Difference between PDEng and PhD
PDEng is a practical oriented professional doctorate in engineering which is better suited to the direct needs of industry, whereas a PhD track focuses on scientific research. The three most noticeable differences between a PhD and PDEng programme are:
- A PhD programme has a duration of 4 years whereas a PDEng programme takes 2 years to complete
- A PhD candidate focuses on research at the University, whereas a PDEng trainee focuses on technological designs in industry
- A PhD can be done in any research area represented by a full professor at the University and leads to the title “Doctor” (Dr., equivalent to PhD). A PDEng leads to a “Professional Doctorate in Engineering” (PDEng) and can be taken at the University of Twente in 5 areas of expertise: