Business and Finance

Student profile

Students must have prior postgraduate training in the fields of knowledge specific to the program: Commerce and Marketing Research, Business Finance and Accounting, and Business Organization. A training in quantitative methodology (Statistics and Operational Research, and Quantitative Methods for Business and Finance) is also strongly suggested. They must also have synthesis ability in regards to a particular discipline’s framework, be able to analyze problems from a critical perspective, and pursue new lines of research.

Additionally, English skills (Cambridge Proficiency level) are required.

Admission requirements

According to art. 6 of the PhD studies regulation (RD 99/2011), in order to access the Program it is required to have a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) and a Master's degree (or equivalent), provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been passed in these two cycles as a whole, or the equivalent degree qualifies for level 3 of MECES (Marco Español de Cualificaciones para la Educación Superior, Spanish Framework for Higher Education Qualifications).

Likewise, access is available to candidates in possession of foreign degrees from countries integrated into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) when the degree can be accredited as level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), as long as the aforementioned degree allows access to PhD level studies in the country of expedition; and candidates with a degree which is equivalent to a Spanish Master's degree, obtained in foreign education systems outside the EHEA, as long as the aforementioned degree allows access to PhD level studies in the country of expedition.

As a general rule, applicants to the Ph.D. Program in Business and Finance must have a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in one of the specific fields of knowledge of the program referred in the above section "Student profile".

Other applicant profiles may be taken under consideration in exceptional cases:

• Applicants with postgraduate training in other fields (Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering)
• Applicants with postgraduate training in the Social Sciences area, in different fields from those of the Business and Finance program, providing valid proof of academic background in Commerce and Marketing Research, Business Finance and Accounting, and Business Organization.

In both cases, the Academic Committee may require complementary training in advanced subjects relevant to the line of research pursued by the applicant.

Admission criteria

Valid proof of advanced English skills (Proficiency level) shall be required for a student’s candidacy to be considered.

These are the basic admission criteria and their respective assessment value:

• Academic background (35%)
   
• Suitability of the applicant’s training background (subjects, grades, and language skills) for the Ph.D. program’s lines of research (20%)
   
• Research background (publications, seminars, etc.) (10%)
   
• Motivation and suitability of the applicant’s interests in regards to the Ph.D. program’s lines of research (35%)

Initial documentation requirements for applicants include: updated CV, a copy of previous degree certificates, and thesis project proposal, as well as a motivation letter stating the candidate’s interest in the program and their willingness to work on the lines of research of their choice. Applicants may also provide one or more recommendation letters endorsing their candidacy by doctor referees from any university; said letters are taken as a measuring tool of applicants’ merits and background according to experts who know them well. Referees must submit these endorsement letters directly to the Doctoral School at UC3M at admisiondoctorado@uc3m.es

PLEASE NOTE: The endorsement for a thesis project from a professor from the program is NOT required in the initial application process, and students are strongly discouraged to request such documents from the department faculty. Such endorsement may be required (and solicited) only AFTER the admission committee has verified that the candidate's application satisfies the preliminary requirements for admission.

Admission criteria and procedures for part-time students are the same of those of full-time students.

Seats available for the academic year: 15

• Application for admission

In addition to the elaboration of the doctoral thesis, students must take some activities aimed at improving their research skills and the scientific quality of their research work. These activities are:

Specific training

• Specialized research seminars at uc3m: Seminars set in the framework of the program’s research agenda and featuring notable researchers as speakers. 70% minimum attendance is required for seminars hosted by the department of Business Economics, which translates into 25 hours of specialized seminar training.

• Advanced research courses: Short-term courses on a particular subject relevant to the specific fields of the Business and Finance doctoral training (finance, accounting, marketing, management), featuring notable professors external to the program. These courses have a duration of one week or less. All students must attend the course pertaining to their respective specialization area every academic year.   

• Research meetings hosted by the department of Business Economics: Sessions coordinated by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid faculty members on a weekly basis, featuring Universidad Carlos III lecturers and other professors from nearby institutions. All students must deliver at least two presentations of their research work in these meetings throughout their doctoral training period.

• Seminar or simposium attendance: It is mandatory for all Business and Finance students to participate as a speaker in at least one notable conference or simposium of international scope that is relevant to the doctoral student’s field of research.

Research skills training 

Research skills training is focused on abilities common to all disciplines for the development of scientific and educational skills and the improvement of the professional career. This training consists of different activities (short courses, seminars, etc.), which can be recommended by the Academic Committee of the program.

Further information:

• How to earn research skills training credits
• Research skills courses at the Doctoral School

Preparation of the thesis

Please check the Guide with recommendations that the University Library has accessible on its website.

• Thesis step by step

You must always follow the guidelines of your thesis advisor, the guidelines of your doctoral program, and the regulations of the Doctoral School.

Thesis defense

The doctoral thesis consists of an original research work developed by the doctoral student in the field of knowledge established by the program, which enables the student for autonomous work in the field of R+D+i.

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and its Doctoral School establish follow-up procedures to guarantee the quality of the student's training and supervision. They also facilitate the procedures for the proper evaluation and defense of the doctoral thesis.

Further information:

• Doctoral thesis defense
• Theses completed in the program

Requirements for thesis defense in Business and Finance

Approval for the thesis defense by the Program is conditional on the Internal Thesis Evaluation. This evaluation is done by a committee formed by three members appointed by the Academic Committee of the Program. This committee includes a reputable external researcher — not affiliated with the Department of Business Economics of Carlos III University — and cannot include any of the members of the student’s Follow-up Committee. The committee must issue a favorable (PASS) report to initiate the steps towards thesis defense (plagiarism control, thesis deposit, and thesis defense).

The thesis will consist of an original research work elaborated by the candidate containing at least two articles suitable for publication in JCR-indexed journals.

Committees will be organized by fields of scientific knowledge.

Doctoral School Office | Getafe Campus

Carmen Martín Gaite Building, Office 18.0.A15
C/ Madrid, 135
28903 Getafe (Madrid)

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