Doctorate in Medicine and Epidemiology

Una científica observa a través de un microscopio en un laboratorio.

The aim of the Doctoral Programme in Medicine and Epidemiology is to provide training in research in health sciences to students with a master's degree accessible to the entry profile through the scientific method and the systematic process of increasingly multidisciplinary research. The doctoral student will be integrated into the research line of the programme and the University Hospitals attached to it, on a full-time or part-time basis if he/she can combine it with his/her work.

The doctoral studies will guarantee the acquisition of both the competences of level 4 of the MECES (Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education) and advanced training in research methodology and the competence to carry out and direct research projects in the field of medicine and epidemiology, as well as the research competences of RD 576/2023, which regulates doctoral studies.

Quality

Academic data
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External reports

Official qualification: Doctorate in Medicine and Epidemiology

Faculty or school responsible: Doctoral School

Number of places available: 8 places per year

Application deadline: 1 Sep -31 Oct

Enrolment: 21 Oct - 22 Nov

Start date: January 2027

Languages: Spanish and English

Duration: 4 or 7 years

Access to the doctoral programme

Organisation

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Publication requirements for the defence of doctoral theses
Regulations and procedures

According to Royal Decree 576/2023, of 4 July, which amends Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies:

Full-Time Students:
The duration of doctoral studies will be a maximum of four years, full-time, counting from the admission of the doctoral student to the programme until the doctoral thesis is deposited. If after the aforementioned period the application for the thesis deposit has not been submitted, the Academic Committee may authorise the extension of this period for a further year, in accordance with the provisions of the reform of RD 99/2011 and RD 576/2023.
Part-time students:
This doctoral programme contemplates the possibility of part-time studies, provided that the Academic Committee of the programme authorises it. 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. In the case of part-time studies, the extension may be authorised for a further year.

Part-time doctoral students are understood to be those who carry out a job or activity (whether paid or unpaid) that prevents them from devoting more than 60% of their time to the doctoral programme. In order to apply for part-time admission to the PhD programme, the candidate must accredit this situation, which must be evaluated and authorised by the Academic Committee.

In general, it is estimated that the percentage of students who will do the doctorate on a part-time basis in this programme will be 50% of the total number of students enrolled. The admission criteria and procedures for part-time students will be the same as those for full-time students.

The modality chosen by each student will be set out in the commitment model signed by the PhD student, the director and the tutor and may be changed if circumstances so require. In this case, the PhD student must request the change from full-time to part-time. This request must be addressed and justified to the academic committee responsible for the programme, which will decide whether or not to grant the request.

A permanent change in the working conditions or occupation of a part-time PhD student that no longer prevents him/her from doing the PhD on a full-time basis must be communicated to the tutor, who will proceed with the procedures for the change of modality of the PhD student. Likewise, the PhD student may request a temporary withdrawal from the programme for a maximum period of one year, which may be extended for a further year. This request must be addressed and justified to the academic committee responsible for the programme, which will decide whether or not to grant the request.

Students with disabilities:

When the doctoral student is a person with a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33 per cent, the duration of the doctoral studies will be a maximum of six years full-time and nine years part-time.