Access requirements and Admission
Important Information on Calls for Predoctoral Funding and Pre-Admission to the Doctoral Programme 2026–27
Access and admission requirements
-
The requirements governing access to and admission to Doctoral studies are established in accordance with Articles 6 and 7 of Royal Decree 99/2011 and the amendments to these articles set out in Royal Decree 567/2023, as well as Article 7 of the Regulations implementing Royal Decree 99/2011, which govern Doctoral studies at the UCM and were published in the BOUC on 12 December 2012 [Regulations implementing Royal Decree 99/2011].
The requirements, admission application procedures, and deadlines can be consulted in the relevant call for applications for each academic year: https://edoctorado.ucm.es/matriculadoctorado
As a general rule, access to the Doctoral Programme requires official Spanish Bachelor's degree qualifications, or equivalent qualifications, and a University Master's degree. In addition, applicants may gain access if they meet any of the following conditions:
- Hold an official university degree in Licenciatura, Arquitectura, or Ingeniería, or an equivalent qualification, awarded by a Spanish university or officially recognised by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.
- Hold an official Spanish university degree, or an official university degree from another country belonging to the European Higher Education Area, that qualifies the holder for admission to a Master's degree in accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007 of 29 October, and have completed at least 300 ECTS credits across their official university studies, of which at least 60 must be at Master's level. Documents not issued in Spanish must be legalised and accompanied by the corresponding official translation.
- Hold an official Spanish Bachelor's degree whose duration, in accordance with European Union law, is at least 300 ECTS credits. Holders of such degrees must complete the training complements referred to in Article 7.2 of Royal Decree 99/2011, unless the curriculum of the corresponding Bachelor's degree includes research training credits equivalent, in terms of their educational value, to the research credits obtained through Master's-level studies.
- Hold a university degree and, following admission to a specialised healthcare training position through the corresponding competitive selection process, have successfully completed at least two years of training in a programme leading to an official qualification in a healthcare specialty (MIR, BIR, FIR, etc.).
- Hold a qualification awarded under a foreign education system, without the need for official recognition in Spain, subject to authorisation by the Rector (verification by the university that the level of education is equivalent to that of an official University Master's degree and that the qualification entitles the holder to access Doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded). These applicants may apply for admission within the deadlines specified in the relevant admission call by submitting proof that they have applied for authorisation. However, they may only be admitted once they have received a favourable decision from the UCM. Documents not issued in Spanish must be legalised and accompanied by the corresponding official translation.
- Hold another Spanish Doctoral Degree awarded under previous university regulations.
- Hold an Advanced Studies Diploma (Diploma de Estudios Avanzados) obtained in accordance with Royal Decree 778/1998 of 30 April, or have obtained the research proficiency qualification (suficiencia investigadora) regulated by Royal Decree 185/1985 of 23 January.
To formalise admission, applicants must upload the documents listed under "Required Documentation" to the online application platform. Applications for admission must be submitted online. When submitting the application electronically, applicants must provide the certificates demonstrating that they meet the general requirements established in the call for applications. Applicants must also provide documentary evidence supporting the merits claimed in the required documentation (curriculum vitae, recommendation letter from the researcher, and other documents confirming the merits claimed).