Requirements and access scales
In accordance with Real Decreto 99/2011, January 28, you must fulfil the following requirements in order to enrol in the Doctorate in Psychology of Málaga University.
1. You must have an official Spanish graduate degree, or equivalent, and a master's degree. You may also access the Program if you are in any of the following situations:
> You have a graduate degree, either from a Spanish university or from a member of the European Higher Education Area, that allows access to a master's degree in accordance with the provisions of article 16 of Spanish Royal Decree 1393/2007, October 29. You must also have obtained a minimum of 300 ECTS credits from university studies, of which at least 60 must be at the master's level.
> You have an official Spanish graduate degree equivalent to at least 300 ECTS credits, in accordance with EU regulations. You will need to take the additional training referred to in article 7.2 of Spanish Royal Decree 99/2011, unless your degree included research training credits equivalent in educational value to the research credits from a master's studies.
> You have passed the official Spanish examination for internship in healthcare, and have been training in the Spanish healthcare program internship for at least two years.
> You have a degree from a foreign country which allows access to doctoral studies in that country. It is unnecessary to obtain official recognition of your degree, providing the university has confirmed that the degree is equivalent to the level of training of an official Spanish master's degree Admission to this program does not imply official recognition of the degree in possession of the applicant, nor of any other function other than access to doctoral studies.
> You already have another Spanish doctorate which is in accordance with prior regulations.
2. Once the general criteria are met, there are two routes by which to access the Doctoral Program:
Route 1- Students with direct access
Profile 1: Students with any of the following degrees: Psychology, Speech Therapy, Pedagogy, Social Education, Occupational Therapy, Medicine, Sports Science, Social Work, Criminology, and Biology. Such students must have completed the research module of one of the following four Masters:
- University of Málaga Official Master's Degree in General Health Psychology (provided that the optional class Designs, Methods, and Research Techniques in Health Psychology has been completed)
- University of Málaga Official Master's Degree in "Social and Community Research and Intervention"
- University of Málaga Official Master's Degree in "Research in Physical Activity and Sport"
- Official Master of the University of Málaga in "Health Psychology"
Profile 2: Students who have completed a degree listed in profile 1 — but have a Master’s (with a research module) that differs from the four mentioned in profile 1 — may have direct access to the Program, providing the Academic Committee has confirmed the acquisition of research training comparable to that of profile 1 students.
Profile 3: Students with a degree other than any listed in profile 1 who have completed a Master’s (with a research module) may have direct access to the Program, providing the Academic Committee has confirmed the acquisition of research training comparable to that of profile 1 students.
Profile 4: Students who have completed at least 2 years of training in an official Spanish healthcare internship program may have direct access to the Program, providing the Academic Committee has confirmed the acquisition of research training comparable to that of profile 1 students.
Profile 5: Students who have a degree from a foreign country that allows access to doctoral studies in that country may have direct access to the Program, providing the Academic Committee has confirmed the acquisition of research training comparable to that of profile 1 students. You do not have to obtain official recognition of your degree, providing the university has confirmed that it is equivalent to the level of training of an official Spanish Master's degree.
Route 2 - Students who have to complete supplemental training
Students who do not fulfil the previous profiles will have to complete the specific supplemental training recommended by the Academic Committee. The choice of training will be made according to your research interests, the line of research of your doctoral thesis, and the recommendations of the director and/or tutor.
PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME STUDENTS
Doctoral studies have a maximum duration of 3 years, as measured from the time of entering the program to the presentation of the doctoral thesis. If you do not apply to register the presentation of your thesis within this period, the Academic Committee may authorize an extension of this period for 1 year more, which could be extended for another year if the Commission deems it appropriate and justifiable in cases of force majeure.
The Doctoral Program in Psychology also allows students to conduct their PhD studies on a part-time basis, providing the Academic Committee provides authorization. Part-time studies have a maximum duration of 5 years, as measured from the time of entering the program to the presentation of the doctoral thesis. This period could be extended for 2 years more, which, exceptionally, could be extended for another year.
As stated in the regulations of the University of Malaga (i.e. section III of the Good Practices Guide to Doctoral Programs), part-time doctoral students are those who perform a job or activity (paid or otherwise) that prevents them from devoting more than 60% of their time to the doctorate. To apply for part-time admission to a Doctorate Program, the applicant must provide evidence of the situation described above, which will be evaluated and authorized by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program.
Generally speaking, the percentage of part-time students in this doctoral program should not exceed 30% of the total number of students enrolled.
The Official commitment agreement form (modelo de compromiso) signed by the doctoral student, the director, and the tutor will indicate whether the student is full or part-time and may be changed if the circumstances so require. In such cases, the doctoral student must request their status to be changed from full-time to part-time. This request must be addressed and justified to the academic committee in charge of the program, which may grant the request at their discretion. Such changes must be authorized by all signatories to the Official commitment agreement and included in said document.
Part-time doctoral students whose work conditions change such that they can commit to the doctorate full-time should talk to their tutor, who will start procedures to change the status of the doctoral student. In addition, the doctoral applicant may request temporary withdrawal from the program for up to 1 year, which may be extended by 1 year more. This request must be addressed and justified to the academic committee in charge of the program, which may grant the request at their discretion.
STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
The University of Malaga fully supports the educational needs of students with disabilities. We recognise the value of each person and his or her right to higher education and training. For this reason, the University of Malaga has a department known as the Support Service for Students with Disabilities (SSSD) that assists students with disabilities. Its objectives are to guarantee equal opportunities and full integration in academic life and to promote inclusivity and awareness in the university community. This office is charged with providing appropriate support and counselling services, as well as assessing the need for possible curricular adaptations, educational pathways, or alternative studies for our doctoral students.
This service provides assistance and guidance to any student or prospective student with a disability of 33% or more attending the University of Málaga. We can offer a range of support based on your individual needs to ensure a level playing field during your studies. As these needs vary by person, type of disability, subjects being studied, and financial situation, we provide each student with personalised attention and assessment.
Here are a few examples of the available resources. Depending on your specific needs, they may be modified or new ones implemented.
- Academic and vocational guidance to students and parents.
- Coordination and collaboration with the faculty to offer curricular adaptations.
- Assistive Technology: recorders, carbonless notebooks, FM stations.
- Reserved seats in classrooms and auditoriums of the University.
- Sign Language Interpreter.
- Adapted classroom furniture: benches, tables, chairs, etc.
- Adapted class materials: notes, practice, etc.
- Financial help for transportation.
- A teaching assistant to support you in you studies.
ACCESS SCALE
If the number of applicants is more than the maximum set for the Doctoral Program, the Academic Committee will apply the following scale.
1. Academic record and relevance of the studies to the Doctoral Program’s lines of research: 60%
2. Other merit points: 40%
2.A. Research merit points: 10%
2.B. The candidate’s declaration of interest statement: 15%
2.C. Professional experience related to the lines of research: 5%
2.D. Letter of recommendation from a PhD teacher in the role of director or advisor for the candidate (mandatory requirement): 10%
- Merit points 2.A, 2.B, and 2.C will be evaluated based on information provided in Form A_B_C Form A_B_C
- Merit points 2.D will be based on information in Form_D Form_D*
* If you are not part of the Doctoral Program in Psychology at the University of Malaga, you must attach your CV together with the letter of recommendation.
Note: Preferential access, see the following link.
