PhD in Energy and Marine Propulsion

2026/2027

What you learn

The program is mainly made up of researchers from the following research groups: Energy and Marine Propulsion. Cybernetic Science and Technology Researchers from the Universities of Salamanca and the Polytechnic of Portalegre are also integrated.

Generic skills

  • CG1 Development of comprehension, analysis and synthesis skills.
  • CG2 Development of the skills to pose and solve complex problems by applying the knowledge acquired.
  • CG3 Development of capacities to apply knowledge to new environments, to formulate and solve new questions, to pose and contrast new hypotheses.
  • CG4 Development of teamwork skills.
  • CG5 Development of the ability to prepare, present and defend scientific papers integrating knowledge.
  • CG6 Development of capacities to reflect on the implications of management on sustainable development.
  • CG7 Development of skills for the dissemination of ideas in academic or non-specialized contexts.
  • CG8 Development of skills in the handling, processing and development of complex analytical tools, in particular mathematics, statistics and computer science.

Specific skills

  • CE1 Acquisition of skills in the analysis and resolution of complex problems in the field of energy, thermal, electrical, electronic and automatic engineering in naval, industrial and building facilities. General
  • CE2 Acquisition of skills in the analysis and resolution of problems in the field of modelling complex systems and their subsequent optimisation. General
  • CT1 Ability to write and present scientific results. General
  • CT2 Ability to manage and execute research and technology transfer projects in the field of energy. General
  • CT3 Development of knowledge transfer skills using different presentation and dissemination tools or supports. General

Transversal skills

  • CG1 Development of comprehension, analysis and synthesis skills.
  • CG2 Development of the skills to pose and solve complex problems by applying the knowledge acquired.
  • CG3 Development of capacities to apply knowledge to new environments, to formulate and solve new questions, to pose and contrast new hypotheses.
  • CG4 Development of teamwork skills.
  • CG5 Development of the ability to prepare, present and defend scientific papers integrating knowledge.
  • CG6 Development of capacities to reflect on the implications of management on sustainable development.
  • CG7 Development of skills for the dissemination of ideas in academic or non-specialized contexts.
  • CG8 Development of skills in the handling, processing and development of complex analytical tools, in particular mathematics, statistics and computer science.

Professional and academic career

Professional and academic career

Traditionally, the E.T.S. of Nautical and Machinery and the Polytechnic University School of Ferrol have been carrying out research in fields related to Energy Engineering, including Third Cycle Studies leading to the title of Doctor. Relevant results have been obtained from this teaching and research tradition, such as extraordinary doctorate awards, development of research activities at the university, professional activities in positions of great responsibility and in the patents included in the following web address: http://www.oepm.es Along the same lines, it is worth highlighting the qualitative level of publications in the various fields related to Energy Engineering. The programme is aimed at achieving research skills for the completion of Doctoral Theses.

Research lines

This are the main research lines for current study.

  • Técnicas Energéticas
  • Energía eólica
  • Aire húmedo
  • Máquinas Térmicas
  • Ambientes interiores
  • Energía undimotriz.
  • Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales
  • Técnicas de Corrosión
  • Nuevas técnicas docentes
  • Gestión y Control de la Calidad y Mantenimiento
  • Análisis y modelización de la radiación solar
  • Análisis de la calidad del suministro de la energía eléctrica.
  • Gestión eficiente de la energía eléctrica en sistemas eléctricos de potencia, industriales y residenciales
  • Estudio de los sistemas eléctricos en base a las modernas teorías de la potencia eléctrica.
  • Sistemas innovadores de impulsión de fluidos.
  • Propulsores eléctricos sumergidos
  • Generadores eficientes con el horizonte de la Superconductividad
  • Descargas parciales en cables aislantes de alta tensión
  • Smart grids
  • Meteorología y Oceanografía.
  • Maniobra de buques y Reglamento de Abordaxes
  • Historia de la Navegación e Instrumentación Náutica
  • Gestión e Administración Marítima. Seguridad y Contaminación Marítima
  • Optimización y control de sistemas en industria y edificación
  • Mejora, optimización y Desarrollo de instrumentos inteligentes y sensores tradicionales e inteligentes
  • Medición de radiación
  • Tecnología BIM (Building Information Modelling) en los proyectos de ingeniería
  • Intercambio de datos entre programas de CAD y otras herramientas informáticas utilizadas en ingeniería.
  • Vínculo entre competencias académicas y atribuciones profesionales
  • Aplicaciones a problemas industriales y medioambientales con: Redes neuronales. Mapas autoorganizativos. Sistemas híbridos artificiales
  • Optimización y control de procesos con diseño de experimentos
  • Optimización y supervisión de procesos industriales con técnicas inteligentes
  • Control adaptativo
  • Supervisión
  • Control Inteligente
  • Identificación
  • Redes Neuronales
  • Redes SOM
  • Métodos avanzados de Control
  • Inteligencia Artificial aplicada
  • Agentes y sistemas Multiagente
  • Reducción de dimensionalidad y visualización
  • Redes Neuronales Artificiales no Supervisadas
  • Seguridad Informática
  • Ingeniería de Conocimiento
  • Sistemas inteligentes en la ingeniería
  • Aprendizaje máquina y minería de datos
  • Sistemas multiclasificador y fusión de información
  • Nuevos métodos de clasificación débil (bagging y boosting)
  • Métodos de reconocimiento de patrones.

Planning for teaching

EIDUDC teaching and training activities

EIDUDC teaching and training activities

Programme-specific teaching and training activities

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

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.