Once the PhD student has completed their initial enrolment, the Academic Committee of the PhD Programme must assign them a tutor, a thesis supervisor and the research area in which they will carry out their doctoral thesis.

Each supervisor is linked to one or more research areas within the programme. Only one research area may be assigned, and this must necessarily correspond to one of the areas in which the thesis supervisor is involved.

The list of supervisors and research areas can be found in the details of each doctoral programme, under the ‘Research Areas’ section.

The assignment is recorded in the doctoral student’s electronic academic record and enables:

• the academic monitoring and supervision of the doctoral thesis
• access for the tutor and supervisor to the RAPID platform
• the completion of the doctoral student’s annual assessment
• the processing of recognition for specific activities
• the assessment of the Research Plan and the Activity Report  

Without this assignment, it is not possible to complete the academic assessment processes for the doctoral programme.

To supervise a doctoral thesis, one must hold a PhD and have ‘accredited research experience’, and be affiliated with the programme and research area in which the thesis is being carried out.

This research experience is demonstrated by having completed at least ‘a period of research activity recognised by the National Commission for the Evaluation of Research Activity (CNEAI).

In the case of staff whose research activity is not assessed by the CNEAI, this research experience must be demonstrated by means of the equivalent merits established in Agreement 72/2025, of 17 December, of the Permanent Board of the Doctoral School.

Furthermore, no PhD holder may supervise or co-supervise more than 10 doctoral theses.

The Academic Committee of the PhD Programme.

Each new PhD student must be assigned a supervisor, a programme director and a research area during their first academic year, within three months of their initial enrolment and admission.

The Academic Committee notifies the Doctoral School of the appointment, which is then included in the doctoral student’s academic record.

To this end, the Academic Committee must complete and sign the form available on the Doctoral School’s website:

Administrative information > Guides and forms > Forms for administrative procedures > Assignment of tutor, supervisor and research area

The document must be signed by:

• the tutor,
• the thesis supervisor,
• and the coordinator of the Doctoral Programme.

Academic Committees must submit requests for the assignment of a supervisor, advisor, and research track through the UV’s electronic submission system, selecting the following options:

Recipient: - Internal unit

                 - Centers > Doctoral School

Recipient group: Assignment or modification of supervisor, advisor, and research track.

Section 11.3 of Royal Decree 99/2011, which regulates official doctoral programs.