Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The substantive regulation of doctoral studies is contained in the following statutory texts:

• Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies, 
• Regulations of Doctoral Studies of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Agreement by the Board of Governors of 20 November 2012).
  

You can consult the rest of the regulatory provisions at the following link: Normativa

New doctoral candidates will only be admitted to programmes regulated by Royal Decree 99/2011.

Doctoral studies are organized into doctoral programmes. Each programme develops an array of activities leading to the acquisition of the competencies and skills necessary to be awarded a doctoral degree. These studies end with the preparation and defence of a doctoral thesis incorporating original research results.

One of the novelties introduced by RD 99/2011 is the maximum period in which a doctoral candidate must complete his or her doctoral studies, with two possibilities being distinguished.

• If the student is enrolled full-time, the maximum term is 3 years with two possible extensions of one year each (for students starting before academic course 2023-24) or 4 years with one possible extension of one year (for students from 2023-24 and following)
• If part-time, the term is 5 years with two extensions, the first of two years and the second of one year (starting before 2023-24) or 7 years with an extension of one year (starting from 2023-24).

Aditional time is possible in case of students with at least 33% of disability.

In general, in order to access a Doctoral Programme in his or her training period, it will be necessary to hold an official Spanish Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) and a Master's degree. Those who are in any of the following situations will likewise be able to access them:

• Holders of a university degree that qualifies for access to Master's studies and who have earned a minimum of 300 ECTS, of which at least 60 must be at Master's level.
• Holders of a Bachelor’s degree with a duration of at least 300 ECTS and who have completed the corresponding training complements, unless the syllabus already included research training credits equivalent to those of the Master's degree.
• University graduates in the specialties of Health Sciences.
• Holders of a foreign university degree, after verification that it accredits a level of studies equivalent to a Master's degree and that it allows access to doctoral studies in the country where it was issued. This admission will not imply, in any case, the recognition of the previous degree held by the student nor its recognition for purposes other than access to doctoral studies.
• Holder of another Spanish doctoral degree awarded in accordance with earlier university regulations.

Once admitted to the doctoral programme, each student will be assigned a tutor, a doctor with accredited research experience, who will be responsible for overseeing his or her interaction  with the academic committee.

Within a maximum period of six months from enrolment, the academic committee responsible for the programme will assign a thesis supervisor to each student (who may be the same as the tutor). This may be any Spanish or foreign doctor with accredited research experience, regardless of the university, centre or institution to which they render their services. The supervisor will be responsible for the coherence and suitability of all activities related to the thesis proper.

The thesis may be cosupervised by up to a maximum of three doctors when there are academic reasons such as thematic interdisciplinarity or programmes pursued under national or international collaboration, with the prior authorization of the Academic Committee.

The doctoral thesis will consist of original research work conducted by the candidate in any field of knowledge. It should enable the doctoral candidate to work independently in the field of R&D&I.

The UCLM will guarantee publicity for the finished doctoral thesis so that during the evaluation process, and prior to the act of defence, other doctors may submit comments on its content.

The thesis may be written and, if necessary, defended in the usual languages for scientific communication in its field of knowledge.

The jury that evaluates the doctoral thesis will be composed of three members, two of whom will be from outside the UCLM. All of them must hold a doctoral degree and have accredited research experience.

The doctoral thesis will be evaluated in the defence act that will be held in public session and which will consist of the presentation and defence by the doctoral candidate of the research work carried out, before the members of the jury.

The mention "International Doctor" may be included on the Doctoral degree certificate, provided that the following circumstances are fulfilled:

• The doctoral candidate must have spent a minimum of three months outside Spain at a higher education institution or research centre of recognized prestige, studying or doing research work.
• A part of the thesis (including at least the abstract and conclusions) must have been written and presented in one of the usual languages for scientific communication in its field of knowledge, which is not one of the official languages in Spain. This rule shall not apply when the stays, reports and experts come from a Spanish-speaking country.
• A minimum of two expert doctors belonging to a non-Spanish higher education institution or research institute have issued favourable reports on the thesis.
• At least one expert Doctor belonging to a non-Spanish higher education or research institution, and other than the persons mentioned in the previous section, must have been a member of the thesis evaluation jury.

In this case, the defence of the doctoral thesis must always be carried out at the University where the student is enrolled or, in the case of joint doctoral programmes, at any of the participating universities.