Inter-university doctoral studies in Comprehensive Care and Health Services (UJA-UDL-UVIC)

Presentation

Develop cutting-edge research in the field of health care and services, taking advantage of the advantages of completing an inter-university doctorate

The doctoral programme aims to the training of researcher in the field of health care and services. Thus, the participating institutions assume the importance of the scientific and social impact of the production of knowledge by nursing professionals and other health groups in the field of care and its integration into clinical practice.

In order to respond to this challenge, the program aims to respond to a series of emerging needs that come together in the field of research:

  • Firstly, responding to care related to frailty and dependency, reconsidering the needs of people and also incorporating that of their caregivers, promoting their integration into the community and emphasizing the gender perspective linked to the reproductive aspects of life.
  • Secondly, assuming that it is essential to be accountable and develop translational and multidisciplinary research in care, promoting its integration into daily clinical practice so that care is of a higher quality and is based on valid and reliable results from research.
  • Thirdly, developing aspects related to the promotion of health and the quality of life of individuals and communities, promoting healthy and inclusive environments that consider the determinants of health in the direction of reducing inequalities.
  • Finally, developing the evaluative dimension of research in the field of professional policies and practices, and therefore reviewing the designs, processes, results, and impacts of health and well-being policies, and also rethinking the roles of health professionals.

This programme is located fully within the European Union Research and Innovation Framework Program Horizon 2020 and the State Plan for Scientific and Technological Research that promote the design and implementation of policies close to social needs.

Specifically, it is aligned with change 1 (challenge 1), which is aimed at promoting health throughout life and the well-being of all, creating high-quality and economically sustainable health and care systems and creating opportunities to generate new jobs and growth.

The participating institutions have a direct relationship with the world of health. Throughout its history, its research groups have carried out an important part of their activity in contact with healthcare organizations, using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies that have also been formalized in the field of postgraduate training, master's degrees and continuing education.

Thus, this doctoral programme, in line with all of the above, will make it possible to train competent researchers to design, develop and manage research projects in the field of health care and services based on an epistemology and methodology based on interdisciplinarity and on a global vision that responds to current and future educational needs.

Also take advantage of the transversal and unique complementary training of the University of Jaén and all the activities aimed at improving your personal and professional projection that the UJA provides associated with this degree.

The objectives of this doctoral programme are:

  • Training of researchers in the field of health care and services, considered in a broad sense.
  • Contribute to research and promote knowledge about care related to people's frailty and dependency, care for caregivers and integration into the community.
  • Contribute to the development of translational and multidisciplinary research in health and care, promoting its integration into clinical practice.
  • Contribute to research to promote the health and quality of life of individuals and communities, promoting healthy and inclusive environments that consider the social determinants of health
  • Contribute to research in the field of health policies, the evaluation of their impact on the well-being of people,the professional practices and the roles of health professionals

In the monography of the degree you can consult the complete list of academic competences accredited by the inter-university doctoral programme in Comprehensive Care and Health Services by the University of Jaén.

The ideal applicant profile is people like you, who are interested in developing research in this field and are willing to take advantage of the opportunities offered. Applicants should be motivated for making new discoveries through research, and have the capacity for critical thinking, comprehension, interpretation and application of research results, as well as basic skills in computer tools and English language.

General access requirements for Doctoral Programmes at the University of Jaen

In general, access to an official doctoral programme is available to persons in possession of a Spanish official bachelor's degree, or equivalent, and a university master's degree.

Access is also available to persons who meet one of the following conditions:

  1. Being in possession of an official Spanish university qualification, or one of another member country of the European Higher Education Area, which qualifies them for access to a master's degree in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of October 29, and having obtained a minimum of 300 ECTS credits in all official university studies, of which at least 60 must be at master's level.
  2. Being in possession of an official Spanish degree whose duration, according to the rules of Community law, is at least 300 ECTS credits. These graduates must attend the mandatory bridging courses referred to in Article 7.2 of these regulations, unless the curriculum of said degree includes research training credits equivalent in educational value to the research credits obtained in master’s degree courses.
  3. Being in possession of a university degree and, after obtaining a training place in the entrance test to specialized medical training, having obtained a positive evaluation in at least two years of training in a programme to obtain an official degree in one of the Health Science specialties.
  4. Being in possession of a degree obtained under a foreign education system, without need for official recognition, after the University has verified that said degree accredits a level of education equivalent to the Spanish official master´s degree and allows admission to doctoral studies in the country issuing the qualification. In no case shall this admission imply the official recognition of the original qualification held by the individual or its recognition for purposes other than access to doctoral studies. Regardless of this, the doctoral degree obtained will be officially valid in Spain.
  5. Being in possession of a Bachelor, Architect or Engineer degree and also having achieved the Diploma de Estudios Avanzados in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 778/1998, of April 30, or the research proficiency stipulated in the Royal Decree 185/1985, of January 23.
  6. Being in possession of another Spanish doctoral degree obtained under earlier university regulations.

Specific access requirements for the doctoral programme in Comprehensive Care and Health Services

The recommended entry profile for admission to the PhD Program is as follows:

  • Students from Bachelors, Diplomas, Degrees, Masters and Specialty, if required, from the following fields:
    • Field of Health Sciences (Nursing, Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Food Science and Technology, Podiatry or equivalent qualifications).
    • Field of Social Sciences (Social Work, Sociology, Social Education, Anthropology or equivalent qualifications).
  • AStudents who demonstrate basic knowledge and skills in the design and development of research processes in Health Sciences and Social Sciences.
  • Students with professional experience in the field of health or social services.
  • B1 level of the English language. In the case of the autonomous community of Catalonia, it is recommended to have, additionally, level C of Catalan.

Exceptionally, those students whose previous training does not correspond to the previously indicated areas of knowledge may be admitted, provided that the requirements established in current legislation to access the doctorate are met. In this case, the Academic Committee of the PhD Programme will determine the additional training that the applicant must take to complete their training in the area or areas of knowledge related to the program, by taking subjects from the corresponding Master's degrees in the area of Health Sciences offered by the Universities and Institutions linked to the PhD Programme.

  1. Application

Candidate students who meet the access requirements to be admitted to the doctoral programme must submit an application for admission to the Doctoral School of the participating university where they wish to study their doctorate, which must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • Academic record of Bachelor's, Diploma or Degree and Master's and Specialty studies, if required, including the list of subjects and grades obtained.
  • Updated corriculum vitae
  • A research project proposal linked to one of the research lines of the PhD Programme
  • Personal motivation letter
  • Accreditation of level B1 of the English language

To access this PhD Programme, it is recommended to be in possession of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent that belongs to the branches of knowledge of Health Sciences or Social Sciences, or university graduates with training or professional experience in the field of health. or social services.

A C1 level of Spanish and a B1 level of a foreign language or equivalent are recommended. In the case of the autonomous community of Catalonia, level C of Catalan or equivalent is also recommended.

Exceptionally, the admission of those students whose previous training does not correspond to the previously indicated areas of knowledge will be valued. In this case, it will be the Academic Committee of the PhD Programme that will determine the training complements that the applicant must take to complete their training in the area or areas of knowledge related to the program, through the completion of subjects of the corresponding Masters of the area of Health Sciences offered by the universities and institutions linked to the PhD Program.

Admission criteria

The doctoral candidate who meets any of the access requirements defined in article 6 of RD 99/2011, to be admitted to the doctoral programme must meet the admission criteria established by the Academic Committee of the doctoral programme ( CAPD), which are detailed below:

  • Be in possession of an official Master's degree in a field of knowledge related to the PhD Programme, as described in the previous point.
  • Be in possession of an official Bachelor's, Bachelor's or Diploma degree, whose contents are related or related to the PhD Programme, as described in the previous point.
  • In the case that it is accessed through access route c), it must prove that the two years of specialized health training are of a field equivalent to that of the doctoral programme.
  • The affinity of the research project proposal with any of the research lines of the PhD Programme.

The CAPD, taking into account the admission profile of doctoral students, may establish additional specific requirements for admission to studies. Among these requirements, the applicant may be required to supplement research training.

In addition, the CAPD may also require the presentation of one or more letters of recommendation or academic endorsement.

Selection criteria

The CAPD of the PhD Programme will evaluate the applications submitted by the candidates based on the following admission criteria:

  • The average mark of the subjects in the academic record of the Bachelor's/Diploma or Bachelor's and Master's studies, in a proportion equivalent to the credits of each degree, related to the scope of the Doctoral Programme. Up to 35%
  • The publications and academic papers linked to one of the lines of research that make up the PhD Programme. Up to 10%.
  • Professional experience related to one of the lines of research that make up the PhD Programme. Up to 10%.
  • The interest of the student in the research declared by the applicant in the personal motivation letter and in the project presented, and, in particular, its adaptation to one of the lines of research that make up the programme. Up to 20%.
  • Coherence of the thesis project with the research lines of the PhD Programme. Up to 20%.
  • Full time dedication to the PhD Programme. Up to 5%.

The CAPD, as the body responsible for admission to the PhD Programme, assesses, based on the calculation of these criteria, whether the applicant has the necessary knowledge and skills to correctly develop a quality thesis project.

The CAPD classifies the applications submitted in accordance with the established evaluation criteria, and authorizes enrollment in the PhD Programme, which may be conditional on enrollment in specific training supplements to compensate for training deficits, and the number of annual places available.

The CAPD notifies the doctoral student of the resolution by email from the Academic Management Area (AGA) of the university where the doctoral student has requested access and admission to the doctoral programme. In the event of a favorable resolution, the AGA informs the doctoral student of the procedures to follow to formalize the enrollment in the Doctoral Programme, as well as the procedures to complete the supplements training that the CAPD has established, if applicable.

Once the registration has been formalized, the director, or, where appropriate, the tutor, informs the doctoral student of the reception procedures and start of the training period.

Students may enroll in doctoral studies at full dedication, or part-time if duly justified. The maximum period of permanence in PhD studies will be 3 years full-time or 5 years part-time. Students may ask for an ordinary extension for one year if enrolled full-time or two years if enrolled part-time. After this, all students may ask for an extraordinary extension period of one year. Applications for the extensions provided for in current legislation are to be duly reasoned and will be resolved by the Academic Committee for the PhD programme. Students may also apply for a temporary leave for a maximum period of one year, and extendible to one further year. Students may be excluded from the programme if they do not renew enrolments or if they obtain two negative overall assessments consecutively in the training and research activities in which they are enrolled for that year.

Students with special needs may visit the University Special Education Needs Service. You may get more information on general issues related to doctoral studies at the University Academic Service and the Doctoral School.

According to the rules for enrolment of the University of Jaen, application for doctoral studies is open during the complete year. Application and enrolment in doctoral studies can be done through the University Servicio de Gestión Académica.

There are four periods for application and registration during the year. Places not covered in one period will be added to next period´s offer.

School Year 2023/2024

  • First cohort (application open until September 30, 2023; admission and registration during October, 2023)
    • Nº of places offered: 20
  • Second cohort (application open until January 31, 2024; admission and registration during February, 2024)
    • Nº of places offered: 0
  • Third cohort (application open until May 31, 2024; admission and registration during June, 2024)
    • Nº of places offered: 0

Send us your application, and you will receive a personalized response in due time.

Yearly demand for places

If you are willing to apply for grants, please check the University International Relations website.

Academic Information

This doctoral programme is based on research lines carried out by teaching and research staff that will be in charge of supervising your research work. The mentor (who may also be your supervisor or a different member of the PhD programme) will guide you through the training activities of the programme.

While the mentor must belong to the university´s permanent staff that participates in the doctoral programme, the thesis supervision can be assigned to any person participating in the programme who is in possession of a PhD degree and has a qualified research experience, either from inside or from outside of the university.

  1. ​​​​​Chronicity, dependency and health in the community
    • Chronicity and attention to frail and aged people.
    • Health in the community.
    • Women's health
  2. Health services and utilization of health outcomes
    • Use of health research results to improve clinical practice and health services.
    • Chronic wounds.
  3. Social policies and health practices
    • Health and quality of life.
    • Social determinants and health inequalities.
    • Health policies and practices.

Research topic: Chronicity, dependency and health in the community

Profesorado de la línea de investigación Cronicidad, dependencia y salud en la comunidad.

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Hita Contreras, Fidel 0000-0001-7215-5456 UJA
Martinez Amat, Antonio 0000-0002-9652-791X UJA
Lomas Vega, Rafael 0000-0003-2546-6301 UJA
Alvarez Nieto, Carmen 0000-0002-0913-7893 UJA
Linares Abad, Manuel 0000-0002-4285-1335 UJA
Frias Osuna, Antonio 0000-0001-5286-9603 UJA
del Pino Casado, Rafael 0000-0003-2263-2415 UJA
Palomino Moral, Pedro Angel 0000-0002-8932-2852 UJA

Research topic: Health services and utilization of health outcomes

Profesorado de la línea de investigación Servicios de salud y utilización de resultados en salud

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Pancorbo Hidalgo, Pedro Luis 0000-0002-0092-6095 UJA
López Medina, Isabel Maria 0000-0003-3552-2258 UJA
Garcia Fernandez, Francisco Pedro 0000-0002-8183-7130 UJA
Soldevilla Agreda, J. Javier 0000-0003-4400-4460 UNIRIOJA
Abad Corpa, Eva 0000-0003-2164-4967 UM
Lavado García, Jesús Mª 0000-0001-5861-3908 UNEX
Moreno Casbas, Mª Teresa ISCII-Investen
Orts Cortes, Mª Isabel ISCII-Investen

Research topic: Social policies and health practices

Profesorado de la línea de investigación Políticas sociales y prácticas en salud

Name ORCID code Affiliation
de la Fuente Robles, Yolanda Maria 0000-0002-2643-0100 UJA
Sotomayor Morales, Eva 0000-0002-5579-3859 UJA
Ezquerra Samper, Sandra 0000-0002-5688-7574 UVIC
Rivera Ferré, Marta Guadalupe 0000-0001-8183-8398 UVIC
Puig Ribera, Anna Mª 0000-0003-2910-1924 UVIC
Molina Luque, Fidel 0000-0001-5278-2794 UDL
Blanco Blanco, Joan 0000-0002-4868-2974 UDL
Muntaner, Carles 0000-0002-2405-5802 UTORONTO
McGuilton, Katherine 0000-0003-2470-9738 UTORONTO

During the course of your PhD thesis, you will be asked to take a set of training activities aimed at achieving the main competences that every PhD from the University of Jaen must develop by the end of doctoral studies:

Compulsory training activities

  • General: Framework of doctoral studies.
  • General: Framework of scientific research. Research policies.
  • General: Design and follow-up of research projects.
  • General: Knowledge transfer.
  • General: Dissemination of research results.
  • General: Employment and researcher career.
  • Specific: Relevant contribution from the PhD thesis.

In addition, the student may also get enrolled in other training activities (most of which are programme-specific), aimed at acquisition of specific competences of this doctoral programme.

Optional training activities:

  • General: Doctoral seminars.
  • Specific: Active participation in seminars, conferences, symposia, courses and workshops.
  • Specific: Short-term visit (minimum three months) to a foreign research institution (compulsory for students willing to achieve the International mention in their PhD degree).

You may check the calendar of training activities.

You can get more detailed information on the procedures for registration for the different activities and available grants.

All general training activities are in Spanish. Some specific training activities may be in English.

PhD students must pass a yearly evaluation of their activities. This includes general compulsory activities of doctoral studies and specific optional activities offered by the programme. After enrolment, you will receive a link for completion of your Student´s record of training activitiesand Research plan.

Each year, students must present proof of participation in at least two training activities. Nonetheless, the Academic commission may issue a positive evaluation for students with only one activity if this is duly justified.

The studies are duly completed with the presentation of the PhD thesis and the student´s public dissertation.

Evaluation 2019-2020

After completion of the Research Plan and Training activities, students may proceed to the public defense of their PhD thesis once the thesis has received initial approval from the PhD thesis supervisor(s) and the Academic Committee of the PhD programme as well as final approval from the Steering Committee of the Doctoral School. In order to receive this approval, the thesis must have achieved a relevant contribution signed by the PhD student as first author. The adequacy of the contribution will be determined according to the criteria established by the Comisión Nacional Evaluadora de la Actividad Investigadora (CNEAI) for the main areas of research and knowledge.

At the time of finishing your thesis you may need to check the rules that apply for writing the thesis in a foreign language and for the deposit and thesis defense.

Broadening your experience in other universities now becomes essential in a scenario where information, enterprise and society are globalized. Short-term visits (of at least 3 months) to a foreing institution allow doctoral students to achieve the International mention in their diploma. In addition, the option of JointSupervision allows you to achieve a PhD degree issued simultaneously by University of Jaen and by a foreign university. Under this modality of study, you will be assigned a thesis supervisor in each of the participating universities under the conditions laid down in the corresponding cotutele agreement.

PhD students may also spend part or most of their training period in a company. The mention of Industrial Doctorate can be obtained provided that the topic of the thesis is embedded in the research strategy of a company to which the doctoral student is bound by a contractual agreement.

There are different types of mobility grants for doctoral students, including FPI (MINECO), FPU (MECD), individual PAIDI grants or Plan de Apoyo a la Investigación, Desarrollo Tecnológico e Innovación from Jaen University. Sudents may also apply for grants from Campus de Excelencia Internacional, Erasmus mobility grants, and grants offered by the Doctoral School of Jaen University.

Complementary Study Programs

The University of Jaén is committed to an integral training of its students. On this page you will find complementary training activities that will allow you to configure a comprehensive curriculum that favors your employability and your professional and personal development. Check this page regularly because the information is continuously updated.

There are no programs of complementary studies that match the specified filter criteria.

Career Guidance

Internship Training in Companies

The University of Jaen is aware that internships in companies can be essential to your professional career. For that reason, it offers a range of options for you to get enrolled in extracurricular internships, including the University programmes for entrepreneurial activities and Icaro programme. The calls from University of Jaen´s Plan de Apoyo a la Transferencia del Conocimiento, el Emprendimiento y la Empleabilidad may offer you multiple options to facilitate your incorporation to the world of work.

Career Prospects

  • Research units in institutions and health centers.
  • Universities, teaching and research in areas of health sciences
  • Access to post-doctoral training scholarships, nationally and internationally.
  • Clinical and epidemiological research in health, through calls for project financing.

Coordination and Quality

The academic coordination commission is the collegiate body in charge of direction and academic management of the title. It interacts directly with the students and is in charge of programming the academic activities offered to the students, preparing the calendar, as well as other academic aspects necessary for an optimal development of the title. It will also be in charge of introducing the modifications included in the improvement process proposed by the title´s Quality Assurance System.

Composition

  • Coordinator: Joan Carles Casas. Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya
  • Coordinator Local: Dr. Pedro L. Pancorbo Hidalgo
  • Joan Carles Casas. Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya
  • Fidel Molina Luque. Universitat de Lleida.
  • Pedro L. Pancorbo Hidalgo. Universidad de Jaén
  • Mª Teresa Moreno Casbas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III

The Internal Quality Assurance Commission of the Doctoral programme performs the function of promoting and facilitating the continued improvement of the different activities (teaching, research, transfer of results, administrative issues) concerning the title. It also analyses the academic results and the level of satisfaction the title and prepares the improvement plan that the Academic commission will then put in practice.

Composition

  • Pedro L Pancorbo Hidalgo (Coordinator)
  • Rafael del Pino Casado
  • Rafael Lomas Vega
  • Eva Mª Sotomayor Morales
  • Francisco P. Garcia Fernandez
  • Mª Dolores López Franco (PhD student)

The quality assurance system of Jaen University has a two-tiered structure of responsibility. On one side, the corresponding Vice-Rectorate coordinates the quality evaluation process for the different titles, departments and university services and, on the other, the Academic Centre in charge of the title, which applies its Quality Assurance System. You may check the Internal Quality Assurance System of this doctoral programme at the website of the coordinating institution.

All official titles given by Jaen University undergo different evaluation processes by the Dirección de Evaluación y Acreditación (DEVA) of the Agencia Andaluza del Conocimiento. In the case of doctoral programmes coordinated by universities from other Regional Goverments (as in this case), the corresponding Evaluation Agency will be in charge of external evaluation of the quality of the title.

The relevant information for this title concerning number of new enrolments, academic results and student´s level of satisfaction with the title is available at the university statistical yearbook (anuario estadístico de la Universidad de Jaén) under the headings “Estudiantes” and “Satisfacción de los grupos de interés”.

You may also check the dropout rates (informes de abandono) for the titles given by Jaen University.

Employability is one of the most important elements of the quality of the title. You can take a look at the report on employability for the different titles at Jaen University (estudios sobre la inserción laboral de los titulados) where you will find the most common professional careers of people who took this doctorate before you.