Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion
- Inicio
- Engineering and Science
- Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion
- Inicio
Director
Prof. José Miguel Reynolds Barredo
About the program
This Ph.D. program, and the international graduate programs with which it is partnered, aims at maintaining and developing an integrated, coherent and coordinated focus on educational and research activities on fusion science and engineering in Spain and the European Union.
The program provides a solid background in the field of plasma physics and nuclear fusion, their research methodology and the skills required to conduct a research work and a critical evaluation of outcomes.
In close connection with the Erasmus Mundus Master in Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion (European Master of Science in Nuclear Fusion and Engineering Physics; FUSION-EP), in which Universidad Carlos III participates, the goal of our program is the training of researchers in the field of plasma physics and nuclear fusion, to primarily enable them to join either university research teams or specific projects in the field of fusion in the European Community, particularly the project of construction of the international fusion reactor ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), currently in progress at Cadarache (France), which will require specialized human capital.
Additionally, the Ph.D. in Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion has important partnerships:
- FUSENET (Fusion Education Network; www.fusenet.eu), an European association of which Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is an associate member, aiming at the creation of an European educational network on fusion science and technology. FUSENET offers a number of aids for graduate internships, courses on plasma physics and nuclear fusion, and annual doctoral meetings for Ph.D. students in the field of plasma physics and nuclear fusion in Europe.
- The CIEMAT National Fusion Laboratory, which plays a crucial role in the development of the program by providing professors for the FUSION-EP master’s and Ph.D. courses, and supervisors for master’s and Ph.D. theses. The experimental TJ-II fusion device at CIEMAT constitutes an optimal environment for the training of students. The CIEMAT National Fusion Laboratory participates in the international FUSION-EP master’s program.
- Program regulated by RD 99/2011, January 28
- ACCESS
Student profile
Students should have a Bachelor’s degree level basic knowledge of classical and modern physics, as well as adequate mathematical and computational training. The prerequisites are a Bachelor's degree in engineering, applied physics, physics or equivalent.
Finally, students must have a good level of English (spoken and written) and, if possible, demonstrate it (TOEFL, GRE, etc.).
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.
Admission requirements for the Ph.D. Program in Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion are the following:
A Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Applied Physics, Physics or equivalent, and preferrably Graduate studies in the fields of Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion.
Applicants without the necessary background in Postgraduate studies in the area of plasmas physics and nuclear fusion will need to complete complementary training (up to a maximum of 30 ECTS) which will be determined by the Academic Committee along with the thesis advisor/s.
Admission criteria
Admission is determined according to the criteria set by the Academic Committee listed below. These are implemented by the coordinator of the program, who reports to the Committee on a regular basis.
Selection is based on merit and capacity of the candidates, for which the following criteria are considered:
- Academic transcript of previous studies
- Curriculum vitae (scientific and professional background, relevant merits, etc.)
- Motivation letter by the candidate stating their reasons to participate in the Program
- Endorsement letters from professors at the university or from professors or researchers at other institutions with direct knowledge of the capacity and competence of the candidate
- Relevance of the thesis project and its connection with the lines of research of the Ph.D. Program. For this purpose, the thesis project can be endorsed by a professor from the program
The Academic Committee will determine the convenience of a personal interview with the candidate.
Admission criteria and procedures are the same for full-time and part-time students.
Seats available for the academic year: 15
- FACULTY
- Academic Committee
Prof. José Miguel Reynolds Barredo
Department of Physics. Director of the ProgramProf. José Ramón Martín Solís
Department of PhysicsProf. Mª Angustias Auger Martínez
Department of Physics
Dr. José Manuel García Regaña
National Fusion Laboratory. CIEMAT - Faculty
- Alonso de Pablo, Arturo
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Auger Martínez, María Angustias
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Baciero Adrados, Alfonso
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT, (Madrid)
- Blanco Villarreal, Emilio José
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Cal, Eduardo (de la)
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Calvo Rubio, Iván
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Cappa Ascasíbar, Álvaro
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Carralero Ortiz, Daniel
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Castro Bernal, María Vanessa (de)
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Day, Christian
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Karlsruhe)
- Estrada García, Teresa
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- García Cortés, María Isabel
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- García Gonzalo, Luis
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- García Regaña, José Manuel
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Geiger, Joachim
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik
- González Viada, María
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Happel, Tim
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik
- Hidalgo Vera, Carlos
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Leguey Galán, Teresa
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Malaquías, Artur
Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST) (Lisboa)
- Martín Solís, José Ramón
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- McCarthy, Kieran
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Mier Maza, José Ángel
Universidad de Cantabria
- Monge Alcázar, Miguel Ángel
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Reynolds Barredo, José Miguel
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Sánchez Fernández, Luis Raúl
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Sánchez González, Edilberto
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Serre, Eric
Aix-Marseille Université
- Spolaore, Monica
Istituto Gas Ionizzati del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)
- Tribaldos Macía, Víctor
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Van Milligen, Boudewijn Ph.
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Varela Rodríguez, Jacobo
Department of Physics
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- Vega, Jesús
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Velasco Garasa. José Luis
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Vila Vázquez, Rafael
National Fusion Laboratory, CIEMAT (Madrid)
- Xanthopoulos, Pavlos
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik
- Alonso de Pablo, Arturo
- Academic Committee
- TRAINING
Specific training
- Research Seminars
Required for all students. This activity consists of a series of 10-12 conferences and seminars (one per week), in English or Spanish, on relevant subjects in the area of Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion by professors from the Ph.D. program and guest lecturers from the field. At the end of the series, students will prepare and give a seminar on a topic proposed by the Academic Committee. This activity will be carried out in the first semester of each academic year.
- Doctoral Meetings (Ph.D. Event in Fusion Science and Engineering)
Required for all students. The purpose of these meetings is for students from European Ph.D. programs in nuclear fusion to get together, present and discuss their research work, and also attend conferences and lectures of general interest in the field of fusion energy. The meetings are funded, at least partially, by the FUSENET association and take place on an annual basis with a duration of 2-3 days (www.fusenet.eu/phdevent). Students are required to participate at least in one meeting during the Ph.D., except for students whose research work is not focused on the nuclear fusion field.
Research skills training
Research skills training focuses on abilities common to all disciplines for the development of scientific and educational skills and career improvement. This training consists of different activities (short. courses, seminars, etc.). The Ph.D. advisor, in collaboration with the Academic Committee, will provide orientation to the students on the convenience of these activities. This training is optional.
Further information:
Complementary training
Students with insufficient previous training at graduate level in the Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion field are required to complete training complements (maximum: 30 ECTS credits) to be determined by the Academic Committee of the Program in collaboration with the tutor and thesis advisor.
- Research Seminars
- RESEARCH
- Research Lines
- Magnetic confinement fusion (tokamaks and stellarators)
- Plasma theory and computational plasma physics
- Plasma-wall interaction and advanced materiales for fusion
- Plasma diagnostics, control and data analysis
- Fusion technology and engineering
- Industrial plasmas
- Astrophysical plasmas
- Scientific results
This is a sample of relevant publications derived from doctoral thesis work over the last five years:
- Thesis: Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and its application to fusion-relevant magnetohydrodynamical problems
Author: Luis Ernesto Vela Vela
Publication: L.V. Vela, R. Sanchez, J. Geiger , "ALARIC: An algorithm for constructing arbitrarily complex initial density distributions with low particle noise for SPH/SPMHD applications"
Journal: Computer Physics Communications 224 (2018) 186
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 5.6
Ranking position 2/55 (D1) in category: Physics, Mathematical
- Thesis: Study and Control of turbulent transport in the Boundary Plasma region of the TJ-II stellarator and the JET tokamak.
Author: Ulises Losada Rodríguez
Publication: U. Losada, T. Estrada, B. Liu, B. Ph. van Milligen, J. Cheng, C. Silva, I. Pastor, J. M. Fontdecaba, C. Hidalgo and the TJ-II team, "Role of isotope mass and evidence of fluctuating zonal flows during the L–H transition in the TJ-II stellarator"
Journal: Plasma Phys. Controll. Fusion 60 (2018), 074002
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 2.2
Ranking position 8/32 (Q1) in category: Physics, Fluids and Plasmas
- Thesis: Characterization of α-Particle Transport in Reactor Relevant Burning Plasmas
Author: Alena Gogoleva
Publication: A. Gogoleva, V. Tribaldos, J.M. Reynolds-Barredo, C.D. Beidler, "Statistical description of Collisionless α-particle trans- port in cases of broken symmetry: from ITER to quasi-toroidally symmetric stellarators"
Journal: Nucl. Fusion 60 (2020) 056009
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 3.4
Ranking position 8/34 (Q1) in category: Physics, Mathematical. - Thesis: Effects of ion irradiation on oxide dispersion strengthened steels for fusion reactors
Author: Maša Šćepanović
Publication: M. Šćepanović, T. Leguey, M.A. Auger, S. Lozano-Perez, D.E.J. Armstrong, I. García-Cortés, V. de Castro, "Characterisation of ODS Fe-14Cr-2W-0.3Ti before and after high temperature triple and low temperature single ion irradiations"
Journal: Materials Characterization 136 (2018) 318
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 4.7
Ranking position 4/33 (Q1) in category: Materials Sciences, Characterization and Testing. - Thesis: The Numerical Study of Filament Dynamics in Tokamak Scrape-off Layer Plasmas.
Author: William Agnelo Gracias
Publication: W. A. Gracias, P. Tamain, E. Serre, R. A. Pitts, L. García, "The impact of magnetic shear on the dynamics of a seeded 3D filament in slab geometry"
Journal: Nucl. Mat. and Energy 12 (2017) 798
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 2.5
Ranking position 4/34 (Q1) en categoría Nuclear Science and Technology
- Thesis: Microestructura y propiedades mecánicas de aceros de activación reducida endurecidos mediante dispersión de óxidos.
Author: Julio Macías Delgado
Publication: J. Macias-Delgado, T. Leguey, V. de Castro, M. A. Auger, M. A. Monge, P. Spatig, N. Baluc, R. Pareja, "Microstructure and tensile properties of ODS ferritic steels mechanically alloyed with Fe2Y"
Journal: Nucl. Mater. Energy 9 (2016) 372
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 2.5
Ranking position 4/34 (Q1) in category: Nuclear Science and Technology
- Thesis: ITER Relevant Runaway Electron Studies in the FTU Tokamak
Author: Zana Popovic
Publication: Z. Popovic, B. Esposito, J.R. Martín-Solís et al., ”On the measurement of the threshold electric field for runaway electron generation in the Frascati Tokamak Upgrade”
Journal: Phys.Plasmas 23 (2016) 1225015-year Impact Factor JCR: 1.8
Ranking position 14/31 (Q2) in category: Physics, Fluids and Plasmas
- Thesis: Causality and heat transport in low magnetic shear Stellarators
Author: Javier Hernández Nicolau
Publication: J. H. Nicolau, L. García, B. A. Carreras, B. Ph. van Milligen, "Applicability of transfer entropy for the calculation of effective diffusivity in heat transport"
Journal: Phys. Plasmas 25 (2018) 102304
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 1.8
Ranking position 18/32 (Q3) in category: Physics, Fluids and Plasmas - Thesis: Cylindrical Energy Analyzer for Heavy Ion Beam Diagnostics
Author: Ridhima Sharma
Publication: R. Sharma, P.O. Khabanov, A.V. Melnikov, C. Hidalgo et.al, "Measurements of 2D poloidal plasma profiles and fluctuations in ECRH plasmas using the Heavy Ion Beam Probe system in the TJ-II stellarator"
Journal: Phys. Plasmas 27 (2020) 062502
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 1.8
Ranking position 18/34 (Q3) in category: Physics, Fluids and Plasmas - Thesis: Electromagnetic turbulence in the edge of fusion plasmas: spontaneous and actively modulated features
Author: Gustavo Guedes Grenfell
Publication: G. Grenfell., M. Spolaore, D. Abate, L. Carraro., L. Marrelli, I. Predebon, S. Spagnolo, M. Veranda and the RFX-mod Team, "Turbulent filament properties in L and H-mode regime in the RFX-mod operating as a tokamak"
Journal: Nucl. Fusion 60 (2020) 126006
5-year Impact Factor JCR: 3.4
Ranking position 8/34 (Q1) in category: Physics, Mathematical
- Thesis: Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and its application to fusion-relevant magnetohydrodynamical problems
- Scientific publications
Sample of relevant faculty publications:
- Characterisation of ODS Fe-14Cr-2W-0.3Ti before and after high temperature triple and low temperature single ion irradiations. M. Šćepanović, T. Leguey, M.A. Auger, S. Lozano-Perez, D.E.J. Armstrong , I. García-Cortés, V. de Castro. Materials Characterization v. 136.
- Effect of hot cross rolling on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Fe-14Cr ODS ferritic steel. J. Macías-Delgado, T. Leguey, V. de Castro. Materials Sciences and Engineering A-Structural Materials Properties Microstructure and Processing v. 711
- The role of yttrium and titanium during the development of ODS ferritic steels obtained through the STARS route: TEM and XAS study. Nerea Ordás, Emma Gil, Arturs Cintins, Vanessa de Castro, Teresa Leguey, Iñigo Iturriza, Juris Purans, Andris Anspoks, Alexei Kuzmin, Alexandr Kalinko. Journal of Nuclear Materials
- Filaments in the edge confinement region of TJ-II. B.Ph. van Milligen, J.H. Nicolau, B. Liu, G. Grenfell, U. Losada, B.A. Carreras, L. García, C. Hidalgo and The TJ-II Team
Nuclear Fusion, Volume 58, Number 2
Citation B.Ph. van Milligen et al 2018 Nucl. Fusion 58 026030 - Neutron spectroscopy measurements of 14 MeV neutrons at unprecedented energy resolution and implications for deuterium-tritium fusion plasma diagnostics. D Rigamonti, L Giacomelli, G Gorini, M Nocente, M Rebai, M Tardocchi, M Angelone, P Batistoni, A Cufar, Z Ghani, S Jednorog, A Klix, E Laszynska, S Loreti, M Pillon, S Popovichev, N Roberts, D Thomas, J. L. Martín and JET Contributors. Measurement Science and Technology, Volume 29, Number 4
Citation D Rigamonti et al 2018 Meas. Sci. Technol. 29 045502 - Bootstrap current control studies in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator using the free-plasma-boundary version of the SIESTA MHD equilibrium code. H Peraza-Rodriguez, J M Reynolds-Barredo, R Sanchez, V Tribaldos and J Geiger. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Volume 60, Number 2
Citation H Peraza-Rodriguez et al 2018 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 60 025023 - Electron microscopy and atom probe tomography of nanoindentation deformation in oxide dispersion strengthened steels. Thomas P. Davis, Jack C. Haley, Sarah Connolly, Maria A. Auger, Michael J. Gorley, Patrick S. Grant, Paul A.J. Bagot , Michael P. Moody, David E.J. Armstrong. Materials Characterization v. 167 n. 110477
- Nanoscale analysis of ion irradiated ODS 14YWT ferritic alloy. Maria A. Auger, David T. Hoelzer, Kevin G. Field, Michael P. Moody. Journal of Nuclear Materials v. 528
- Characterisation of open volume defects in Fe-Cr and ODS Fe-Cr alloys after He+ and Fe+ ion irradiations. M. Šćepanović, V. de Castro, I. García-Cortés, F.J. Sánchez, T. Gigl, C. Hugenschmidt, T. Leguey. Journal of Nuclear Materials v. 538
- Identification and characterization of topological structures of turbulence in magnetic confined plasmas. L García, and B A Carreras. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion v. 62 n. 11
- Analyisis of runaway electron discharge formation during Joint European Torus plasma start-up. P C de Vries, Y Gribov, R Martin-Solis, A B Mineev, J Sinha, A C C Sips, V Kiptily, A Loarte and contributors JET. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion v. 62 n. 1
- Effect of non axisymmetric perturbations on the ambipolar Er and neoclassical particle flux inside the ITER pedestal region. J.M. Reynolds-Barredo, V. Tribaldos, A. Loarte, A.R. Polevoi, M. Hosokawa and R. Sanchez. Nuclear Fusion, Volume 60, Number 8 Citation J.M. Reynolds-Barredo et al 2020 Nucl. Fusion 60 086017
- Statistical description of collisionless alfa-particle transport in cases of broken symmetry: from ITER to quasi-toroidally symmetric stellarators. A. Gogoleva, V. Tribaldos, J.M. Reynolds-Barredo and C.D. Beidler. Published 6 April 2020 • © 2020 IAEA, Vienna. Nuclear Fusion, Volume 60, Number 5. Citation A. Gogoleva et al 2020 Nucl. Fusion 60 056009
- Non-diffusive nature of collisionless alfa-particle transport: Dependence on toroidal symmetry in stellarator geometries.A. Gogoleva, V. Tribaldos, J.M. Reynolds-Barredo, R. Sanchez, J. Alcusón, A. Bustos. Physics of Plasmas v. 27 n. 7
- MHD stability of JT-60SA operation scenarios driven by passing energetic particles for a hot Maxwellian model. J. Varela, K.Y. Watanabe, K. Shinohara, M. Honda, Y. Suzuki, J. Shiraishi, D.A. Spong and L. Garcia. Nuclear Fusion v. 60 n. 9
- Characterisation of nano-scale precipitates in BOR60 irradiated T91 steel using atom probe tomography. Guma Yeli, Victoria C.I. Strutt , M.A. Auger, Paul A.J. Bagot, Michael P. Moody. Journal of Nuclear Materials v. 543 n. 152466
- Nanocluster evolution and mechanical properties of ion irradiated T91 ferritic-martensitic steel. T. P. Davis , M. A. Auger , C. Hofer, P. A. J. Bagot, M. P. Moody, D. E. J. Armstrong. Journal of Nuclear Materials v. 544 n. 152842
- Topology of 2D turbulent structures based on intermittence in the TJ-II stellarator. B.Ph. van Milligen, A.V. Melnikov, B.A. Carreras, L. García, A.S. Kozachek, C. Hidalgo, J.L. de Pablos, P.O. Khabanov, L.G. Eliseev, M.A. Drabinskiy, A. Chmyga, L. Krupnik, the HIBP Team and the TJ-II Team. Nuclear Fusion v. 61 n. 11
- Radial runaway losses in tokamak disruptions. J. L. Martín. Physics of Plasmas v.28 n. 3
- Free-plasma-boundary solver for axisymmetric ideal MHD equilibria with flow. G. F-Torija Daza, J.M. Reynolds-Barredo, R. Sanchez, A. Loarte and G. Huijsmans. Published 27 October 2022 • © 2022 IAEA, Vienna. Nuclear Fusion, Volume 62, Number 12. Citation G. F-Torija Daza et al 2022 Nucl. Fusion 62 126044
- MHD study of extreme space weather conditions for exoplanets with earth-like magnetospheres: On habitability conditions and radio-emission. J. Varela, A. S. Brun, P. Zarka, A. Strugarek, F. Pantellini, V. Réville. Space Weather v. 20 n. 11
- Effects of thermal aging at 873 K on the impact properties of an ODS ferritic steel. M. Oñoro, T. Leguey, V. de Castro, M.A. Auger. Nuclear Materials and Energy v. 36
- The effect of pellet injection on turbulent transport in TJ-II Editor’s Pick. L. García, B.A. Carreras, I. García-Cortés, K.J. McCarthy, B.Ph. van Milligen and The TJ-II Team. Physics of Plasmas v. 30 n. 9
- Cross-machine comparison of runaway electron generation during tokamak start-up for extrapolation to ITER. P.C. de Vries, Y. Lee, Y. Gribov, A.B. Mineev, Y.S. Na, R. Granetz, B. Stein-Lubrano, C. Reux, Ph. Moreau, V. Kiptily, B. Esposito, D.J. Battaglia, J.R. Martin-Solis and ITPA IOS Collaborators. Nuclear Fusion v. 63 n. 1
- Effect of the neutral beam injector operational regime on the Alfven eigenmode saturation phase in DIII-D plasma. J Varela, D A Spong, L Garcia, Y Ghai, D Zarzoso, D del-Castillo-Negrete, H Betar, J Ortiz, D C Pace, M A Van Zeeland, X Du, R Sanchez, V Tribaldos and J M Reynolds-Barredo. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion v. 65 n. 12
- Research Lines
- S-T INFRASTRUCTURES
The following scientific and technical infrastructures are available to students of the PhD Program in Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion:
- Supercomputing capacity at different calculation centers, both in the UC3M and CIEMAT facilities, intended for numerical modeling and simulation.
- For the study of materials, the Physics Department at UC3M offers different laboratories with equipment for sample fabrication and preparation, microstructural characterization and materials mechanics.
- For the experimental research in fusion plasmas, the National Fusion Laboratory (LNF, CIEMAT) provides TJ-II, an ICTS (Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure) that offers students the possibility to worj with a magnetic onfinement devide of the "stellarator" kind.
Additionally, thanks to the collaborative synergies established by the professoral team, the PhD students may access singular equipment in other institutions such as Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Max-Plank-Institut für Plasmaphysik (IPP), the National Centre for Electron Microscopy (CNME) or the Centre for Micro Analysis of Materials (CMAM), among others.
- THESIS
Thesis defense
The doctoral thesis consists of an original research work developed by the Ph.D. candidate student in the field of knowledge of the program that enables the student for autonomous work in the field of R+D+ i.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the Doctoral School establishes the follow-up procedures to guarantee the quality of the doctorate's training and supervision. It also facilitates the procedures for the proper evaluation and defense of the doctoral thesis.
Further information:
Requirements for thesis defense in Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion
- At least one peer-reviewed publication in an international journal with the PhD student listed as first author.
- Attendance to at least one international conference or workshop with an oral or written presentation.
- Attendance to at least one of the annual doctoral meetings organized by FUSENET (PhD Events in Fusion Science and Engineering) during the PhD.
- USEFUL INFORMATION
- Ph.D. Studies Overview
Our Ph.D. programs focus on the acquisition of skills and abilities required to undertake high-quality research work within the strategic framework and lines of research of the university. Students will be expected to work independently under supervision and guidance of top experts in their fields in order to produce novel, groundbreaking research work in the form of a dissertation.
The Ph.D. thesis constitutes the expected outcome of the doctoral training, stating the specifics of the research work and results. The thesis must meet the high-quality standards required by the Ph.D. program and be subject to public defense and assessment by an independent thesis committee.
A favorable assessment of the thesis enables Ph.D. students to request their official Ph.D. degree certificate, issued by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte.
- Useful Information site for Ph.D. students
Doctoral training calendar
Duration of the academic year: October 1st through September 30th
Process Period Admission According to the start semester of the PhD:
Second semester of the 23/24 academic year
Admission application deadline: September 1st 2023 through January 31st 2024 (23:59 h., CET)
PhD start date: March 30th 2024
First semester of the 24/25 academic year
Admission application deadline: February 1st through August 31st 2024 (23:59 h., CET)
PhD start date: November 15th 2024Enrollment According to the start semester of the PhD:
Enrollment period for new students
First semester: July 17th through 31st and September 1st through 30th (23:59 h., CET) of the current academic year
Second semester: March 1st through 30th (23:59 h., CET) of the current academic year
Enrollment period for continuing students
September 1st through 30th (23:59 h., CET) of the current academic yearAnnual Assessment June
All PhD candidates are subject to annual evaluation.
December
Only students whose June evaluation was unfavorable are subject to evaluation.
In both cases the evaluation is based on the progress of the thesis project (Reseach Plan) and the doctoral activities carried out during the academic year.
Thesis Defense Thesis defense can be carried out throughout the academic year.
- Procedures
Academic procedures
Further information
- FAQ
Ph.D. Studies
What is a Ph.D.?
A Ph.D. is a period of training in skills and abilities required to undertake independent, high-quality research work in the realm of R&D under the supervision of top experts in their respective fields.
What are the terms of access to a Ph.D. program?
As a general rule, candidates are required to hold a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. Credits for both must amount to at least 300 ECTS credits.
Additionally, specific requirements and candidate profiles are described in each program’s terms of access. Before applying for admission, it is strongly recommended to take the Ph.D. Programs into consideration, as well as its lines of research, profiles of the scholars involved and final results (theses and scientific publications) as proof of the program’s quality and specialization.
Shat is the duration of a Ph.D.?
The regular duration of a full-time Ph.D. program is 4 years. This period can be extended up to 5 years.
The regular duration of a part-time Ph.D. program is 7 years. This period can be extended up to 8 years.
You may apply, for justified reasons, for either an extension or a leave of absence from your Ph.D. training period to the Academic Committee of your program. Your request must be endorsed by your tutor/advisor. Further information: Duration of Ph.D. studies
Can I do my Ph.D. entirely online?
No. All Ph.D. Programs require some face-to-face activity throughout the training period. The duration of face-to-face activity is established by each Program.
How can I apply for a part-time enrollment status?
You can state your part-time enrollment status upon admission or, once you have initiated your training period, by submitting a request for justified reasons to the Academic Committee of your program. Your request must be endorsed by your tutor/advisor. Further information: Enrollment status for Ph.D. studies
If you are the recipient of a pre-doctoral contract with the UC3M, you must be a full-time student for the entire duration of the contract in application of article 21 of Law 14/2011, of the1st of June, on Science, Technology and Innovation.
Must I take any other training in addition to my research work?
Yes. There are three different types of additional training to be taken during your Ph.D.:
- Complementary training. Applicable only to students whose terms of admission state this training as required.
- Specific training. Activities within the framework of your Ph.D. program.
- Research Skills training. Courses or activities focused on abilities common to all disciplines (communication, academic writing, stress management, etc.).
Further information on Doctoral Training: Monitoring and Development of these FAQ.
A favorable assessment enables students to apply for their official Ph.D. degree certificate issued by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. An additional Doctorado Internacional distinction is awarded to students who met a number of specific requirements during their training period.
What is an Interuniversity Ph.D.?Interuniversity PhDs are joint degree programs by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in collaboration with other Spanish or international institutions. The outcome of these programs does not translate into multiple degrees but just one equivalent to the training undertaken by the student.
Admission
How can I apply for admission to a Ph.D. program?
Your application for admission must be submitted online. Signing in is previously required in order to get your login and password. Further information on how to carry out this process: Apply for admission
I have not completed my Master’s degree yet. May I apply for admission now?
According to art. 6 of the PhD studies regulation (RD 99/2011), in order to access the PhD studies 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.When can I apply for admission?
Applications for admission for the first semester of the 24/25 academic year with start date on the 15th of November 2024 can be submitted from February 1st through August 31st 2024 (Spanish peninsular time, CET)*
Applications for admission for the second semester of the 24/25 academic year with start date on the 30th of March 2025 can be submitted from September 1st 2024 through January 31st 2025 (Spanish peninsular time, CET)*.
*Except where noted in the details of each Ph.D. Program.
The PhD academic year begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th.
What documents do I need to submit?
Scan in advance, in pdf format, the documentation requirements to be attached to your application. The documents listed below are mandatory in all cases:
- National Identity Document: DNI, NIE, or passport
- Previous degree certificate or diploma (Master’s degree or equivalent), or proof of payment of issuance fees.
- Academic transcript of previous degree (Bachelor's and Master’s degree or equivalent), including grades
- Curriculum Vitae
- Authorization of disclosure of educational and employment information
- Ph.D. research proposal
- Endorsement for thesis project
Some programs may require additional documents, such as reference letters by notable researchers, foreign language skills certificate, etc.
- Further information: Admission. Information and Requirements
Can I choose when to start my doctoral training?
Yes. As a new student, you must state in your application for admission whether you want to start your training in the first semester (November 15) or second semester (March 30).
I want to apply for a scholarship or financial aid program. Must I do it before or after applying for admission to a Ph.D.?
It is strongly recommended to apply first for your Ph.D. program of choice at uc3m, as most of the granting institutions require proof of admission (or application for admission) to a Ph.D.
Further information on Scholarships and Financial Aid Programs of these FAQ.
I submitted my application. When will I know if I am admitted?
The review process of your application consists of two stages:
- Administrative validation. Your application will be reviewed at the Doctoral School Office on campus to ensure that it meets the admission requirements. You will be contacted if necessary.
- Academic evaluation. If your application has succesfully passed the previous stage, it will be forwarded to the Academic Committee of the Ph.D. program for review. You will be notified of the Committee's decision by certified mail sent to the postal address provided in your application.
This process may take up to one-two months. You will be notified of the Committee’s resolution by e-mail.
I have been admitted. When must I submit my enrollment form?
In you are admitted to a Ph.D. program, you have to submit your online application for enrollment in the periods set by the university to that effect, according to the instructions indicated in your letter of admission, our website or the Enrollment section of this FAQ, including the payment of tuition fees. If you do not submit your enrollment for the academic year for which you were admitted, your admission will be cancelled.
What is complementary training and when should it be taken?
Complementary training is required by the Academic Committee in the admission letter, depending on the applicant's access profile.
They consist of subjects from a uc3m research master's degree, which are considered necessary to successfully complete the doctoral research.
These training complements must be taken and passed mandatorily during the first year of doctoral training.
In other words, if you start your studies in November of an academic year, the training complements must be taken in the first semester (the subjects begin in September), or in the second semester of the same academic year (the subjects begin in February).
If, on the other hand, you start your studies in March, then the complements must be taken in the same academic semester (the subjects start in February) or in the first semester of the following academic year (the subjects start in September).
These circumstances should be taken into account when planning the start of your studies at uc3m, and for the processing of visas and organisation of your stay in the country.Doctoral training scholarships. Exemptions
What types of financial aid programs can I apply for?
There is a wide variety of financial aid programs for doctoral training that cover partial or total tuition fees and, in some cases, allow uc3m to formally hire the Ph.D. student as a training researcher.
Who are the awarding bodies?
Here is a list of the most common scholarship and financial aid programs:- Formación de Investigadores del Ministerio de Innovación / Researchers Training by Ministerio de Innovación (formerly known as FPI scholarships)
- Formación de Profesorado Universitario del Ministerio de Educación / University Faculty Training by Ministerio de Educación (formerly known as FPU scholarships)
- Researchers Training by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, awarded by the institution departments
- Ph.D. Scholarships by La Caixa
- Ph.D. Scholarships by Comunidades Autónomas (Autonomous Regions of Spain)
- Scholarships by Fundación Carolina (for Latin American students)
Further information: Doctoral Training Scholarships
When and how can I apply for these?Each granting body has its own application and awarding periods. It is strongly recommended to apply first for your Ph.D. program of choice at uc3m in all cases, as most of these institutions require proof of admission (or application for admission) to a Ph.D.
Do I have to be admitted to a Ph.D. in order to apply for admission?
It is not required in most cases, but, as pointed out previously, you must have at least submitted your application for admission in order to be eligible (check the awarding institution’s specific terms). Only if you are eventually granted the scholarship or financial aid will it be required to be admitted and enrolled on the program in order to accept the aid and be hired as a training researcher at uc3m.
I received a scholarship or financial aid. Do I have to notify uc3m?
Yes. As a recipient of any financial aids, it is recommended to notify the university for these to be applied upon enrollment. If your scholarship status is not registered in your self-enrollment application, please contact the Doctoral School Office, either in person or by e-mail at admisiondoctorado@uc3m.es
Where will I undertake my Ph.D. research work?
Your research and teaching activities (when applicable) will be carried out at the department or Institute stated in your contract within the framework of your Ph.D. program under the supervision of the tutor and advisor(s) appointed by the Academic Committee.
Who is in charge of managing my scholarship or financial aid program?Granting institutions usually delegate on uc3m the management of these aids according to the terms originally established by those and our own rules and regulations.
Who is to evaluate the progress and outcomes of my research work?
All our Ph.D. students must submit the progress of their research work for evaluation by the Academic Committee of their Ph.D. program. Recipients of any financial aid program must also provide this information to the granting body.
Are there any other tuition fees exemptions?
Yes. As a new student, if you are eligible for any of the following exemptions or discounts recognized by the Spanish administration, you must submit certified copies of the pertinent documents to the Postgraduate Office on campus before enrollment proceedings so that these exemptions apply upon enrollment.
- Large Family status: Certified copy of the Large Family status card (general or special)
- Disability: Certified copy of Disability Identification card (minimum 33% disability)
- Other: Certified copy of proof of exemption for victims of terrorist attacks (including their spouses and children) or children of civil and military servants who perished in the line of duty.
These documents must be valid for the academic year for which the exemption is requested.
Enrollment
How to enroll
Our Ph.D. Management platform allows to process your enrollment online. To access the platform, enter your UC3M username and password.
When to enroll
New students can choose the start date of the Ph.D. studies. Enrollment period varies accordingly:
Students starting first semester:
- Enrollment period: you may check the enrollment period on our website.
- Start date of Ph.D. training: November 15
Students starting second semester*:
- Enrollment period: March 1st through 30th (23:59 h., Peninsular Spanish time)
- Start date of Ph.D. training: March 30
*In these cases, students benefit from a reduced tuition fee, applicable only for first-year enrollment.
Your start date will determine the length of your Ph.D. training period.
As a continuing student, the enrollment period is September 1st through 30th (23:59 h., Peninsular Spanish time) of each academic year.
What modules should I register on my application?
You must select the following modules of your enrollment application:
- Ph.D. Monitoring for your doctoral training year.
Required in all cases. It will be registered by default in your application.
- Complementary credits.
Only applicable if the Academic Committee of your program established these credits as obligatory in its admission resolution, in which case you have been properly notified in your admission letter. These credits will be registered by default in your application.
Other activities of your doctoral training may not require enrollment. If so, our Doctoral School Office is in charge of the registration process:
- Specific training: Activities included in the curriculum of your Ph.D. program.
- Research Skills training: Only required for students of some Ph.D. programs.
What are the costs of tuition fees?
These are the tuition fees for all your Ph.D. training:
- Academic fees
Academic monitoring of Ph.D. training year.
- Ordinary fee (full-time, starting first semester): 390 €.
- Reduced fee* (full-time, starting second semester): 234 €.
- Reduced fee (part-time, starting first or second semester): 234 €.
*Full fees will apply in subsequent years.
Training credits
- Complementary training (only for students who are required to take these credits as established in their resolution of admission). If the subjects are the same as subjects from an official degree, the price will be the same as in the original degree. The prices range from € 45,02 to € 80-150 €, depending on the master's program and the doctoral year of enrollment (first, second or subsequent).
- Research Skills training courses. 45,02 € per credit. Credits from other institutions also require an enrollment at UC3M . A reduced 25% fee will apply in these cases (11,25 € per credit).
Thesis defense. 143,15 €
Ph.D. Degree Certificate. 229,86 €
- Administrative fees
- Registrar’s Office expenses. 6,11 €
- Academic record proceedings (first-year students only). 27,54 €
- School insurance. 1, 12 €. Applicable to Spanish or international students (legal residents) under 28 years of age.
Students who fail to fulfill the payment of these fees will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program.
Further information: Tuition fees
How do I validate my first-year enrollment?
Upon completion and payment of your enrollment, the Doctoral School will get in touch with you and set an appointment to provide the original documents to have your enrollment validated in compliance with the access requirements to Ph.D.
Documents
According to your previous studies, the documents to be submitted are listed below:
1. If you have taken an official Master's degree at UC3M, you are not required to submit any documents. The Doctoral School will check your records accordingly.
2. If your access degree for Ph.D. was issued by a University from Spain or a European Union country, or a state of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, it is required to provide the following original documents:
- Access degree certificate for Ph.D. (Master's degree or equivalent) or payment receipt of issuance fees.
- Grades certificate of access degree to Ph.D. (Master's degree or equivalent).
3. If your access degree for Ph.D. was issued by a University from a country other than the ones indicated above, it is required to provide the following legalized documents:
- Access degree certificate for Ph.D. (Master's degree or equivalent) or payment receipt of issuance fees.
- Grades certificate of access degree to Ph.D. (Master's degree or equivalent).
There are different ways to have your documents legalized. Find which legalization procedure applies in your case: Legalization of Foreign Degrees
Please note that the legalization procedure must be carried out from the home country. It is strongly recommended to do it in advance.
Original hard copies of the documents must be provided along with their photocopies. The Doctoral School will check both originals and their copies and have them certified. If the degree certificates and documents have an electronic signature or digital certification (with safe verification codes), these will be submitted by e-mail at admisiondoctorado@uc3m.es.
All documents must be submitted in Spanish, English, French, Italian or Portuguese (certificates and degrees provided in other languages must have attached an official Spanish translation).
The submission period will be notified by e-mail within a month after the end of the enrollment period.
What are my rights and obligations as a uc3m student?
Please refer to the following documentation issued by the regional authorities and uc3m. All of them apply to Ph.D. candidates at Uc3m.- Students Statute of the Region of Madrid (Estatuto del estudiante de la Comunidad de Madrid)
- uc3m students Rights and Obligations (Carta de los derechos y deberes del estudiante en la uc3m)
- Rules and Regulations of the Doctoral School at uc3m (Reglamento de la Escuela de Doctorado de la uc3m)
- Good Practices of the Doctoral School at uc3m (Código de buenas prácticas de la Escuela de Doctorado de la uc3m)
Additionally, you have access to the university's support services to students and researchers.
Further information: Rules and Regulations
Ph.D. Studies: Monitoring and Development
How are my Ph.D. supervisors appointed?
Ph.D. tutors and advisors are advanced members of the uc3m faculty or other research institutions who serve as mentors of your research work and keep track of your progress. They also facilitate your communication with the Academic Committee of the program.
Tutors are appointed by the Committee upon your admission. Tutors must hold a Ph.D. degree and have ties with the program, as well as a proven track record in research of at least six years (or proof of equivalent qualifications).
The Committee will also appoint an advisor within three months from initial enrollment on the program. Thesis advisors must hold a Ph.D. degree and have a proven track record in research of at least six years (or equivalent qualifications), as well as specific research experience in the field of your thesis. Advisors' may be based at any university, center or institute in Spain or abroad. A professor may be appointed as both tutor and advisor of a Ph.D. student.
The Academic Committee may change these designations throughout your doctoral training period for justified reasons.
Must I take any other training in addition to my research work?
Yes. There are three different types of additional training to be taken during your Ph.D.:
- Complementary training. Maximum: 40 ECTS credits. Applicable only to students whose terms of admission state this training as required. The Academic Committee will determine the credit-based courses or subjects in the admission resolution. As a general rule, this training must be taken during the first year.
- Specific training. Students are also expected to participate in a number of activities relevant to their field of research: seminars, meetings, conferences, courses, etc. These activities may require prior enrollment at uc3m. Your tutor or advisor will confirm the contents of your specific training program.
- Research Skills training. Some Ph.D. programs at uc3m require training in research skills focused on abilities common to all disciplines (communication, academic writing, stress management, etc.). These credits can be earned at either uc3m or other institutions and require formal enrollment at uc3m in all cases, as well as the approval of your tutor or advisor.
How is the progress of my research evaluated?
The Academic Committee of your program will evaluate the progress of your research project and activity report on an annual basis in the month of June. Grounds for evaluation are to be registered in the following documents:
- Research Plan. Not to be mistaken for the research proposal submitted when applying for admission. As a new Ph.D. student, you must elaborate an initial Research Plan within the first year of your doctoral training period. This plan will serve as a tracking tool of your project, listing the objectives and methodology of your research as well as a comprehensible timeline stating the periods estimated for the achievement of each goal. It must have attached your tutor or advisor's evaluation report in order to be submitted for assessment to the Academic Committee of your program.
An annual update of this Plan must be submitted in subsequent years, with the corresponding tutor or advisor’s evaluation report, so that all parties involved in your doctoral training can track and assess your progress.
- Activity Report. In addition to your Research Plan (initial or updated), it is also required to register any activity relevant to your Ph.D. research: courses, seminars, meetings, conventions, publications, international fellowship programs, etc. Be sure to have attached all certificates and/or work papers as proof of completion.
In the event of an unfavorable assessment by the Academic Committee, you will be subjected to evaluation again in December.
TWO CONSECUTIVE UNFAVORABLE ASSESSMENTS (JUNE AND DECEMBER) WILL RESULT IN THE CANCELLATION OF YOUR ENROLLMENT AS A Ph.D. STUDENT
Can I join an international research visit program?
Yes. Undertaking a period of research abroad is a requirement for Doctorado Internacional distinction eligibility. Among other requirements, your visit must have a minimum duration of three months; also, the report of activities and outcomes of your research at the host institution must be written and presented in one of the languages used for scientific dissemination in your field of research (different from any of Spain’s official languages). Prior approval by your tutor/advisor and the Academic Committee of your program is required. The Committee will evaluate your visiting research reports and, if approved, submit your candidacy for the Doctorado Internacional distinction to the Doctoral School Board.
Thesis defense
What is a Ph.D. thesis?
The Ph.D. thesis is the intended outcome of the doctoral training period. The thesis must give account of the student’s scientific work and meet the quality standards established by the Academic Committee of the program. Theses are defended in a public dissertation event, where they are subjected to assessment by an expert committee.
As a general rule, Ph.D. candidates must have been enrolled on their program for a minimum period of 24 months before initiating thesis defense proceedings.
I have approval to proceed to the thesis defense. What are the stages of this process?
Once you get approval for your thesis defense by your tutor, advisor and Academic Committee, a minimum span of 8 weeks (excluding holiday periods) is usually required to go through these stages:
- Plagiarism management procedure
- Thesis deposit. Three weeks.
- Approval of thesis defense and appointment of Thesis Committee by the Dean of Doctoral School. One week.
- Defense session logistics. Three weeks.
- Thesis defense
What is the plagiarism management procedure?
To ensure compliance with the principles established in the Code of Good Practice for Managing Plagiarism of Ph.D. Theses of the Doctoral School, all theses must be subjected to a plagiarism management procedure prior to the authorization of the defense.
Once the Academic Committee of your Ph.D. program determines that your research period is done and your thesis is ready for deposit, a pdf file of the thesis will be submitted to the Doctoral School to proceed to the plagiarism management.
The results of this study will be at the disposal of the members of the thesis committee, should they be requested.
Further information: Plagiarism management
What is the thesis deposit?
The deposit of your thesis enables UC3M professors and scholars of your field to review your work before the defense. The deposit period is 15 days (excluding August), after which all comments and observations by the experts will be reported to the Academic Committee and yourself.
Further information: Thesis deposit
Who approves the defense?
Once your thesis has successfully passed both stages, the Academic Committee of the program will elaborate their proposal for thesis defense, providing details of the proposed members of the Thesis Committee on the Authorization of thesis defense and appointment of Thesis Committee. Eligibility for “Doctorado Internacional”, “Doctorado Industrial” or International Cotutelle must be indicated, where applicable.
This proposal will be submitted for the Dean of the Doctoral School's approval of the thesis defense and the appointment of Thesis Committee members.
Who can be a member of the Thesis Committee?
The Thesis Committee consists of three members (President, Secretary, and a spokesperson) and a substitute. All of them must hold a Ph.D. degree and a proven track record in research. In all cases, the Committee will be formed by a majority of members external to the University and to the institutions collaborating with the School or the Ph.D. Program.
Further information: Defense session. Appointment of Committee members
How is the thesis defense organized?
Once all authorizations are signed, the Thesis Committee’s Secretary will appoint a date for the defense. The Doctoral School Office on campus will be in charge of the logistics of the event (room reservations, technical equipment, etc.) and the travel procedures of the committee members, when applicable.
Additionally, the Postgraduate Office will submit a digital copy of the thesis to each member of the Thesis Committee at least 15 days prior to the defense session. This file will contain any allegation or comment submitted by the experts during the deposit period.
Further information: Defense session. Appointment of Committee members
Do I have to pay any fees before the defense?
Yes. The payment of thesis defense fees must be fulfilled before proceeding to defense. Additionally, payment of enrollment fees for the academic year in which the defense takes place must be up to date.
How is my thesis assessed?
All Committee members must receive a copy of the thesis 15 days prior to the defense event.
Once the Ph.D. candidate completes his/her dissertation, the Committee can provide feedback or pose questions. Their global assessment will be given in terms of Fail (No Apto), Pass (Aprobado), Good (Notable) or Excellent (Sobresaliente).
Theses with an Excellent (Sobresaliente) grade are eligible for the cum laude distinction. The committee members will subsequently cast their votes via separate secret ballot in closed session. Only if all votes are favorable will the committee submit their proposal for the thesis to be awarded the cum laude distinction to the university Chancellor. In this case, each member of the committee will finally cast their vote, anonymously and in a sealed envelope, for the thesis to be considered for the Outstanding Thesis Award by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
How can I apply for my Ph.D. certificate?
Your application for the official Ph.D. degree certificate and the payment of the corresponding fees is done online.
Issuance of your certificate may take a few months. Until then, you may apply for a temporary certificate as proof of completion of your Ph.D. studies as of the date of your thesis defense.
Where is my Ph.D. thesis published?
Your thesis will be published in e-archivo, the open online repository of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and Teseo the Ph.D. database managed by the Ministry of Universities. In the event of partial or temporary restrictions pertaining to the publication of your thesis, you must report them to the university.
Glossary of terms
Ph.D. Program. Array of training and activities oriented to the acquisition of abilities required to undertake autonomous research work in the realm of R&D. Each Ph.D. program establishes their own procedures and lines of research for the development of theses within the framework of their respective fields.
Academic Committee. The coordinator/director of the program and two other Ph.D. members constitute a program's Academic Committee, the body in charge of the various training areas and research progress of the program, as well as the authorization of thesis defense of their Ph.D. candidates.
Doctoral School. Academic body in charge of the management and coordination of all Ph.D. programs.
Ph.D. Thesis. Original piece of research carried out by Ph.D. candidates in their field of knowledge. Presented as a written dissertation according to the quality, content and format guidelines set by the Ph.D. program for its public defense.
Tutor. Supervisor in charge of tracking the training progress of the Ph.D. candidate and serving as a communication link between the researcher and the Academic Committee. Tutors must be attached to uc3m faculty with a proven research track record. Tutors are appointed upon approval of admission by the Academic Committee.
Thesis advisor. Supervisor in charge of tracking the training progress of the Ph.D. candidate. Advisors are experts in the field of the Ph.D. candidate's research, not necessarily attached to uc3m faculty (if they are, they can also be appointed as tutors). Advisors are appointed within the first three months of the student's Ph.D. training period. A student may have more than one advisor.
Specific training. Specific activities pertaining to the field of research of each Ph.D., designed to provide students with the knowleddge and opportunity for debate required for the development of their research work: seminars, meetings, conferences/dissertations, international research visits, etc.
Research Skills training. Training activities oriented to the acquisition of skills common to all disciplines. All students are required to earn at least 6 credits (60 hours) throughout their doctoral training period. Enrollment on these courses is performed separately from their regular doctoral training.
Complementary training. Maximum 40 ECTS credits. Training that the Academic Committee may deem necessary in their admission resoluction in order to complement the Ph.D. candidate's previous academic background. Enrollment on these credits will be required in addition to the student's regular doctoral training. These credits are usually earned during the first Ph.D. year.Research plan. Document to be drafted within the first six months of Ph.D. training detailing the student’s research project to be subjected to annual evaluation every month of June. It must be approved by the tutor, the thesis advisor and the Academic Committee. This plan must be updated and submitted for review and evaluation purposes on a yearly basis.
Ph.D. Activity report. A registration account of all training activities pertaining to the Ph.D. student's research. The tutor and thesis advisor must endorse these activities for them to be submitted to the Academic Committee for annual evaluation in June.
Student record. Academic details of every Ph.D. student as registered in uc3m databases, including activities and credits completed. This information is to be attached to the thesis in the final stages of defense approval.
Academic transcript. Official document signed by the Head of Doctoral Studies certifying a student's academic record.
Monitoring and assessment. Annual process by which the research progress and activities of a Ph.D. candidate are subjected to evaluation by the Academic Committee.Written Agreement. Document signed by all parties involved in a thesis research project (Ph.D. student, tutor, advisor/s, and Academic Committee) stating their roles and specific conditions pertaining to confidentiality agreements, copyright or use and distribution of research outcomes, where applicable, as well as conflict resolution procedures.
Thesis public review. Procedure required to allow the academic community to review the student's thesis and issue comments and observations prior to the defense. The thesis is usually deposited at the university's intranet.
Thesis defense. Academic event open to the public in which Ph.D. candidates defend their research work before a committee of experts in their field. The defense is followed by a question and answer session led by the defense committee in order for it to give their assessment.Defense committee. Committee consisting of three experts with proven track records of research in the field of the thesis, most of which must be based outside uc3m. The committee gives their assessment of the thesis and awards the cum laude distinction and the Outstanding Thesis Award candidacy, where applicable.
- Itinerary
- Regulations
- NEW! RD 99/2011. Rules and Regulations of doctoral studies in Spain.
Approved on July 4, 2023 - Royal Decree 99/2011. Rules and Regulations of Ph.D. studies in Spain.
- Establishment of the Doctoral School. Order 2091/2013.
- Rules and Regulations of the Doctoral School at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid approved by Governing Council on February 7, 2013; modified on November 28, 2013.
- Code of Good Practice of the Doctoral School
- Code of Good Practice for Managing Plagiarism of Ph.D. Theses
- Code of Good Practice for Managing Plagiarism of Ph.D. ThesesGuide for personal data treatment on the doctoral thesis process. Further information: Data protection
- Outstanding Thesis Awards Regulations
- Royal Decree 967/2014. Declaration of Ph.D. academic equivalency for foreign higher-education studies.
- Application procedure for Ph.D. academic equivalency for foreign higher-education studies, approved by Governing Council on January 28, 2016.
- NEW! RD 99/2011. Rules and Regulations of doctoral studies in Spain.
- Quality
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PH.D.
☛ Implementation Year: 2012-2013
QUALITY ASSURANCE
The Academic Committee of the Ph.D. complies with the SGIC-UC3M. It is responsible for the quality analysis of the program and produces the Degree Reports ("Memoria Académica de Titulación").
- Academic Committee
- Reports from the Quality Assurance Committee (Restricted access)
QUALITY INDICATORS
COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
- Ph.D. Studies Overview
- CONTACT
Doctoral School Office | Leganés Campus
Rey Pastor Building, Office 3.0.B.08
Avenida de la Universidad, 30
28911 Leganés (Madrid)