The doctorate is the highest academic certification that can be awarded by the university and its aim is to provide students with advanced training in research techniques.
Doctoral studies are organised through PhD programmes that develop a training plan consisting of a set of training activities aimed at acquiring competences and skills, culminating in the preparation and defence of the doctoral thesis, an original research work that completes the training process as a researcher. Its presentation and defence leads to the award of the title of Doctor and qualifies you as a self-employed worker in the field of R+D+i.
The DOCTOR level is level 4 of the MECES (Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education), which corresponds to level 8 of the European Qualifications Framework. Successful completion of doctoral studies will entitle the holder to the title of Doctor, with the name that appears in the RUCT.
Doctoral students have the option of studying on a full-time or part-time basis. The duration of doctoral studies will be three years full-time or five years part-time (subject to authorisation by the academic committee), starting on the date of first enrolment in the doctoral programme and ending on the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. If after this period the thesis has not been deposited, RD99/2011 provides for the possibility of extensions authorised by the programme's Academic Committee.
| Dedication | Duration | Extension | Exceptional Extension |
| Full-time | 3 years* | + 1 year | + 1 year |
| Part-time | 5 years* | + 2 years | + 1 year |
* From the date of first enrolment in the doctoral programme to the date of deposit of the doctoral thesis.
The doctoral programmes include different training activities that do not need to be structured in ECTS credits, such as courses, seminars, participation in conferences or stays at other research centres. The type of activities to be carried out, their nature (optional or compulsory) and the number of hours are detailed in the report of each programme.
Training activities are classified into two types:
- Transversal activities, organised by the Doctoral School of the University of Valladolid.
- Specific training activities, organised by the doctoral programme
The training activities carried out by the doctoral student are recorded in the el Doctoral Student Activity Document (DAD), which, together with the Research Plan (PlanInv), are reported annually by the tutor and thesis supervisors and evaluated by the Academic Committee.
A positive evaluation is a prerequisite for continuing on the programme. In the event of an evaluation with shortcomings, the PhD student will be evaluated again within 6 months, for which purpose a new research plan must be drawn up. In the event of a new evaluation with unaddressed shortcomings, the PhD student will be permanently withdrawn from the programme.
Once enrolled in a doctoral programme, the doctoral student has three or five years ahead of them, depending on whether they are full-time or part-time, for the development of their research training, the final work of which will be the writing and defence of their doctoral thesis. To this end, they will have a tutor and a thesis director/s who undertake to supervise the doctoral period.
A research plan must be drawn up, revisable every year, which is reported by tutor and director(s) and evaluated by the corresponding Academic Committee.
However, it is important to bear in mind that during the years of stay not only research work must be carried out, but also a series of activities that will train you as a researcher.
Moreover, doctoral students should be aware that their training is subject to a time limit, in accordance with the rules set out in the corresponding section.