phd 2 2 degree

Can I Do Double PhD? Double Doctorate and Two PhDs Explained

You may have heard of people completing a double degree, or having two masters. Would that be possible for PhD? Can I do double PhD?

You can do double PhD, but it is rather rare. This is because a single PhD alone is a challenge, and is often enough to establish expertise in the subject. Double PhD also means double the time, financial stress, meaning less are keen to do that. 

In this post, we discuss if a double PhD is possible, and if it is sensible. If you are keen to do it, we also explore how you can get about the process.

Can I Do Double PhD?

In short, you can. However, it is uncommon, and things are rather muddled if you go deeper.

Pursuing a PhD is a monumental task, often seen as the pinnacle of academic achievement. Yet, the idea of enrolling for a second PhD stirs mixed feelings in academia. 

Some opt for a double doctorate to bridge disciplines, becoming interdisciplinary scholars who can navigate multiple fields with ease.

Here, we are talking about two separate PhD degrees, not dual/joint PhD degrees some university awards for a single research.

Consider the journey of a researcher aiming to meld insights from neuroscience and public health. Their first PhD in neuroscience lays the groundwork. But to truly impact public health, they see value in a second PhD.

This blend of expertise allows for novel research that could lead to groundbreaking discoveries. It’s akin to having a foot in two worlds, with the ability to see and solve problems from a unique vantage point.

Yet, the road to two PhDs is fraught with challenges. Admission to a second doctoral program isn’t guaranteed, even with a PhD under your belt.

Prospective students must demonstrate not just academic prowess but a compelling reason to pursue another doctorate. Faculty often question the need for a second PhD unless it’s for a distinct, interdisciplinary career path.

There’s also the lifestyle aspect. PhD students often live on modest stipends, making the financial strain of a second PhD a significant consideration.

The term ‘permanent student’ might sound appealing to some, but the realities of delayed entry into the full-time job market and the potential for overqualification can be daunting.

Yet, for those driven by an insatiable curiosity and the desire to make a mark across disciplines, a second PhD can be a rewarding path.

Collaborating across departments, they can forge new connections and insights, contributing to academia in ways a single PhD might not allow. It’s a rare and challenging journey, but for the right individual, it can be incredibly fulfilling.

How Do You Do Double PhD?

Doing a double PhD is similar to regular PhD, you decide on your research, find a place and supervisor, complete your registration, and start your study. 

Ask Yourself: Do You Need A Double PhD?

However, start with assessing your motivation and end goals. Why do you need two PhDs?

• Is it to deepen your expertise in interconnected fields, or
• to forge a new path in an interdisciplinary area? 

Understanding your ‘why’ will guide your journey and help you articulate your vision to advisors and admission committees.

Research Suitable University and Supervisor

Once your goals are clear, research becomes crucial. You need to identify universities that not only offer PhD programs in your chosen disciplines but also support interdisciplinary research.

This is where you can really dive into the specifics of each program, understanding the coursework, research opportunities, and the faculty’s openness to guiding a student through multiple doctoral degrees.

Next, securing an advisor or mentor in each department is vital. These advisors will be your navigators, helping you bridge the gap between disciplines and ensuring your research is cohesive and impactful.

They can also provide insider insights and help you tailor your dissertation to reflect a truly interdisciplinary approach.

Submit An Compelling Application

Admission to a second PhD program while completing or after having completed the first requires a compelling application .

It’s not just about academic transcripts; your application must convey a clear vision of how the two PhDs will complement each other and contribute to the field.

This is where you highlight your unique perspective and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries that a dual doctorate can facilitate.

Throughout your journey, collaboration is key. Engaging with faculty and peers across departments will enrich your research and open up new avenues of inquiry. This multidisciplinary approach can lead to innovative solutions and contributions to your fields of study.

Pros & Cons Of Having Double PhD

If you are thinking about a double PhD, consider these pros and cons below as you make your decision:

• Interdisciplinary Expertise : With two PhDs in different fields, you become a bridge between disciplines, possessing a rare blend of knowledge. This interdisciplinary expertise can lead to innovative research and solutions. For instance, combining a PhD in public health with one in data science could revolutionize how we predict and manage health crises.
• Enhanced Career Opportunities : A double doctorate can open doors to specialized academic positions, high-level consultancy roles, or leadership in research and development sectors. Universities and research institutes value such unique qualifications for their potential to drive cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation.
• Personal and Intellectual Growth : The process of earning two PhDs is incredibly enriching. You’re not just accumulating degrees; you’re engaging deeply with multiple subjects, methodologies, and ways of thinking. This can be a profoundly transformative experience, pushing the boundaries of your intellectual and personal capabilities.
• Time and Financial Investment : Completing one PhD can take anywhere from 3 to 8 years, and a second PhD adds to this timeline. The financial aspect is also significant, considering tuition fees, living expenses, and potential lost income during this extended period of study.
• Overqualification Concerns : Holding two PhDs might make you highly specialized, which can be a double-edged sword in the job market. Some employers may view such qualifications as excessive, worrying that you might demand a higher salary or not be satisfied with the available roles. This can inadvertently narrow your job prospects outside academia.
• Physical and Mental Toll : The rigors of a PhD program are well-documented, involving intense research, coursework, and the stress of dissertation writing. Multiplying this by two can take a significant toll on your mental and physical health. The pressure to perform and produce original research in two distinct fields can be overwhelming, leading to burnout if not carefully managed.

Is It Necessary To Do A Double PhD?

Deciding whether to pursue a second PhD involves a deep reflection on your career goals and the nature of your academic interests. It’s rare in academia to find professors or researchers with two PhDs.

The rarity is not because it’s unachievable, but because one doctorate usually suffices for establishing expertise and credibility in a field.

The necessity of a double doctorate hinges on very specific career paths or interdisciplinary ambitions that cannot be fulfilled through a single PhD program.

For example, someone passionate about creating solutions at the intersection of technology and environmental science might find that a single PhD limits their ability to deeply understand and innovate across these disciplines.

In such cases, a second PhD in a complementary field can provide the breadth and depth of knowledge needed to make significant contributions.

However, this path is not without its challenges. The financial, mental, and time investments are considerable, and the academic community often debates the practicality of such endeavors.

Moreover, the evolving nature of doctoral programs now allows for more interdisciplinary research within a single PhD, reducing the need for a second.

Universities are increasingly encouraging cross-departmental collaboration, enabling students to tailor their research projects to span multiple disciplines without the need for an additional degree.

In this context, the decision to pursue a second PhD should be carefully weighed against the opportunities to specialize and collaborate within existing doctoral frameworks.

Two Doctoral Degrees: Possible But May Not Be Needed

Pursuing a double PhD is a unique path that offers unparalleled interdisciplinary expertise and career opportunities but comes with significant challenges. It requires a clear understanding of your goals, immense dedication, and a willingness to navigate the complexities of academia.

While not necessary for everyone, for those driven by a deep passion for multiple disciplines, it can be a rewarding journey. Ultimately, the decision should be based on personal ambition, academic interests, and the strategic value of dual doctoral degrees.

Dr. JW Ong holds academic degrees, including a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from universities in New Zealand, Malaysia, and the UK. He started PhDPursuits.com as a way to share the experience he wish he would have had known before embarking on his PhD.

• Joint/Dual Doctoral Programs
• Programs of Study
• Doctoral Programs
• Masters Programs
• Joint/Dual Masters Programs
• MA and PhD Certificates
• Joint BA/MA Degrees
• Undergraduate Programs

The University of Chicago is renowned for its interdisciplinary culture, and doctoral students can pursue a variety of joint or dual degree programs. Opportunities to create a specific combination can be discussed with one’s Director of Graduate Study.

Existing programs include:

Joint PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics

In addition to linguistic anthropology as a sub-field within the Department of Anthropology , a joint Ph.D. program is available to students who are admitted to both the Department of Anthropology and the  Department of Linguistics . Administratively, the student is admitted to, and remains registered in, the primary, or “home” department, and subsequently seeks admission to the second department in joint residence status. Students approved to pursue the joint degree program must complete the requirements of both departments, including the distinct introductory and advanced courses stipulated by each, the departmental qualifying examination in appropriate special fields, and the language requirements, including additional foreign languages for the Linguistics Ph.D. Students should declare interest in the Joint Degree Program on the initial graduate application to the Department, and should discuss this interest personally with linguistic anthropology faculty soon after arrival on campus.

Joint PhD in Psychology and Linguistics

Students in the Department of Linguistics in the Division of the Humanities who wish to work toward a joint PhD in Psychology's Cognition Program and in Linguistics must be admitted to the Department of Psychology .

Joint PhD in Financial Economics

Established in 2006, the Joint PhD Program in Financial Economics is offered jointly by the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics and the Finance dissertation area at  Chicago Booth . The aim of this program is to leverage the strengths of both sponsors in training PhD students interested in financial economics. Students must satisfy program requirements for the PhD in both departments.

Joint PhD in Psychology and Business

Established in 2009, the Joint Program in Psychology and Business is overseen jointly by the  Department of Psychology  and the  Behavioral Science dissertation area  at Chicago Booth. The aim of this program is to connect the large number of social, cognitive, and organizational psychologists at Chicago Booth and within the Department of Psychology. To qualify for the joint program, a student must be admitted into either the Psychology or the Business graduate program.

JD/PhD Programs

Doctoral students in Social Sciences who are also admitted to the University of Chicago Law School may pursue a concurrent PhD/JD program , where there is an explicit and authorized close association between legal education and doctoral training. Students in the concurrent degree program alternate registration sites between the two units. Students complete all requirements for both degrees. Applicants must apply to both programs separately. The University of Chicago Law School has established a fellowship program to support students pursuing a concurrent JD/PhD at the University of Chicago, which may grant fellowship aid during the Law School years.

MD/PhD in Medicine, the Social Sciences, and Humanities

The program in  Medicine, the Social Sciences and Humanities (MeSH)  at the University of Chicago trains medical students to become innovative physician-scholars at the critical interface of medicine and society. The MeSH program is an opportunity for students interested in obtaining an MD and a PhD in a field outside of the traditional biological and physical sciences. Students interested in MeSH may pursue a doctoral degree among any of the graduate programs relevant to the social sciences and humanities at the University of Chicago.

Joint PhD in Social Thought & Classics

The  Joint Ph.D. Program in Social Thought and Classics  is intended for students whose study of a particular issue or text from the ancient Greek and Roman world requires a broadly inter-disciplinary approach alongside a professional mastery of philological skills. Those interested in pursuing this joint degree program must first be admitted in EITHER the  Committee on Social Thought  OR the  Department of Classics  and complete at minimum the two quarter language survey (Greek or Latin), offered by the Department of Classics, with an average grade of B or higher. Application shall then be made to the second department and, provided that the standards of admission to that department are met, students will be admitted to joint degree status. 

Joint PhD Social Thought & Philosophy

The  Joint Ph.D. Program in Social Thought and Philosophy  is designed to provide students with equal in-depth training, simultaneously provided by the Committee on Social Thought and the Department of Philosophy . Those interested in pursuing this joint degree program must first be admitted in EITHER the Committee on Social Thought OR the Department of Philosophy. After commencing the program of study, application shall then be made to the second department and, provided that the standards of admission to that department are met, students will be admitted to joint degree status. 

Other Joint and Ad Hoc Degree Possibilities

Students admitted to any doctoral program in Social Sciences may subsequently petition the University to create a joint program with another department. Such individually-created joint degree programs begin in the second year of graduate studies or later. In all cases, students complete the separate program requirements for each degree, with no additional residence requirement, and write one Ph.D. dissertation that separately meets the dissertation requirements of each department.

This Website Uses Cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

Want to Get your Dissertation Accepted?

Discover how we've helped doctoral students complete their dissertations and advance their academic careers!

Join 200+ Graduated Students

Get Your Dissertation Accepted On Your Next Submission

Get customized coaching for:.

• Crafting your proposal,
• Collecting and analyzing your data, or
• Preparing your defense.

Trapped in dissertation revisions?

Double doctorate: can you get multiple phds, published by steve tippins on may 12, 2020 may 12, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 02:48 am

A question I’ve gotten a few times: “Can I get a double PhD?” 

The answer is yes, you can under most circumstances. But why? 

While there are some exceptional cases, generally I’d discourage people from pursuing a second PhD. Here are some of the reasons why. After I cover those, I’ll talk about situations where it makes sense to get multiple PhDs.

Reasons Not to Get a Double PhD

For the most part, I can’t see a big reason for a second PhD unless there is a second academic track you want to go into. Here are some reasons why getting a double PhD won’t actually double your opportunities.

You Are Already Considered an Expert

Once you have a PhD , few people outside of academia will ask you what it’s in. Outside the academic world, multiple PhDs will rarely give you much extra credibility.

Becoming a Student Again Is Tough

Getting a PhD means you’re very subservient to professors and committee members. Once you’ve emerged from that already and have become an expert, it’s very difficult to get back into that mindset. Doing so requires a lot of self-discipline and humility–sometimes even when it’s unwarranted. While possible, I wouldn’t say it’s desirable.

You Can Do Interdisciplinary Research Already

You probably wouldn’t need a PhD in both Anthropology and Psychology or in both Sociology and Psychology. Those fields are closely related, so an anthropologist can offer valuable insights to the field of psychology, and vice versa. Just make sure to stay within the scope of your knowledge or collaborate with researchers in the other field you’re exploring.

Over 50% of doctoral candidates don’t finish their dissertations.

You Already Have Research Skills

A PhD gives you the research skills, and those can transfer to other areas. If you have all those skills, you can get a lot of the information on your own and become an expert in another field. You know how to research and dive in and find people who can help you find other information, so if you need to know about a subject, you have the resources to do it on your own. You already have research skills. Why pay to learn them again?

A note of caution here: people have been getting in trouble for using “PhD” after their name and commenting on things that they’re not experts on. For example, someone with a PhD in classical literature commenting on current societal issues or health issues and not disclosing that their PhD is in an unrelated field.

If you want to be seen as an expert in a field, you’ll need to have a PhD (or other degree or certification) in that field. 

Objectively speaking, the PhD research skills apply across the board. And it may be that through self-study or mentorship, you are an expert in a field unrelated to your degree. However, if you’re putting yourself out there as an expert in another field, you can still say you’re an expert, just don’t put “PhD” after your name (or be clear about what your PhD is in).

You May Be Seen as a “Permanent Student”

If you haven’t had much of a career after your first PhD, you may be seen as a permanent student. As David Clark pointed out on Stack Exchange , “Hovering around getting multiple PhDs would be akin to getting multiple bachelor degrees. People may see you as a permanent student, not someone growing into a mature researcher.”

While there are many advantages to being a permanent student–a life of learning and curiosity being one of them–some hiring managers may consider it a drawback, as they’re looking for someone invested in their career.

Reasons to Get a Double PhD

All that said, there are some situations where getting multiple PhDs may be the best choice. I’ve outlined some of these below.

Expertise in Hard Sciences

The most common instances of people having multiple PhDs are in the hard sciences. For example, medical students may also pursue a PhD in something like chemistry or physiology. 

I’ve seen MDs with PhDs and JDs with PhDs. This can come in handy for those more interested in research or administrative work–for example, an MD who pursues a PhD in order to become eligible for an administrative-level position or pursue research.

Shifting Expertise

If you’re a biologist and would like to become a counselor or a mathematician, you’ll need a new degree. However, a PhD may not always be the best choice. Counselors, for example, can be certified with a Master’s degree (more on that in the next section).

That said, if you’re committed to research or high-level management positions in an entirely new field, it may be that there’s nothing to do but buckle down and get your second PhD.

Certifications with Similar Requirements

If you’re looking to get a certification, and the requirements for that certification are almost as much work as getting a PhD, it usually makes sense to go ahead and get the PhD.

For example, if you are an LMFT and want to get an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor designation, it’s usually worth just going ahead and getting the PhD, since the requirements for both are similarly stringent. 

Another reason to go this route: you can get student loans to fund a PhD, but not to fund self-study.

How to Get a Double PhD

See if it’s necessary.

See if getting a Master’s or certification in that field will allow you to do what you want to do. For example, somebody who has a PhD in History who decides they want to be a financial planner. They could get a certified financial planner designation and then be fine. If they want to be a therapist, they just need a master’s degree in therapy. 

See if You Can Get Credit from your Previous Program’s Courses

If you’re going into another field where you want to do research, you may get credit for the research courses you took in your previous program. However, there is usually a 5-10 year limit on this.

Pursue Two PhDs Simultaneously

In some cases, it is possible to complete similar coursework for multiple PhDs at the same time.

Christopher Wells pursued two related PhDs simultaneously. He says, “I have a double major doctoral degree that can be seen as two PhDs individually, in inorganic and physical chemistry, and pursued both of the majors at the same time during my nine years at SUNY Albany, from 2002 to 2011. However, my diploma only shows ‘Chemistry’, so I usually tell people directly about the two majors.”

Double PhD Summary

While in most situations getting multiple PhDs is unnecessary, there are some cases where it makes sense. If you’re in one of those situations, look into whether you can get credit for work you’ve already done.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

Related Posts

Academic Career

Bipoc academics matter: diversity in academia is long overdue.

We at Beyond PhD Coaching firmly believe that diversifying academia is both necessary and important – and well past overdue.  There’s no denying that higher education equals more power in society.  This power has been Read more…

Academic Arrogance: Dismantling a Culture of Harm

Academics are like polar bears. We live alone; we hibernate. If you walk down the halls of academic offices, you’ll find that almost all of the doors are shut. We live a solitary existence, occasionally Read more…

How to Be a Good PhD Student

If you’re curious about how to be a good PhD student, this article is a good place to start. As a professor for over 30 years, much of that as a Dissertation Committee Chair, I’ve Read more…