Yes, a doctorate is a graduate degree. It is the highest level of graduate degree you can earn, sitting above a master’s degree in the academic hierarchy. Any degree pursued after completing a bachelor’s falls under the “graduate” umbrella, and that includes every type of doctorate, from a PhD to a Doctor of Medicine.
Where a Doctorate Fits in the Degree Hierarchy
College degrees follow a clear progression. An associate degree (typically two years) and a bachelor’s degree (typically four years) are undergraduate degrees. Everything after that is graduate-level work. A master’s degree, which usually requires one to two years of study beyond a bachelor’s, is the first tier of graduate education. A doctorate is the second and final tier, often requiring several additional years of coursework, research, or clinical training beyond the master’s level.
When universities refer to their “graduate programs” or “graduate schools,” they are talking about both master’s and doctoral programs. If you are enrolled in a PhD program, you are a graduate student, just like someone working toward a master’s degree.
Research Doctorates vs. Professional Doctorates
Not all doctorates look the same, but they are all graduate degrees. The two broad categories are research doctorates and professional doctorates.
A research doctorate, most commonly the PhD, focuses on preparing you to make original intellectual contributions to a field of study. It requires completing a dissertation or an equivalent project based on original research. Research doctorates exist across nearly every academic discipline, from physics to history to engineering.
A professional doctorate prepares you to practice a specific profession rather than conduct independent research. Common examples include the MD (Doctor of Medicine), JD (Juris Doctor, for law), DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), and DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine). The National Center for Education Statistics distinguishes these from research doctorates, but both types are graduate-level degrees that require years of advanced study after a bachelor’s.
Some doctorates blend the two categories. A Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), for instance, is practice-oriented but still involves significant graduate coursework and supervised clinical work. A Doctor of Education (EdD) can lean toward either applied practice or research depending on the program.
Do You Need a Master’s Degree First?
A master’s degree is not always required before starting a doctoral program. Many PhD programs in the United States accept students directly from a bachelor’s degree, and those students earn their master’s along the way or skip it entirely. This is especially common in the sciences, engineering, and some social science fields, where programs are designed as a continuous path from bachelor’s to doctorate.
In other fields, particularly in the humanities and in many professional doctorates, having a master’s degree first is more common or sometimes expected. Even when it is not strictly required, earning a master’s first can help you adjust to graduate-level coursework and build research experience before committing to a longer doctoral program. The decision depends on your field, the specific programs you are considering, and whether you want to test the waters of graduate school before diving into a multi-year commitment.
Graduate vs. Postgraduate: A Note on Terminology
If you encounter the term “postgraduate degree,” it means the same thing as “graduate degree.” In the United States, the standard term is “graduate degree,” while in the United Kingdom and many other countries, “postgraduate degree” is the preferred phrasing. Both refer to any qualification earned after completing a bachelor’s degree. A doctorate is a graduate degree in the U.S. and a postgraduate degree in the U.K., but the credential itself is identical.
What This Means Practically
Because a doctorate is classified as a graduate degree, it carries a few practical implications worth knowing. When job postings list “graduate degree required” or “advanced degree preferred,” a doctorate qualifies. When you fill out applications or forms that ask for your highest level of education, a doctorate sits at the top of the list. Financial aid designated for graduate students, including federal loans and institutional fellowships, applies to doctoral students as well.
The timeline and cost vary widely. A PhD in the sciences might take five to seven years but come with full tuition coverage and a stipend. A professional doctorate like an MD takes four years of medical school plus residency. An EdD might take three to five years, often completed part-time while working. Regardless of the format, all of these are graduate degrees, and a doctorate represents the highest academic credential available.