Difference between EngD and PhD

The EngD programme ‘Design for AgriFood and Ecological Systems’ is focused on practice and on the needs of the industry and society, and less on gaining new scientific knowledge, such as for a PhD.

The objective of the programme for the Engineering Doctorate is to obtain knowledge about scientific ideas and methods and then apply this in a design. The study programme is therefore not focused on learning to develop new fundamental scientific knowledge (i.e. curiosity-driven research such as for a PhD), but on combining new and existing scientific knowledge from a variety of knowledge domains, with a focus on applying it in innovative designs and prototypes through the use of design methodologies.

The three most noticeable differences between a PhD and an EngD are:

  • A PhD candidate focuses on research at the university, whereas an EngD candidate focuses on technological designs in industry and society
  • A PhD programme has a duration of four years whereas the EngD takes two years to complete
  • A PhD leads to the title “Doctor” (Dr., equivalent to PhD). The designer programme leads to an “Engineering Doctorate” (EngD).