Not without a title! Why everyone becomes a "Dottore" in Italy

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From of our editorial team

Italy is a country of titles. Nowhere else in the world do you hear the title "Dottore" so often - and not just at the doctor's surgery. As we all know, the tone makes the music.

"Dottore is the word that comes before a person's name and indicates that this person is Italian."

^{Journalist & writer Indro Montanelli (*1909, †2001)}

Being addressed as "Dottore" is a sign of respect. It does not necessarily mean that you have studied or have a degree. The "Dottore" is used as a sign of respect or as a little flattery - whether by your bank advisor or the homeless person who has just "directed" you into the parking space. Some salespeople in perfumeries are also addressed as "Dottore" - especially if they have the right demeanour. The title is not just a qualification here, but a stylistic device.

The passion for academic titles

The Italian passion for academic titles has historical roots: In a country where education was not taken for granted for centuries, a university degree was long considered a high social good. Anyone who completed a degree - regardless of the subject - was entitled to the title of Dottore.

In earlier decades, studying was still reserved for a small section of the population. A degree meant not only knowledge, but also advancement, discipline and family pride. The respect for academic achievement lives on to this day - even though far more people now have a degree.

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The "Dottore" in everyday life - more than etiquette?

Today, you come across the "Dottore" everywhere: on business cards, practice signs, in official letters and even in conversation with your neighbour. In many cases, it's just a polite form of address - but sometimes it's more than that.

If you are visiting a specialist doctor, handing over important documents to a notary or attending a lecture at university, for example, the title "Dottore" can mean serious confidence. Especially in the south of Italy or in more conservative regions, the title is used with great seriousness - there a simple "Signore" seems almost impolite.

By the way: The actual doctoral title, as it is known worldwide, is the "Dottore di ricerca" (abbreviated to Dott. Ric.) in Italy. This requires a doctoral degree in Italy. This takes at least three years.

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The University of Bologna is Italy's oldest university in Europe. The university was founded back in 1088. Even in the Middle Ages, exchange students came to Italy to do research. Today, a good 80,000 young people study in Bologna. Around 2 million people are currently studying throughout Italy, of which around 4 per cent are from abroad.

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Italy has 66 state universities, four state politecnici (technical universities) and 29 private, state-recognised universities. There are also three Scuoli Superiori (for business-related graduate programmes), three Università per Stranieri (especially for foreign students), eleven Università Telematiche (distance learning universities), pontifical universities (all based in Rome) and a large number of universities in the fields of music, art, design and restoration.

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