In the academic year 1998-1999, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) established its own scholarship programme geared to enabling people on PhD courses to devote their time to research and study. The programme reflects the fact that embarking on teaching and research activity, under the supervision of experienced lecturers and researchers, is an aspect of PhD students' training.

The programme was modified under the agreement of the Governing Board of 4 July 2000, and that of the Board of Governors of 29 May 2003. The current Scholarship Programme for Official Master's Degree and PhD Students was approved under the agreement of the Board of Governors of 18 July 2007. Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on science, technology and innovation, amends the Trainee Research Staff Statute and has made it necessary to adapt the current programme to take into account the creation of the new legal concept of the pre-doctoral contract for trainee pre-doctoral research staff (TPRS) for calls for applications subsequent to the entry into force of the corresponding article of the aforementioned law on 3 June 2012.

In the light of the above, the Board of Governors approves the following regulations:

Article 1

Three types of pre-doctoral contract for trainee pre-doctoral research staff (TPRS) are hereby established for PhD students:

a) Type-1 TPRS contract: exclusively funded from the budget of a UPF department.

b) Type-2 TPRS contract: jointly funded from the budget of a UPF department and through a research contract, grant or project. 

c) Type-3 TPRS contract: exclusively funded through research contracts, grants or projects.

Article 2

Students must be contracted for full-time employment under a specific type of pre-doctoral contract, and must be registered with the general social security system.

Article 3

Minimum remuneration under a pre-doctoral contract shall be as follows:

The reference salary shall be that payable to a non-doctor assistant. The yearly amount due shall be divided into 12 monthly payments.

Article 4

Students contracted through this programme shall be entitled to a grant for a sum equivalent to the PhD enrolment and thesis tutorship fees established for the general public. 

Article 5

Students awarded a TPRS contract must:

a) Be enrolled, on a full-time basis, on a UPF PhD programme.

b) Carry out the research work and academic training activities envisaged in their training programme. In the case of a type-2 or type-3 TPRS contract, the person responsible for the corresponding research contract, grant or project shall be involved in planning those training activities, in proportion to their contribution to funding the contract.

Article 6

The training activities in a pre-doctoral researcher's training programme may not include more than 60 hours of participation in face-to-face academic activities.

Article 7

7.1. The vice-rector for Teaching Staff must approve the maximum number of contracts funded from UPF's budget issuable by each department.

7.2. PhD students who wish to be considered for a TPRS contract may make the corresponding application upon enrolling, together with their application for admission to the relevant PhD course. A student's application to be considered for a TPRS contract shall remain valid until they withdraw it or are no longer registered on a UPF PhD programme.

7.3. Each department's director shall:

a)      Ensure that the material used to publicize PhD programmes includes information on the availability of TPRS contracts, in keeping with the criteria established by the UPF committee with jurisdiction over PhDs, to enable students to apply to be considered for such a contract when enrolling.

b)      Guarantee that calls for applications and application processes are publicized.

c)      Establish the criteria applicable to the issuing of contracts funded from the department's budget.

d)      Establish the departmental body responsible for selecting applicants to receive contracts.

e)      Propose that contracts be awarded to the students selected to receive them.

7.4. The main researcher corresponding to a research contract, grant or project through which a contract is (jointly) funded shall:

a)      Establish the criteria applicable to the issuing of contracts funded through the research contract, grant or project in question (in conjunction with the department jointly funding such contracts, if applicable).

b)      Propose that contracts be awarded to the students selected to receive them.

Article 8

Each contract shall be issued for a one-year period, which may be extended annually for as long as is legally permissible, subject to a favourable report from the academic committee of the PhD programme on which the contracted student is enrolled.

Proposals regarding contract renewal and changes of contract type must be made by department directors and approved by the vice-rector for Teaching Staff. Students must prove that they meet all the requisites applicable to contracting.

Situations involving temporary disability, risks related to pregnancy and lactation, maternity, paternity, adoption or fostering shall not be included in calculations of the elapsed proportion of a contract's duration.

Article 9

Throughout its period of validity, a contract awarded through this programme shall be incompatible with any other contract. 

Article 10 

Remuneration arising from TPRS contracts shall be subject to the same variations that may affect that of teaching and research staff with employment contracts.

Article 11

If a student with a valid TPRS contract drops out of their PhD studies, their contract shall be rescinded.

Transitional provision. Adaptation of the current programme

PhD students with a scholarship governed by the agreement of the Board of Governors of 18 July 2007 may begin working with a TPRS contract under the conditions described herein as of 1 October 2012.

PhD students in the first year of a contract governed by the agreement of the Board of Governors of 18 July 2007 may apply for TPRS contracts offered as of 1 October 2012. If their application is successful, the time they have already spent as contracted trainee staff shall be deducted from the four-year period of their TPRS contract.

The regulations in place previously shall apply to any students who opt not to adapt to the programme.

Revocatory provision

The scholarship programmes for official master's degree and PhD students approved under the agreement of the Board of Governors of 18 July 2007 are hereby abolished, notwithstanding the stipulations of the transitional provision above.

Final provision

This programme shall be pertinent to calls for applications subsequent to 3 June 2012.