First-Year Requirements: Doctorate in History

 

During their first year at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, full-time students are required to attend methodology seminars, present an outline of their thesis proposal at the workshop, and defend their written proposal in front of an examining board.

Students who follow the doctorate on a part-time basis have two years to complete this process, although many choose to complete these activities in the first year.

Students who pursue dual doctorates with other universities are also required to complete these activities, although the timing is dependent on the specific agreement between the universities.

Methodology Seminars

During the first two trimesters of the academic year, students are required to attend seminars that cover commonly used methods in doctoral theses. In these sessions, incoming doctoral students are also introduced to the professors who are expert in these methodologies.

The number, schedule, and content of these seminars will be made available on the Aula Global.  

Workshops

During the first weeks of third trimester of the academic year, students present an outline of their thesis projects orally in front of their colleagues, thesis directors, and other professors and doctoral students who choose to attend. Presentations normally run 10 to 15 minutes with 15 minutes reserved for questions and comments. In each two-hour session, usually three doctoral students undertake presentations.

The purpose of the workshop is to provide doctoral students with feedback before elaborating their final written project, and for other doctoral students to become aware of the work of their colleagues.

The requirements and schedule for the workshop presentations will be posted on the Aula Global.

Examining Board

Before the end of the academic year, students are required to present their written thesis proposals by a date in June established by the administration of the doctoral program. After submitting the proposal, the student must defend it in front of an examining board at a later date.  The board consists of three persons, one of whom is the director of the thesis. If a thesis is co-directed, then it is only necessary to add one another professor.

Each thesis director is responsible for appointing members to the board and setting a time and date for it to meet. Members are usually professors from the UPF, although, if the director deems it necessary, they can also be from another university.

A student who successfully receive a passing mark (“apt”) continues to the next phase of the doctorate. A student who does not receive a passing mark (“no apt”) or does not hand in the dissertation proposal on time has 6 months from the beginning of the ensuing academic year to rewrite the proposal, present it before a board, and receive a passing mark.  

The specific requirements for the written projects are posted in the ensuing section.