PhD in Civil Engineering

2025/2026

Access

Students who meet some of the criteria listed in Article 4 of the UDC PhD Policies and Regulations will be able to access to UDC PhD programmes.

Applications

Candidates matching one of the general entry requirements for PhD students will be assessed in accordance with the specific criteria and merits for each programme. Information relating to application procedures and requirements are included in the programme structure for each course.

The decision to offer a student a place on a UDC PhD programme is the result of an application-specific evaluation process, and does not affect the academic or professional status of the candidate’s existing qualifications.

22 places offered in academic year 2025/2026

Recommended profile of admission

The entry profile establishes the previous training requirements of the students to be admitted to the program. In general, those who meet the access conditions specified in the previous section and are in any of the following situations may be admitted to the POD:

They have Bachelor's and Master's degrees that are framed in the branch of knowledge Engineering and Architecture.
They have Bachelor's and Master's degrees that fall within the scope of knowledge established in Annex I of RD 822/2021: Architecture, construction, building and urban planning, and civil engineering.
They have Bachelor's and Master's degrees, skills, abilities and previous knowledge related to Engineering and related professions, construction and civil engineering in particular.
They have earned the DEA degree in programs similar to this PhD program.

The CAPD may consider the admission of applicants who are not in any of the above situations, as long as they have Bachelor's and Master's degrees, skills, abilities and previous knowledge in other fields that allow them to start a doctoral thesis within the framework of one of the POD's lines of research.

In all cases, the student must show interest in one of the POD's lines of research.

The recommended entry profile is that of those who hold the official degree in Civil Engineering, the official Master's degree in Civil Engineering, the official degree of Master's Degree in Civil Engineering, an official degree equivalent to a Master's Degree in the field of civil engineering, or an official degree equivalent to a Master's Degree in the field of construction or in other branches of engineering. engineering.

Cases that do not strictly fit this admission profile will be studied by the CAPD, which may or may not proceed with admission, and establish specific training complements where appropriate.

In general, for these studies it is recommended to have a minimum level comparable to B1 in Spanish or Galician and a level comparable to B2 in English.

Application general procedure

Applications and registration for PhD programmes will be made using the online application system on the UDC website, accompanied by all necessary supporting documents. Applications and registration for external students will be made here.

If you need more information, you can check this sources the Application general procedure.

Applications procedure for students whose foreign degree/diplome has not been officially recognised

See EIDUDC Application and registration.

General procedure by the CAPD

See EIDUDC Application and registration.

Specific access requirements of the CAPD

Letter of reference from the teaching staff of the programme. It is a mandatory requirement for admission to the programme to submit a letter of reference from a professor of the programme who can supervise the thesis, for which they must meet the necessary requirements in accordance with current legislation and regulations. The letter of reference must endorse: I) the adequacy of the applicant's previous training to carry out their studies in this POD, and II) the viability of the future thesis within the framework of one of the lines of research of the POD and its interest for the programme.
Knowledge of languages. Minimum language skills in Spanish or Galician and a knowledge of English equivalent to level B1 are required, as it is the common language of scientific communication in the field of the thesis. For this reason, a level comparable to B2 in English is recommended.

Foreign students from countries outside the Galician and/or Spanish linguistic fields must prove a minimum knowledge of Galician and/or Spanish equivalent to level B1. In the event that they can only communicate through the foreign language that is commonly used for scientific communication in the field of the thesis, the program must ensure their supervision and supervision of the thesis in that language.

The levels of linguistic knowledge will preferably be accredited by one of the official certifications from the list of accreditations recognised by the UDC Language Centre for the different levels of the Common European Framework: https://www.acles.es/uploads/archivos/Tablas_ACLES/Tablas_de_certificados_reconocidos_por_ACLES_2023_02_03.pdf

However, the CAPD may assess language proficiency through other indicators, taking into account the circumstances and personal, academic and professional trajectory of the applicants.

Deadlines

The application for admission (or registration renewal) and enrollment in PhD studies will be carried out according to the terms approved by the Governing Council of the UDC.

Registration

See information on how to register for UDC PhD courses.

Predoctoral grants

See UDC predoctoral grants.

Rules and regulations

See UDC PhD Policies and Regulations.