PhD cum laude: tips for excelling in your research
What is a PhD cum laude?
Those who have embarked on the journey of writing their thesis will come across a term that will accompany them throughout the process: a PhD cum laude.
This terminology will become the main focus for all users who choose to have their thesis printed by us. If you’re not sure what it means, we’ll explain everything there is to know about this concept, which is often mentioned in academic circles but which not everyone fully understands.
The Complutense University of Madrid defines a doctorate cum laude as “the highest academic qualification leading to the award of a doctorate”.
Cum laude is a Latin phrase that could be translated as ‘with praise’ or ‘with honours’, which directly refers to the value placed on the work carried out by the academic institution.
Within academia, a PhD cum laude is the highest grade that can be awarded. It is a special honour granted only to the most outstanding doctoral theses and is associated with numerous benefits for the development of a future academic career.
There is no doubt that receiving a ‘cum laude’ distinction for one’s doctoral thesis is a goal to which everyone embarking on this long-term journey in the field of research aspires.
Seeing how the academic community values the ability to conduct original research, to produce excellent writing, and to have made a necessary contribution to social and scientific progress is the greatest reward for the effort put in.
How to obtain a PhD cum laude
The cum laude distinction is awarded by unanimous decision of the thesis examination board during the presentation and defence of the thesis. Under standard procedure, a number of conditions must be met for this distinction to be awarded.
Firstly, the thesis must be graded as ‘outstanding’. If this is the case, the members of the examination board cast a secret and personal vote. If all members vote in favour of the distinction, the researcher will be awarded the cum laude.
Benefits of obtaining a PhD cum laude
Both academically and socially, achieving a cum laude honours degree is associated with a number of benefits that researchers writing their theses take into account:
Academic recognition and professional prestige
Researchers who include this distinction on their CVs are highly regarded in academic circles. They immediately become leading voices in their field and achieve a high level of professional prestige.
Research benefits
The high standard of their work opens the door to new research opportunities, the possibility of securing funding from private foundations, and so on. This is key to remaining in academia, a sector where competition is fierce and constant.
Career opportunities in academia
The university itself tends to give priority to PhD graduates with cum laude honours over other types of graduates. This high grade on one’s academic record opens the door to postdoctoral fellowships, teaching posts, and so on.
Why it’s worth striving for a cum laude honours degree
Those who love research, teaching and academic work strive to achieve a cum laude honours degree so that their career path in the near and medium term is smoothed out
The hard work and dedication required to achieve that grade are rewarded with better career prospects, more opportunities to expand one’s research, access to conferences… a whole range of options that are all about becoming an authoritative voice in a specific field of research.
Before you decide to have your thesis bound and printed with us, it will be useful to review these points regarding a cum laude honours degree so that you can assess your own work and determine whether you are on track to achieve it. If so, all you’ll need to do is prepare a high-quality print of your work before you face the examination board to defend it.
