PhD Programme

Doctoral students must go through two complementary cycles of the doctoral training program:

1. Advanced Training Program (PPA, 30 ECTS) carried out in the first 6 months after enrollment and which consists of three general subjects and two specialized subjects:
   1. General subjects (14 ECTS): These are organized at IOSUD-UPB level (the Institution in charge of Organizing Doctoral University Studies of the UNSTPB) and aim to prepare the doctoral student for scientific research: Ethics (6 ECTS), Research Methodology and Scientific Authoring (4 ECTS), and Project Management (4 ECTS).
   2. Speciality subjects (16 ECTS):
      • Their curriculum is developed by the PhD Supervisor and endorsed by the CSD (the Doctoral School Council), according to the following model [link].
      • The subjects are either based on individual study coordinated by the PhD Supervisor, or on courses organized by SD-ETTI or other doctoral schools in the country and abroad.
      • The doctoral student’s performance is quantified via the following grades: “Very good”, “Good”, “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory”, which will be recorded in a catalog sheet according to the following model [link]. The subject is considered passed and the doctoral student is declared Admitted if the doctoral student obtains one of the grades: “Very good” or “Good”.
      • Credits obtained in a research master’s programme, previous doctoral internships, or scientific research internships, carried out domestically or abroad, within universities or in prestigious research-development units, can be recognized as equivalent based on the proposal of the PhD Supervisor and with the approval of the CSD.
   3. Following the completion of the Advanced Training Program, the doctoral student may request a graduation certificate stating the grade obtained, according to the following model [link].
2. The Scientific Research Program (PCS, 120 ECTS), with a minimum duration of 33 months, has as main objective the development of the doctoral thesis and the formation of professional and transversal competencies:
   1. The research activities may be included, by the PhD Supervisor, in national or international research and development projects, within or outside of IOSUD-UPB, both from the academic and industrial environments.
   2. The research activity is evaluated by preparing and supporting four research reports:
      • Report 1 (30 ECTS): should be submitted 6 months after the completion of the PPA. It is recommended that this report contains the research directions concerned, the state-of-the-art of knowledge in the field, the methodology and the research plan.
      • Reports 2, 3 și 4 (90 ECTS): the first report is due within the 12 months after the completion of the PPA (30 ECTS), the next report, up to 18 months after the completion of the PPA (30 ECTS) and the last report up to 24 months after the completion of the PPA (30 ECTS). These can be future chapters of the doctoral thesis and/or parts of scientific research reports on national or international projects in which the doctoral student is directly involved, articles published or sent for publication in which the doctoral student is the main author.
      • A template is available here in [Word RO], [Word EN], [Latex RO] și [Latex EN] formats. The templates are indicative, the doctoral student can opt for any variant of presentation of the results.
   3. Research reports are presented to the PhD Supervisor and the members of the Advisory Committee.
   4. Report presentations may be public. The doctoral student can obtain one of the grades “Very good”, “Good”, “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory”. These are then recorded in the catalog sheets, according to the following model [link]. The report is considered Admitted if the doctoral student obtains one of the grades “Very good”, “Good” or “Satisfactory”.