Unprecedented acceleration of innovation in the health sciences
There is currently an unprecedented acceleration of innovation in health sciences, driven by the convergence and emergence of technologies, novel concepts and new developments, including the development of new therapies to improve cognition in situations of cognitive impairment, the processing of massive amounts of data and the application of artificial intelligence (AI).
All these advances will accelerate research in the health sciences, offering new solutions to address not only the understanding and analysis of the different ways in which human beings act, which is the responsibility of the behavioural sciences, but also to explain the neural mechanisms underlying information processing, perception, learning and memory, among others, which is the responsibility of psychology. These innovations not only involve new experimental hypotheses in both fields, and intervention strategies at the basic and clinical levels, but ultimately have an impact on improving quality of life through advances in the understanding of the various psychological and behavioural disorders, as well as the associated neurodegenerative processes that are increasingly increasing.
For this reason, health research plays a fundamental role in the quality of life of all citizens and it is unthinkable to separate the socio-economic and cultural development of a country from its advances in health and their application to solve health problems. The title of the Behavioural Sciences and Psychology Programme justifies this interest and sets the path for the training of our doctoral students.
Quality
Official qualification: Doctorate in Behavioral Sciences and Psychology
Faculty or school responsible: Doctoral School
Number of places available: 8 places per year
Application deadline: 1-30 Sept
Registration: 7 Oct - 8 Nov
Start date: January 2027
Languages: Spanish and English
Duration: 4 or 7 years
Access to the doctoral programme
The recommended academic profile for students wishing to access the programme, in general, is that of students who have graduated from a degree in the field of behavioural sciences and psychology whose structure contains at least 16 ECTS in research subjects, including the Master's Thesis.
However, students who apply for access to the programme and who come from master's degrees in the field of health sciences and the field of behavioural sciences and psychology and/or whose syllabus structure does not contain at least 16 ECTS in research subjects, including the Final Master's Thesis, will have to take the specific training complements.
In terms of skills, the recommended entry profile refers to students capable of understanding and solving problems in the field of behavioural sciences and psychology; capable of expressing knowledge and ideas with order and creativity; capable of disseminating their knowledge to non-experts; capable of analysing the problems identified with synthesis and self-criticism; able to communicate fluently orally and in writing in the languages of the programme; able to plan and manage time; able to search for and manage information; able to adapt flexibly to new situations and changes; able to appreciate multicultural diversity; and able to make ethical and deontological commitments and pursue quality and rigour.
Students must also have a minimum B2 level of English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, enabling them to understand perfectly the ideas expressed in scientific articles, to interact with native speakers with a sufficient degree of fluency and naturalness, and to produce scientific texts. Non-Spanish-speaking students must also accredit at least the same level (B2) of Spanish.
In addition, it is established that, for access to the PhD Programme in Behavioural Sciences and Psychology, students must have MECES 3 knowledge in research in Psychology, behavioural sciences and health sciences, which includes the main research methods and designs used in this discipline, as well as the strategies for the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data.
Organisation
- Full-time students: The duration of doctoral studies will be a maximum of four years, on a full-time basis, from admission to the programme until the submission of the doctoral thesis. (If the application for submission of the thesis has not been submitted after the aforementioned four-year period, the programme committee may authorise the extension of this period for a further year under the conditions established in the corresponding doctoral programme).
- Part-time students: The academic committee responsible for the doctoral programme may authorise part-time doctoral studies. In order to apply for this modality, candidates will have to accredit some kind of work activity. In this case, such studies may have a maximum duration of seven years from admission to the programme until the submission of the doctoral thesis. (If the application for submission of the thesis has not been submitted within the aforementioned period, the programme committee may authorise an extension for a further year under the conditions established in the corresponding doctoral programme).
- When the doctoral student is a person with a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the duration of the doctoral studies will be a maximum of six years full-time and nine years part-time.
Teachers
Doctoral Programme Coordinator
Dr. Natala Arias
Academic Committee
- Dr. Sara Uceda Gutierrez (Secretary)
- Dr. José Muñiz Fernández, (Member)
- Dr. Maria Dolores Nieto (Member)
- Dr. Victor Echeverry (Vocal)
Employability
The progressive development and specialisation that this doctoral programme provides students with substantially improves their research qualifications, focusing them on pioneering lines and improving their performance in terms of projects, publications and contributions to congresses and academic conferences, which will contribute to the advancement and enrichment of knowledge in their disciplines.
Currently, doctoral students linked to this programme will be able to face the challenge of multidisciplinary knowledge in the different health disciplines. Moreover, doctoral students will be able to offer their knowledge, skills and competences, with unique perspectives to address the challenges that society is facing today in terms of health and wellbeing. We are therefore convinced of the relevance of a cross-disciplinary and multidisciplinary PhD programme in Behavioural Sciences and Psychology in our Faculty of Life and Nature Sciences.
Collaborations
with Universities
Spain
University of Oviedo
Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)
Complutense University of Madrid
University of Valencia
University of Granada
Children's Health Foundation
Impulso Cognitivo S.L.
Pharma Mar S.A.
CogniFit España SL
Dominican Republic
Ibero-American University
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
Portugal
Lusófona University of Porto
Peru
University of Lima
China
Nanjing Normal University
Turkey
Necmettin Erbakan University
Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
Colombia
University of La Sabana
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Spain
University of Oviedo
Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)
Complutense University of Madrid
University of Valencia
University of Granada
Children's Health Foundation
Impulso Cognitivo S.L.
Pharma Mar S.A.
CogniFit España SL
Dominican Republic
Ibero-American University
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
Portugal
Lusófona University of Porto
Peru
University of Lima
China
Nanjing Normal University
Turkey
Necmettin Erbakan University
Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
Colombia
University of La Sabana
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Related programmes
It seems that for the moment there are no programmes.... But I'm sure there will be soon!