PhD in Health and Human Mobility organized

2026/2027

What you learn

The Doctoral Programmes are proposed from Europe as a fundamental tool at the service of the improvement of R+D+i, the support of the university teaching function and, in short, the improvement of cultural development, as well as social cohesion. 

In accordance with this conception of the doctorate, it is established that the fundamental component of this training is the advancement of scientific knowledge through "original research", and therefore the objective is to learn about advances in research and related cutting-edge techniques and methods that allow raising the quality, innovation and possibilities of dissemination of scientific production.

Currently, different professionals in the socio-health field are aware of the need for the University to act by promoting the training of new professionals in health research that results in decision-making that is more committed to the quality of the population's health based on empirical evidence. Therefore, the existence of doctoral programs is justified.

This Doctoral Programme aims to address the biological dimension of health, contributing from the research field to the

Generic skills

CB11 - Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field. ("field" is replaced by "scope" as of the application of R.D. 576/2023, of 4 July)

CB12 - Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.

CB13 - Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.

CB14 - Ability to carry out critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.

CB15 - Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their fields of knowledge in the modes and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.

CB16 - Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress within a knowledge-based society.

CB17 - Ability to promote Open Science and Citizen Science, in accordance with Article 12 of Organic Law 2/2023, of 22 March, as a way of contributing to the consideration of scientific knowledge as a common good, through the evaluation of cross-cutting activities carried out by the doctoral student related to different dimensions of Open Science and Citizen Science, as well as the training acquired in both disciplines in micro-credential format or similar. (From the application of R.D. 576/2023, of 4 July)

Specific skills

CA01 - Function in contexts in which there is little specific information.

CA02 - Find the key questions that need to be answered to solve a complex problem.

CA03 - Design, create, develop and undertake novel and innovative projects in their field of knowledge.

CA04 - Work both in a team and autonomously in an international or multidisciplinary context.

CA05 - Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgments with limited information.

CA06 - The critique and intellectual defense of solutions.

C102 - Acquire a global vision of the scientific method applied to Health Sciences and Physical Activity and Sport

C105 - Facilitating the acquisition of skills and abilities related to employability and entrepreneurship in the research context

C104 - Improve personal skills and know the basic tools to carry out an active, organised and planned job search in their research field

C103 - Identify the conceptual framework and different types of design in qualitative and quantitative research

Transversal skills

CB11 - Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field. ("field" is replaced by "scope" as of the application of R.D. 576/2023, of 4 July)

CB12 - Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.

CB13 - Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.

CB14 - Ability to carry out critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.

CB15 - Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their fields of knowledge in the modes and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.

CB16 - Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress within a knowledge-based society.

CB17 - Ability to promote Open Science and Citizen Science, in accordance with Article 12 of Organic Law 2/2023, of 22 March, as a way of contributing to the consideration of scientific knowledge as a common good, through the evaluation of cross-cutting activities carried out by the doctoral student related to different dimensions of Open Science and Citizen Science, as well as the training acquired in both disciplines in micro-credential format or similar. (From the application of R.D. 576/2023, of 4 July)

Professional and academic career

The doctoral degree enables them to start a university teaching career, but it also increases professional prestige outside this field, which will undoubtedly improve their professional situation since this training gives access to carry out research activity autonomously, a value on the rise in many companies.

Professional and academic career

The doctoral degree enables them to start a university teaching career, but it also increases professional prestige outside this field, which will undoubtedly improve their professional situation since this training gives access to carry out research activity autonomously, a value on the rise in many companies.

Research lines

This are the main research lines for current study.

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Planning for teaching

Additional subject teaching

Candidates who do not meet all the necessary prior learning conditions for the programme may be required to complete additional courses in the form of subjects and modules from UDC Master’s and undergraduate programmes. The number of credits from additional subject teaching will not exceed 15 ECTS credits, which students may choose to complete before or after enrolment in the PhD programme.

Students who do not opt to complete additional coursework prior to enrolment should register for their extra subjects or modules at the same time as the PhD. Failure to complete additional coursework within a period of three consecutive terms will result in the termination of the student’s registration.

See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 5: Applications.

EIDUDC teaching and training activities

EIDUDC teaching and training activities

Programme-specific teaching and training activities

El programa de doctorado presenta cuatro actividades formativas (AF):

  • AF1.- Bases de datos bibliográficas y redes sociales: Actividad obligatoria que se llevará a cabo en el primer año académico para el alumnado a tiempo completo o en los dos primeros años académicos para el alumnado a tiempo parcial. El alumnado adquirirá competencias en el manejo de bases de datos bibliográficas, como, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Sport Discus etc. De igual modo, se abordará el uso de redes sociales tipo Publons, Research Gate y ORCID. Además, se aprenderá el uso de herramientas como EndNote o Mendeley Desktop para la elaboración de documentos científicos.
  • AF2.- Estilos para la elaboración de referencias bibliográficas: Actividad obligatoria que se llevará a cabo en el primer año académico para el alumnado a tiempo completo o en los dos primeros años académicos para el alumnado a tiempo parcial. El alumnado adquirirá competencias en la aplicación de normas Vancouver, APA7, o cualquier otra que recomienden los directores de tesis.
  • AF3.- Presentación pública de los avances en el trabajo de investigación: Es una actividad obligatoria. Se realizará anualmente, durante el segundo cuatrimestre, desde el primer año para el alumnado a tiempo completo y desde el segundo año en adelante para el alumnado a tiempo parcial. La actividad consistirá en la exposición pública del trabajo de tesis realizado hasta el momento.
  • AF4.- Formación transversal organizada por las Escuelas de Doctorado: Las universidades del programa disponen de una oferta de formación transversal organizada por su Escuelas de Doctorado, el programa de doctorado en Salud y Motricidad Humana exige la realización de, al menos, 24 horas cursos de formación transversal, que el alumnado elegirá siguiendo las indicaciones de su dirección de tesis y que podrá realizar durante sus estudios de doctorado. Esta condición se considera obligatoria para poder proceder a los trámites para la defensa de la tesis.

Supervision agreement

The PhD supervision agreement defines the academic relationship between the candidate and the University, the rights and responsibilities of each (including any intellectual and/or industrial property rights resulting from the candidate’s research), the procedures in place in relation to conflict resolution, and the duration of the agreement. It also specifies the duties of the PhD tutor and supervisor.

The supervision agreement must be signed by the candidate, tutor and designated university representative (or representatives) within a maximum period of one month as from the date of registration. The supervisor’s signature may be added subsequently, once a supervisor has been appointed.

When the document has been signed by all the relevant parties, the agreement is then added to the candidate’s record of activities.

See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 13: Supervision agreement.

Research plan

The candidate must prepare a research plan within six months of registration, with information regarding methodology, objectives, resources and milestones. The research plan is submitted together with the report of the supervisor and/or tutor for approval by the Academic Committee for PhD Programmes (CAPD). Improvements to the plan may be introduced with the approval of the supervisor and/or tutor based on the annual review of the student’s research progress.

Research plans are subject to annual review by the CAPD, including the report(s) of the supervisor and/or tutor and the candidate’s record of activities. Students will be permitted to continue with their studies if the outcome of the review is satisfactory. If the outcome is negative, the student will be required to submit a new plan within a period of six months. If the committee is still not satisfied, the candidate will be removed from the programme.

See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 15: Research plan.

Student mobility

UDC holds student mobility agreements with universities and other third-level institutions across four continents. Students are offered several opportunities each year to apply to study abroad in one of these centres (for a single term or for a whole year), with the guarantee that all credits obtained will be duly recognised in their academic record upon their return.

For each round of applications, the University publishes the list of exchange options available to students and, where relevant, the specific conditions associated with each. Students may also apply to the University for funding for international work experience placements and internships.

Work experience placements are accredited in the student's academic record and the European diploma supplement. Students are free to decide in which host company or academic institution within the EHEA they wish to carry out their placement. To assist them in their search, the University has created an online noticeboard with jobs postings and other news.

Work-study placements in A Coruña are arranged by the International Relations Office (ORI) of the UDC in collaboration with the international relations coordinators in the student’s home university. The general entry criteria, rights and obligations of students, and admission and acceptance procedures for the programme, are regulated by the UDC Mobility Policy.