Ph.D. Program of Food Technology, Nutrition and Food Science Department

Admission and General Information

Admision Requierements

To enter in the Food Technology, Nutrition and Food Science Program the student should have a University Degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Food Science and Technology, Chemist, Pharmacy, Agronomy, Medicine or Veterinary (equal or equivalent to the Spanish graduate degree called Licenciatura, which is usually obtained after studying 5-6 academic terms in an university). In case of degrees obtained in non-spanish universities, the student needs to apply at the UMU according to given formalities for Correspondence of Foreign Degree. This application must be accompanied by a set of officially translated documents (verified and sealed in a Spanish Embassy) relative to the studies performed to obtain a Degree in the university of origin (this includes the Degree certificate, as well as certification of all subjects taken, the number of hours or credits taken for each subject, and the califications obtained). To obtain the application form for Correspondence of Foreign Degree click here (http://www.um.es/web/vic-estudios/contenido/homologacion). For advice, please contact the Coordinator of the Program. It is important that the Correspondence of Foreign Degree is obtained before you apply for admission to the program (see details on the admission deadline in next section).

Admision Deadline and Procedure

The admission period opens during two weeks at the beginning of the academic course (usually the second half of September). The application for admission must be done using a special form, which can be obtained from the University Office for Doctoral Studies (in Spanish, Negociado de Tercer Ciclo, in the University Campus at “La Merced”, in downtown Murcia). The filled form must be presented at the General Registry of the University (the main office, called Registro General, is located downtown in the University Campus 'La Merced', but there is another office in the University Campus 'Espinardo'. For more information on the procedure and deadlines click here (http://www.um.es/web/vic-estudios/contenido/doctorados).

Program Duration and Structure

The mean duration for the Ph.D. studies is four years (full time dedication), organized in the following way:

1. During the first two years (bienium), the student needs to obtain a minimum of 32 academic credits organized as follows:
   1. First year: during the first year the student must enroll in several doctoral courses to obtain a minimum of 20 academic credits (equivalent to 200 hours; 1 credit equals 10 hours). Among them, a minimum of 15 credits must be with fundamental or basic content (type F courses). The other 5 credits required can be obtained through (type M and A). The courses take place between January and June/July.
   2. Second year: The student must enroll within a supervised research line among those offered in the program (type I course) in order to further obtain 12 credits. The research line consists in carrying out introductory research activities. Often, this research will constitute a first step towards the research project developed for the Ph.D. thesis, but it can also be of an exploratory nature and not directly related to the thesis subject chosen subsequently.
2. D.E.A. (Advanced Studies Degree): After the first two years, the student prepares and defends in public, in front of a committee of three professors (two from the program, one from outside), a small presentation on the work done during the first two years, in order to obtain the D.E.A. Should the D.E.A. not be conceded, the committee makes recommendations for resolution of the problems found, and the student can apply again for this degree ulteriorly.

After obtaining the D.E.A., the student performs a thesis research project under previously to defend the Ph.D. dissertation. For more information click here (http://www.um.es/web/vic-estudios/contenido/doctorados).