Doctoral studies last a maximum of three years full-time, or five years part-time, from admission to the programme until the doctoral thesis is deposited.
Part-time student status is recognised by the academic committee of the doctoral programme for the whole academic year, at the request of the doctoral student. This status may change in successive academic years if the doctoral student requests so before renewing their enrolment.
To become a part-time student, you must apply to the programme coordinator when you pre-enrol and accredit one of the requirements established by the doctoral studies rules, such as being working for at least one term of the academic year or being responsible for the care of a family member.
More information in the Admission Process section.
You may apply to temporarily withdraw from the programme for a maximum period of one year, extendable for a further year. This request must be addressed to the academic committee responsible for the doctoral programme prior to the deadline established for renewal of your registration.
All new students have three years from the date of admission to the programme if they are full-time students or five years if they are part-time students.
No. You must be enrolled for at least two academic years and have the evaluation of the activities document and the research plan in both years.
No. You should bear in mind that a doctoral student's activities document is understood to be the individual record of the activities carried out by the doctoral student, leading to the doctoral degree and established by the doctoral programme, such that these are the activities carried out when you are already enrolled in the doctoral programme.
They are courses which are part of a research master's degree that you must take if they have been required by the academic committee of the doctoral programme. You will be able to enrol in them and take them throughout your stay on the programme.
Yes. They are compulsory if the academic committee of your doctoral programme has so decided at the time of your admission.
You must enrol for them when you do your enrolment each year. You will take them along with the rest of the students on the master's degree programme and you will be entitled to two exam sittings.
No. Even though you take the complementary courses with the rest of the students of the master's degree, they are part of your doctoral transcript. To obtain the master’s degree, you must pre-enrol for them like the rest of the students.
The academic committee of the programme will appoint you a tutor at the time of admission. The tutor will have accredited research experience, connected to the unit or school which organizes the doctoral programme.
Yes. The academic committee of the doctoral programme will consider your request if there are justified reasons.
Your supervisor will be assigned by the academic committee when you are admitted to the programme and, if they are not assigned at the time of admission, they must be assigned within a maximum period of three months after enrolment. They may or may not coincide with your tutor. They may be any Spanish or foreign doctor with accredited research experience, regardless of the university, centre or institution in which they work.
Yes. The academic committee may authorise co-direction by other PhDs when there are academic circumstances. This authorisation may be revoked by the academic committee if it is considered that it does not benefit the thesis.