higher doctorate after the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree or equivalent to a higher doctorate, such as that of Doctor of Science (Sc.D. or D.Sc.) or Doctor of Laws (LL.D). It is awarded in Argentina and Mexico by universities in recognition of…
Title page of the thesis presented by Claude Bernard to obtain his Doctor of Medicine degree (1843)
Man and woman wearing Durham and Glasgow PhD gowns, respectively
American academic doctors gather before the commencement exercises at Brigham Young University (April 2008). The American code for academic dress identifies academic doctors with three bands of velvet on the sleeve of the doctoral gown.
The ancient ceremony of bestowing Complutense's doctoral biretta