Duration of CEINDO PhD Program

Rules of continuity

Duration of official doctoral studies

As provided by Royal Decree 99/2011, January 28, regulating official doctoral studies, the duration of the PhD program will span a maximum of three, full-time academic years, beginning with the candidate´s admission and ending with the successful defense of his or her Doctoral Dissertation (in exceptional cases and always for good reasons, the Academic Committee may authorize a Doctoral Dissertation to be presented at the end of the second academic year, at the express request of the doctoral student, with the approval of the Dissertation Mentor and Supervisor). If the application to present the dissertation has not been submitted within the aforementioned period of three years, the committee responsible for the Program may authorize a one- or, exceptionally, two-year extension, under conditions established by the relevant Doctoral Program Doctoral studies may be carried out on part-time basis as long as substantive reasons exist. Part-time studies must be authorized by the Program’s Academic Committee at the request of the doctoral student, along with a valid explanation. In this case, the Doctoral Program may have a maximum duration of five years beginning with admission to the Program and ending with a successful defense of the Doctoral Dissertation (in exceptional cases and always for good reasons, the Academic Committee may authorize a Doctoral Dissertation to be presented at the end of the fourth academic year, at the express request of the doctoral student, with the approval of the Dissertation Mentor and Supervisor). The extension may be further authorized for another two- or, exceptionally, three-year period. Transferring programs will only be possible at the beginning of the academic year as authorized by the relevant Academic Committee, alongside an acceptable explanation. Program duration will be determined based on the number of years that the doctoral student has spent in each program and according to the provisions in RD 99/2011. When calculating the duration of a program, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, and/or any other cause covered under current law will not be taken into account. Such leave must be requested and documented at the CEINDO Office of the Secretary. The doctoral student may request a temporary leave of absence of up to one year from the program, which may be extended one more year. This request, along with a valid explanation, must be addressed to the Academic Committee of the relevant Doctoral Program, which will then decide whether or not to grant the request, and communicate its decision to the doctoral student and his or her Academic Secretary.

Academic Enrollment

Once admitted to the PhD Program, both full-time and part-time students must formalize their enrollment as Doctoral Candidates at CEINDO on an academic-year basis until they have successfully defended their Dissertation in accordance to the established calendar and procedures. In both cases, the established cost of academic tuition must be satisfied. In the event that the student does not complete the previous academic year with a satisfactory grade, annual academic enrollment will depend on whether her or she successfully complete the following academic year. In the event that the enrollment process is not completed by an established deadline, the doctoral student will—unless a valid reason is given—be withdrawn from the Program. Such circumstances will not apply to doctoral students on an authorized leave of absence.

Continuity in a doctoral program

Pursuant to Article 11.7 of Royal Decree 99/2011, an annual favorable evaluation by the Academic Committee of the research plan program, the Personal Activity Book, along with all relevant reports issued by the Dissertation Mentor and Supervisor, are essential components of program advancement. In the event of a duly substantiated negative evaluation, the doctoral candidate must, within six months, pass a new evaluation and present a new research plan. In the event of a further negative evaluation, the doctoral candidate will be permanently withdrawn from the program.

Permanent withdrawal from the doctoral program

1. The doctoral student may permanently withdraw from the doctoral program at his or her own request. The request must be made before November 30 of each year. Requests submitted after that date will only be considered if they are the result of unexpected circumstances, provided they are duly documented.
2. The doctoral student will be permanently withdrawn from the doctoral program if the process of enrollment and payment of academic tuition fee has not been satisfactorily completed within established deadlines, and without valid reasons.
3. The doctoral student will be permanently withdrawn from the doctoral program upon receiving a negative evaluation by the Doctoral Program’s Academic Committee, according to the terms established under the “Continuity in a Doctoral Program” section of this document.