Strictly speaking, this is the academic title granted to someone who has a university degree higher than a master's degree. Some UK universities grant a medical doctorate (MD) for a research thesis of approved standard. In Britain, ‘doctor’ is also the title given to a qualified medical practitioner registered with the General Medical Council or a dental practitioner with the General Dental Council, usually after he or she has obtained a bachelor's degree or a diploma in medicine and surgery (or dentistry).