Dottorato di ricerca

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In Italy, the dottorato di ricerca (doctorate of research) is the highest academic degree, and the equivalent of a Ph.D..

The dottorato is a relatively recent addition to the Italian academic landscape, having been instituted in 1980.

Until recent times, no title matching the Bachelor degree existed in the Italian education system, and the laurea was granted after a single four or five year educational program, including a thesis work. Now, a laurea specialistica is required to enter doctoral studies. Students are admitted to the doctoral program via competitions offered by individual universities, which set their own standards for admission. The program is from three to five years in length.

Because of the relatively recent introduction of the dottorato the term dottore is still commonly used in the Italian society to refer to any person with a university degree, and sometimes (by less educated people) to any person holding a certain authority independently of his/her academic qualifications. Therefore, holders of the dottorato acquire the title of dottore di ricerca ("doctor of research").

For the same reason, the equivalent of the Honorary doctorate is called Laurea ad honorem by Italian universities.