The Doctor of Doctor Who is undoubtedly well educated on a number of subjects. However, there is still some debate among fans as to what subjects they might have earned a doctoral degree in. The debate arose again following Doctor Who: The Star Beast and a scene in which The Doctor took on the role of a lawyer.
The Star Beast centered on a conflict between two different aliens. On one side was the cuddly Beep the Meep. On the other were the fearsome Wrarth Warriors. The Fourteenth Doctor ultimately settled the conflict by holding a mock trial. While this seemingly honored actor David Tennant‘s role as a barrister in the show The Escape Artist, it also referenced a theory that the Doctor’s doctorate was in law.
Is The Doctor a Lawyer?
The theory that The Doctor earned a doctoral degree in law was first formalized in 1995’s The Discontinuity Guide. Written by Paul Cornell, Martin Day, and Keith Topping, the book contained a number of theory pieces, in addition to an episode guide of classic Doctor Who. One of these theory pieces discussed The Doctor’s academic career and formal education.
The episode “The Deadly Assassin” confirmed they earned a degree from the Prydonian Academy on Gallifrey. This was later confirmed to be a doctoral degree in “The Armageddon Factor.” However, there was nothing to indicate just what field they studied.
Coincidentally, “The Deadly Assassin” also marked the first hint of The Doctor having legal training. Having been framed for the assassination of the Time Lord President, the Fourth Doctor delayed their trial by declaring their candidacy for the now vacant office of the President. This exploited an obscure Time Lord law that prohibited politicians from being tried on criminal charges while an election was underway.
Later, in the episode “The Stones of Blood,” the Fourth Doctor was revealed to carry a barrister’s wig in their coat pocket. They donned it while defending themselves on charges of murder. The Sixth Doctor also represented themselves during the story “The Trial of a Time Lord.” Tellingly, the Sixth Doctor noted that they had “been through several such inquiries before.” This suggests they had considerable legal experience that had not been seen on-screen.
“The Trial of a Time Lord” contained one more hint to The Doctor’s legal training. The prosecuting attorney was a Time Lord known as the The Valeyard who was ultimately exposed as a corrupted future version of The Doctor. Valeyard is an archaic English word for a Doctor of Law.
A Doctor of Many Things
There is considerable evidence to support the theory of The Doctor having legal training. However, there is much more evidence to support their degree being based in some school of science. Many episodes have showcased their skills as an engineer, a chemist, a physicist, and a medical doctor.
Ironically, the First Doctor denied being a medical doctor when asked about their qualifications in their first appearance. It is possible that while qualified as a medical doctor on Gallifrey, they were uncomfortable trying to treat humans. In any case, they did get medical training on Earth years later. The Second Doctor claimed, in “The Moonbase,” to have studied Earth medicine under Dr. Joseph Lister in 1870.
The simplest explanation is that, given their longevity, The Doctor has gained the equivalent of multiple doctorates over the years. Even if they never graduated, they may be more than qualified where it counts. The Third Doctor seemed to say as much, describing themselves as qualified in “practically everything.” Indeed, it’s possible the Fourth Doctor wasn’t exaggerating when they simply described themselves as “a Doctor of many things.”
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