Article 3 of the Royal Decree 99/2011, 28 January, by which formal education of doctoral studies are regulated, relating to the structure and the information of the permanence in the doctoral programme.

Article 3. Structure.

1. The doctoral studies will be organised through programmes, in the way established by the universities’ statutes and according to the criteria established in this royal decree. Such studies will be completed with the elaboration and defence of a doctoral thesis that includes original research results.
2. The length of the doctoral studies will be of a maximum of three years, full-time, from the entry of the doctoral student to the programme until the presentation of the doctoral thesis.

However, part-time doctoral studies can be taken, if being previously authorised by the academic committee in charge of the programme. In this case, those studies can have a maximum length of five years from the entry to the programme until the presentation of the doctoral thesis.
If the 3-year deadline has expired without presenting the thesis submission application form, the committee in charge of the programme can authorise the extension of the deadline for an additional year, which could be extended as an exception by another additional year, under the conditions established the corresponding doctoral programme. In the case of part-time studies the extension can be authorised for two more years that, likewise, could be extended for another additional year as an exception.
For the purpose of the calculation of the previous period, sick leaves, maternity leaves or leaves for any other cause provided by the current regulation will not be taken into account.
Likewise, the doctoral student can apply for a temporary withdrawal in the programme for a maximum of one year, extensible to another year. Such application must be addressed and justified to the academic committee in charge of the programme, which will resolve the appropriateness of accepting what requested by the doctoral student.

Complementary training

The ideal entry profile for the doctoral studies is a University training in History of Art through official postgraduate studies (official Master’s degree according to the RD 1393/2007, Diploma de Estudios Avanzados [a tertiary education degree] - DEA according to the provisions of the RD 778/98, or Research Proficiency according to what is regulated in the RD 185/85); secondly, ability for understanding and reasoning in Spanish, that for the candidates from non-Spanish-speaking places has to be accredited and equivalent or higher than a B2. This type of access does not require additional training.

Other entry profiles that, in their case, may require to take bridging courses:

• University graduates with university training in History of Art through undergraduate degree studies or licenciatura (former Spanish undergraduate degree), and official postgraduate studies (official Master’s degree according to the RD 1393/2007, Diploma de Estudios Avanzados - DEA [a tertiary education degree] according to the provisions of the RD 778/98, or Research Proficiency according to what is regulated in the RD 185/85) related to History of Art, such as Fine Arts, Architecture, Aesthetics...
• University graduates with professional experience in the field of History of Art of at least three years and with university training through official postgraduate studies (official Master’s degree according to the RD 1393/2007, Diploma de Estudios Avanzados - DEA [a tertiary education degree] according to the provisions of the RD 778/98, or Research Proficiency according to what is regulated in the RD 185/85).

The Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme (CAPD) will assess whether the training or professional experience accredited have provided them the mastery of the research methodology that authorises them to undertake research tasks in the field of the artistic activity, qualifying them to conceive and develop an original research, focused on the elaboration and defence of a doctoral thesis about this field. Otherwise, the CAPD will establish the appropriate bridging courses through the Master’s Degree in History of Art and Visual Culture (UV-UJI), fundamentally through the module of “Research Training”. For Diploma de Estudios Avanzados - DEA [a tertiary education degree] and masters’ degrees related to History of Art, (such as Fine Arts, Architecture, Audiovisual Communication, Aesthetics, Music, Cultural Heritage, etc.) a training supplement of 18 credits of the Master’s Degree in “History of Art and Visual Culture” (UV-UJI) is stablished: The compulsory module “Research training” (15 credits), and one subject from the three optative modules of “Disciplinary training” the student can choose.

Cross-disciplinary activities

Total compulsory hours: 60 hours.

Training activities

Total compulsory hours: 90 hours.

The Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme (CAPD) organises and oversees the quality of the training activities in History of Art and the selection of the activities organised by institutions outside the programme itself, both considering their relevance to the research requirements investigating of the doctoral students. A total of 90 hours accumulated across a wide range of options is required:

Among the activities planned by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme:

• Seminar on Methodological research specialization (up to 30 hours).

This is a specialised course of advanced training in research techniques and new and specific methodological aspects of the History of Art and Visual Culture, as well as in the analysis of the academic reality of the area of knowledge in other areas of the country or worldwide. Aspects that contribute to the development of the approach and doctoral thesis, consisting of original research, to obtain the degree of doctor. It will be conducted by guest professors from universities and national and international research institutions proposal at the proposal of the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme (CAPD) character. It will be held, acting upon the agenda of the invited person, for a week in January or June each year, coinciding with the interruption of classes that facilitates the incorporation of the teaching staff to the programme meeting. The funding will be carried out by the programme and departments belonging to it, by seeking external funding, for example through the call for programmes Award for Excellence. The teaching collaboration agreement signed between the University of Valencia and CSIC in which the participation of researchers from that Research Council in the theoretical teaching of Doctoral Programmes is contemplated will be used.

• Seminar on doctor’s experiences for the programme (up to 15 hours).

It involves meeting days between doctoral students and recent doctors in History of Art by the programme that can transmit from the proximity, even generational, their experience on research techniques, methodological approaches and the experience which is drafting a Doctoral thesis. Aspects that contribute to the planning and development of the corresponding doctoral thesis, consisting of an original research to obtain the degree of doctor. The Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme (CAPD) gives preference to invite those thesis with European Mention or International Mention, which have received the highest rating and those interesting for their topic or methodology and can be stablished a fruitful interchange. One Friday of each month between October and May meetings of three hours featuring a doctor belonging to the programme will be held. Funding is provided by the programme and those departments that form it. 

Among the activities approved by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme:

• Seminars and national and international conferences related to groups and research projects and institutional chairs of the departments of the programme (up to 40 hours).

This initiative aims to put students in touch with the main lines and doctoral research groups, and to share these lines and groups with them. It also aims to facilitate the contact with researchers from other institutions to develop researches of their interest. Its approval as doctoral training activity corresponds to the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme (CAPD). The moment of preparation is beyond the control of the CAPD, but it is responsible of its dissemination among the doctoral students. Funding is provided by the organizers, but as usual it has the help from the departments of this programme. 

• National and international seminars and conferences held outside of the organization of the departments belonging to the doctoral programme (up to 10 hours).

It aims to provide greater freedom to the students to take advantage of the training opportunities related to their research, and encourage their incorporation into it by the active participation in these meetings using posters, media, etc. Congresses of the CSIC, under UV-CSIC framework agreement in doctoral programs are Aaso contemplated in this section. Its approval as doctoral training activity corresponds to the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme (CAPD). The moment of preparation is beyond the control of the CAPD, but it is responsible of its dissemination among the doctoral students. 

• Research stays in agencies, entities and national or international institutions, regulated by agreement (up to 50 hours, with a grant of 15 hours per month of stay).

They can be stays for documentary consultation, methodological contact, preparation of Thesis with International Mention... It aims to promote the quality and internationalisation of research. Specifically the University of Valencia has an educational cooperation agreement with the CSIC which contemplates the realization of the full research work for the doctoral thesis at CSIC centres or institutes under the direction of one of the researchers of them (first clause). The supervisors and directors of the Thesis will propose the stay with acceptance letter from the receiving centres, and the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program (CAPD) shall initially approve and evaluate it by receiving centre’s letter stating the time employee and activity during the stay. As “Doctoral Programme Award for Excellence by the Ministry of Education” it can be eligible for mobility grants in the framework of implementation of doctoral training and promotion of excellence and internationalisation of doctoral programs in universities, convened by the General Directorate of University Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. The Research Staff in Training (PIF), is excluded of these grants, since it enjoys similar predoctoral grants. 

• Workplacements in agencies, entities and institutions regulated by agreement (up to 30 hours, with a count equal to or greater than 150 hours in central institutions; i.e., an equivalence of 1 hour recognition in the training programme is set for every 5 hours at the centre where the practice will be developed).

It is regulated under agreement in public and / or private practices, and strictly related to the doctoral students’ research project. The Doctoral Programme in History of Art has agreements with dozens of national institutions such as regional, provincial and municipal museums; sections of the administration which are responsible for the conservation, restoration and dissemination of heritage; cultural institutions... Specifically the University of Valencia has an educational cooperation agreement with the CSIC which contemplates the realization practice activities in their centres or institutes by the doctoral students of this university, within the framework of trials or research related to the preparation of their doctoral thesis (first clause). The programme aims to develop the autopracticum permitted by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme (CAPD). Funding for travel expenses, accommodation, meals of students to carry out these practices depends on each agreement. In some cases the institutions establish grants or additional economic sums, and in other cases it must be borne by the students. The University of Valencia has an integrated management of workplacements in companies through the University-Business Foundation ADEIT, to meet the demands of students and the needs of their qualifications and business model.