When addressing a doctoral degree holder, it is regarded more courteous to use the title "Dr." or the academic abbreviation "PhD," together with the person's name, rather than the basic politeness titles "Mr. or Ms." Use neither the title nor the degree. Such formalities are useful when communicating with people of different backgrounds and cultures. A PhD degree is an academic qualification awarded to individuals who have completed a research project or program that has met specific requirements set by their university or college. The length of time it takes to complete a PhD varies depending on the field of study and the country where it is being conducted. In some countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, all doctoral candidates are required to do original research throughout their studies. However many others, including most UK universities, only require that their students complete some form of original research at some point during their careers. In these cases, the candidate's dissertation may be based on work done before becoming a doctorate-candidate or not. Some countries, such as India, require their doctoral candidates to teach as well as conduct research. In other words, they must have both a teaching and a research component in their work. In English-speaking countries, people with a PhD usually add "Doctor" to their name (e.g., Dr. Jane Smith).