• Training of high-level researchers and analysts in the field of political and social sciences.
• Training of specialists in the department’s research areas in the fields of political and administrative sciences, sociology and demography.
• Development of innovative lines of research in the department’s research areas.
• Development of general competences that will enhance the future PhDs’ career prospects.

Upon completion of the doctoral programme, candidates must be able to: 

• Systematically understand a field of study and the related skills and research methods.
• Conceive of, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
• Contribute to expanding the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
• Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesize new and complex ideas.
• Communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society at large about the various fields of knowledge, in the manner and using the languages normally used in the international scientific community.
• In academic and professional contexts, promote scientific, technological, social and cultural progress in a knowledge-based society.

• High-level researchers and analysts in the field of political and social sciences.
• Specialists in the department’s areas of research in the fields of political and administrative sciences, sociology, demography and social psychology. 

Upon completion of the training period consisting of the master’s studies, admission to the PhD programme marks the start of the research period, which culminates in the defence of the thesis.

During the first half of the first year of the programme, students begin to prepare a sound thesis project, which they must defend before an assessment committee by the start of the third term. From that point on, students will be able to advance in their research, with a clear grasp of the topic, hypothesis and methodology to be used. By specifying their thesis project at the start of the programme, students should be able to complete their thesis in the remaining years of the programme, spending a maximum of four years in all.

To help them meet these objectives, students have a training programme designed to strengthen their command of methodological tools and their current skills, as well as to provide them with the opportunity to attend courses aimed at deepening their knowledge of the disciplinary field in which they want to write their doctoral thesis. 

Under department regulations, students are given two chances during the first academic year of the programme to pass the required training seminars and defend their thesis project.

As a general rule, doctoral students are expected to enrol full time. In exceptional and duly justified cases, the Academic Committee may agree to individual requests to enrol part time.

The doctoral thesis must be submitted by the end of the fourth academic year for full-time students and by the end of the seventh academic year for part-time students. Students may apply for an extension of one more year.
 

International rankings

The DCPIS belongs to Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), a leading Spanish University, recently recognized as:

• International Campus of Excellence (CEI)
• The 1^st Spanish university in the Times Higher Education Indicator. At international level, the UPF was 186^th in the world ranking (THE Ranking, 2011)
• Leader in Spain for the quality of its scientific production (CyD report 2011)

Location

The academic unit, in which the doctoral programme is implemented, is located at the Ciutadella campus and includes a large number of organized research groups.