The PhD programme in Human Cognition and Evolution awards graduates with the highest degree that can be obtained from a Spanish university, which in this case is specifically oriented towards research in human cognition. Students will specialize in one or more of the various areas within cognition: perception, emotion, motivation, evolution, thought, socialization, neuroscience, pathology, culture, etc. The goal is for students to present a high-quality, unpublished work that, on the one hand contributes original and notable scientific and academic knowledge, and on the other hand, serves as the starting point from which to base doctoral research. This goal will take shape with the publication of a series of international articles.

Thus, there are doctoral candidates who aim to continue research with post-doctoral contracts at other universities, while for others, the doctoral degree will serve as an individual merit and/or something to drive their careers into the future.

Regarding procedural matters, you will acquire a method for organizing and carrying out research in the field of cognition and human evolution, following and discussing guidelines with the supervisor(s) of the doctoral programme. Without this guidance/organization, it would be difficult to properly incorporate all of the contents required to produce a worthy doctoral thesis. Similarly, you will be in contact with the rest of the doctoral candidates in the programme, attending seminars organized within the framework of the programme, and assisting each other when it comes to making academic decisions. Of course, you will go more in depth and receive more up-to-date information on the subject matters covered while at the same time gaining the ability to work autonomously on research so that, over time, you are able to follow your own line of research.

Legislation requires that official Spanish degree programmes receive a positive assessment from the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA, by its Spanish acronym). This process is known as verification, and it serves to ensure that education programmes are properly designed to provide the competencies and reach the learning goals around which the programmes are built.

The European Higher Education Area requires that there be a system in place to ensure the quality of degree programmes .

The doctorate programme is subject to constant assessment and improvement processes that guarantee that it maintains a certain level of prestige and renown in Europe. You can see the results of the assessment processes in the results section .