Assignment of supervisor(s) and/or tutor
The Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme is responsible for assigning supervisors and tutors to doctoral students at the time of admission to the programme to pursue doctoral studies.
With regard to the assignment of supervisor(s), in accordance with Article 11 of RD99/2011, this may be assigned to any Spanish or foreign doctor with proven research experience. Thus, for the appointment, the provisions of Article 1 of the Agreement of 25 June 2020, of the Governing Council of the University of Zaragoza, approving the Regulations on Doctoral Theses at the University of Zaragoza, as well as point 2 of the Instruction of 23 May 2018 of the Doctoral School regarding access, admission, dedication and permanence in doctoral studies at the University of Zaragoza. Specifically, this Instruction establishes that the application for admission shall include a letter of motivation to pursue doctoral studies expressing interest in one or more lines of research in the programme. This letter may include the proposal of a researcher as a possible thesis supervisor. More specifically, the academic committees may require the presentation, at the time of the application for admission, of the endorsement of a researcher as a possible supervisor for the doctoral thesis to be developed. The Agreement of 29 February 2024 of the Doctoral School Management Committee will also be taken into account, regarding the requirement for accredited research experience of tutors, supervisors, co-supervisors and members of thesis panels and the condition of being linked to the doctoral programme of the tutors. Here, guidelines are given to the Academic Committees regarding the introduction by RD576/2023, of 4 July, of the possibility for them to authorise co-supervision by doctors who do not have accredited research activity.
With regard to the assignment of tutors, in accordance with Article 11 of RD99/2011, the tutor must be a doctor with accredited research experience linked to the Doctoral Programme. It is therefore recommended that the tutor be a member of the teaching staff of the programme, but this is not strictly necessary. It is important that, in the opinion of the Academic Committee, the person is familiar with the programme and has close ties to it. In this case, the Academic Committee must provide a report confirming that the person is linked to the doctoral programme. This report, signed by the coordinator, must be sent by internal communication to the Doctoral School.
Modification of the supervisor or tutor
As stated in art. 1.4 of the Agreement of June 25, 2020, of the Governing Council of the University, which approves the Regulation on Doctoral Theses of the University of Zaragoza , the Academic Committee of the doctoral program may modify the assignment of the tutor and/or supervisor , provided there are justified reasons and the tutor, supervisor/s and doctoral student are heard.
To do this, the doctoral student must submit the form Request for modification of the designation of supervisor(s) and/or tutor of doctoral thesis - Inclusion of a third supervisor , duly completed and signed by all the parties involved (doctoral student, tutor and supervisor(s) who cause registration and/or withdrawal, with the approval of those who do not undergo modification).
Along with the previous form, a document must be attached explaining and justifying the proposed changes .
This documentation must be submitted through the Electronic Registry , addressed to the administrative headquarters of the corresponding doctoral program.
The Academic Committee of the corresponding doctoral program will be responsible for accepting, where appropriate, the proposed modifications and ensuring that the doctoral student is not left at any time without a tutor or supervisor. All parties are called to actively seek solutions and alternatives so that this does not happen. The agreement adopted will be sent to the Doctoral School as soon as possible.
When there is a change in the appointment of directors, the Academic Committee of the programme will ensure that at least one of the directors fulfils the requirement of having accredited research experience.
Triple supervision
According to art. 1.3 of the Agreement of June 25, 2020, of the Governing Council of the University, which approves the Regulation on Doctoral Theses of the University of Zaragoza , the incorporation of a third thesis supervisor will be exceptional and requires the authorization of the Doctoral Commission .
Therefore, you must submit the Request for modification of the designation of supervisor(s) and/or tutor of doctoral thesis - Inclusion of a third supervisor, which must be adequately justified, through the electronic Registry , directed to the administrative headquarters of the corresponding doctoral program.
Once it has been evaluated by the Academic Committee of the program, it will be sent, if appropriate, to the Doctoral School, which will submit a request to the Doctoral Committee for eventual approval based on the criteria approved by the EDUZ Steering Committee. .