Doctoral Programme in Psychological Development, Learning and Health

Candidates applying to access the Programme will have preferential access when they have passed at least 60 ECTS credits in any of the following master's courses:

• University Master’s in Gerontology (Interuniversity; UdC, USC)
• University Master's in Educational Innovation, Orientation and Assessment (UdC)
• University Master's in Disability and Dependent Care Practices (UdC)
• Official Master's in Advanced Studies on Language, Communication and its Pathologies (Inter-university: UdC, USC, USAL).
• Master's Degree in Teacher Training in Secondary and Upper Secondary Education and Vocational Training and Language Teaching (UdC/USC).
• University Master's in Applied Psychology (UdC)
• University Master’s in Psychogerontology (Interuniversity; USC, UV, USAL, UB).
• University Master’s in psychological development and learning (USC).

Preference will also be given to students holders of the Diploma of Advanced Studies obtained through extinct programmes or programmes about to be extinguished related to the departments of Evolutionary and Education Psychology (USC and UDC), and Psychology of the UDC.

The DPAC will assess the adequacy of candidates' who can provide proof of having passed at least 60 ECTS credits in any other official master's when, after the preferential admission of students, there are vacancies available. The DPAC will analyse the training profile of the candidates taking into account their graduate and postgraduate studies and, depending on the line of research they enrol in, it shall establish the specific supplementary training (ST) that they must take from those offered.

Supplementary training will be established for each doctoral student, taking into account three core areas of training: Research designs and methods, Data analysis, and Database management and development of scientific reports.

Regarding the level of language knowledge, both the UDC and USC set forth that students must have a B1 level of English certified through a document as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. For the students staying at research centres abroad within the PD , the following levels of knowledge are established:

• French or English: minimum level B2.
• German: minimum level B1.
• Italian: minimum level A2.
• Portuguese: there is no language requirement.

The level of language knowledge can be accredited after the research stay and before one year has elapsed.

International students:

Students with an unaccredited foreign degree can apply for admission to doctoral studies provided they can certify a level of studies equal to the Spanish official University Master's Degree and authorises the holder to access Doctoral level studies in the issuing country. This admission will under no circumstances entail the accreditation of the previous degree nor its recognition for purposes other than to access these courses.

The priority in the access of the candidates shall be established for each university based on the following selection criteria:

1. Firstly, preference will be given to studies students who have bachelor's degree in: (this order): Psychology, Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, Educational Psychology, Pre-school or Primary School teacher;
2. Secondly, students will be scored on a pro-rata basis with a maximum of 6 points based on their score in their degree's academic transcript and with a maximum of 2 points with regard to their certified level of English;
3. Thirdly, up to one point will be awarded if the student's motivation letter and letter of interest adjusts each of the research topics developed by each research team for each of the Programme's lines.

• Admission profile

  The admission profile establishes the knowledge, skills and abilities that students wishing to access this programme must possess and, consequently, the most suitable qualifications for access to the programme, which determine admission and, where appropriate, the need for PhD students to undertake further training.
  Students may be admitted to the programme if they have completed Bachelor’s or Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the following fields of knowledge (RD 822/2021):
  -Behavioural sciences and psychology.
  -Educational sciences.
  -Physiotherapy, podiatry, nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, optics and optometry and speech therapy.
  -Nursing
  -Medicine and dentistry.
  -Social sciences, social work, labour relations and human resources, sociology, political science and international relations.
  Once the letter of interest, the suitability to the lines of research and the commitment of direction by a researcher of the programme have been considered, priority will be given to those students who accredit competences related to the degrees of ‘Psychology’, ‘Speech Therapy’ and the field of ‘Educational Sciences’. Likewise, priority will be given to students who access the PDDPAS with the following master’s degrees: ‘ Master’s Degree in Psychogerontology’, ‘Master’s Degree in Compulsory Secondary Education and Baccalaureate, Vocational Training and Language, Artistic and Sports Education’, ‘Master’s Degree in Advanced Studies in Language, Communication and its Pathologies’, ‘Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology’, ‘Master’s Degree in Psychopedagogy’. Secondly, the ‘Master’s Degree in Psychology’, ‘Master’s Degree in Gerontology’, and the ‘Master’s Degree in General Health Psychology’ will be considered for preferential access.

• Requirements

  Access

  The general access and admission requirements are those set out in Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official PhD studies, and as amended by Royal Decree 576/2023, of 4 July. These are:
  1. In general, in order to access an official PhD programme, it shall be necessary to hold an official Spanish Bachelor´s degree, or equivalent, and a Master´s degree or equivalent, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been obtained in these two courses as a whole.
  2. Access may also be granted to those who are in one of the following situations:
  a) To hold official university degrees or equivalent Spanish degrees, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been passed in these courses as a whole, and accredit a level 3 of the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.
  b) To hold a degree obtained in accordance with foreign education systems belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), without the need for homologation, which accredits a level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, provided that this degree entitles access to PhD studies in the country of issue of the same. This admission shall not imply, in any case, the homologation of the previous degree held by the interested party nor its recognition for purposes other than access to PhD studies.
  c) To hold a degree obtained in accordance with foreign education systems outside the EHEA, without the need for its recognition, after verification by the university that it accredits a level of training equivalent to that of the official Spanish university Master´s degree and that it entitles the holder to access PhD studies in the country in which the degree was awarded. This admission shall not imply, in any case, the homologation of the previous degree held by the interested party, nor its recognition for purposes other than that of access to PhD studies.
  d) To hold another PhD or Doctorate degree.
  e) Likewise, university graduates who, after obtaining a place in training in the corresponding entrance examination to specialised health training posts, have passed with a positive evaluation at least two years of training in a programme for obtaining the official qualification in one of the specialities in Health Sciences, may also be admitted.

• Specific requirements

  A compulsory requirement for admission to the PhD programme is the submission of a report by the student consisting of a reference letter from a lecturer on the programme who i) endorses the potential viability of the future thesis within the framework of a line of research of the programme to which it is linked, and who ii) could act as supervisor if the necessary requirements for this are met.
  Furthermore, given the characteristics and scientific level of the PhD programme, the student must have a minimum level of English equivalent to level B2, not only because it is currently the common language of scientific communication at international level, but also because part of the courses, both specific and transversal, as well as various activities of the programme can be carried out in this language. The language level will be accredited with the corresponding official certification of those included in the list of accreditations recognised by the Modern Language Centre (CLM) of the USC for the different levels of the Common
  European Framework: https://www.usc.gal/es/centro/centro-lenguas-modernas.

• Admission rules

  Students will be selected for admission to the programme on the basis of the following criteria:
  • Academic record (max. 70%) determined by the grades obtained in the master’s degree (or DEA or research proficiency).
  • Previous research experience and its results (max. 10%): In this section, publications, communications and other scientific contributions to congresses and their suitability to the lines of research of the PhD programme will be assessed. Candidates must submit supporting documentation.
  • Professional or volunteer experience (max. 5%): In this section, professional or volunteer experience related to the lines of research of the PhD programme will be valued. Candidates must submit supporting documentation (certificate of employment, copy of contracts, grants, etc.).
  • Other aspects accredited in the candidate’s CV (max. 5%): In this section, research stays, courses taken and courses given related to the programme’s lines of research will be assessed. Knowledge of a foreign language at B2 level or higher and knowledge of languages other than the mother tongue(s).
  • Personal interview (max. 10%): Motivation, attitude and aptitudes, teamwork and communication skills will be assessed.
  The same criteria will be applied for the admission of all students regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time.

• Title extinction

  The PhD programme may be terminated for any of the following reasons:
  • Failure to pass the accreditation renewal process established in article 10 of RD 99/2011.
  • Failure to accredit compliance with the requirements established by the state or regional regulations in force.
  • A proposal is made to terminate the programme as part of the degree review and improvement process in accordance with the procedure approved by the university.
  • The occurrence of any exceptional situation that prevents the correct development of the PhD programme.
  Termination shall have the following effects:
  • It will entail the loss of its official status and its removal from the RUCT.
  • It will not be possible to enrol new students in the PhD programme.
  • In any case, all affected students must be informed of the termination and of the consequences for the development of their studies.
  The University shall adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the academic rights of the students who are taking these studies under the terms established in the resolution for the termination of the study plan, and shall approve the procedure for the termination of the PhD programmes within the University.

• Psicología de la salud

  Teachers	Area
  Montserrat Durán Bouza	International Doctoral School
  Carmen De Labra Pinedo	International Doctoral School
  Blanca Laffon Lage	International Doctoral School
  Rosa María Fernández García	International Doctoral School
  María Ángeles González Fernández	International Doctoral School
  Adriana Ávila Álvarez	International Doctoral School
  Aliciagloria Risso Migues	International Doctoral School

• Psychological aging and dementia

  Teachers	Area
  Onesimo Juncos Rabadan	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Vanessa Blanco Seoane	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  David Facal Mayo	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Arturo Jose Pereiro Rozas	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Cristina Lojo Seoane	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Susana Cid Fernandez	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  María Campos Magdaleno	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Sabela Carme Mallo López	Evolutionary Educational Psychology

• School learning, performance and psychological well-being

  Teachers	Area
  María Adelina Guisande Couñago	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Silvia López Larrosa	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Antonio Valle Arias	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Susana Rodríguez Martínez	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Isabel Piñeiro Aguín	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)

• Learning difficulties and specific educational needs

  Teachers	Area
  Eva María Taboada Ares	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Rosa María Rivas Torres	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Patricia Maria Iglesias Souto	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Santiago Lopez Gomez	Evolutionary Educational Psychology

• Development of oral and written language and its alterations

  Teachers	Area
  Miguel Perez Pereira	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Manuel Peralbo Uzquiano	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Juan Carlos Brenlla Blanco	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Anastasiia Ogneva	Evolutionary Educational Psychology

• Psychosocial development, adjustment and academic progress in transitional developmental periods

  Teachers	Area
  Carolina Tinajero Vacas	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Jose Eulogio Real Deus	Behavioural Science Methodology
  Maria Del Carmen Torres Maroño	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Zeltia Martínez López	Evolutionary Educational Psychology
  Maria Emma Mayo Pais	Evolutionary Educational Psychology

• Health psychology

  Teachers	Area
  Montserrat Durán Bouza	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Carmen De Labra Pinedo	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Rosa María Fernández García	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Ricardo Antonio García Mira	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)
  Adriana Ávila Álvarez	International PhD School of the University of Santiago de Compostela (EDIUS)

La implantación de un Programa de Doctorado en Desarrollo Psicológico, Aprendizaje y Salud surgió como una propuesta del área de conocimiento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación de la USC y la UDC a la necesidad de disponer de un programa para la formación de doctores en Ciencias Sociales y del Comportamiento con el propósito de dar respuesta a una serie de necesidades formativas, científicas y de investigación constatables en el Sistema Universitario de Galicia (SUG), en el ámbito del desarrollo psicológico humano, el aprendizaje y la educación, así como el estudio de factores que puedan afectar al ajuste psicológico y a la salud a lo largo del ciclo vital de las personas. Se estima que la oferta de un Programa de Doctorado Interuniversitario en Desarrollo Psicológico, Aprendizaje y Salud entre ambas universidades, coordinado por la USC, era fundamental para el desarrollo de la investigación en este ámbito en Galicia.
El Programa de Doctorado en Desarrollo Psicológico, Aprendizaje y Salud pretende : (a) una formación multidisciplinar de los/as investigadores/ as en los complejos tópicos de investigación que afronta actualmente la Psicología, (b) un aumento de la oferta de líneas de investigación a los estudiantes de la universidades conveniadas, y (c) una reducción-centralización del aparato administrativo de las universidades bajo el paraguas de las denominadas Escuelas de Doctorado.

• Basic skills

  - Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field.
  - Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial research or creative process.
  - Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
  - Ability to carry out critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.
  - Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their fields 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.
  - Ability to promote Open Science and Citizen Science, in accordance with article 12 of Organic Law 2/2023 of 22 March, as a way of contributing to the consideration of scientific knowledge as a common good, through the evaluation of transversal activities carried out by the PhD student related to different dimensions of Open Science and Citizen Science, as well as the training acquired in these disciplines in the form of micro-credentials or similar.

• Other competencies

  - Ability to adapt the research project and the scientific reports generated in research practice to the ethical commitment established in the Psychologist’s Code of Ethics.
  - Ability to analyse and understand critically, and to present synthetically, orally and in writing in the languages commonly used in the scientific community, the multiple and complex theoretical contributions on the chosen research topic in the field of psychological development, learning and/or health.
  - Ability to develop and implement a complete methodological design of a novel research project, both in a team and autonomously in an international or multidisciplinary context, through original research that can generate innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of psychological development, learning and/or health.
  - To have the ability to search for relevant information and generate scientific knowledge in areas of psychological development, learning and/or health in which this is scarce and to be able to communicate it to the scientific community and society, and to formulate judgements with limited information.
  - Ability to answer key questions, to tackle complex problems in a novel and innovative way and to defend proposed solutions in the field of psychological development, learning and/or health.

The PhD student in the PPPDLH possesses the skills to carry out research activities in accordance with the assumptions of reliability and validity set out in the current standards established in Behavioural Sciences and Psychology. They are committed to the ethical and open generation of new knowledge that is at the forefront of the line of research for which they opt. The graduate profile will be that of a high-level researcher, specialising in basic research into psychological, psychosocial and socio-cultural problems with the professional skills to:
- Generate and lead original research projects that meet international ethical and scientific quality standards.
- Effectively communicate the results of their research in scientific and non-specialised media, both nationally and internationally.
The PPPDLH is committed to promoting the industrial PhD modality and we have currently enrolled the first student to complete her thesis in this modality through the agreement signed with the company ENVITA DIGITAL for the validation of assistive technology aimed at older adults.
The PPPDLH enables its PhD students to carry out basic and applied research in public and private R+D+i institutions oriented towards the design and validation of psychological assessment and intervention products related to the lines of research in which the PhD Programme is organised.

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.