Program Access Information

Information for prospective doctoral students is available on the UPV Graduate School’s website:

https://www.upv.es/entidades/edoctorado/

All published information is available in three languages (Spanish, Valencian, and English).

The following points of interest are worth noting for new applicants:

• Information about the pre-registration process and its deadlines: https://www.upv.es/entidades/edoctorado/presenta-tu-solicitud-2025/
• Information on the various doctoral programs offered: https://www.upv.es/entidades/edoctorado/todos-los-programas-de-doctorado-ofertados-en-upv/
• Advice for new students: https://www.upv.es/entidades/edoctorado/consejos-para-nuevos-estudiantes/

On the other hand, the pre-registration process for doctoral studies is based on the general pre-registration system of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV). This provides applicants with an online platform that facilitates their access regardless of their location.

The app includes seat management, which ensures that the number of admissions set by the program is not exceeded.

The admission of each candidate requires two approvals: approval from the Doctoral School, which guarantees compliance with the minimum requirements set forth in Royal Decree 99/2011, and approval from the academic committee of the doctoral program (CAPD), which ensures compliance with the requirements set forth in the verification report, in accordance with the established criteria and the evaluation index (IV) score obtained by each candidate.

The recommended admission profile is for candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree (or equivalent combinations from non-Spanish education systems or from study programs predating the Bologna Process).

The bachelor’s degree must be in the field of biotechnology and the experimental, life, and health sciences, or in engineering with a focus on biology, biomedicine, or agri-food.

In particular, degrees in Biotechnology, Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Food Science and Technology, and Oenology, as well as Agricultural Engineering, Forestry Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and other related engineering fields.

The master’s degree program will have a research focus in areas directly related to biotechnology, such as Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology, Biomedical Biotechnology, Agri-Food Biotechnology, Plant Genetic Improvement, Microbiology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences, or other related master’s programs that provide advanced training in experimental techniques, data analysis, and scientific fundamentals in the field of biotechnology.

With regard to prior knowledge, a solid background in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, genetics, microbiology, and physiology is recommended as the essential scientific foundations of biotechnology, as well as familiarity with experimental methodologies specific to laboratory work and with the analysis and interpretation of scientific data.

The profile described does not require the assignment of additional coursework, as the prior education indicated is considered to provide the appropriate academic foundation for carrying out the program’s educational and research activities.

In addition to the recommended admission profile, which includes related degrees and graduate-level training consistent with the program’s objectives, other admission profiles may be accepted when the accredited graduate-level training is not included among the related degrees and fields of study described above.

In such cases, the Program’s Academic Committee will evaluate the applicant’s academic record, supplementary training, and experience, and will require additional training when it deems it necessary to ensure that the doctoral candidate has the appropriate educational foundation to successfully carry out the program’s activities.Admission to the program meets the ideal criteria for supplementary training, should such training be necessary.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements are those set forth in Article 6 of Royal Decree 99/2011 of January 28 and its amendment by Royal Decree 576/2023 of July 4: 1. In general, admission to an official doctoral program requires possession of the official Spanish bachelor’s degree (Grado), or its equivalent, and a university Master’s degree, or equivalent, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been earned across these two programs.

Likewise, those who fall into any of the following categories will be eligible:

a) Hold official Spanish university degrees or equivalent Spanish degrees, provided that the student has earned at least 300 ECTS credits across these programs and demonstrate a Level 3 on the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.

b) Hold a degree obtained under foreign educational systems belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), without the need for equivalency, which certifies a Level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, provided that this degree qualifies the holder for admission to doctoral studies in the country where it was issued.  This admission shall in no case imply the equivalence of the prior degree held by the applicant or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.

c) Hold a degree obtained under foreign educational systems outside the EHEA, without the need for its recognition, provided the university has verified that it attests to a level of education equivalent to that of the official Spanish Master’s degree and that it qualifies the holder for admission to doctoral studies in the country where the degree was issued. Under no circumstances shall this admission imply the equivalence of the prior degree held by the applicant or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.

d) Hold another doctoral degree.

e) University graduates may also be admitted if, after securing a training position through the corresponding entrance exam for specialized health training positions, have successfully completed at least two years of training in a program leading to an official degree in one of the specialties in Health Sciences.

Given the international nature of doctoral research and the need to access specialized scientific literature, it is recommended that candidates have a sufficient level of academic comprehension and communication in English, equivalent to at least a B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

In the case of students whose native language is not Spanish, they will be evaluated to ensure they have an adequate level of understanding of Spanish and/or that they can communicate fluently with their thesis advisor in a common language.

Admission Criteria

Admission Criteria: The admission process for the Doctoral Program in Biotechnology is carried out through a competitive evaluation of applications by the Program’s Academic Committee, in accordance with previously established objective criteria and weightings. Regarding the program’s specific admission criteria, in order for an application to be evaluated, each applicant must submit the following:

• Endorsement from the faculty member who will supervise the thesis.
• Research Proposal: Candidates must submit an initial thesis proposal following the template available on the program’s website, which must include the background, objectives, and methodology, and be signed by the thesis advisor.
• Resume, accompanied by supporting documentation for all claimed qualifications, in a single PDF file, in accordance with the published specifications.

The final grade will be calculated out of 10 points, using the following weighting:

1. Academic transcript for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification (40%). The overall grade point average on a standardized scale will be evaluated.
2. Graduate education or healthcare specialization (45%). Each student will be evaluated based on only one of the following criteria:
   1. 2. a. Academic record from a master’s program or equivalent (45%), based on the overall grade point average on a standardized scale
   2. 2. b. Specialized health training in Health Sciences (45%), with credit given for the two years completed in the official specialization program, which is a prerequisite for admission through this route.

3. Other criteria (15%), distributed as follows:

• Professional experience: 1 point per year (maximum 5 points).
• Scientific publications and conference presentations: 5 points per scientific publication and 2.5 points per conference presentation (maximum 5 points).
• Certified English proficiency level above B2: C1 = 4 points and C2 = 5 points.

Justification of Merits

Resume. All qualifications listed by the applicant in the resume must be substantiated by submitting the relevant documentation in a single PDF file, following the instructions detailed below:

• Scientific articles: copies of the first and last pages of the article
• Conference presentations: A certificate from the competent authority attesting to the presentation, expressed in verifiable and substantiable terms.
• Languages: copy of the title
• Teaching experience: A certificate issued by the University’s General Secretariat, by the relevant Vice Rector’s Office, or by the central body to which the Statutes or other internal regulations of each university entrust this function, stating the number of hours or, where applicable, credits for teaching performed
• Professional teaching or research experience:
• Public employees: Statement of service or certificate of service rendered.
• Employees: Certificate of employment history and a copy of the employment contract(s) or a certificate from the employer stating the employment status, job category, positions held, and duration of employment.

Additional coursework will be required when the accredited graduate degree is not closely related to the Doctoral Program in Biotechnology. In such cases, the Academic Committee, in consultation with the thesis advisor, will determine the required supplementary coursework based on the degree of relevance: up to 12 ECTS if the master’s program includes at least 75% relevant content, and up to 20 ECTS if the relevance is at least 50%, subject to the Committee’s approval. In all cases, the requirement for supplementary coursework is determined on a case-by-case basis and is incorporated into the admission process as a condition to ensure that the applicant’s prior knowledge and ability are sufficient to successfully undertake the program’s educational and research activities.

As reflected in the current regulations, these specific training requirements must be completed during the initial phase of thesis development, within a maximum of one academic year. The academic committee may assign up to a maximum of 20 ECTS credits for supplementary coursework according to the following guidelines: Supplementary coursework will be required when the accredited graduate program—master’s degree, master’s program, or equivalent—is not among the master’s programs related to the Doctoral Program in Biotechnology. In these cases, the Academic Committee, in agreement with the thesis advisor, will propose to the student additional training based on the following criteria: Students with a master’s degree or equivalent program that is not related but includes at least 75% of courses relevant to the program will be required to complete supplementary coursework worth up to 12 ECTS credits; if the unrelated master’s program includes at least 50% of relevant courses, the supplementary coursework may be worth up to 20 ECTS credits; in both cases, this is subject to a proposal by the director/advisor and approval by the Committee.