Twente is the first Dutch university to eliminate the cum laude designation for doctoral candidates, as of January 1, U-Today reports.

About five percent of PhDs are awarded cum laude. Research has shown multiple times that women receive this distinction less frequently. In 2018, Dutch newspaper NRC reported the disparity, and later sociologist Thijs Bol confirmed the trend. He also found that the more men on a PhD committee, the larger the gap.

A year later, the same pattern appeared at another university. The difference could not be explained by the quality of the dissertation, according to organizational scientist Peter van den Besselaar.

PhD candidates network

“It’s good that universities are reconsidering the content and assessment of doctoral programs,” says Martijn van der Meer, chair of the PhD Candidates Network Netherlands. He notes that gender bias is only one of several issues.

“Some PhD candidates have heavy teaching duties, while others do not,” he says. “Sometimes candidates don’t even have employment contracts. Some get more resources than others. These differences can be amplified if distinctions like cum laude are applied.”

A doctorate is awarded when a committee of professors and experts is convinced that the candidate can conduct independent research, Van der Meer emphasizes. “That is not the same as saying one candidate is better than another. It’s questionable whether a committee can reliably make that comparison.”

Discussions are also ongoing about what a PhD trajectory should entail, he adds. “Is a dissertation alone enough, or should a strong program also include science communication and societal impact?”

Political debate

Some bachelor’s and master’s programs had already stopped awarding cum laude, citing the mental pressure the distinction can create. Some members of the Dutch Parliament view this trend in higher education with suspicion.

For example, the VVD party argues that pursuing excellence should be a “personal freedom” and last year submitted a motion stating that merit-based distinctions, like honors tracks and cum laudes, should remain possible in education.

The motion had previously passed with a majority, but that would not happen under the current Parliament. The opposing parties—D66, CDA, GroenLinks-PvdA, SP, ChristenUnie, SGP, and Partij voor de Dieren—now hold exactly 76 seats.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.