PhD in Health Sciences

2026/2027

What you learn

The Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences pursues the following training objectives:

· Know how to identify the right research question to carry out a research project with significant results.

· Know how to determine the correct research methodology to approach research in the field of health sciences.

· Know how to approach a research process paying special attention to ethical-legal aspects, including the confidentiality of data in the framework of research in the field of health sciences.

· Have the ability to initiate, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations, national or international, within the speciality of each student in the field of health sciences, in multidisciplinary contexts and, depending on each case, with a high component of knowledge transfer, both to the health system and to the productive sector.

· Be able to publicly present the work carried out to the scientific community, through oral communications, round tables or other activities in indexed forums.

· Understand research in the field of Health Sciences: know how to handle the characteristic data of health research.

· Know how to obtain and analyse epidemiological data to solve research questions in the field of health sciences.

· Know and know how to apply the main statistical techniques (descriptive and inference) to obtain significant data in the field of health sciences.

· Be competent in evaluating scientific evidence and applying it in the appropriate health care of patients.

· Consider the incorporation of the gender perspective in all teaching, research and knowledge transfer activities in accordance with the strategy set out in the Equality Plans of the University of A Coruña

· Obtaining the official university degree of Doctor, whose level is equivalent to MECES 4, and with the name that appears in the RUCT.

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 the format of micro-credentials 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.

CT1 - Be able to integrate into interdisciplinary teams to address complex problems
CT5 - Incorporate the gender perspective in all teaching, research and knowledge transfer activities in accordance with the strategy set out in the Equality Plans of the University of A Coruña
TC4 - Comply with democratic principles and values and the Sustainable Development Goals
CT3 - Know and know how to use the main computer tools to support research
CT2 - Know how to use all the technical means available and necessary to carry out a research project

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 the format of micro-credentials or
similar. (From the application of R.D. 576/2023, of 4 July)

Professional and academic career

The PhD degree can improve the student's professional situation, giving access to an autonomous research activity.

It facilitates the management of projects and access to calls for public fundraising exclusively for doctors.

The graduate profile endorses the interest of the programme for the different groups involved, including the academic community, collaborating health centres and research institutions.

The training of professionals who can contribute to the strengthening of research and innovation in the field of health is guaranteed.

Professional and academic career

The PhD degree can improve the student's professional situation, giving access to an autonomous research activity.

It facilitates the management of projects and access to calls for public fundraising exclusively for doctors.

The graduate profile endorses the interest of the programme for the different groups involved, including the academic community, collaborating health centres and research institutions.

The training of professionals who can contribute to the strengthening of research and innovation in the field of health is guaranteed.

Companies and institutions involved

This program is developed jointly by the University of A Coruña, the Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC) and the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC) for which there are collaboration agreements between the institutions.

The teaching staff of the program belong to one of these three institutions.

Research lines

This are the main research lines for current study.

  • Enfermedades cardiovasculares y metabólicas
  • Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiología clínica y traslacional
  • Envejecimiento, inflamación y medicina regenerativa
  • Investigación e innovación en especialidades médicas y quirúrgicas
  • Investigación e innovación en salud poblacional y cuidados sanitarios

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.

complements credits
Preparación dun Proxecto de Investigación I: Busca de Información 3
Preparación dun Proxecto de Investigación II: Desenvolvemento 3
Xestión da Investigación sanitaria 3
Aspectos éticos e xurídicos na investigación en Ciencias da Saúde 3
Metodoloxía da Investigación en Xerontoloxía 6
O proxecto de investigación en Xerontoloxía 3
Preparación dun Proxecto de Investigación I 3
Preparación dun Proxecto de Investigación II 3

EIDUDC teaching and training activities

EIDUDC teaching and training activities

Programme-specific teaching and training activities

É preciso completar todos os anos o documento de actividades a través da secretaria virtual do alumno. Cada ano estos contidos son avaliados pola comisión académica unha vez validados polo director do traballo de tese. No primeiro ano neste programa debe terse superado un comité de ética

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.

Teachers

Anatomy and Human Embryology Cellular Biology Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence Educational and Developmental Psychology
Pharmacology Physical Medicine and Radiology Physiology Preventive Medicine and Public Health Profesorado externo Statistics and Operational Research

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.