Access profile

The ideal or recommended candidate should, preferably, be in possession of one of the following official Spanish undergraduate or master’s degrees, as the contents of these programmes offer optimal preparation for this doctoral programme:

• Master’s degree in Comprehensive Management, Refurbishment and Restoration of Built Heritage and Existing Structures (UPV/EHU)
• Master’s degree in Architecture, Energy and the Environment (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Building Construction (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Urban Management and Valuation (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Architectural Technology (UPC)
• Master’s degree in the Theory and History of Architecture (UPC)
• Master’s degree in the Theory and Practice of Architectural Projects (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Urbanism (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (UC)
• Master’s degree in Historical and Territorial Heritage (UC)
• Master’s degree in Construction Engineering (UC)
• Master’s degree in Integrity and Durability of Materials, Components and Structures (UC).
Other official Spanish master’s degrees and equivalent foreign degrees with similar focuses to those previously mentioned will also be considered.

Applicants meeting the admission requirements may apply to the programme via the channels established by each participating university.

Note that the desired background for applicants to the UPC and the ADR&M research group is decidedly technological, with an emphasis on ICT applications. The programme at the UPC focuses more on applications to heritage studies and less on refurbishment studies (which correspond more to the Architectural Construction Department or the GTED research group at the University of Cantabria), conservation and reuse (which correspond more to the Department of Architectural Design) or public spaces (which correspond more to the Department of Urbanism and Regional Planning).

The multi-disciplinary nature of cases requiring joint supervision must be duly substantiated.

Output profile

Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research (Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies):

a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field.
b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas.
e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong.
f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.

The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:

a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field.
d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information.
f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.

Number of places

5

Duration of studies and dedication regime

Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.

If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years.

When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the requirement to complete this minimum period of study.

Temporary disability leave and leave for the birth of a child, adoption or fostering for the purposes of adoption, temporary foster care, risk during pregnancy or infant feeding, gender violence and any other situation provided for in current regulations do not count towards these periods. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which must inform the Doctoral School.

Doctoral candidates may request periods of temporary withdrawal from the programme for up to a total of two years. Requests must be justified and addressed to the academic committee responsible for the programme, which will decide whether or not to grant the candidate's request.

Extension of studies
If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
• The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
• The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
• A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
• The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
• The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.

Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.

Legal framework

• Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated version)
• Academic regulations for doctoral studies (CG/2023/09/08)

Organization

• Redondo Dominguez, Ernest

• Escoda Pastor, Carmen
• Fort Mir, Josep Maria
• Gimenez Mateu, Luis
• Mendoza Ramirez, Hector
• Millan Gomez, Antonio
• Navarro Delgado, Isidro
• Redondo Dominguez, Ernest

This is a joint doctoral programme.

Coordinating university:

University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
(Department of Architecture, Applied Physics I Department)

Participating universities:
University of Cantabria, School of Civil Building Management and Technology (GTED)
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, research group: Architecture, Design, Representation and Modelling ADR&M 2017 SGR 791

• Departamento de Representación Arquitectónica (PROMOTORA)

Agreements with other institutions

1. Title: Integrative Multidisciplinary People-centered Architectural Qualification & Training.
Type of activity: competitive project.
Funding body: European Commission
Funding body’s code: 586437-EPP-1-2017-1-AT-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP

2. Title: Ludificación para la Enseñanza del Diseño Urbano y la Integración en Ella de la Participación Ciudadana 3.0 (Gamification for Teaching Urban Design and Integrating Citizen Participation 3.0)
Type of activity: competitive project.
Acronym: GAME4CITY 3.0.
Funding body: Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
Funding body’s code: BIA2016-77464-C2-1-R

3. Title: E-learning 3.0 en la Docencia de la Arquitectura (E-learning 3.0 in Teaching Architecture). Casos de Estudio de Investigación Educativa para un Futuro Inmediato (Research into Case Studies for the Immediate Future)
Type of activity: competitive project.
Abbreviated name: 3.0 E-learning Architecture.
Funding body: Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
Funding body’s code: EDU2012-37247

4. Title: MOOC. De la Realidad al Proyecto (From Reality to the Project). Del Proyecto a la Realidad Aumentada (From the Project to Augmented Reality) (2014 MOOC 00019).
Type of activity: competitive project.
Funding body: Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (Agaur).
Funding body’s code: Doctoral Programme:<2014 MOOC 00019

Access profile

The ideal or recommended candidate should, preferably, be in possession of one of the following official Spanish undergraduate or master’s degrees, as the contents of these programmes offer optimal preparation for this doctoral programme:

• Master’s degree in Comprehensive Management, Refurbishment and Restoration of Built Heritage and Existing Structures (UPV/EHU)
• Master’s degree in Architecture, Energy and the Environment (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Building Construction (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Urban Management and Valuation (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Architectural Technology (UPC)
• Master’s degree in the Theory and History of Architecture (UPC)
• Master’s degree in the Theory and Practice of Architectural Projects (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Urbanism (UPC)
• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (UC)
• Master’s degree in Historical and Territorial Heritage (UC)
• Master’s degree in Construction Engineering (UC)
• Master’s degree in Integrity and Durability of Materials, Components and Structures (UC).
Other official Spanish master’s degrees and equivalent foreign degrees with similar focuses to those previously mentioned will also be considered.

Applicants meeting the admission requirements may apply to the programme via the channels established by each participating university.

Note that the desired background for applicants to the UPC and the ADR&M research group is decidedly technological, with an emphasis on ICT applications. The programme at the UPC focuses more on applications to heritage studies and less on refurbishment studies (which correspond more to the Architectural Construction Department or the GTED research group at the University of Cantabria), conservation and reuse (which correspond more to the Department of Architectural Design) or public spaces (which correspond more to the Department of Urbanism and Regional Planning).

The multi-disciplinary nature of cases requiring joint supervision must be duly substantiated.

Access requirements

As a rule, applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor's degree or equivalent and a Spanish master's degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees (Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February).

Applicants who meet one or more of the following conditions are also eligible for admission:

a) Holders of official Spanish degrees or equivalent Spanish qualifications, provided they have passed 300 ECTS credits in total and they can prove they have reached Level 3 in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.
b) Holders of degrees awarded in foreign education systems in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which do not require homologation, who can prove that they have reached Level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework, provided the degree makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
c) Holders of degrees awarded in a country that does not belong to the EHEA, which do not require homologation, on the condition that the University is able to verify that the degree is of a level equivalent to that of official university master's degrees in Spain and that it makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
d) Holders of another doctoral degree.
e) Holders of an official university qualification who, having been awarded a post as a trainee in the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have successfully completed at least two years of training leading to an official degree in a health sciences specialisation.

Note 1: Regulations for access to doctoral studies for individuals with degrees in bachelor's, engineering, or architecture under the system prior to the implementation of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014).

Note 2: Agreement number 64/2014 of the Governing Council approving the procedure and criteria for assessing the academic requirements for admission to doctoral studies with non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014).

Legal framework

• Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated version)
• Academic regulations for doctoral studies (CG/2023/09/08)

Admission criteria and merits assessment

In accordance with that which is established in Article 7 of Royal Decree 99/2011, the previous experience of candidates wishing to register doctoral theses in this doctoral programme will be considered. This programme has a well-defined focus on refurbishment and restoration, but, at the same time, it covers a wide range of contents and specific subject matters. Taking this into consideration, criteria have been established to assess, using a defined scoring system for the merits indicated hereafter, and identify future candidates’ abilities and interests in the research carried out in this doctoral programme.

As can be seen, the total value of all of the sections adds up to 100 points. The minimum score required to be admitted to the doctoral programme is 50 points.

1. Academic transcript, including the master’s programme taken. Will be given up to 30 points. Undergraduate degrees will be given a maximum of 10 points and master’s degrees will be given a maximum of 20 points.

2. Concordance of the master’s programme taken. Will be given up to 20 points. Total similarity of subject matters in the master’s programme taken and in the master’s thesis with topics related to historic buildings or refurbishment will be given a maximum of 20 points. To provide some orientation, the maximum points will be given if applicants have completed the following official, research-focused master’s programmes:

• Master’s programme in Comprehensive Management and Refurbishment of Built Heritage (UPV/EHU)
• Maser’s programme in Architecture, Energy and the Environment (UPC)
• Master’s programme in Construction (UPC)
• Master’s programme in Urban Management and Valuation (UPC)
• Master’s programme in Landscape Architecture (UPC)
• Master’s programme in Architectural Technology (UPC)
• Master’s programme in Theory and History of Architecture (UPC)
• Master’s programme in the Theory and Practice of Architectural Projects (UPC)
• Master’s programme in Urbanism (UPC)
• Master’s programme in Civil Engineering (UC)
• Master’s programme in Historical and Territorial Heritage (UC)
• European master’s programme in Construction Engineering (UC)
• Master’s programme in Integrity and Durability of Materials, Components and Structures (UC)

3. Level of English. Will be given up to 10 points. Holding a certificate that ensures a B1 level or equivalent will be given 2 points. Holding a certificate that ensures a B2 level or equivalent will be given 6 points. Higher levels will be given the maximum number of points. The minimum required points in this area is 2 points.

4. Publications. Will be given up to 10 points. To provide some orientation, the maximum number of points will be awarded if applicants have two publications (with a maximum of 3 co-authors) in Q1 journals (JCR).

5. Knowledge of computing and information and communication technologies. Will be given up to 10 points. To provide some orientation, the maximum number of points will be awarded if applicants can demonstrate their proficiency using high-performance computing tools (AutoCAD, 3D Studio or similar), sending and receiving large volumes of data by telematic means and using smartphone applications.

6. Other languages. Will be given up to 10 points. To provide some orientation, the maximum number of points will be awarded if applicants can accredit holding at least a B2-level language certificate, or equivalent, for the German, French or Italian languages.

7. Other merits. Will be given up to 10 points. This section basically considers the merits applicants can demonstrate in any of the six aforementioned sections, as long as they are related to historic buildings or refurbishment. The aim here is to award candidates who have a notable mastery in the field.

Training complements

Applicants’ first enrolment may be completed after receiving their admission letter if it is received after the standard period for honours enrolment (more than 10), extraordinary thesis awards, maximum scores on the master’s thesis, master’s programmes taken at one of the top 50 universities at an international level, other similar postgraduate occurrences at foreign universities, extensive knowledge of high-performance computing tools, active participation in research projects, contracts and agreements, grants previously received in competitive calls or having a predoctoral grant awarded by any body or via a research project, contract or agreement.

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

No specific bridging courses are planned.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

Applicants’ should first enrol after receiving their admission decision, if this occurs after the standard enrolment period.

More information at the general registration section

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan

Doctoral candidates must submit a research plan, which will be included in their doctoral student activity report, before the end of the first year. The plan may be improved over the course of the doctoral degree. It must be endorsed by the tutor and the supervisor, and it must include the method that is to be followed and the aims of the research.

At least one of these annual assessments will include a public presentation and defence of the research plan and work done before a committee composed of three doctoral degree holders, which will be conducted in the manner determined by each academic committee. The examination committee awards a Pass or Fail mark. A Pass mark is a prerequisite for continuing on the doctoral programme. Doctoral candidates awarded a Fail mark must submit a new research plan for assessment by the academic committee of the doctoral programme within six months.

The committee assesses the research plan every year, in addition to all of the other activities in the doctoral student activity report. Doctoral candidates who are awarded two consecutive Fail marks for the research plan will be obliged to definitely withdraw from the programme.

If they change the subject of their thesis, they must submit a new research plan.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.

The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.

PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.

The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.

A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.

Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.

If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.

The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.

For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.

More information at the PhD theses section

Permanence

The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.

If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.

If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
• The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
• The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
• A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
• The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
• The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.

Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.

Legal framework

• Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated version)
• Academic regulations for doctoral studies (CG/2023/09/08)

List of authorized thesis for defense

Last update: 21/12/2024 05:45:09.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 21/12/2024 05:30:21.

List of defended theses by year

Select a year: 2015201620172018201920202021202220232024

Last update: 21/12/2024 06:01:46.

Research groups

UPC groups:

• ADR&M-Architectural, Design: Representation and Modelling
• AIEM-Architecture, energy and environment
• GIRAS-Research Group on Architecture: Project, Territory and Society
• GREiP-Building Construction and Heritage Research Group
• QURBIS-Quality of Urban Life: Innovation, Sustainability and Social Engagement
• REARQ-Rehabilitation and Architectural Restoration

External groups:

• University of Cantabria, School of Civil Building Management and Technology (GTED)

Teachers

Doctoral Programme teachers

• Aguado Roca, Maite
• Avila Casademont, Genis
• Corso Sarmiento, Juan Manuel
• Crespo Cabillo, Isabel
• de Gispert Hernandez, Jordi
• de Mendonça Espinheira Gomes, Renata
• Escoda Pastor, Carmen
• Esquinas Dessy, Jesus
• Fort Mir, Josep Maria
• Galceran Vila, Margarita Galceran Vila
• Garriga Gimeno, Queralt
• Gimenez Mateu, Luis
• Lloveras Montserrat, Joaquim
• Mendoza Ramirez, Hector
• Millan Gomez, Antonio
• Moliner Nuño, Sandra
• Moya Sala, Joaquim Narcis
• Navarro Delgado, Isidro
• Redondo Dominguez, Ernest
• Sanchez Riera, Alberto
• Santana Roma, Galdric
• Valls Dalmau, Francesc
• Xiques Triquell, Jordi
• Zaragoza de Pedro, Isabel

Other teachers linked to the Doctoral Programme

• Avellaneda López, Omar Fabrisio
• Gilabert Sanz, Salvador
• González Pérez, Francisco Javier
• Marilena, Christodoulou
• Seve, Bruno