National Dissertation Day Date in the current year: April 26, 2024

A doctoral degree, also referred to as doctor’s degree or doctorate, is awarded by universities to individuals who’ve completed all required coursework and passed qualifying exams, completed an independent research project, written a dissertation detailing every aspect of their research, and then publicly defended it.

The most common doctoral degree is the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Despite its name, it can be awarded in many different fields of study. Some disciplines of study have their own specific doctoral degrees, such as the Doctor of Education (EdD), the Doctor of Theology (ThD), the Doctor of Science (ScD), the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), etc.

“Doctor” is a Latin term that originally meant “teacher” or “instructor”. In medieval Europe, the doctorate (licentia docenti) was a license to teach. Such licenses were originally granted by the Catholic church. In 1213, the pope granted the right to issue the licentia to the University of Paris. The doctorate of philosophy developed in 17th century Germany. The first modern research doctoral degree was awarded in 1861 at Yale University. From the United States, it spread to the United Kingdom via Canada.

Today, there are various types of doctorates and equivalent degrees awarded by universities throughout the word. In some countries, the doctorate is the highest academic degree, while other countries award post-doctoral degrees. In addition, a number of universities award honorary doctorates to recognize an individual’s contribution to a specific field.

Earning a doctoral degree takes much time, effort, and money because tuition for most doctoral programs isn’t cheap. According to statistics, only about half of doctoral candidates in the United States successfully finish their dissertations and graduate with a doctoral degree. The rest withdraw from their doctoral programs for a variety of reasons, ranging from money problems to disappointment with their field or the educational system.

The celebration of National Dissertation Day was initiated by Dr. Russel Strickland, a dissertation coach and the founder of Dissertation Done. It has been observed every April 26 since 2018. The main goal of National Dissertation Day is to highlight the importance of adopting a professional approach to getting your dissertation done.

If you’re a doctoral candidate feeling stuck, National Dissertation Day is the perfect day for you to take a breath, reevaluate your approach to your dissertation journey, and put your dissertation back on track. Remember that it is okay to ask for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed or frustrated; talking to your advisor, fellow doctoral candidates or a dissertation consultant might be just what you need to get unstuck and continue writing your dissertation with renewed vigor.