Doctoral School

Research plan

During the first year of your doctoral studies you will have to present your Research plan, which must contain, at least, the methodology, resources and timeline with which you will complete your doctoral thesis. This document must also include a Data management plan and a Training plan. A template to help you prepare both can be found further below. At least once during your studies, you will have to perform a public presentation of your Research plan, which must have been approved by your thesis supervisor and will be assessed by a specifically appointed committee.

You must receive a positive assessment for the research plan. If you do not, you will have six months in which to submit a new research plan. If this second assessment is not positive, or you do not submit to it, you will not be allowed to continue on the programme. You may apply for admission to another doctoral programme.

After this first assessment of the research plan, within the yearly assessment of the studies the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assess your progress on the research plan, as well as the report from your thesis supervisor and your doctoral student activity report (DAD).

Please bear in mind the following: 

  1. Each doctoral programme establishes the content of the research plan. Check with your thesis supervisor. 

  2. The committee that assesses the public presentation of your research plan will be composed of three PhD holders.

  3. The public presentation must take place at the facilities of the University or the collaborating entity. 

Further information

Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies

Template of the Research Plan, Data Management Plan and Training Plan