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Program Access Information

PhD in Construction Engineering

Information channels

Information for prospective PhD students is available on the UPV Doctoral School website:

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

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

Prospective applicants should take note of the following information:

In addition, the pre-enrolment process for PhD studies is managed through the general pre-enrolment system of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). This provides applicants with an online platform that can be accessed from anywhere.

The online application system includes admission quota management, which ensures that the number of admissions established for the programme is not exceeded.

The admission of each applicant requires two approvals: approval from the Doctoral School, which ensures compliance with the minimum requirements established in Royal Decree 99/2011, and approval from the Academic Committee of the PhD Programme (CAPD), which ensures compliance with the requirements set out in the programme verification report, in accordance with the established criteria and the Evaluation Index (IV) score obtained by each applicant.

Admission Profiles

The admission profiles are defined below. The recommended admission profile does not require any additional training, whereas the additional admission profiles do.

Recommended Admission Profile

For admission to the PhD Programme, applicants must have prior knowledge equivalent to that acquired through the following Spanish University degrees related to construction materials, construction engineering or architecture:

  • A degree in Civil Engineering (Roads, Canals and Ports), or an equivalent degree, followed by a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (Roads, Canals and Ports), or an equivalent degree.
  • A degree in Industrial Engineering, Industrial Technologies or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent degree, followed by a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering or an equivalent degree.
  • A degree in Architecture or Fundamentals of Architecture, or an equivalent degree, followed by a Master’s degree in Architecture or an equivalent degree.
  • A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Industrial Technologies, Mechanical Engineering, Fundamentals of Architecture, Architecture or Technical Architecture, or an equivalent degree, followed by any Master’s degree in civil engineering, construction or architecture, such as the Master’s Degree in Concrete Engineering, the Master’s Degree in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, the Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering Planning and Management, the Master’s Degree in Building Engineering, the Master’s Degree in Industrial Buildings and Facilities, or an equivalent Master’s degree.
  • A degree in Chemistry, or an equivalent degree, followed by a Master’s degree in Chemistry or an equivalent Master’s degree.
  • A degree in Chemical Engineering, or an equivalent degree, followed by a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or an equivalent Master’s degree.

The Academic Committee of the PhD Programme (CAPD) shall assess the equivalence of the degrees referred to in the various sections. The CAPD is responsible for verifying that each applicant meets the admission requirements and demonstrates advanced, verifiable knowledge in at least one of the key areas of the PhD Programme—structural rehabilitation and strengthening; structural analysis and design; the design and optimisation of construction systems and structures; construction materials chemistry; or construction management—thereby ensuring their appropriate integration into the PDIC’s active research areas without the need for additional training.

Given the international nature of PhD research and the need to consult specialised scientific literature, applicants are recommended to have an adequate command of academic English, equivalent to at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The use of information and communication technologies is essential in all research areas of the programme. Intermediate to advanced digital skills, including word processing, presentations and spreadsheets, are also recommended.

Other Admission Profiles

Applicants holding the following degrees may also be admitted to the PhD Programme. However, they must complete the corresponding additional training during the first academic year of their PhD studies.

A degree in Aeronautical Engineering specialising in Airports, or an equivalent degree; or a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering followed by a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering specialising in Airports, or an equivalent degree.

A degree in Agricultural Engineering specialising in Rural Technology and Engineering, or an equivalent degree; or a Bachelor’s degree in Agri-Food and Rural Engineering followed by a Master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering specialising in Rural Engineering, or an equivalent degree.

Access Requirements and Admission Criteria

Access Requirements

The access requirements are those established in Article 6 of Royal Decree 99/2011 of 28 January, which regulates official PhD studies, as amended by Royal Decree 576/2023 of 4 July:

  1. As a general rule, access to an official PhD programme requires an official Spanish Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent degree, and an official Spanish Master’s degree, or an equivalent degree, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been completed across both degree programmes.
  2. Access shall also be granted to applicants who meet any of the following conditions: a) Hold official Spanish University degrees, or equivalent Spanish degrees, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been completed through these degree programmes and that level 3 of the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education has been attained. b) Hold a degree awarded under an education system within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), without the need for official recognition, which certifies level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, provided that the degree grants access to PhD studies in the country in which it was awarded. c) Hold a degree awarded under an education system outside the EHEA, without the need for official recognition, provided that the University verifies that the degree certifies a level of education equivalent to that of an official Spanish University Master’s degree and grants access to PhD studies in the country in which it was awarded. d) Hold another PhD degree. e) University graduates who, having obtained a specialised healthcare training position through the corresponding entrance examination, have successfully completed at least two years of a training programme leading to an official qualification in one of the Health Sciences specialisations.

Specific Access Requirements: To be admitted to the PhD Programme, applicants must submit the following:

  • A copy of the applicant’s identity document (DNI, NIE or passport).
  • A letter of support from the proposed PhD supervisor.
  • The applicant’s full curriculum vitae.
  • Documents providing evidence of research and/or professional experience related to the content of the programme.
  • The academic transcript for the Engineering, former Spanish Bachelor’s, Architecture, Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree granting access to the programme, including the average grade obtained for each degree.
  • The degree certificate or other official document certifying the degree or degrees granting access to the programme.

In addition, the candidate may submit:

Evidence of proficiency in foreign languages.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the Programme shall be determined by the Academic Committee of the PhD Programme in accordance with the following selection criteria:

  • Academic record.
  • Professional and research achievements in construction materials, construction engineering or architecture.
  • Certified proficiency in foreign languages.

On the basis of the applicant’s qualifying degree or degrees and their professional and research experience, the Academic Committee shall recommend the research areas and research teams best suited to their profile. When submitting their application for admission, students with special educational needs arising from a disability may specify any requirements relating to possible curricular adaptations, alternative pathways or alternative studies so that the Academic Committee can take them into account.

Application Assessment

  • Academic record. For Engineering, former Spanish Bachelor’s or Architecture degrees, or equivalent degrees, the average grade of the qualifying degree shall be taken into account. Where access to the Programme is based on a Bachelor’s degree followed by a Master’s degree, the weighted average grade shall be calculated according to the ECTS credits corresponding to each degree. The score for this section shall be obtained by converting the average grade to a scale of 0 to 10 and multiplying it by 0.8. This section shall therefore be worth a maximum of 8 points out of 10.
  • Professional and research achievements in construction materials, construction engineering or architecture. This section will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10, with a maximum of 1 point.
  • Certified proficiency in foreign languages. The following scoring criteria shall apply to each certified language: (1) A1, A2 or B1 certificate: 0 points; (2) B2 certificate: 0.5 points; and (3) C1 or C2 certificate: 1 point. Only the applicant’s highest certified level in a foreign language shall be taken into account. This section shall be worth a maximum of 1 point out of 10.
  • The score determining admission to the PhD Programme shall be calculated by adding the scores obtained for the academic record, professional and research achievements, and foreign-language proficiency. Applicants must obtain a minimum score of 5 points to be admitted to the Programme.

Additional Training Requirements

There are two distinct admission profiles: the recommended admission profile, which does not require any additional training, and other admission profiles, which do require additional training.

After reviewing the applicant’s curriculum and admission profile, the Academic Committee of the PhD Programme in Construction Engineering may determine that additional training is required. In such cases, it shall specify a set of courses totalling no more than 20 ECTS credits, taking into account the specific training required for the PhD candidate to conduct their research appropriately. As established by the applicable regulations, this additional training must be successfully completed during the initial stage of the PhD dissertation and within a maximum period of one academic year. Courses shall be selected from the University’s postgraduate academic offering, primarily from the following programmes:

  • Master’s Degree in Concrete Engineering (MUIH).
  • Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering Planning and Management (MUPGIC).

The compulsory subject areas and courses included in these two Master’s degrees are listed below: Master’s Degree in Concrete Engineering (MUIH) SUBJECT AREA: Concrete Constituents and Durability

  • Science and Technology of Binders and Additions (5 ECTS).
  • Durability of Concrete Structures (5 ECTS).
  • Special Concrete and New Materials (5 ECTS).
  • Pathology and Rehabilitation (5 ECTS).

SUBJECT AREA: Analysis of Concrete Structures

  • Finite Element Analysis of Concrete Structures (5 ECTS).
  • Experimental Analysis of Concrete Structures (5 ECTS).
  • Non-linear and Time-Dependent Analysis of Concrete Structures (5 ECTS).
  • Predictive and Optimisation Models for Concrete Structures (5 ECTS).

SUBJECT AREA: Conceptual Design and Design of Concrete Structures

  • Exceptional Actions on Concrete Structures: Earthquakes and Fire (5 ECTS).
  • Fundamentals of Concrete Structure Design (2.5 ECTS).
  • Design of Building Structures (2.5 ECTS).
  • Prestressed Concrete Structures (5 ECTS).
  • Design of Concrete Structural Elements Using the Strut-and-Tie Method (5 ECTS).

Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering Planning and Management (MUPGIC) SUBJECT AREA: Organisation and Innovation in Construction Companies

  • Quality, Innovation and Sustainability in the Construction Sector (7.5 ECTS).
  • Health and Safety Management in the Construction Sector (4.5 ECTS).
  • Business Organization and Management (7.5 ECTS).

SUBJECT AREA: Planning and Management of Projects and Construction Works

  • Construction Management (4.5 ECTS).
  • Project Management (4.5 ECTS).
  • Building Information Modelling (BIM) (4.5 ECTS).
  • Planning and Scheduling (4.5 ECTS).

SUBJECT AREA: Operation of Infrastructure and Services

  • Maintenance and Preservation of Infrastructure and Services (4.5 ECTS).
  • Evaluation of Construction Investments (6 ECTS).