OBTAINING A DOCTORS-DEGREE IN THE NETHERL ANDS

Dutch medical students graduate from medical school with the title 'do ctorandus', the Latin term implying that he or she is now qualified to pursue further studies that will eventually lead to a doctorate. The Dutch system of an academic career leading to a PhD-type doctorate is explained and compared with the German system, leading to a 'Habilitat ion'. The author recounts how a long research fellowship at Erasmus Un iversity Rotterdam eventually resulted in the successful defence of hi s thesis 'The early human fetal ductus arteriosus' and the award of a doctorate from that institution.