Charming

Hey, it's me again!

I have a question. Are there magical universities? Or, say, something like a university for further studies into, say, Potions or Charms? Is there a wizarding equivalent to getting a phd?

I always assumed that NEWTs are something like higher education for wizards since they can now focus in-depth on the subjects that interest them. I have also referenced academies on magical art in both Christobal and Marcus' apps and assumed that they were like an art school/art degree for characters interested in the arts.

I'm mainly asking because I'm interested in Seneca getting into the academic world, especially as she grows older. What would Sen need to do to be considered an academic in those circles? Publish something in scientific journals? Get a "degree"? Are her NEWTs the equivalent of having a bachelor degree in the subjects she's taking?

Is there a scientific board that gets to assess whether Seneca's potential research paper is legit or not? Maybe the Dept. of Magical Education takes care of these things?

Given the ages that the students sit the exams and their similarities to the current UK system
GCSE = OWLs (good grades needed to stay on to NEWTs) - trade apprenticeships can be entered here (carpentry etc)
A-Levels = NEWTs (Good grades needed to get into the apprenticeship or career you want)

And then apprenticeships in potions/charms (Apprentice/Journeyman/Master) etc to be the equivalent of research degrees (Bachelor/Masters/Phd). Since the exam curiculum wouldn't leave much space for ranging academic research. I'd presume it's also why you can't become a professor straight out of school, you'd need more experience and expertise than that offered by Hogwarts

I always figured this because third level academic qualifications were meant to be apprenticeships in 'thought and research' (its why every PhD is a doctorate of philosophy regardless of subject) So I am a Doctor of Philosophy, even though my subject is the law

So you either go into a profession and get on the job training/qualification through doing (like doctor and lawyers did then, and still sort of do now), or do an apprenticeship in a research discipline and move through the ranks of apprentice, journeyman, master the same way other apprentices of the period (and today) do.

Yeah essentially what Dante's said—there's no formal magical higher ed, but if you wish more education in a field, you'd apprentice under an expert!