Editing Academic degree (section)

===== Using academic titles =====
After obtaining a doctorate, Dutch doctors may bear either the title dr. (lower case) before, or the letter D following, their name, but not both simultaneously.<ref name="rijksoverheid">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/hoger-onderwijs/vraag-en-antwoord/onderwerpen/hoger-onderwijs/vraag-en-antwoord/welke-titel-mag-ik-voeren-als-ik-ben-afgestudeerd-of-gepromoveerd|title=Welke titel mag ik voeren als ik ben afgestudeerd? – Rijksoverheid.nl|first=Ministerie van Algemene|last=Zaken|date=19 April 2011|website=www.rijksoverheid.nl}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> There is no notation signifying the specific discipline in which the doctorate is obtained. As of 1 January 2021, the title 'PhD' and post-nominal degree 'PhD' can also be used, and these are also legally protected. Stacking of titles, as seen in countries such as Germany (Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Gruber), is highly uncommon in the Netherlands and not well received culturally. Those who have multiple doctoral titles may use dr.mult. before their name, but this is seldom seen in practice.<ref name="rijksoverheid" /> The ''honoris causa'' doctors may use dr.h.c. before their name.<ref name="rijksoverheid" /> Combining different Dutch titles, especially in different disciplines, is allowed, however, (e.g. mr. dr. Jansen, dr. mr. Jansen, dr. ir. Jansen, mr. ir. drs. Jansen, mr. ir. Jansen). The use of the combination ir. ing. is frequent, indicating one holds a [[Education in the Netherlands#Hbo|HBO]], vocational, or professional engineering degree, together with an academic engineering degree.<ref name="onzetaal.nl">{{cite web|author=Aleid Fokma |url=http://www.onzetaal.nl/advies/titulatuur3.php |title=Bachelor-mastertitulatuur: titels combineren |publisher=Onzetaal.nl |date=16 June 2010 |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808024651/http://www.onzetaal.nl/advies/titulatuur3.php |archive-date=8 August 2011 }}</ref> What is not allowed is, after obtaining a doctorate, using dr. drs. Jansen; dr. Jansen should be used instead. A combination of a Dutch title with an international title is not allowed, except for some limited number of international professional titles.<ref name="onzetaal.nl" /> Thus, one should choose either one's classical Dutch title or use the shortcut provided by the law following one's name (since 1 September 2002 it is the other way around: those who hold Dutch degrees as MSc, LLM or MA may optionally use the old-style shortcuts before their names).<ref name="onzetaal.nl" /><ref name=burgervragen>{{cite web|url=http://members.home.nl/icnl/burgervragen.pdf|title=Citizens' questions letter from Dutch Department of Education, Culture and Science|publisher=Members.home.nl|access-date=28 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607172828/http://members.home.nl/icnl/burgervragen.pdf|archive-date=7 June 2011|date=8 September 2009}}</ref>

"''Doctors''" (dr.) can proceed to teach at universities as "{{interlanguage link|universitair docent|nl}}" (UD – [[assistant professor]]). With time, experience and achievement, this can evolve to a position as "{{interlanguage link|universitair hoofddocent|nl}}" (UHD – [[associate professor]]). Officially an UHD still works under the supervision of a "{{interlanguage link|hoogleraar|nl}}" ([[professor]]), the head of the department. However, this is not a given; it is also possible that a department is headed by a "plain" doctor, based on knowledge, achievement and expertise. The position of "hoogleraar" is the highest possible scientific position at a university and equivalent to the US "full" professor. The Dutch [[professor]]'s title, noted as ''prof. Jansen'' or ''professor Jansen'', is connected to one's employment. This means that, should the [[professor]] leave the [[university]], he or she also loses the privilege to use the title of [[professor]]. Retired professors are an exception and may continue to note the title in front of their name, or use the title emeritus professor (em. prof.). People who switch to a non-university job lose their professorial title and are only allowed to use the "dr." abbreviation.

Unlike some other European countries, such as Germany, Dutch academic titles are used rarely outside academia, hold no value in everyday life, and typically are not listed on official documentation (e.g. passport, drivers license, (governmental) communication). Dutch academic titles, however, are legally protected and can only be used by graduates from Dutch institutions of higher education. Illegal use is considered a misdemeanor and is subject to legal prosecution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/DerdeBoek/TitelII/Artikel435/geldigheidsdatum_21-10-2009 |title=Art. 435 Sr |language= nl |publisher=Wetten.overheid.nl |date=21 October 2009 |access-date=8 July 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100718053759/http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/DerdeBoek/TitelII/Artikel435/geldigheidsdatum_21-10-2009| archive-date= 18 July 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://translate.google.nl/translate?prev=hp&hl=nl&js=y&u=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/DerdeBoek/TitelII/Artikel435/geldigheidsdatum_21-10-2009&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0=&swap=1 |title=Art. 435 Sr (translated by Google) |language= nl |publisher=Translate.google.nl |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> Holders of foreign degrees, therefore, need special permission before being able to use a recognised Dutch title, but they are free to use their own foreign title (untranslated).<ref>Article 7.23, paragraph 3 of the Dutch Higher Education and Scientific Research Act provides the Informatie Beheer Groep (now called DUO, i.e. the Service for Implementing the Education) with the possibility to grant such a permission</ref><ref>[http://www.ibgroep.nl/International_visitors/Welcome.asp Informatie Beheer Groep (IB-Groep) is a service (now called DUO) of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124118/http://www.ibgroep.nl/International_visitors/Welcome.asp |date=29 September 2007 }}</ref><ref>More information on legislation on {{cite web|url=http://www.ibgroep.nl/International_visitors/Diploma_assessment/diploma_assessment.asp |title=DUO – IB-Groep/Diploma assessment |access-date=5 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719050200/http://www.ibgroep.nl/International_visitors/Diploma_assessment/diploma_assessment.asp |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ib-groep.nl/Images/5263_tcm7-13935.pdf Application for a recognized Dutch title (in Dutch)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714121456/http://www.ib-groep.nl/Images/5263_tcm7-13935.pdf |date=14 July 2010 }} and [http://www.ib-groep.nl/Images/5263E_tcm7-13910.pdf Application for a recognized Dutch title (in English)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124103810/http://ib-groep.nl/Images/5263E_tcm7-13910.pdf |date=24 November 2010 }}</ref> In practice, the Public Department does not prosecute the illegal use of a protected title (the Netherlands applies [[prosecutorial discretion#The Netherlands|prosecutorial discretion]], so some known criminal uses are not prosecuted).<ref>[http://www.newsabah.com/ar/1069/26/11078/dipl-mafia.htm?tpl=21 The Diploma Mafias – with a list of diploma factories worldwide Newsabah] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001010620/http://www.newsabah.com/ar/1069/26/11078/dipl-mafia.htm?tpl=21 |date=1 October 2011 }}</ref>