A professional doctorate degree is awarded in specific fields and its primary prerequisite is that candidates be involved in professions, such as law, medicine, science or arts. If somebody wishes to achieve advancement in career, he should opt for a professional doctorate. A master's degree and almost three years of work experience is usually a prerequisite for enrolling in a professional doctorate program. Some of the subjects that professional doctorates are offered are international studies, economics, archeology, history, criminology and human rights.
A research doctorate is awarded in recognition of an academic's research. The award usually involves extensive research conducted by the student in his specific field of publishable standard. After years of focused study and research, candidate's research project stands for itself as a symbol of his achievement and knowledge. The most common type of research doctorate is a doctor of philosophy, also referred to as Ph.D. A research doctorate is awarded in many subjects such as literature, political science, international relations, media studies, anthropology, English, economics and psychology.
A higher doctorate degree is a degree of higher standing than a master's or a Ph.D. degree, in some countries such as the U.K. and Ireland. A higher doctorate degree is awarded on the basis of a person's portfolio of high-standard published research. The difference between a honorary and a higher doctorate is the university does not waive off the usual degree requirements for the later and candidates are required to formally apply to receive one. Higher doctorate degrees are usually given in the fields of law, literature, music, art or science.
An honorary doctorate is a degree that a college or university awards to a person who has achieved remarkable prominence in his field. These degrees are awarded only for the sake of honor and the university does waive off traditional degree requirements for the person who is being honored with this degree. These doctorates can also be awarded to those who may not have any prior connection to the institution, since they aim to appreciate a person's contributions to a specific professional field. For instance, honorary doctorates have been awarded to former presidents, authors and musicians.