To get to the SUMMIT
WHAT ARE DOCTORAL STUDIES?
A PhD is the highest academic certification that a university can award you. The main aim of a PhD is to train you in original and independent research in a specific field of knowledge. As a student, you will work in collaboration with a supervisor or thesis supervisor, who will give you support and guidance throughout the process.
During your doctoral studies you will delve deeper into a specialised area of study and conduct intensive research in your field of interest. To do so, you will review existing literature, formulate research questions, design and conduct experiments or studies, collect and analyse data, and obtain meaningful results. The end result of a PhD is the submission of a doctoral thesis, which is a written document that sets out the results of the research you have carried out. The presentation and defence of your thesis will allow you to obtain the title of Doctor and will qualify you as a self-employed person in the field of R&D&I.
The PhD 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.
Earning a PhD is a rigorous process and requires considerable dedication, time and effort. D. graduates have a wide range of career opportunities, including careers in academia as teachers and researchers, leadership positions in industry, or roles in government institutions and non-profit organisations where expertise in research and critical analysis is valued.
THE DETAILS
Doctoral students have the option of studying on a full-time or part-time basis. The duration of doctoral studies will be four years full-time or seven 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 of authorisation to defend the doctoral thesis. 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 |
| Full-time | 4 years* | + 1 year |
| Part-time | 7 years* | + 1 years |
* From the date of first enrolment in the doctoral programme until the date of authorisation to defend 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 typologies:
- Transversal activities, organised by the Doctoral School of the University of León.
- Specific training activities organised by the doctoral programme.
The training activities carried out by the PhD student will be attached to the Doctoral Studies Management Platform during the academic year, and will be evaluated and reported on by the tutor and the Academic Committee.
Once enrolled in a doctoral programme, the doctoral student has four or seven 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 supervisor(s) who undertake to supervise the doctoral period.
A Research and Personal Training Plan, revisable every year, must be drawn up, which is reported by the tutor and the director(s) and evaluated by the corresponding Academic Committee.
But it is important to bear in mind that during the years of your stay you should not only carry out research work, but also a series of activities that will train you as a researcher.
Moreover, doctoral students should be aware that their training has a period of permanence, in accordance with the rules set out in the corresponding section.
YOUR DOCTORATE STEP BY STEP
These are the parts you need to take into account to start your doctorate
First Step
PRE-ENROLMENT
Pre-registration is the general procedure for admission to PhD studies. Students wishing to begin studies must meet the established academic requirements and complete pre-enrolment and enrolment, in accordance with the procedures and deadlines established.
Second Step
ENROLMENT
Once you have been admitted, you will have to start the enrolment process, both in the first year and in the remaining years.
Third Step
REGISTRATION FEES
Tuition fees change annually and are established publicly by the Junta de Castilla y León. Our bank details: BANK: UNICAJA BANCO / IBAN: ES13 2103 4200 33 0032002531 / SWIFT: UCJAES2M
Fourth Step
PREPARING THE THESIS
Find out about the development of the research plan and all the details about the follow-up of a doctoral programme.
Fifth Step
GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND CONTRACTS
Find out about the grants, scholarships, loans and subsidies you can apply for to develop your project.
Sixth Step
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
All the information you need about the dates you must take into account in the process.
