Doctoral Programme in Materials Science

a) To access the Doctoral Programme in Materials Science, without supplementary training, students must demonstrate previous minimum training in some or all of the following contents:

• Theoretical-experimental knowledge of the procurement, characterization and determination of the properties of the different types of materials
• The various techniques for obtaining, preparing, processing, characterising and analysing (theoretically and/or experimentally) the properties of the various types of materials
• The application of materials in present-day technologies
• Basic knowledge of the methodologies and tools needed to develop R&D&I tasks in the field of Materials Science.

b) Access is also open to students who have completed any of the following master's: Science and Technology of Materials, Science and Technology of Colloids and Interfaces, Renewable Energies, Mathematical Engineering, Nuclear and Particles Physics and their Technological and Medical Applications, Photonics and Laser Technology, Advanced Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling, as well as to students from other Master's degrees related to the area of Materials Science.

c) Access is also open to students who can accredit research competence in a Doctoral Programme in Materials Science, Physics or Chemistry (and their specialties), and students holders of the Diploma of Advanced Studies through the former doctorate programmes in Materials Science, Science and Technology of Materials, Applied Physics, Nuclear Physics and Non-linear Dynamics, Science and Technology of Colloids and Interfaces, Chemical Science and Technology, Mathematical Methods and Numerical Simulation in Engineering and Applied Sciences, Renewable Energy and Energy Sustainability, Photonics and Laser Technologies, and Nuclear and Particles Physics.

d) Students who have completed other master's degrees at the USC but whose content is not related to the Doctoral Programme (such as a Master's Degree in Biotechnology, a Master's Degree in Biomedical Research, Master's Degree in Research and Development of New Medicines, among others), will have access to the Doctoral Programme in Materials Science subject to the condition of taking supplementary training subjects, which will be specified for each student by the DPAC.

e) In the case of profiles different to the above, the Academic Committee evaluates each case individually. The possibility of requiring supplementary training is also considered.In the case of candidates with other profiles who have not taken any Master's courses: They will need an equivalence of training in research credits, equal to at least the master's degree that provides direct access, which is 12 ECTS credits.

Points for each merit are evaluated by the committee in the following way:

1. Academic transcript (maximum 50%)
2. Previous research and/or professional experience in the field of the Materials Science (participation in research groups, publications, congresses, patents, etc.) (maximum 35%)
3. Interview with the Academic Committee (if appropriated in order to clarify and weight merits and skills) (maximum 15%)

In addition, the Academic Committee could arrange an interview with the candidates to clarify and analyser any of the merits presented.

In the event that a personal interview is not carried out, the weight of the transcript and prior research experience ,will be increased by 55 and 45%, respectively.

Additionally, an intermediate knowledge of English is required and must be accredited before the DPAC by means of any official certification (intermediate level: B1, TOEFL, Cambridge, Official School of Languages, etc.). If the student lacks this official certification, the DPAC will perform the tests it considers necessary: spoken and/or written test and/or personal interview to evaluate the student's knowledge of English.

• Admission profile

  No training complements:

  - In general, those students who request it and prove minimum prior training at the master's level will be able to access this doctoral programme (for example, in Materials Science and Technology, Physics, Chemistry, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, etc. .…) in some or all of the following content:

  • Theoretical-experimental knowledge of obtaining, characterisation, and determination of the properties of various types of (nano)materials.
  • The various techniques for obtention, preparation, processing, characterisation and analysis (theoretical and/or experimental) of the properties of the various types of (nano)materials.
  • Applications of (nano)materials in current technologies.
  • Simulation and in silico characterisation techniques of the structure and properties of (nano)materials, and their production processes.
  • Basic knowledge of the methodologies and tools necessary to develop R&D&I tasks in the field of Materials Science, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

  - Students with the DEA degree obtained through the former doctoral programmes in the areas of Physics, Chemistry, Materials, Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy at USC will also have access.

  Other profiles:

  - In the case of other profiles that have not completed a master's degree, an equivalence of training in research credits will be required, at least equal to those of the master's degree that gives direct access, which will be 15 ECTS.

  - For any other profile, the CAPD will study the cases individually, being able to admit or not the students and establishing training complements if necessary. These complements may not exceed 15 ECTS.

• Requirements

  Access

  1) In general, to access a doctoral programme it will be necessary to be in possession of Spanish bachelor's degrees, or equivalent, and a university master's degree.

  2) Likewise, anyone who is in any of the following cases may access:

  a) Be in possession of a university degree from Spain or from another country that is part of the European Higher Education Area that qualifies for access to the master's degree in accordance with the provisions of article 18 of the R.D. 822/2021 and pass a minimum of 300 ECTS credits in all university studies, of which at least 60 must be at master's level.

  b) Be in possession of a Spanish graduate degree, the duration of which, in accordance with community law regulations, is at least 300 ECTS credits. These graduates must take the complementary training required by the programme on a compulsory basis, except that the study plan of the corresponding bachelor's degree includes research training credits equivalent in training value to the research credits from master's studies.

  c) University graduates who, after obtaining a place in training in the corresponding test for access to specialised health training places, pass with a positive evaluation at least two years of training in a program to obtain a degree in one of the specialties. in Health Sciences.

  d) Be in possession of a degree obtained in accordance with foreign educational systems, without the need for its homologation, after verification by the university that it accredits a level of training equivalent to that of the Spanish university master's degree and that it authorizes in the country issuing the degree for access to doctoral studies. This admission will not imply, in any case, the homologation of the previous degree held by the interested party or its recognition for purposes other than access to doctoral education.

  e) Be in possession of another Spanish doctoral degree obtained in accordance with previous university regulations.

  f) Be in possession of a university degree that has obtained correspondence to level 3 of the Spanish Framework of Qualifications for Higher Education, in accordance with the procedure established in Royal Decree 967/2014, of November 21, by which establish the requirements and procedure for the homologation and declaration of equivalence to a degree and to an official university academic level and for the validation of foreign Higher Education studies, and the procedure to determine correspondence to the levels of the Spanish Framework of Qualifications for Higher Education of the titles of Architect, Engineer, Graduate, Technical Architect, Technical Engineer and Diploma.
  3) Doctoral students who will begin their doctoral programme in accordance with previous university regulations will be able to access doctoral education upon admission, in accordance with the provisions of the USC Doctoral Studies Regulations. In any case, they must meet the requirements generally established in said legislation for access to doctoral studies.

  4) Graduates, architects or engineers who are in possession of the Diploma of Advanced Studies obtained in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 778/1998, of April 30, or who achieve the research proficiency regulated in Royal Decree 185/1985, of January 23.

  5) Graduates, architects or engineers who hold a master's degree in accordance with Royal Decree 56/2005 or Royal Decree 822/2021, or have completed 60 ECTS of master's studies, may access doctoral studies.

  6) Graduates, technical engineers, or technical architects who can prove they have 300 ECTS credits in all university studies, of which at least 60 must be at master's level, may also enter.

• Specific requirements

  1) A feasibility report issued by a professor within the framework of the line of research to which it is linked.
  2) In addition, the student must have a minimum level of English knowledge equivalent to level B1. The level of (language) will be accredited with the corresponding official certification of those included in the list of accreditations recognised by the Centro de Linguas Modernas (CLM) of the USC for the different levels of the Common European Framework: https://www.usc .gal/es/servizos/clm/acreditacion/index.html . If you do not have said certification at the time of registration, the required linguistic skills must be demonstrated through a personal interview with a court appointed by the CAPD.
  3) In the case of non-Spanish or Portuguese-speaking foreign students, they must prove at the time of admission a minimum level of knowledge of Galician or Spanish equivalent to the CELGA 3 or DELE B2 level, respectively, and/or the English language level B2.

• Admission rules

  1. Academic Record: 40% of the admission total.
  2. Prior research experience and its results: 10%. Supporting documentation must be presented.

  3. Professional Experience: 10%. Supporting documentation must be presented (insurance history certificate, copy of contracts, grants, etc.).

  4. Other aspects accredited by the resume of the candidate: 20%. (Research stays, courses taken and courses taught related to the lines of research of the program, in addition to knowledge of languages other than the native language, etc., level B2 or higher in the case of English). Supporting documentation must be presented.

  5. Adequacy of the attached research project in the admission process to the line(s) of research of the Programme: 10%.

  6. Personal Interview:10%.

• Title extinction

  El programa de doctorado podrá extinguirse por alguna de las siguientes causas:

  Que no supere el proceso de renovación de la acreditación establecido en el artículo 10 del RD 99/2011.

  • Que no acredite el cumplimiento de los requisitos establecidos por la normativa estatal o autonómica vigente.

  • Que se formule una propuesta de extinción del programa al amparo de los procesos de revisión y mejora del título de acuerdo con el procedimiento aprobado por la universidad.

  • Que concurra cualquier situación excepcional que impida el correcto desarrollo del programa de doctorado.

  La extinción producirá los siguientes efectos:

  • Comportará la pérdida de su carácter oficial y la baja en el RUCT.

  • No se podrá matricular nuevo alumnado en el programa de doctorado.

  • En cualquier caso todo el alumnado afectado deberá ser informado de la extinción y de las consecuencias en lo relativo al desarrollo de sus estudios.

  La Universidad adoptará las medidas necesarias para garantizar los derechos académicos del estudiantado que esté cursando dichos estudios en los términos establecidos en la resolución de extinción del plan de estudio, y aprobará el procedimiento de extinción de los programas de doctorado en el seno de la universidad.

• Materials for health

  Teachers	Area
  Gerardo Prieto Estévez	Applied Physics
  Luis Garcia Rio	Physical Chemistry
  Alberto Pérez Muñuzuri	Condensed Matter Physics
  Maria Del Pilar Brocos Fernandez	Applied Physics
  Aida Jover Ramos	Physical Chemistry
  Juan Manuel Ruso Veiras	Applied Physics
  Pablo Taboada Antelo	Condensed Matter Physics
  Angel Piñeiro Guillen	Applied Physics
  Yolanda Piñeiro Redondo	International Doctoral School
  Silvia Barbosa Fernandez	Condensed Matter Physics
  Ramon Iglesias Rey	Condensed Matter Physics
  Humberto Gonzalez Diaz	International Doctoral School
  Josue Elias Juarez Onofre	International Doctoral School
  Paula Veronica Messina	International Doctoral School
  J.felix Armando Soltero Martinez	International Doctoral School
  Pablo Alfonso Del Pino Gonzalez De La Higuera	Condensed Matter Physics
  Beatriz Pelaz Garcia	Inorganic Chemistry
  Ester Polo Tobajas	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  Antonio Topete Camacho	International Doctoral School

• Materials for energy and the environment

  Teachers	Area
  Manuel Arturo Lopez Quintela	Physical Chemistry
  Luis Miguel Varela Cabo	Condensed Matter Physics
  Josefa Salgado Carballo	Applied Physics
  Josefa Fernandez Perez	Applied Physics
  Aida Jover Ramos	Physical Chemistry
  Carlos Vazquez Vazquez	Physical Chemistry
  Alfredo Jose Amigo Pombo	Applied Physics
  Maria Carmen Bujan Nuñez	Physical Chemistry
  Maria Villanueva Lopez	Applied Physics
  Pablo Taboada Antelo	Condensed Matter Physics
  Silvia Barbosa Fernandez	Condensed Matter Physics
  Massimo Lazzari	Physical Chemistry
  Mireille Turmine	International Doctoral School
  Maria Del Carmen Gimenez Lopez	Inorganic Chemistry

• Materials for industry and emerging technologies

  Teachers	Area
  Jesus Manuel Mosqueira Rey	Condensed Matter Physics
  Manuel Vazquez Ramallo	Condensed Matter Physics
  Josefa Fernandez Perez	Applied Physics
  Enriqueta Lopez Iglesias	Applied Physics
  Jorge Mira Perez	Electromagnetism
  Jose Antonio Veira Suarez	Condensed Matter Physics
  Daniel Baldomir Fernandez	Electromagnetism
  Alfredo Jose Amigo Pombo	Applied Physics
  Maria Jose Perez Comuñas	Applied Physics
  Victor Pardo Castro	Electromagnetism
  Jose Francisco Rivadulla Fernandez	Physical Chemistry
  Alvaro Gil Gonzalez	Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
  Carlos Carballeira Romero	Condensed Matter Physics
  David Serantes Abalo	Electromagnetism
  Jose Manuel Vila Fungueiriño	Physical Chemistry
  Ramon Iglesias Rey	Condensed Matter Physics

El Programa de Doctorado en Ciencia de Materiales surge con el objetivo de proporcionar al sector industrial y de I+D+I de profesionales altamente cualificados en esta área emergente e interdisciplinar capaces de resolver los problemas que se planteen no sólo en el clásico campo de los materiales estructurales (nicho tradicional) sino también en los nuevos y cada vez ecónomicamente más importantes campos de los materiales electrónicos, materiales funcionales, biomateriales y nanomateriales. A esta demanda no se puede responder con las enseñanzas tradicionales; para esta transformación hace falta el sólido bagaje científico interdisciplinar y la alta especialización que se pretende dar al Doctor en Ciencia de Materiales. Así, se pretende cubrir la necesidad de contar con investigadores especialistas en Ciencia de Materiales que puedan ejercer su labor investigadora en el campo del diseño, caracterización y aplicación de nuevos materiales, o bien, en la búsqueda de nuevas aplicaciones de materiales ya existentes, y permitan el trasvase y puesta en servicio de los conocimientos generados a la sociedad.

• Basic skills

  • Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of the skills and research methods related to that field.
  • Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial research or creation process.
  • Ability to contribute to expanding the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
  • Ability to carry out critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.
  • Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their areas of knowledge in the modes and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.
  • Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress within a knowledge-based society.

• Other competencies

  • Precise and in-depth knowledge of the scientific bases, methodologies, and tools of materials science necessary for the development of R&D&I in this field.
  • Development of the ability to identify existing problems/challenges in materials science and present and explore possible solutions.
  • Ability to use and apply the knowledge acquired in different professional and disciplinary fields in the field of materials science.
  • Ability to generate new scientific-technical knowledge through original research that expands the frontiers of knowledge by developing a substantial corpus in the field of materials science.
  • Carry out a critical analysis of evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas on research projects in materials science, assessing their possibilities for technological transfer.
  • Obtain in-depth and specialised knowledge about the mathematical, physical, chemical, geological and/or biological foundations (as applicable) of materials science.
  • Know the computer simulation and modelling methodologies of the structure and properties of materials.
  • Know in a broad and in-depth way the different methodologies and experimental techniques, as well as the interpretation of the derived analyses, for the determination of the structure and properties of the different types of materials.
  • Obtain in-depth knowledge about the mechanical, electronic, magnetic, thermal, optical, chemical and/or biological behaviour (as the case may be) of different types of materials.
  • Obtain a broad and deep knowledge of the different technologies and applications of the various types of materials based on the properties they exhibit.
  • Know the mechanisms for obtaining, processing, recovery/reuse/recycling of different types of materials and development of new procedures and techniques for obtaining, processing and recovery.
  • Design, develop, select, characterise and evaluate existing materials and development of new materials for specific applications/technologies.
  • Design, calculate and model the material aspects of elements, components, devices, structures and equipment used in different industrial processes.
  • Be able to develop new materials and/or new methodologies for obtaining, characterising and/or applying materials.
  • Obtain the necessary capabilities to develop new research projects and technology transfer in the field of materials science.
  • Development of comprehensive, analysis and synthesis skills.
  • Development of search, management, filtering, synthesis and elaboration capabilities of information from various sources.
  • Development of abilities to pose and solve complex problems by applying the knowledge acquired.
  • Development of teamwork skills.
  • Development of capacities to apply knowledge to new environments, to formulate and solve new questions, to pose and test new hypotheses.
  • Development of the ability to prepare, present and defend scientific works.
  • Development of skills for the dissemination of ideas in academic or non-specialised contexts
  • Development of debating skills, integrating knowledge.
  • Development of skills in the management, treatment and development of complex analytical tools.
  • • Development of the ability to solve problems effectively, making decisions and, if applicable, leading teams.
  • Development of capabilities to analyse, organise, manage and apply a technical-scientific project taking into account personnel, economic, legal, etc. limitations.
  • Full development of verbal and written communication skills in non-native languages.

This doctoral programme offers training that allows graduates with a Master's degree in Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, Nanotechnology/Nanoscience, or equivalent qualifications, to acquire the ability to work in the field of scientific and applied research, related to the development of new materials and techniques for their synthesis and characterisation and that have new properties that make them susceptible to being used in new applications, or that improve the qualities and characteristics of those currently used in existing applications and processes, all of this combined with respect with the environment and also promoting sustainable consumption of material and energy resources.

The graduate of the Doctoral Programme in Materials Science will be a researcher with skills to lead high-level research teams, capable of proposing, carrying out and carrying out research and innovations that lead to the generation of new knowledge in the field of Materials Science and Nanotechnology and its multiple potential applications, and in its transversal sciences. It will also connect work, research and academic results with European, national and regional interests, advancing research projects that, from a scientific and technological base, satisfy the needs and priorities of companies and institutions, that is, of the fabric socioeconomic. The graduate can generate development and innovation from a perspective that improves the quality of life of society.

Doctors work in public and private research centres (R&D+i centers), in universities and, in a very high percentage (more than 50%), in private companies ranging from the chemical, energy and energy sectors, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, food or environmental. Among others, the positions to be filled are, potentially:
• Project managers
• R&D&i technicians
• R&D&i consultants
• Senior Researchers
• University professor
• Managers and technicians in industry, engineering, administration, and services.

The main objective of this Masters degree is to train professionals and researchers in aquaculture; professionals with a solid recognised training at job level and researchers whose training allows them to carry out their research, with cutting-edge technologies, while keeping abreast of problems in production processing.