Basic information

• How can I start a PhD at the University of Zaragoza?

• How long does a PhD take ?

• Which university studies allow me to access the doctorate?

• How much does it cost to enrol in a PhD programme?

• Do I need to undertake any additional training?

Access and Admission

• Can I access the PhD if I have a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) taken outside Spain with a credit load of less than 240 ECTS and a master's degree of 60 ECTS taken in the EHEA?

• Can I access the doctorate if I have another doctoral degree regulated by regulations prior to the current one ?

Registration

• I have been admitted to a doctoral programme and I want to enrol in it

Annual evaluation

• What, how and when should I submit for the annual evaluation?
• Can the research and training plan be modified?
• What is the Doctoral Student Activity Document (DAD) and how should I record the activities I have undertaken on the course?
• What should I take into account if I am on sick leave?
• If I have a negative evaluation, can I be re-evaluated? What happens if I get a negative evaluation again?
• How can I check the result of my evaluation?
• What do I have to take into account if I was assigned additional training at the time of admission to the programme?
• How many positive evaluations are required to deposit the thesis?
• Who can I turn to if I have any doubts?

Deposit and defence

• In which language should I write my dissertation report and in which language should I defend it?
• Can I incorporate results I have already published into my thesis?
• Which publications can be accepted for a thesis by compendium of publications?

Mobility

• What do I do if during my stay there is an incident or a change in the plan?
• When do I have to ask for permission to carry out a stay during my doctorate? What do I do if I have not applied for it before I do it?

Other information of interest

• What is the PIN and how can I get it?
• What is my "official" e-mail address during the course?

• How can I get a university card?

   

Email enquiries: docto@unizar.es

ANSWERS

FAQ - Basic information

How can I start a PhD at the University of Zaragoza?

Before starting the procedures, it is advisable to consult the General Information on Doctoral Programmes at EDUZ, where you can access the list of doctoral programmes at the University of Zaragoza and the specific web pages of each programme. Then you must submit an application for admission to the programme by the deadline indicated in the academic calendar.

We recommend that you consult the Doctoral Overview page, where you can find information that serves as a guide to doctoral studies.

• Can I apply for admission to several doctoral programmes?
  Yes, by sending an application to each of them.

• I have been admitted to a doctoral programme but I have not enrolled, can I enrol the following year without reapplying for admission?
  No, the application is made for a specific academic year.

How long does a PhD take?

Full information on the duration and rules of tenure can be found at Modalities of dedication. You can also consult the options for extensions and withdrawals.

Which university studies will give me access to a doctorate?

The criteria set out in Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies for access to the doctoral programme can be found in Requirements for access to doctoral studies.

• Can I access the PhD if I have a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) obtained outside Spain with a credit load of less than 240 ECTS and a master's degree of 60 ECTS obtained in the EHEA? 
  Yes, if you hold a degree obtained in accordance with foreign education systems belonging to the EHEA that accredits a level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework and provided that this degree entitles you to access doctoral studies in the country of issue, the access requirement is deemed to be fulfilled.

• Can I access the PhD without having taken a master's degree?
  Yes, for example, in the case of a 300 ECTS degree or a bachelor's degree (pre-bachelor's degree), as long as these degrees have obtained level 3 of the Spanish Framework of Qualifications for Higher Education (MECES).

• Can I access the doctorate if I have studied the doctorate regulated by previous decrees? 
  Yes, if you are in possession of another Spanish doctoral degree obtained in accordance with previous university regulations.

How much does it cost to enrol in a PhD programme?

The PhD tuition fees are set annually by the Government of Aragon and are published on the Doctoral School's public prices website.

• Is there a different price for foreign students?
  No, everyone pays the same

• Is it necessary to enrol every year?
  Yes, you must enrol every year, even if you are on leave. Otherwise, you will lose your status as a doctoral student.

Do I need to undertake any additional training in addition to my research project?

Yes, there are up to three types of additional training that you can take during your PhD:

• Complementary training. The Academic Committee of the programme may require you to take a certain number of credits depending on your previous degree. For further information, please contact us.

• Specific training. Activities specific to each doctoral programme. Further information.

• Cross-disciplinary training. Courses aimed at acquiring skills common to all disciplines (writing, communication skills, emotional management, etc.). For further information, please contact us.

FAQ - Access and Admission

Can I access the PhD if I have a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) taken outside Spain with a credit load of less than 240 ECTS or a duration of less than four years and a master's degree of 60 ECTS taken in the EHEA?

Yes, if you hold a degree obtained in accordance with education systems belonging to the EHEA that accredits a level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework and provided that this degree qualifies you for access to doctoral studies in the country of issue, the access requirement is deemed to be fulfilled.

Can I access the doctorate if I have another doctoral degree regulated by regulations prior to the current one?

Yes. Holding a PhD degree gives access to the doctorate.

FAQ - Registration

I have been admitted to a doctoral programme and I want to enrol in it

• Questions regarding enrolment are answered on our enrolment page.

FAQ - Annual evaluation

What, how and when should I submit for the annual evaluation?

The doctoral academic calendar sets the deadline for the different roles. Specifically, doctoral students, with the assistance of their tutors and directors, have to draw up a research and personal training plan,[1] if they are in their first year of academic supervision, or a follow-up report,[2] if they are in their second or subsequent years, and upload it to SIGMA at the beginning of May.[Doctoral students handbook].

[1] RESEARCH AND PERSONAL TRAINING PLAN. It includes the foreseen training activities (must be in accordance with those required in each doctoral programme - "Training and mobility activities" tab of the study website: courses, publications, mobility actions, etc.) and research activities (provisional title of the thesis - Introduction and justification of the subject of the study - Working hypothesis, methodology and general objectives - Means and timetable) to be carried out during the doctoral thesis.

[2] MONITORING REPORT. It includes the progress of the research, as well as incidents and changes to the planned plan.

During the following week, your thesis supervisors and tutors review it and issue their assessment report in SIGMA (ticking the corresponding box depending on whether it is favourable or unfavourable). Only if it is not favourable is it compulsory to upload this motivation form to SIGMA. The tutor/director can uncheck the box "Visible to the student" if he/she prefers to keep his/her assessment not visible to the student.[Tutor-Director Manual].

The academic committees of the programmes establish the form of assessment, which will be carried out once the deadline for the issuing of the report by the thesis tutors-directors has closed, and the grade must be transferred to the PhD student's file in SIGMA at the beginning of July. [Coordinators' Manual]. The administrative section of the EDUZ will then close the minutes.

However, these are deadlines, and each programme may have a specific timetable.

NOTE: Doctoral students who are on leave from their doctoral studies will not be assessed in the ordinary period indicated in the academic calendar, so they will not be able to incorporate the research and training plan or the follow-up report, if applicable, into the application.

Can the research and training plan be modified?

After uploading the monitoring plans or reports to SIGMA, the PhD student, respecting the established deadlines, can upload updated versions again, deleting the previous ones, until the thesis tutor/director downloads it for review. From then on, it will no longer be possible to modify it.

On the other hand, every year, from the second year onwards, a follow-up report has to be submitted as explained in the previous question. In this report, the progress of the research must be commented and any incident or change with respect to what was established in the original plans presented in the first year of mentoring must be communicated.

NOTE: In the case of a pre-doctoral contract, any change in the title of the thesis, directors, etc. requires the express approval of the funding body (processing by the Research Management Service of the University of Zaragoza - SIG).

What is the Doctoral Student Activity Document (DAD) and how should I record the activities I have undertaken on the course?

The DAD is the detailed record of all the activities carried out by the PhD student, such as stays, courses, publications and attendance at conferences, managed through the SIGMA platform. It is recommended that the tutor or director advises the PhD student before registering the activities.

The activities are registered by accessing SIGMA's "Location and selection of registration and monitoring", by clicking on the pencil icon. In the window that opens you have to indicate the corresponding academic year, the type of activity (depending on whether it is a general, specific or transversal activity), and other fields. Finally, click on "Add" and the activity will be in "Proposed" status. The "Attach" button must be used to upload the supporting documents.[Doctoral student handbook].

The tutor/manager receives a warning message and must access SIGMA to validate the activity. By marking the pencil on the specific activity, he/she can download the receipt and change the status to "Accepted proposal", "Done" or "Not accepted", as the case may be, and finally click on "Modify". You can also make a multiple selection by ticking the boxes of the activities on which the same modification is to be made. [Tutor-principal handbook].

ONLY THE ACTIVITIES IN "ACCEPTED" AND "COMPLETED" STATUS will be reflected in the pdf file that is generated when "Print" is clicked. These will be the ones that will be considered for the evaluation and also the ones that, in due course, will be submitted to the thesis examining board.

NOTE: the activities that the PhD student may carry out during a period of sick leave cannot be taken into account as part of his/her training, nor can they be included in the DAD.

What should I take into account if I am on sick leave?

Doctoral students who are on leave from their doctoral studies will not be assessed in the ordinary period indicated in the academic calendar, so they will not be able to incorporate the research and training plan or the monitoring report, if applicable, into the application.

Furthermore, the activities that the PhD student may carry out during a period of sick leave cannot be taken into account as part of his/her training, nor can they be included in the DAD.

NOTE: As stated in Extensions and interruption of doctoral studies, voluntary temporary withdrawal may not be requested during the month prior to the deadline indicated in the doctoral academic calendar for the doctoral student to submit the documentation for their annual assessment.

If I have a negative evaluation, can I be re-evaluated? What happens if I get a negative evaluation again?

Yes, a period of six months is given to redraft the plans or the monitoring report.

In case of a second consecutive negative evaluation, the student will be permanently withdrawn from the programme.

How can I check the result of my evaluation?

By consulting the academic transcript in SIGMA (tab "Evaluation of the academic committee").

What do I have to take into account if I was assigned additional training at the time of admission to the programme?

The training complements assigned at the time of admission must be enrolled in the first year in which it is possible after enrolling in the doctorate. They must be passed in that year, and may not be enrolled for a second year. Non-compliance will be taken into account in the annual assessment and will lead to definitive withdrawal from the doctoral programme.

How many positive evaluations are required to deposit the thesis?

In order for the doctoral thesis to be admitted for processing, the PhD student must have at least two positive evaluations. In addition, the academic year corresponding to that in which the thesis is to be submitted must have been positively evaluated, so the academic committee will carry out the evaluation at the time of considering the admission for processing.

Who can I turn to if I have any doubts?

For the preparation of the evaluation documents and for advice on the activities to be carried out, you should consult your tutor and thesis supervisor. Your programme coordinator can help you with the evaluation aspects specific to your programme.

For administrative issues you can contact the administrative office of your programme and also the administrative section of EDUZ(escdocto@unizar.es / +34 876 553 043). And for SIGMA-related problems you can open a ticket at CAU.

FAQ - Deposit and defence

In what language should the dissertation report be written, and in what language should the defence of the dissertation be conducted?

The thesis may be written and, where appropriate, defended in Spanish or in the usual languages for scientific communication in your field of knowledge. In any case, the report must include a comprehensive summary and conclusions in Spanish, although it is not compulsory for part of the defence to be in Spanish.

In the case of theses by compendium of publications, the general introduction and the discussion and conclusions will have a combined length of no less than ten thousand words and will be written in Spanish or in a language customary for scientific communication in the field of knowledge. In the latter case, the thesis must also include a comprehensive summary and conclusions in Spanish.

In the case of theses that qualify for an international mention, part of the doctoral thesis, at least the summary and conclusions, must be written and presented in one of the usual languages for scientific communication in its field of knowledge, other than any of the official languages in Spain. This rule does not apply when the stays, reports and experts come from a Spanish-speaking country. If the thesis is presented in English, or in a language of scientific communication other than the official languages in Spain, the thesis must contain at least an abstract and conclusions in Spanish.

However, what is indicated in the doctoral programme's Verification Report must be taken into account .

Can I incorporate results I have already published into my thesis?

The regulations state that the doctoral thesis must incorporate original research results, which does not conflict with the fact that you can publish these results (or part of them) prior to their deposit and defence. In fact, the Code of Good Practice of the EDUZ and its doctoral programmes indicates that it is possible, and generally recommended, that part of the work included in the doctoral thesis has been previously published by the author, either alone or in co-authorship. This fact must be clearly reflected in the thesis and the PhD student will only incorporate as his/her own that part of the work for which he/she is responsible. Other aspects may be incorporated following the usual method of citation and acknowledgement and the principles of intellectual property protection.

In any case, it must be clear that the research has been carried out by the author of the thesis during his doctoral studies and cannot be incorporated into another doctoral thesis.

There are also a number of issues to be taken into account, which you can consult at:

• Networked Doctoral Theses
• Theses by compendium in the Zaguan repository
• Theses by compendium of publications

Which publications can be accepted for a thesis by compendium of publications?

In accordance with article 20 of the Regulations on Doctoral Theses of the University of Zaragoza, dated 25 June 2020, in order to deposit a Thesis by compendium of publications, a minimum of four articles with thematic unity that are published or accepted for publication, dated after the start date of your doctoral studies, will be required.

Of these, three are to be published in scientific journals:

• whose impact index is included in the list of journals of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). By Agreement of 30 October 2024 of the Doctoral Commission, publications in Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) journals are considered as Journal Citation Reports (JCR) publications from the 2023 list, published in 2024, provided that they appear in the rankings by Journal Impact Factor (JIF).

• or in the case of subjects that are not indexed in JCR, are of comparable quality

  • according to other classifications

  • or in the opinion of the Academic Committee of the corresponding doctoral programme.

The regulations do not establish a minimum length for these four articles, however, they do regulate the length of the general introduction, discussion and conclusions, which together shall be no less than ten thousand words.

Publications other than scientific articles, such as books, book chapters, patents, etc., could not be considered as part of the four contributions required to submit a thesis in this mode.

It should also be borne in mind that the Academic Committee of each programme may have included additional requirements approved by the Doctoral Committee, so it is recommended that, in agreement with the supervisor and tutor, the Academic Committee be consulted in the event of doubts about the validity of the articles for inclusion in a thesis to be presented in this modality.

On the other hand, it must be clear that the PhD student's contribution to the research has been made during his/her doctoral studies. The dates of acceptance and actual publication of the article may coincide with periods of temporary leave, but the date of submission to the journal must always coincide with an active period.

FAQ - Mobility

What do I do if during my stay there is an incident or a change in the plan?

As stated on the website, any incident or change in the planned plan must be included in the report of the stay that must be carried out at the end of the stay. This report must include a summary of all the activities carried out during the stay in relation to the work plan and activities foreseen in the application, so that it is possible to assess the degree of compliance with it. It should also report on any incidents and changes to the work plan that have taken place. It should be borne in mind that if these incidents or changes involve a reduction in the length of the stay, they may lead to non-compliance with the requirements for applying, in due course, for the International Mention of the PhD degree, if this is the case. The report must be included in the Doctoral Activities Document (DAD) for its evaluation.

When do I have to ask for permission to carry out a stay during my doctorate? What do I do if I have not applied for it before I do it?

For details on the procedures to be followed according to the type of stay, see the Mobility-Stays website.

It is necessary to apply for authorisation prior to the stay and sufficiently in advance so that it can be approved before the stay takes place.

However, in the case of stays carried out in order to apply for the international mention in the doctoral degree, the application for authorisation of the stay may exceptionally be submitted after the stay has been carried out. This application must be submitted as soon as possible in order to be able to verify sufficiently in advance that the stay complies with the requirements to apply for the international mention, thus avoiding the possibility that when the thesis is admitted for processing it may be reported that the stay does not comply with the necessary requirements to apply for the international mention.

On the other hand, so that the academic committee of the doctoral programme can take this activity into account in the annual assessment, a report after the stay must be included in the Doctoral Activities Document (DAD).

FAQ - Useful information

What is the PIN and how can I get it?

In order to apply for admission to the doctoral programme, you must have the NIP (personal identification number) and the administrative password.

The PIN is the personal identification number assigned to all students accessing the University of Zaragoza for the first time. It is used to identify oneself when accessing University services through the Internet, such as consulting academic records through the virtual secretary's office. To ensure that access to these databases takes place in a secure environment, an administrative password is assigned along with the PIN, which allows the user's identity to be verified.

All those who are or have been students or staff members of the University of Zaragoza have it assigned to them. Only if you have not been linked to our university, you can obtain your NIP and administrative password by filling in the registration form.

If you have already been assigned these details and do not remember them, do not register again. You can recover them by following the instructions in How to recover forgotten PIN or administrative password?

More information is available at Credential management.

What is my "official" e-mail address during the course?

All enrolled students are assigned an e-mail address consisting of a Personal Identification Number and the domain unizar.es: NIP@unizar.es. This institutional account will be used as a channel of communication between the Doctoral School and doctoral students.

Email users have a set of utilities for the usual management of the email account, such as changing the password or redirecting messages to another account of the University of Zaragoza or to an account external to the University of Zaragoza. To do this, you must access the portalcorreo.unizar.es page using your PIN and administrative password.

More information is available by e-mail.