Modalities of dedication

Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, establishes a maximum duration for doctoral studies with the possibility of full-time or part-time dedication, with the type of modality being stated in the Letter of Admission to the corresponding doctoral programme.

The change of modality (from full-time to part-time and vice versa) shall be requested to the academic committee of the doctoral programme during the official admission periods. Exceptionally, it may be requested outside this period. The Academic Committee will have the power to change the type of dedication at any time, if the situation of the doctoral student changes.

Once the change of mode of dedication has been approved, the deadline for the deposit of the thesis will be recalculated , multiplying the remaining time, from the date of the application for the change to the date of deposit of the thesis, by a factor of 7/4 or 4/7 depending on whether the change is from full-time to part-time or vice versa, respectively.

If the change of dedication modality is made during the extension period, it will not change the date of deposit of the thesis.

Full time

The duration of doctoral studies shall be a maximum of four years full-time, counting from the date of enrolment in the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis.

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

Part-time

Doctoral studies may be carried out on a part-time basis, requiring the authorisation of the academic committee responsible for the doctoral programme, subject to justification of work, family, personal or any other circumstances that make it impossible to devote full time to the doctoral programme.

In this case, they may have a maximum duration of seven years from the date of enrolment in the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis.