Requirements for the Processing of the International Doctor Mention
- The Doctoral Student concerned, during the specialist training period required so as to obtain his or her Doctoral Degree, will have to have undertaken a minimum stay of three months outside Spain in an institution of higher education or research centre, either taking official courses within the university concerned or undertaking research tasks under the auspices of the Entity in charge of him or her. The stay and activities must be backed by the director of the institution or centre and authorised by the thesis supervisor. They will be incorporated into the Doctoral Student's Activity Document.
- The Doctoral Student would be expected to have written and submitted part of the Doctoral Thesis, at least a summary of it and the conclusions reached, in one of the normal languages for scientific communication in the area of knowledge in question, other than the official languages of Spain. This rule is not applicable if the stays, reports and experts relate to a Spanish-speaking country. In any event, the summary and conclusions must also be presented in Spanish.
- The Thesis would have to have had at least two assessment reports written on it by two expert Doctors, belonging to an institution of higher education or research centre outside Spain.
- At least one expert belonging to a non-Spanish higher education institution or research centre with the status of Doctor, and different from those mentioned in the previous paragraphs, must have formed part of the Examining Board assessing the Thesis.
The Thesis Defense will have been held in the Menéndez Pelayo International University itself, or, in the case of Joint Doctoral Programs, in any of the participating universities, or on the basis of what is set down in the collaboration agreements as drawn up.
Required Documents
If the Thesis is seen to be opting for the International Doctor Mention, the student concerned, at the time of applying for authorization to carry out the Defense of the Doctoral Thesis, must also submit the following additional documentation:
- The completed Form applying for the International Doctor mention, indicating the language chosen for the writing and public defense of the Doctoral Thesis (Forms).
- Accreditation of the international period of stay/research concerned.
- Reports issued by the international experts concerned.
Appointment of the Examining Board
The Vice-Rectorate of Postgraduate and Research, after verification of compliance with the formal requirements set out above, and at the behest of the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program, will appoint a Thesis Examining Board, forming part of which will be an expert, with the status of Doctor, belonging to a non-Spanish institution of higher education or research center, and will come to a decision on whether to authorize the Defense of the Thesis with International Mention.
The Defense of the Doctoral Thesis
In the proceedings involving the Defense of the Doctoral Thesis, the Secretary of the Examining Board appointed to evaluate the said Thesis must certify that the Defense was made available, at least partially, in one of the normal languages for scientific communication in the area of knowledge in question, other than the official languages of Spain, and that the Examining Board was constituted with the inclusion of at least one expert, with the status of Doctor, belonging to a non-Spanish institution of higher education or research center.
The Awarding of the International Doctor Mention
The awarding of the International Doctor Mention will be brought about when the requirements laid down above would have been met with.
That being the case, the Secretary of the Examining Board will be obliged to ensure that the certification referred to in the paragraph above reaches the UIMP Student Administration Office, so that the procedure corresponding to the issuance of the Degree Certificate concerned, which will include the International Doctor Mention, may be initiated.
Should that not be the case, i.e. the conditions required by which the Secretary of the Examining Board may issue the certification concerned would not have been met with, it would not be appropriate that the International Doctor Mention be assigned, something concerning which the Vice-Rectorate of Postgraduate and Research would need to be notified.
International Doctor Accreditation
The International Doctor Mention will appear on the reverse side of the official Doctoral Degree Certificate.
