The term 'Doctoral Hurdle' refers to the final step in obtaining a doctoral degree, which is typically an ORAL examination. This examination is commonly referred to as an 'ORAL' or 'orals'. The ORAL examination is conducted by a panel of experts in the field and is designed to assess the student's knowledge and understanding of their research topic. The student must demonstrate their ability to defend their research and answer questions posed by the panel. Successful completion of the ORAL examination is necessary for the student to be awarded their doctoral degree.