Examples
Worked examples
- Is an instance
A second-year PhD student at a UK Russell Group university, three years into a four-year stipend
Counter-examples
Looks similar, but isn't
- Not an instance
A master's student doing a research dissertation is a master's-level researcher, not a doctoral candidate
Editorial commentary
A doctoral candidate is a person pursuing a doctorate, from initial registration through to the final viva or defense. ‘Doctoral student’ and ‘doctoral researcher’ are common synonyms with subtly different implications (the latter framing the doctorate as a research role rather than a programme of study), and some funders further distinguish pre-candidacy from post-candidacy students.
References
- Salzburg Principles on Doctoral Education (EUA 2005, updated 2010)
- UK QAA Doctoral Degree Characteristics Statement (2020)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a doctoral candidate the same as a PhD candidate?
In practice, yes. A PhD is the most common type of doctorate, so ‘PhD candidate’ is simply the more specific term for a doctoral candidate who is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in particular.
What is the difference between a doctoral candidate and a doctoral student?
The two terms are common synonyms, and as defined here, ‘doctoral candidate’ covers the entire span of doctoral study, from initial registration through to the final viva or defense. Some funders draw a further distinction, however, treating candidacy as a later, more formal stage separate from an earlier pre-candidacy period.
Is a doctoral researcher the same as a doctoral candidate?
Yes, ‘doctoral researcher’ is a common synonym for doctoral candidate. The main difference is one of emphasis: it frames the doctorate as a research role rather than a programme of study.
When does doctoral candidate status begin and end?
It begins at initial registration in the doctoral programme and continues through to the final viva or defense. Within that span, some funders further separate pre-candidacy from post-candidacy students.
Also known as
PhD candidate · Doctoral student · Doctoral researcher
Machine-readable encodings
Use in your systems
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