Access profile

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the programme's scientific field, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. The regular admission pathway to this doctoral programme is the completion of the master’s programme in Sustainability or the master’s programme in Sustainability Science and Technology. In these cases, no bridging courses will be required. The appropriateness of applicants with other master’s degrees will be assessed by the Academic Committee, who will, if necessary, define the bridging courses that must be completed.

In addition to having this educational background, certain personal characteristics are also considered important, such as interest in research projects being carried out within the programme, critical and analytical skills, initiative, consistence and persistence with work, teamwork, and suitable oral and written communication skills.

Thus, holders of degrees in the following subject matters may be admitted into the doctoral programme in Sustainability:

• Any of the fields of engineering, architecture or construction.
• Any of the fields of the natural sciences or mathematics.
• Any of the fields of the social sciences, economics or geography.
• A higher engineering degree (pre-EHEA).
• An architecture degree (pre- EHEA).
• A licentiate degree (pre- EHEA) in the fields of the natural sciences or mathematics.
• A licentiate degree (pre- EHEA) in the fields of the social sciences, economics or geography in addition to a master’s degree in any area of engineering.

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.

Finally, with respect to competencies, doctoral students must:
a) have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields;
b) have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of expertise that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community;
c) have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, in which they are able to apply their contributions, expertise and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they work;
d) have developed sufficient autonomy to set up, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer;
e) have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity;
f) have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are able to make cultural, social or technological advances and promote innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society;
g) have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds.

Number of places

10

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

• Rosas Casals, Marti

• Correa Padrón, Darisbel
• Etxeberria Larrañaga, Miren
• Mehaba, Wafa
• Pujadas Alvarez, Pablo
• Rosas Casals, Marti
• Segalas Coral, Jordi
• Villares Junyent, Miriam

• University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (PROMOTORA)

Office 202 – Building C2 (North Campus)
Tel.: 93 401 68 66
E-mail: doctorat.sos.camins@upc.edu

Access profile

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the programme's scientific field, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. The regular admission pathway to this doctoral programme is the completion of the master’s programme in Sustainability or the master’s programme in Sustainability Science and Technology. In these cases, no bridging courses will be required. The appropriateness of applicants with other master’s degrees will be assessed by the Academic Committee, who will, if necessary, define the bridging courses that must be completed.

In addition to having this educational background, certain personal characteristics are also considered important, such as interest in research projects being carried out within the programme, critical and analytical skills, initiative, consistence and persistence with work, teamwork, and suitable oral and written communication skills.

Thus, holders of degrees in the following subject matters may be admitted into the doctoral programme in Sustainability:

• Any of the fields of engineering, architecture or construction.
• Any of the fields of the natural sciences or mathematics.
• Any of the fields of the social sciences, economics or geography.
• A higher engineering degree (pre-EHEA).
• An architecture degree (pre- EHEA).
• A licentiate degree (pre- EHEA) in the fields of the natural sciences or mathematics.
• A licentiate degree (pre- EHEA) in the fields of the social sciences, economics or geography in addition to a master’s degree in any area of engineering.

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

With regard to the doctoral programme in Sustainability, the selection and admission of candidates is the responsibility of the programme’s academic committee.

 • Candidate’s CV, motivation for research work and references provided (50%).
• The availability of a grant or funding to complete a thesis (40%).

The following will also be considered:
• Grades earned in previous degree programmes. Average grade on the academic transcripts that enable admission to the doctoral programme (4%).
• Level of English. Knowledge of other languages will also be considered favourably (4%).
• Interview with the candidate (if the Committee finds it necessary) (2%).

Training complements

The academic committee for the programme may require that doctoral students pass specific bridging courses. In this case, the Committee will monitor the bridging courses and set up appropriate criteria to limit their length.

The courses shall involve training in research, but in no case will candidates be required to enrol in 60 or more ECTS credits (as per the academic regulations for doctoral studies, bridging courses could also include transversal education, but this is likely to be changed to include only research-related credits, especially in cases of 300-ECTS-credit doctoral programmes).

Depending on the doctoral student activity report, the programme’s Academic Committee may propose measures, in addition to those established by current regulations, that would disassociate candidates who do not meet the established requisites.

In the doctoral programme in Sustainability, applicants who have graduated from associated master’s programmes (i.e., the master’s programmes in Sustainability Science and Technology, and in Technology for Human Development and Cooperation, both offered by the UPC) will not be required to take bridging courses.

In this doctoral programme, student-specific supplementary requisites for methodological of scientific training may be defined by the academic committee when a candidate is admitted, depending on his/her background. This additional coursework shall pertain to subjects taught in the master’s programmes associated with this doctoral programme (the master’s programmes in Sustainability Science and Technology, and in Technology for Human Development and Cooperation, both offered by the UPC).

Thesis supervisors, based on their observations of candidates’ shortcomings, or the need for additional training in one or more areas pertaining to doctoral theses, may require candidates to complete specific training. This training will take place in the form of attending specialised courses, seminars, workshops or completing stays in research centres that allow candidates to complete their training in specific aspects related to their theses.

The time limit for completing this additional training and bridging courses is one and a half years (18 months), if the completion of said courses is required by the programme’s Academic Committee as a condition for the candidate’s admittance. The Committee may remove students who have not completed the required bridging courses within 18 months.

Given that there is no specific profile that grants access to the doctoral programme in Sustainability, bridging courses, if necessary, will be selected from the master’s degree programmes that depend on the UPC’s Sustainability Institute.

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

Ordinary enrolment: September-October.

Special enrolment: February.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

Ordinary enrolment: September-October.

More information at the general registration section

Formation activities

Activity: tutorial.
Hours: 288.

Activity: Training in information skills.
Hours: 1.5.
Type: optional.

Activity: Research methodology.
Hours: 12.
Type: optional.

Activity: Innovation and creativity.
Hours: 8.
Type: optional.

Activity: Language and communication skills.
Hours: 18.
Type: optional.

Activity: Courses and seminars.
Hours: 16.
Type: optional.

Activity: Workshops.
Hours: 20.
Type: optional.

Activity: Publications.
Hours: 280.
Type: optional.

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: 17/05/2025 04:45:07.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 17/05/2025 04:30:17.

List of defended theses by year

Select a year: 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Last update: 17/05/2025 05:00:18.

Research groups

UPC groups:

• AIEM-Architecture, energy and environment
• ATEM-Structural and Materials Technology
• CAP-High Performace Computing Group
• CEBIM-Molecular Biotechnology Centre
• CELBIOTECH-Research Group: Paper Engineering
• CITES-Sustainability Science and Technology Research Group
• CNDS-Computer Networks and Distributed Systems
• COSDA-UPC-COmpositional and Spatial Data Analysis
• CRAAX-Advanced Network Architectures Lab
• CREDA-Centre for Agrifood Economics and Development
• CRnE-Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering
• EC-Construction Engineering
• EPIC-Energy Processing and Integrated Circuits
• EScGD-Engineering Sciences and Global Development
• GGMM-Group of Geotechnics and Mechanics of Materials
• GICITED-Interdisciplinary Group on Building Science and Technology
• GIIP-Project Design, Sustainability and Communication Research Group
• GREENTECH-Green Technologies Research Group
• GRHCT-Group of Research on History of Science and Technology
• GRIC-Group of Construction Research and Innovation
• HABITAR-Research Group
• IMP-Information Modelling and Processing
• InSup-Surface Interaction in Bioengineering and Materials Science Research Group
• LESEC-Laboratori d'Estudis Socials de l'Enginyeria Civil
• MSR-Soil and Rock Mechanics
• PERC-UPC-Power Electronics Research Centre
• POLQUITEX-Polymeric Materials and Textile Chemistry
• SIMCON-First-principles approaches to condensed matter physics: quantum effects and complexity
• SOC-STEM-Impacte Social de les STEM
• STH-Sustainability, Technology and Humanism

Teachers

Doctoral Programme teachers

• Aguado de Cea, Antonio
• Alcaraz Sendra, Olga
• Alier Forment, Marc
• Alvarez del Castillo, Javier
• Alvarez del Castillo, M. Dolores
• Amante Garcia, Beatriz
• Balta Salvador, Roso
• Bosch Tous, Ricard
• Cadafalch Rabasa, Jordi
• Carrillo Navarrete, Fernando
• Casanovas Rubio, Maria del Mar
• Cremades Oliver, Lázaro V.
• Cuchi Burgos, Alberto
• Darbra Roman, Rosa Maria
• de la Fuente Antequera, Albert
• de la Hoz Casas, Jordi
• Domenech Lega, Bruno
• Estrada Romeu, Miquel
• Etxeberria Larrañaga, Miren
• Felipe Blanch, Jose Juan de
• Fernandez Guerrero, David
• Ferrer Marti, Laia
• Fonseca Casas, Pau
• Fuertes Perez, Pere
• Garcia Carrillo, Agueda
• Garrido Soriano, Nuria
• Gasso Domingo, Santiago
• Gibert Oliveras, Karina
• Gil Roig, Jose Maria
• Kallas Calot, Zein
• Llop Torne, Carles
• Lopez Alvarez, David
• Macias Arau, Pere
• Magrinya Torner, Francesc
• Marti Gregorio, Vicenç
• Martin Cañadas, Maria Elena
• Mas de les Valls Ortiz, Elisabet
• Maspoch Ruldua, Maria Lluïsa
• Masseck, Torsten
• Mayorga Cardenas, Miguel Yury
• Monguet Fierro, Josep Maria
• Morato Farreras, Jordi
• Navarro Moldes, Leandro
• Olmedo Torre, Noelia
• Pages Ramon, Anna
• Pardo Bosch, Francesc
• Peña Carrera, Marta
• Pujadas Alvarez, Pablo
• Rahmani Meddour, Djamel
• Rajadell Carreras, Manuel
• Reig Puig, Lourdes
• Riba Romeva, Carles
• Ribe Torijano, Oscar
• Roca Bosch, Elisabeth
• Romero Morales, Enrique
• Rosas Casals, Marti
• Ruiz Mansilla, Rafael
• Salan Ballesteros, M. Núria
• Segalas Coral, Jordi
• Sierra Garriga, Carlos
• Sureda Carbonell, Barbara
• Taghouti, Ibtissem
• Trullols Farreny, Enric
• Valderrama Angel, Cesar Alberto
• Vallbe Mumbru, Marc
• Vidal Lopez, Eva
• Villares Junyent, Miriam

Other teachers linked to the Doctoral Programme

• Cervantes Torre-Marin, Gemma
• Mercade Aloy, Josep