PhD in Computing

Enrolment

Procedure and required documentation

First enrolment in the PhD degree program

Depending on where the admitted student has obtained the degree that gives access to the PhD degree program, the following documents are required in his/her first enrolment in the PhD degree program:

Degrees completed in centers that are part of the UPC
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • If the applicant holds other qualifications related to the subject area of the PhD degree program applied for and that are different from those given to meet entrance requirements, it is necessary to include the original certificates and copies (or official copies) with the application.
Degrees completed in centers cooperating with the UPC or any other Spanish national university
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Photocopy of DNI, NIE or passport.
  • Original and photocopy (or official copy) of the certificate (degree) that entitles the applicant to start the doctorate program or proof of payment for the certificate.
  • Original and photocopy (or official copy) of a certificate issued by the institution that awarded the degree detailing each subject studied. The certificate must include information about the number of hours/credits studied and grade for each subject. This certificate must also include the global average obtained by the student.
Degrees completed in foreign universities or institutions of higher education
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Photocopy of DNI, NIE or passport.
  • Original and photocopy (or official copy) of the homologation of the degree that entitles the applicant to enter the PhD degree program.
  • If the title has not been homologated, it is necessary to provide the original and a photocopy of the certificate (or official copy) that was awarded either by the university or institution where the title was obtained or by the education authority of the country to which the university belongs. This document must confirm that the duration of the degree was at least three years and that is it a valid precursor to studies at postgraduate level (master's degree) in that country. If that is not possible, it must indicate the level of higher education that the degree gives access to in the country where it was awarded.
  • Original and photocopy (or official copy) of a certificate from the institution that awarded the degree detailing each subject that has been studied. The certificate must detail the number of hours and credits studied and must include the grade awarded for each subject. This certificate also must contain information on the mark scheme and how grades are awarded.
  • If the applicant holds other qualifications related to the subject area of the PhD degree program applied for and that are different from those given to meet entrance requirements, it is necessary to include the original certificates and copy (or official copy) with the application.


Important. All documents issued in countries that do not belong to the European Higher Education Area must be stamped and legalised by the appropriate government department (usually via diplomatic channels).

After the validity of the necessary documentation has been checked, enrolment for the particular course (either in lecturing or research period depending on the student) can continue. Once the applicable registration fees have been paid, the enrolment process is complete and the applicant is a student of the PhD degree program of the UPC.

Some formalities that foreign students should take into account
  • Legalization and transcription of the academic degree: it is a requirement for the enrolment that, in some cases, must be done before arriving to Spain. The details of the authentication for documents depending on the origin country can be found here .
  • Homologation (approval) of the academic degree: it is not a mandatory requirement for the enrolment, but it is advisable to be able to work in Europe in the future.
  • For any other non-academic matter (accommodation, NIE formalities, etc.) please address to the UPC International Mobility Office (OMI) .
Enrolments complementary courses  (if any)

Previously to the enrolment, students must contact their respective tutors in order to get the enrolment plan agreed by the tutor and the AC for  that semester. 

Enrolment process
  • Tutorship: the enrolment must be done in September, and once for each academic year.
  • Master Courses: the enrolment must be done every semester.


The CS administrative department fixes the place, dates and hours where the enrolments will take place, as shown in the calendar, and determines the deadlines for enrolment modifications or cancellations. Enrolments will be processed by order of arrival.

The CS administrative department will review the presented documentation and proceed to complete the enrolment. Note that the required documentation also depends on what the student is enrolling for (see next section). In addition, students who have rights to get a discount on the enrolment fee will have to certificate their condition, by means of the corresponding document, at the moment of enrolment.

Payment: PhD students may pay the enrolment fee in any office of 'La Caixa', Catalunya Caixa, BASCH – BCH network. The payment deadline is 5 days from the enrolment date. Payment can be automatically charged in a bank account, whenever a tick is marked in the corresponding box in the enrolment form and the account data are supplied together with the stamp of the bank entity or by attaching a photocopy of a document proving that the student is holder of the bank account. Only in this case, the total payment may be divided in two installments: the first one can be in cash or through bank account, whereas the second one will always be through bank account and will be charged from December 15th (NOTE: payment cannot be divided in two installments for the enrolments done in the second semester of the academic year).

Note: There is no fee for the PhD Research Plan presentation enrolment.

Unpaid enrolments: the fact of not paying the total amount of the enrolment fee, either in September, or between September and December in the case of splitted  payment, or in a February extension (if any), within the established conditions, implies the cancellation of the full enrolment, since this is considered as annual. This also implies the loss of all the payments made before during the academic year and the loss of the qualifications obtained within the same academic year.

The university will demand the payment of any unpaid amount of enrolments of previous years as a requirement for a new enrolment or for the issue of degrees and certificates.

What to enroll for?

  • Each semester complementary courses: ECTS credits of courses  offered in official Master  programs, as determined by the Academic Comimtte.
  • Once every academic year until the PhD thesis defense: PhD thesis tutorship enrolment. PhD students have to enroll for PhD thesis tutorship every academic year until the thesis defense. The enrolment sheet has to be signed by both the tutor/director of the thesis and by the student.
  • Just once: Research Plan. According to the PhD regulations, there is the need of elaborating and submitting a research plan, which must be presented during the second academic year in front of an evaluation committee.  The enrolment for this evaluation  will be done on the second academic year, unless otherwise specified by the Academic Commission. Doctoral candidates must submit the documentation listed in Research Plan before the deadline established in the academic calendar.
  • Just once before the thesis defense: Doctoral thesis deposit. PhD students may enroll at any time during the academic year. Students must submit the documentation listed the Thesis document and defence.

Other related informations