The PhD program in Engineering at UPF offers advanced training in key areas such as multimedia technologies, computational biology, biomedical systems, brain and cognition, networks and telecommunications, intelligent systems and computer science.

Our department has been recognized for the second time as a Maria de Maeztu Unit of Excellence by the Spanish Government, making us the only department in the country to receive this distinction twice (2016/2020 and 2023/2027). This recognition highlights the high international impact of our research and our ability to attract top-level research talent.

The department’s privileged location in Barcelona’s 22@ district, the city’s technological hub, fosters strong ties with the business sector, promoting knowledge transfer and public–private collaboration.

The program stands out nationally for its interdisciplinary approach and strong international outlook: over 40% of our faculty and 60% of our students are from abroad, enriching the academic environment and encouraging global scientific exchange.
Currently, 173 PhD candidates are enrolled in the program, and one in five is pursuing an industrial PhD in collaboration with major companies. We are also strongly committed to gender equality, with 41% of our PhD students being women.

Our research strength is reflected in several key indicators: UPF is the leading university in Spain in terms of coordinated European projects, and the Department of Engineering has already surpassed 4,000 defended doctoral theses. In addition, we publish more than 280 scientific articles each year, consolidating our academic output.