Doctoral programme in Network Engineering 48 months PHD Programme By Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) |TopUniversities

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - General

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The doctoral programme in Network Engineering has a long history. Its origins data back to a doctoral programme in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Telematics whose main characteristic was the combination of mathematical analysis with problem-solving in the area of telecommunications and particularly communication networks. Over time, the doctoral programme took shape until the two disciplines, telematics and applied mathematics, led to two separate programmes.

In the early years after the programme was created, a large group of professionals were trained who went on to join the telecommunications schools that were created in the 1990s. Universities such as Carlos III of Madrid and the universities of Cantabria or Cartagena employ doctoral degree holders who graduated from the doctoral programme in Network Engineering.

In a second stage, doctoral degree holders from the programme have become professionals working in South American universities such as the Pontifical Bolivarian University (UPB) of Colombia, or corporate research centres such as the NEC in Heidelberg, NTT DOCOMO EuroLabs in Munich or Spanish companies such as Indra. Some doctoral degree holders participate in innovative projects such as eNeo Labs.

Two aspects are notable in the doctoral programme in Network Engineering. From 2006 to 2011, the programme was shared with the Department of Telematic Engineering at the Universidad Carlos III and it received the Quality Award (MCD2003-00134) from 2003 to 2009. In 2024, the Excellent Accreditation has been achieved.

The doctoral programme is classified within the sector of information and communications technology (according to the ANEP, the area of computing sciences and information technology).

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - General

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The doctoral programme in Network Engineering has a long history. Its origins data back to a doctoral programme in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Telematics whose main characteristic was the combination of mathematical analysis with problem-solving in the area of telecommunications and particularly communication networks. Over time, the doctoral programme took shape until the two disciplines, telematics and applied mathematics, led to two separate programmes.

In the early years after the programme was created, a large group of professionals were trained who went on to join the telecommunications schools that were created in the 1990s. Universities such as Carlos III of Madrid and the universities of Cantabria or Cartagena employ doctoral degree holders who graduated from the doctoral programme in Network Engineering.

In a second stage, doctoral degree holders from the programme have become professionals working in South American universities such as the Pontifical Bolivarian University (UPB) of Colombia, or corporate research centres such as the NEC in Heidelberg, NTT DOCOMO EuroLabs in Munich or Spanish companies such as Indra. Some doctoral degree holders participate in innovative projects such as eNeo Labs.

Two aspects are notable in the doctoral programme in Network Engineering. From 2006 to 2011, the programme was shared with the Department of Telematic Engineering at the Universidad Carlos III and it received the Quality Award (MCD2003-00134) from 2003 to 2009. In 2024, the Excellent Accreditation has been achieved.

The doctoral programme is classified within the sector of information and communications technology (according to the ANEP, the area of computing sciences and information technology).

Admission Requirements

General entrance requirements

To gain admission to a doctoral programme, applicants must have an official Spanish bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a university master's degree or equivalent, together comprising a total of at least 300 ECTS credits.

You may also gain admission if you fall into one of the following categories:

1. As a rule, applicants seeking admission to an official doctoral programme must hold a Spanish bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a Spanish master’s degree or equivalent, provided they have passed at least 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees.

2. Any of the following applicants may also gain admission:

a. Holders of official Spanish degrees or equivalent Spanish qualifications, provided they have passed 300 ECTS credits in total and they can prove they have reached Level 3 in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.

b. Holders of degrees awarded in foreign education systems in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which do not require homologation, who can prove that they have reached Level 7 in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (https://www.ciencia.gob.es/), provided the degree makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded. Admission on this basis does not imply homologation of the foreign degree or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.

c. Holders of degrees awarded in a country that does not belong to the European Higher Education Area, which do not require homologation, on the condition that the University is able to verify that the degree is of a level equivalent to that of official university master's degrees in Spain and that it makes the graduate eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded. Admission on this basis does not imply homologation of the foreign degree or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.

d. Holders of another doctoral degree.

e. University graduates who, having previously been awarded a training post in the entrance examination for specialised health training posts, have passed and obtained a positive assessment in at least two years of training on a programme leading to an official qualification in a Health Sciences specialisation.

Specific requirements and admission procedure

Each doctoral programme may have specific requirements for admission in addition to the general requirements. The additional specific requirements that must be met for admission are listed on the web pages for each programme (https://doctorat.upc.edu/en/programmes).

For the admission procedure and calendar, see this section. (https://doctorat.upc.edu/en/future-doctoral-candidates/access-and-admission/admission-procedure).

4 Years
Oct

Scholarships

Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.

To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:

More programmes from the university

PHD Programmes 103