The programme's research areas comprise:

L1: Applied cognitive psychology

Research into social phenomena from a cognitive psychology perspective. The main areas of interest are: aesthetic preferences; moral psychology and all social and political processes involving emotions; judgement and decision-making.

L2: Critical social and political thought

Research into social and political philosophy from a critical theory perspective. The main areas of interest are new social and political movements, and feminist theory.

L3: Behaviour and health

Research into social factors impacting health. The main areas of interest are mental health and community interventions.

L4: Applied ethics

Research into social issues posing new ethical challenges. The main areas of interest are the sources and justifications for moral norms and intuition, and emerging contemporary ethical issues.

Doctorands shall study in-depth and become up-to-date in the selected material, as well as attain research skills to a certain degree of independence so that, in the long term, they can develop their own independent line of research linked to public or private institutions.

The goal of the PhD programme is to train and prepare researchers who are focused on studying:

• (i) the human perceptual and cognitive structure, in particular higher functions among which are the unique features, in evolutionary terms (autapomorphy), of linguistic communication, moral behaviour, and aesthetic judgments (language, moral, and aesthetic),
• (ii) diseases and ageing, based on particular circumstances, specifically changes due to emotional states, and
• (iii) groups that, being shaped by social dynamics throughout history, have taken on behaviours derived from individuals. 

Core Skills

• CB11 - Systematic comprehension of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to this field
• CB12 - The ability to devise, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial research or invention process
• CB13 - The ability to contribute to widening the frontiers of knowledge through original research
• CB14 - The ability to perform a critical analysis, assessment and synthesis of new and complex ideas
• CB15 - The ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community, as well as with society as a whole, about their areas of knowledge in the methods and languages commonly used within the international scientific community
• CB16 - The ability to promote scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural advancement in academic and professional settings within the knowledge-based society.
• CB17 - The ability to foster open and citizen science in accordance with Article 12 in Organic Law 2/2023 of 22^nd March as a way to contribute to scientific knowledge being deemed a public good, through assessing the cross-cutting activities linked to these areas undertaken by doctorands, as well as the training received in both fields through micro-credentials or similar. (From the implementation date of RD 576/2023 of 4^th July.)

Personal Skills and Abilities

• CA01 - Work in contexts where there is little specific information
• CA02 - Uncover key questions that need to be answered in order to resolve a complex problem
• CA03 - Design, create, develop and undertake new and innovative projects in their area of knowledge
• CA04 - Work in a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary setting
• CA05 - Incorporate knowledge, handle complexity and provide opinions with limited information
• CA06 - Intellectual criticism and defence of solutions.

Other Abilities

• OC01 - Understanding any professional activity must respect fundamental rights, promote gender equality and the principle of universal access and design for all individuals, and protect the environment in accordance with the values inherent to a culture of peace and democracy.

The PhD programme in Human Cognition and Evolution will admit students with the following recommended entry profile:

• Candidates with the ability to produce a PhD thesis related to the field of research in human cognition and cognitive development, specifically with regard to: (i) managing the most common bibliographic sources (journals, databases) used in this type of research and, (ii) their familiarity with the concepts, methods, and general interpretative models of research in this field
• Candidates with a level of knowledge equivalent to an undergraduate degree programme in Anthropology (Physical and/or Cultural), Biology (especially Human Genetics), Psychology (especially General Human Cognition, Experimental Aesthetics, and Neuropsychology) or Philosophy (Philosophy of the Mind, Philosophical Anthropology). In turn, knowledge at a more specialised postgraduate level in at least one of the following areas: (i) human evolutionary processes, (ii) anthropological characterisations of modern groups in globalisation and, (iii) relations between cognitive processes, behaviours and brain structures. Knowledge of the research related to Neo-Darwinism, the psychology of basic cognitive processes, the analysis of mental disorders and neuroimaging will be particularly welcomed.

Admission of PhD candidates shall be undertaken by the Academic Committee for the PhD programme, which shall apply the following admissions criteria where the number of pre-registered students exceeds the number of available places:

• The academic record from prior undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications (80%). A scale will be used to score subjects from 0 to 10
• Endorsements (20%) A lecturer’s endorsement of a student’s academic progress comprises a letter detailing: (i) the relationship between the lecturer and endorsed student, (ii) an assessment of the endorsed student’s academic level, personal abilities and research capacity, and (iii) where the student studied under the lecturer, the grade awarded. Students shall state how to contact the endorsing lecturers in their application (e-mail). Endorsements shall be scored from 0 to 10 and students may only submit two endorsements.

Open University for Adults (UAPA)

Agreements and framework agreements of UIB. Search of agreements  .

The Academic Committee will ask students who have completed the master's degree programme in cognition and human evolution what their research interests are and whom they would prefer to have as a director for their thesis. For admitted students who have not taken this master's programme, the Academic Committee will consider their interest in and motivation for enrolling in the programme and students can suggest a tutor based on their chosen line of research.

At the end of the first year, students must present and defend their thesis project (the "live thesis"), before at least two professors, not counting their director or directors.

The Academic Committee will resolve cases in which a change of director or resignation is duly requested. 

The Code of Good Practice and the Thesis Charter, with the rights and duties of the director, tutor, and candidate, are models provided by the University of the Balearic Islands for establishing a guide of good practices for the management and monitoring of training/educational activities and the doctoral dissertation. Regulations and guidelines regarding the organization of university doctoral teachings at the University of the Balearic Islands are stated in Articles 20-31, as per Royal Decree 99/2011.

Supervision and monitoring of doctorand training activities and their PhD theses shall be in line with the UIB procedures for PhDs (RD 99/2011), the UIB Doctoral Degree Regulations (https://seu.uib.cat/fou/acord/13084/) and the verified degree report that you may consult on the "Results" webpage. The administrative and academic procedures that students must perform during their PhD may be viewed on the "Procedures" section of the UIB Doctoral School website:

• Thesis Charter and Code of Best Practice
• Research Plan and Record of activities
• Initial review and annual reviews
• PhD Training Activities
• Thesis Deposit and Viva
• Distinctions for PhD degrees