Perfil de ingreso y criterios de admisión Doctorado en Tecnología de los Alimentos, Nutrición y Bromatología

Access requirements

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 of the Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, the selection and admission onto a doctorate programme is subject to the following rules:

1. The admission of students by the Academic Committee will be based on four entry profiles.

First. Students who have a Master's degree in Nutrition, Technology and Food Safety from the University of Murcia or another master’s degree at the same level and with similar contents issued by an institution of the European Higher Education Area or, if applicable, students who are in possession of an equivalent degree recognised by the authorised body at the University of Murcia.

The specific master’s degree programme skills required are as follows:

1. Ability to design and develop plans of quality and environment management in food companies according to the different international models.
2. Ability to execute internal quality and environmental audits in food companies.
3. Knowledge of the organisation and management of food companies.
4. Knowledge of legislation updates on food.
5. Ability to identify a significant issue or hypothesis on a topic or problem and formulate the objectives, design and follow-up of a project to address its solution.
6. Ability to manage statistical programs for data analysis and to discuss and draw consistent conclusions from the results obtained.
7. Be able to write a scientific communication in English related to the research work.
8. Ability to use and validate food analysis techniques.
9. Ability to apply advanced analysis of food and ingredients to quality control at any stage of production, storage or distribution.
10. Ability to correctly acquire, process and express the results of a food analysis according to food specifications and standards.
11. Have the latest knowledge on data of international and national management organisms of food security, as well as the functions and strategies in cases of alerts or food crises.
12. Ability for in-depth analysis of threats and evaluate the microbiological, chemical, physical, technological, and nutritional risks that may influence food safety.
13. Be able to apply different models of predictive microbiology in the evaluation of risks linked to specific foods and processes.
14. Knowledge of new ingredients with capacity to increase the commercial life and safety of food products.
15. Ability to choose the most suitable technologies to apply in the elaboration of a given product.
16. Be able to design a new food product by integrating technological, food safety, nutritional and sensorial aspects, taking into account the criteria established by the legislation.
17. Ability to select the packaging and the most suitable packaging technology depending on the features of each product and its shelf life.
18. Advanced knowledge of emerging technologies in the field of Food Technology and its application to food industry.
19. Ability to use ICTs in evaluation and nutritional design for new diets.
20. Ability to accurately interpret results of epidemiological studies and to apply them to the improvement of well-being and health.
21. Ability to quantify and check with advanced methods the biological activity of a compound added to or naturally present in food.
22. Ability to estimate the bioaccessibility of a micro-nutrient by demonstrating the skills acquired in laboratories and the skills related to data management.
23. Show good oral and written communication skills in order to present the results of master's degree projects in a clear, effective and concise manner.

Second. Degree in veterinary science with 300 ECTS.

Graduates in Veterinary Science must have enough knowledge and skills in the field of hygiene and technology for obtaining, manufacturing and putting into circulation animal or animal food for human consumption, together with adequate knowledge of the legal and administrative provisions related to the abovementioned matters. The language used is Spanish, although it is recommended to have at least a basic knowledge of spoken and written English.

Third. Degree in pharmacy with 300 ECTS.

Graduates in pharmacy must have enough knowledge and skills to develop hygienic-sanitary analyses, especially in relation to food, to participate in health promotion and disease prevention activities, at individual, family and community level; and to assess the toxicological effects of substances in foodstuffs and to design and apply the relevant tests and analyses. The language used is Spanish, although it is recommended to have basic knowledge of spoken and written English.

Fourth. Other official master’s degrees

Students who have an official master’s degree from an institution within the European Higher Further Education Area that is not related with the areas of knowledge of the programme and who perform professional activities in the field of agri-food and human nutrition may access the Doctorate studies. The Academic Committee will determine the suitability of the candidate based on their academic training and/or professional activity in the area of food science and food technology and/or human nutrition. The language used is Spanish, although knowledge of basic spoken and written English is recommended.

b) The resolution on admission to the doctoral programme shall be issued by the rector, at the proposal of the Academic Committee of the doctoral programme and respecting the delegation of powers or signature that may occur in favour of the centre deans or directors of doctorate schools.

1. Admission to the Doctorate Programme could include the requirement for specific training complements; their design must be stated in the corresponding verification memory and taking them will not count to the effect of the limits for the Doctorate Programme duration established in Article 3.2 of Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January. For the purposes of public prices and conceding grants and aids to study, said training complements will be considered doctorate level training.
2. The lists of students admitted onto the doctoral programme will be published on the University of Murcia Official Notice Board. Other means of publication may be established by a rector resolution.
3. The admissions procedure established in the regulations and guidelines for admission and enrolment in the University of Murcia, as approved for each academic year, will be applied.
4. In the case of students with special educational needs resulting from disability, the selection and admission systems and procedures must include appropriate support and counselling services, which will evaluate the need for possible curricular adaptations, itineraries or alternative studies.

Admission Criteria

The Academic Committee will determine the suitability of the contents of the student’s prior qualifications for accessing the Doctorate Programme. They will also assess the curriculum vitae, the merits that are particularly relevant or significant in relation to the doctoral programme, as well as any other criterion that, in the opinion of the academic committee, allows the Committee to verify the applicant’s suitability to join the programme.

Weightings for candidate selection:

Students with a pre-doctoral contract will be given preference in the doctorate admissions process.

The Centre will publish a list of those admitted onto the Doctorate Programme once it has received the proposal from the Academic Committee.

Merits in agri-food research are considered since it is possible that students may have carried out initial research work within their master’s degree or have taken part in R&D activities in companies or organisations.

Students with Special Educational Needs

Article 8 of the Doctorate Regulations of the University of Murcia states that in the event of students with special educational needs derived from a disability, the selection and admissions systems and procedures will include the relevant action to favour, as far as possible, equality in the access conditions and integration in all aspects. To do so, the Service of Attention to Diversity and Volunteers (ADV) will evaluate the need for possible syllabus adaptations.

Number of places offered: 25