What do PhD studies consist of?
A PhD is the highest university qualification leading to the title of doctor. It is official and valid throughout Spain and is recognised across the European Higher Education Area. Official doctoral studies are regulated by the Royal Decree 99/2011 dated the 28th of January, 2011.
When obtaining a doctoral degree, one must demonstrate the ability to carry out original research autonomously, with an internationally recognised level of quality. This must culminate in the writing and defence of the doctoral thesis before a panel of doctors who are experts in the discipline in which the research is performed, and who will evaluate and determine its sufficiency.
Doctoral training is structured in programmes that offer transversal and specific training corresponding to their field, albeit the main activity of the doctoral student will be research. The programmes include various training activities that the PhD student must complete during his or her stay in the programme; no ECTS credits are required (except for those students who, due to their original studies, must take complementary courses in those programmes that require so).
When enrolling in doctoral studies at the CEU International Doctoral School (CEINDO), it is necessary to apply for admission to one of the programmes offered by the School of Doctoral Studies, within the deadline established for each academic year. Once admitted, the PhD student must register for the program, which must then be renewed each academic year until the doctoral thesis is submitted and deposited.
In the first year of the programme, the PhD student must sign the documentary commitment.
Each doctoral student must draw up a research plan that will be recorded in the SIGMA academic management application annually. The student will have access to this application from their first enrolment in the programme, together with each of the evaluations of the training activities they fulfil. This documentation will be reviewed by the mentor and the thesis supervisor and evaluated annually by the academic commission responsible for the doctoral programme.
In addition, each year (or the courses established by the Academic Committee of each programme) PhD students must deliver a presentation and defend their research plan in a public session before an examining board (Training Activity: Pre-doctoral Conferences).
The duration of the doctoral studies will be a maximum of 3 years full time and 5 years part time; if before the end of the period the application for the deposit of the thesis has not been submitted to the Academic Commission of the Programme, the Commission, as per the request of the doctoral student, may authorise an extension in accordance with the provisions of the Tenure Regulations.