The requirements to access to doctoral studies in Spain are regulated by the central government, through the Royal Decree 99/2011. Please note that the information shown here is only a summary. If you have any questions contact the Doctoral School.
Application deadlines for academic year 2024/2025
Doctoral Programme in Art: Production and Research
Doctoral Programme in Communication and Cultural Industries
Doctoral Programme in Biotechnology
From September 02 until 13:00 hours on October 15 2024
Rest of the doctoral programmes
From June 17, until 13:00 hours on October 15 2024.
Programs with vacancies may open a second pre-registration period between November 18, 2024 and 13:00 hours on March 31, 2025 (all times refer to Spanish peninsular time).
Admissions will be valid during the academic year in which the application was carried out and for the following one.
Minimum access requirements
The requirements to access to doctoral studies in the Spain are regulated by the central government, through the Royal Decree 99/2011. By way of summary, the minimum requirements are:
- Official university degree + Spanish official master’s degree totaling 300 ECTS accrediting level 3 of the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (MECES).
- Official university degree + European Higher Education Area (EHEA) official master’s degree accrediting level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The master’s degree must give access to a doctorate in the country of origin.
- Five-year degree (or more) from pre-Bologna plans (engineer, bachelor, architect, …) that has obtained the correspondence to level 3 of the Spanish Framework of Qualifications for Higher Education or level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).
- Degrees from outside the EHEA equivalent to a master’s degree that allows access to doctoral studies in the issuing country (a certificate issued by the university of origin stating this requirement must be provided).
Before submitting your application, you should have prepared the required documentation that you will have to upload to the platform:
- Identity Card / Passport. Copy of DNI, NIE, European identity card or passport.
In case of providing a copy of the passport, you must provide as soon as possible a copy of your NIE issued by the competent Spanish administration. - Curriculum vitae, and supporting documents for each of the merits included (language certificates, first and last page of publications, etc.).
- Admission endorsement from a UPV professor. Commitment of the future thesis directors/tutors to supervise the candidate’s thesis. Download the admission form here:
- University degrees and academic records of the degrees required for the admission to a Doctoral Program (i.e., bachelor’s and master’s degrees, or university degrees in accordance with previous regulations of equivalent level). It is not necessary to provide the documentation of the degrees issued by the UPV.
- If your Master’s degree is not Spanish, it is necessary to provide a Certificate from the issuing University stating that the Master’s Degree gives access to Doctorate studies in that country (sample form).
- If your Master’s degree is not from the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), NOTE that it must be duly legalized.
- Any other specific documentation required by your chosen doctoral program.
It is essential that each document is in a single file and in pdf format.
More information for holders of non-Spanish degrees
If you have a master’s degree from outside the European Higher Education Area, remember to authenticate it.
Make your request
If you already have your UPV username + password you can apply for your PhD. If you have never studied at the UPV you should start by requesting an ID and password.