FAQs

How long does a doctoral programme last?

Full-time mode: in accordance with Royal Decree 99/2011, the duration of full-time doctoral studies will be a maximum of three years, which will start as of the admission of the doctoral student on to the programme and run until submission of the doctoral thesis. If after this period of three years, the application for submission of the thesis has not been made, the Academic Committee may authorize an extension of one year, and exceptionally of a further year.

Part-time mode: in accordance with Royal Decree 99/2011, doctoral students who undertake doctoral studies part time will have five years as of admission on to the programme until submission of the doctoral thesis. If after this period, the application for submission of the thesis has not been made, the Academic Committee may authorize an extension of two more years, which may be extended to an additional year.

How much does a doctoral programme cost?

The Government of Catalonia sets the prices each academic year for credits and other academic services for the Catalan public universities and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.

What do I have to do to be admitted on a doctoral programme?

To be admitted on one of the UOC's doctoral programmes, you must meet the admissions requirements and follow the application procedure for the programme in question.

What languages are used on the doctoral programmes?

The vehicular languages of the doctoral programmes is English, but the research plans and the doctoral theses may be written in English, Catalan or Spanish.

What level of English should I have?

For students who do not come from English-speaking countries, they need to hold a certificate that accredits a level of skill in a foreign language (English). In the case of the doctoral programmes, students must have level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

If I don't have an official certificate in English, how do I get one?

The UOC provides accreditation of knowledge of English by offering a TOEFL level test. To take the test, you should specify the code for the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya: 4418.

Students can also demonstrate their English language skills with another official qualification that accredits a level equivalent to or higher than the one required.

Examples of qualifications that accredit these levels: http://secure.vec.bc.ca/toefl-equivalency-table.cfm.

Will the diploma be legally recognized in my home country?

UOC doctoral programmes are officially verified and validated qualifications by the competent bodies of the Catalan and Spanish governments. Therefore, the recognition of these qualifications is the same as any doctoral qualification in the Catalan and Spanish university systems.

How can I apply for a UOC Doctoral School grant?

To be eligible for a UOC Doctoral School grant, you must meet the requirements published in the call for applications and state your desire to apply for a grant in the doctoral programme admission request form.

Will I have to go to Barcelona at any time?

Students on the doctoral programmes wo are following the part-time distance education mode will not need to come in person to the University, with the exception of the oral examination of the doctoral thesis, which is face-to-face.

In what languages will I have to write the doctoral thesis?

The vehicular languages of the doctoral programmes is English, but the research plans and the doctoral theses may be written in English, Catalan or Spanish. Doctoral students will have to submit the doctoral thesis with a brief abstract of the research in English and another in Catalan or Spanish. In the case of a justified reason, the Academic Committee of the programme in question may authorize the submission of a doctoral thesis in a different language from the three mentioned above.

How many thesis supervisors will I have?

To complete the doctoral thesis, doctoral students will have a thesis supervisor or a maximum of two co-supervisors. One thesis supervisor must necessarily be a full-time lecturer or researcher at the UOC and the other may be from any other university, institution or research centre (including from abroad).

Can I propose a thesis supervisor?

It is the tutor who makes the formal proposal regarding the thesis supervisor to the Academic Committee of the doctoral programme, which is the collegiate body responsible for approving the proposal. Evidently, the opinion of the doctoral student will be taken into account in the thesis supervisor selection process.