Description

The International Mention is a distinction that can be added to the front of the doctoral diploma if the following requirements are met during the training period:

  • Research stays: Conduct research stays of at least three months in one or more higher education institutions or research centers outside Spain to complement your training. If you undertake multiple stays, at least one of them must have a minimum duration of one month. These stays must be endorsed by your thesis supervisor and approved by the Academic Committee. Once completed, you must register them in your activity document.
     
  • Thesis writing and defense in an international language: Part of the thesis (at least the abstract and conclusions) must be written and defended in a scientific language other than the official languages of Spain (unless the institutions involved are from Spanish-speaking countries).
     
  • External evaluation: At least two favorable reports on the thesis must be issued by experts. These experts must be doctors from higher education institutions or research centers outside Spain and must not coincide with those who hosted you during your research stay.
     
  • Composition of the examination board: The examination board must include at least one expert from a foreign institution, holding a doctoral degree, different from the person responsible for your research stay.

 Procedure

  1. Register the research stay
    It is your responsibility to register the stay in the Activity Document. The doctoral program's office will verify that this information is correctly completed.
     
  2. Application for the Mention
    When submitting your online thesis deposit application, indicate that you wish to apply for the International Mention. If you have not registered the stay beforehand, you will not be able to select this option.
     
  3. Proposal for the assessment board
    When you submit the proposal for the assessment board, or when your thesis supervisor does so, you must attach the necessary external reports for the mention. The doctoral program's office will review the documentation and validate that the requirements are met.
     
  4. Resolution by the Executive Committee
    The Steering Committee of the Doctoral School is responsible for granting or denying the International Mention on the diploma. The Postgraduate and Doctoral Office will notify you of the resolution. 

 Documents

Proposal for a non-mandatory template:

  • External expert report (PDF, Word)

 Regulations

Art. 15 bis of the RD99/2011, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated text with changes in RD576/2023, of 4 July)