Thesis based on a collection of publications

Requirements

A requirement for the submission of a doctoral thesis in the form of a compendium of publications is to have published or accepted for publication, after the start date of your doctoral studies, a minimum of four articles of high quality, with relevant authorship and a proven thematic coherence, in accordance with the criteria established by the Steering Committee.

Of these, three must be published  in scientific journals whose impact factor is included in the list of journals in the Journal Citation Reports. In the case of fields where publications are not indexed in the aforementioned database, the relevant Academic Committee may request the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee to consider other publications of comparable quality according to other classifications.

The applicant must attach to the application a narrative (in any format and of any length) which contextualises the publications comprising the thesis and assists in assessing their quality. Factors beyond the mere consideration of the indexing status of the journals in which the research is published will be taken into account, in order to avoid inappropriate practices relating to the publication of scientific articles (non-verifiable peer-review processes, editorial conflicts of interest, poor publication practices, insufficiently justified authorship, etc.).

The submission of a thesis in the form of a compendium of publications must be authorised by the Standing Committee of the EDUZ Management Committee, subject to a favourable report from the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme.

A thesis submitted as a compendium of publications must include, in addition to the general documentation and the aforementioned narrative, the following content:

• A title page stating that the thesis is a compilation of previously published works or works accepted for publication. This page shall include the full references of the articles that make up the body of the thesis.

• A general introduction setting out the objectives of the thesis and the work carried out, and justifying their thematic unity, accompanied by a literature review of the prior knowledge on which the published works are based.

• A copy of the published works or those accepted for publication (*).

• A comprehensive discussion of the contributed works and the final conclusions of the thesis.

• Appendix which shall include:

  • Copies of the letters of acceptance for the papers awaiting publication, where applicable.

  • Impact factor and subject areas of the journals in which the publications included in the thesis appear, and a justification of the PhD candidate’s contribution in the case of co-authored work. This information may be included in the narrative.

• In the case of publications with more than one non-PhD author, these authors must sign a waiver for that publication in order for it to form part of the thesis.

The general introduction, discussion and conclusions must have a combined length of no fewer than ten thousand words and must be written in Spanish or in a language commonly used for scientific communication within the field of study. In the latter case, the thesis must also include an abstract and the conclusions in Spanish.

The Academic Committee of the PhD programme shall report on the application, which must first be authorised by the supervisor, and shall submit it to the Standing Committee for approval, where appropriate. Reports from external experts will be sought once the thesis, in the form of a compendium of publications, has been approved by the Standing Committee of the EDUZ Steering Committee. 

Co-authored works may only form part of one thesis in the form of a compilation of publications. Therefore, co-authors who do not hold a PhD must expressly waive, in writing, the right to submit such works as part of another doctoral thesis in this format. The Doctoral School will maintain a record of the works contained in all theses submitted in the form of a compilation of publications.

The Academic Board of each programme may specify additional requirements, which must be approved by the EDUZ Steering Committee.

• Joint proposal from the Health Sciences department: Doctoral programmes in Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, and Health and Sports Sciences.

• Additional requirements for the submission of doctoral theses in the form of a compendium of publications in the Doctoral Programme in New Territories in Architecture.

• Additional requirements for the submission of doctoral theses based on a collection of publications in the Doctoral Programme in Global Health.

• Additional requirements for the submission of doctoral theses based on a collection of publications in the Doctoral Programme in Economics and Organisational Management.

Regulations

• Regulations on Doctoral Theses at the University of Zaragoza (Resolution of 29 June 2026, of the University Governing Council).

• Procedure for the submission, authorisation and defence of theses at the University of Zaragoza (Resolution of 30 April 2026, of the Steering Committee of the Doctoral School of the University of Zaragoza).

• Agreement of 9 July 2026 of the Steering Committee of the Doctoral School approving the criteria for the authorisation of theses in the form of a compendium of publications.