PhD in Human Cognition and Evolution

Academic year 2025-26

See the pre-registration, admission and registration deadlines for the 2025-26 academic year.
You may also check this information for the 2024-25 academic year.

Interdisciplinary and specific educational activities

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.

Specific Activities

Research Seminars
Description
A specific training activity comprising attendance at advanced seminars at the UIB given by researchers linked to the PhD programme and renowned guest researchers from overseas research centres.
Hours
32 hours.
Length
Two hours per seminar.
Details and Planning
At least eight seminars will be organised every year, around one per month.
Type
Full-time doctorands will be required to attend four seminars, and part-time doctorands two, every year.
Language of Instruction
Spanish or English.
Learning Outcomes
The seminars will provide an overview of current groundbreaking research for doctorands to become familiar with debates and issues arising from research.
Assessment Procedure
Doctorands will be required to submit a short assignment on the attended seminars, alongside their annual assessment report. After completing their assignments, doctorands’ participation will be included in their doctorand activities document.
Mobility Activities
The PhD Programme in Cognition and Society and the UIB Office of the Pro-Vice-Chanceller for Research run specific programmes to fund travel and stays for renowned researchers linked to the programme’s research areas. Moreover, attendance at research courses and seminars undertaken at other institutions may also be accredited.
Relevant Personal Capabilities, Skills and Abilities
CB11, CB14, CB17.
CA05.
OC01.
Reading Seminars
Description
Each research group runs ‘journal club’ sessions. Doctorands join the same group as their supervisors, who will select the texts and run the sessions.
Hours
320 hours.
Length
Two hours per text.
Details and Planning
One reading session per week.
Type
Mandatory. Students are expected to read at least 40 texts per year (or 20 for part-time students).
Language of Instruction
Spanish or English.
Learning Outcomes
An ability for critical analysis of published research; an awareness of open research questions, as well as new methods and concepts.
Assessment Procedure
Doctorands will meet with their thesis supervisor on a periodic basis to verify the readings, ensure progress and schedule subsequent sessions.
Mobility Activities
None are planned.
Relevant Personal Capabilities, Skills and Abilities
CB11, CB12, CB14.
CA02, CA04, CA05.
OC01.
Conference Participation
Description
Papers or posters presented at national or international conferences.
Hours
40 hours.
Length
Conferences must run for at least one full day.
Details and Planning
Doctorands will be required to participate in at least one conference per year..
Type
Mandatory.
Language of Instruction
Preferably English.
Learning Outcomes
Experience presenting personal research findings; first-hand knowledge of ongoing research in the relevant field; networking with fellow researchers with shared interests, approaches and specialisations.
Assessment Procedure
Doctorands must submit a participation certificate for each conference. Certificates will be included in the doctorand activities document.
Mobility Activities
Conference participation must be in-person. The Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research runs a research promotion programme to fund conference participation for doctorands with a UIB employment contract. Doctorands who do not match this profile may apply for grants from the relevant research groups linked to the programme to partially fund conference participation..
Relevant Personal Capabilities, Skills and Abilities
CB11, CB12, CB15.
CA01, CA06.
OC01.
PhD Research Seminars
Description
Doctorands will present their research after finalising the plan for their thesis project to other students and lecturers on the programme at seminars run like scientific conferences.
Hours
20 hours.
Length
One to two days.
Details and Planning
Seminars are generally held in July and run like a scientific conference with papers and posters, as well as spaces for doctorands to exchange ideas and opinions.
Type
Mandatory from the third year on the programme (for full-time students) or the fifth year (for part-time students).
Language of Instruction
English.
Learning Outcomes
Experience presenting personal research findings in English and receiving constructive criticism; the ability to answer questions.
Assessment Procedure
The Academic Committee for the PhD Programme will issue participation certificates for doctorands who successfully take part.
Mobility Activities
None are planned.
Relevant Personal Capabilities, Skills and Abilities
CB11, CB12, CB15, CB16, CB17.
CA03, CA04, CA06.
OC01.
Stays at Benchmark Research Centres
Description
Doctorands will undertake research stays at international benchmark research centres under the supervision of a researcher from the relevant centre.
Hours
40 hours.
Length
All doctorands may undertake a minimum 40-hour stay, i.e. equivalent to one week. Doctorands seeking an International Mention will be required to undertake a minimum three-month stay, i.e. at least 480 hours. Part-time students will be allowed to split the stay into three separate periods lasting one-month each.
Details and Planning
Full-time doctorands are advised to undertake their stay in the third year and part-time students in the fifth year..
Type
Elective.
Language of Instruction
English.
Learning Outcomes
Networking with international academics; adapting to different institutional settings; becoming familiar with alternative research systems.
Assessment procedure
Stays must be authorised by the Academic Committee for the PhD Programme. Upon completion, doctorands will be required to submit a certificate and a report from the relevant supervising researcher accrediting their stay. The report must include all relevant details about the stay (dates, host group, activities undertaken) and will be added to the doctorand activities document.
Mobility Activities
The necessary funding is available for three years for doctorands with pre-doctoral contracts to undertake their research stays. The university has a grant programme available for research stays.
Relevant Personal Capabilities, Skills and Abilities
CB11, CB12, CB13, CB15, CB16.
CA05.