PhD in Plant Biology

Academic year 2024-25

See the pre-registration, admission and registration deadlines for the 2024-25 academic year.
You may also check this information for the 2023-24 academic year.

Interdisciplinary and specific educational activities

The Academic Committee for the PhD Programme recommends students take a minimum of 60 mandatory hours of common cross-cutting training activities (similar courses provided and taken at other universities shall be considered). In turn, full-time students are recommended to do these activities in their first year on the programme, whilst part-time students should do them in the first and second year.

Active Cross-cutting activities

You can find the currently active PhD training activities in "Management of doctoral students > Transversal and programme-specific training"

Cross-cutting training programme for PhD students at the University of the Balearic Islands

The cross-cutting training activities proposed will have specific assessment procedures based on objective tests. As a general rule, the supervisor or tutor shall be responsible for incoporating the assessment or successful completion into the PhD activities document.

Cross-cutting Activities

Communication Skills in English: Written and Oral Expression (Module I)
Objective
A cross-cutting training activity aimed at students attaining advanced knowledge of English (written and oral communication)
Number of hours
30
Requirements
--
Method
Intensive and cross-cutting
Schedule
Semester one in each academic year
Year
First year
Assessment procedure
Activities where students can practise their writing abilities in English to attain C1-level skills
Mobility
Not applicable
Communication Skills in English: Written and Oral Expression (Module II)
Objective
This 30-hour activity aims at students attaining advanced knowledge of English. Students shall work on their English usage based on immersion in the communication context for the speciality, linked to inherent situations and documents for each area
Number of hours
30
Requirements
--
Method
Intensive and cross-cutting
Schedule
Semester two in each academic year
Year
First year
Assessment procedure
Activities where students can practise their writing abilities in English to attain C1-level skills
Mobility
Not applicable
Bibliographic Search Techniques
Objective
A cross-cutting training activity aimed at acquiring the ability to undertake and manage bibliographic searches on a research topic in different public and private bibliographic databases
Number of hours
30
Requirements
None
Method
Intensive and cross-training. Elective
Schedule
Semester one in each academic year
Year
First year
Assessment procedure
Activities where students can practise their bibliographic search skills
Mobility
Not applicable
Ethics and Integrity in Scientific Research
Objective
An activity aimed at students understanding the purpose and objectives of scientific research in any area. The scientific method. Classification of scientific disciplines. Ethical problems in scientific research. Experiments with humans and animals. The bioethics committee
Number of hours
30
Requirements
 --
Method
Intensive and cross-cutting
Schedule
Semester one in each academic year
Year
First year
Assessment procedure
Specific assessment procedures. Case studies
Mobility
Not applicable

Specific Activities

Research Seminars and Specific Training Courses
Objective
Activity aimed at researchers explaining their research work to all students on the programme at one-hour seminars held during the academic year
Number of hours
30
Requirements
--
Method
Intensive and cross-cutting
Schedule
These seminars shall be carried out throughout the student's time on the programme, whether they have part-time or full-time status. Students are recommended to dedicate more time to this activity in the first three years of the programme
Assessment procedure
Students must attend a minimum of 20 hours of seminars and/or specific training courses (in the first three years), which shall be included in the doctorand activities document
Mobility
Not applicable
Seminars Given by Doctorands. I)
Objective
The objective of this activity is to hold an annual seminar for students enrolled on the programme in which to present and defend the work they have carried out during the academic year to the rest of the students and the lecturers on the doctoral programme
Number of hours
30
Requirements
--
Method
Extensive
Schedule
Full-time students may participate in this activity from their second year on the programme. Part-time students may do so from their third year on the programme
Year
Second year
Assessment procedure
Activitats en les quals els estudiants poden practicar l'expressió escrita en anglès per adquirir habilitats en un context de nivell C1.
Mobility
Not applicable
Tutorials
Objective
A specific training activity through which the thesis supervisor provides the student with knowledge in the context of the research topic, and teaches him/her how to use technologies and software environments necessary to conduct the research, how to plan for and analyse experiments, and how to discuss and disseminate research results. This activity also comprises training for the writing of the PhD thesis
Number of hours
180
Requirements
 --
Method
Extensive
Schedule
Throughout the student's time on the programme
Year
3-4 years
Assessment procedure
The thesis supervisor shall supervise the information included by the doctorand in the doctorand activities document, as well as the training activities carried out in each period. Each tutor shall try to adjust to the student's dedication, and shall report at least twice a year on these activities to the Academic Committee throughout the student's time on the programme
Mobility
Not applicable
 Preparing and Presenting Scientific Papers
Objective
A specific training activity comprising training for scientific communication. It shall include the production of papers in line with the thesis topic (documentation, data analysis, writing), as well as their public presentation at national and/or international conferences, congresses, meetings and workshops. This activity is mandatory for all students (part-time included)
Number of hours
150
Requirements
 --
Method
Extensive and cross-cutting
Schedule
Full-time students should complete this activity from their second year on the programme. Part-time students should complete it from their third year. In any event, students may choose to do it earlier
Assessment procedure
Attendance slip and bibliographic reference of the proceedings for the scientific event, to be included in the doctorand activities document
Mobility
The Biology Department and the UIB Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research have specific programmes to finance the travel and accommodation expenses of researchers of recognised prestige in the lines of research of the PhD programme. Likewise, applications shall be made for grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport's mobility programmes for PhD students