Program Overview

Introduction to the Aerospace Engineering Ph.D. Program

The Aerospace Engineering Ph.D. program at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is designed to provide students with advanced training and research skills in the field of aerospace engineering. The program aims to qualify students with a series of technical and scientific competences in the field of aerospace science and technologies.

About the Program

The program is structured in two large areas: Aeronautics and Space. The main objective of the program is to enable graduate doctors to find innovative and disruptive solutions to high-impact and high-interest problems in the field of aerospace engineering through a combination of experimental, computational, and technological methodologies.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities for graduates are focused on three areas: a scientific career in universities or national and international research centers, a professional career in the Aerospace R&D sector, and the creation of technology-based companies through patents and/or registered software as direct outcomes of the research.

Program Details

• The program is adapted to the Real Decreto 99/2011, de 28 de enero.
• The program has a recommended access profile of a graduate background training in the field of Science, Engineering, and Architecture, specifically in the area of Aerospace Engineering.
• Students with Master's degrees in related fields such as Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering and Automation, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Thermal Engines and Machines, Fluid Mechanics, Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis, Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering, Telematic Engineering, Electronic Technology, or Signal Theory and Communications may also be admitted.

Access Requirements

• According to art. 6 of the PhD studies regulation (RD 99/2011), to access the Program, it is required to have a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) and a Master's degree (or equivalent), provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been passed in these two cycles as a whole, or the equivalent degree qualifies for level 3 of MECES (Marco Espańol de Cualificaciones para la Educación Superior, Spanish Framework for Higher Education Qualifications).
• Access is also available to candidates in possession of foreign degrees from countries integrated into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) when the degree can be accredited as level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), as long as the aforementioned degree allows access to PhD level studies in the country of expedition.

Admission Criteria

Admission is based on the criteria established by the Academic Committee, including:

• Academic transcript (Bachelor's and Master's degrees)
• Suitability of the candidate's background training to the lines of research of the Ph.D. program
• Research experience
• Motivation, commitment to the program, and research interests of the candidate

Complementary Training

Complementary training may be required for students whose background is not directly related to Aerospace Engineering. This training consists of subjects from a UC3M research Master's degree and must be taken during the first year of doctoral training.

Research Skills Training

Research skills training is focused on abilities common to all disciplines and consists of different activities such as short courses, seminars, etc. This training is optional but may be recommended by the Academic Committee of the program.

Thesis Defense

The doctoral thesis consists of an original research work developed by the Ph.D. candidate in the field of knowledge established by the program. The thesis defense is a public academic event where the Ph.D. candidate presents and defends their research work before a committee of experts.

Useful Information

• Ph.D. Studies Overview: Our Ph.D. programs focus on the acquisition of skills and abilities required to undertake high-quality research work within the strategic framework and lines of research of the university.
• Admission: The application for admission must be submitted online, and the review process consists of two stages: administrative validation and academic evaluation.
• Enrollment: The enrollment period varies depending on the start date of the Ph.D. studies, and students must select the Ph.D. monitoring module for their doctoral training year.
• Tuition Fees: The costs of tuition fees include academic fees, training credits, thesis defense, and Ph.D. degree certificate.
• Ph.D. Studies: Monitoring and Development: The progress of the research work is evaluated annually, and students must take complementary training, specific training, and research skills training.
• Thesis Defense: The thesis defense process involves the approval of the thesis by the thesis directors, review by external experts, and a public defense of the thesis.