I’ve been doing some research on what my degree is formally identified as at L’Université de Genève (the University of Geneva). What will show on my diploma, once I complete the degree (Lord willing) is: Doctorat en théologie. Obviously, this is the French, which is the official language at the University of Geneva. If it were to be formally equivalently translated into English, it would be: Doctor in Theology (ThD or DTh). If it were to be dynamically equivalently translated into English, it would be: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in theology. On the English site at the UG’s Faculty of Protestant Theology page it translates it using the dynamic equivalent: PhD in theology. But at the same time it also identifies it as: Doctorat en théologie. In German speaking theological faculties they are awarded the: Doctor Theologiae (they use the Latin). They abbreviate theirs to: Dr. theol. But it too, like my forthcoming degree from Geneva, can be and often is dynamically translated as: PhD in theology. Ultimately, it is a matter of preference and audience. Typically I see German language school graduates using the Dr. theol. nomenclature. What I’m coming to find out is that in the Francophone world they don’t abbreviate it and just call it: Doctorat en théologie. But I have also seen graduates from Francophone schools using PhD in Anglophone contexts. This way, folks in the English speaking contexts will understand that the holder of said degree has a PhD equivalent degree from their home-country, even if it is called something else. In France proper they just designate their PhD equivalent degrees: Doctorat (like from the University of Paris, Sorbonne etc.)

Since my diploma will say (when it is completed): Doctorat en théologie, I will go with that on official things like CVs and such. I will probably use the PhD designation in certain contexts as well. But I kind of like having the distinct nomenclature used by the Francophone Swiss school it is being pursued at. I’m nerding out here, I know. It’s what I do at times.