While the current state of health concern persist due to COVID-19, the University offers the option of reading doctoral theses through videoconference. Despite the fact that it is recommended to do it in the usual way when all returns to normal, doctoral students who find their interests seriously damaged can request that the defense be done in virtual format.

The conditions to be able to defend the thesis with all the members by videoconference are:

• That the thesis has already been enrolled
• That the doctoral student expressly requests it and has the authorization of the director of the Doctoral School.
• That all the members of the court agree and have the technical means for the connection (UPC uses Google Meet  for these videoconferences).

Therefore, to start the procedure by videoconference, the doctoral student who has the approval of its directors and the Academic Commission of the Program, will have to request it expressly. For this you will have to SEND AN EMAIL that contains (at least) the following data:

Addressed to: Director of the Doctoral School escola.doctorat@upc.edu, with a copy to the thesis director. Please send us a copy of the mail at 

Subject: Request for thesis defense in virtual format

Name of the doctoral student
Thesis title
Name of the PhD Program
Indicate that the thesis has already been enrolled and has initiate the deposit procedure, as well as the reasons why the doctoral student would be harmed if he had to postpone the reading for later.

If the resolution of the director of the Doctoral School is positive and the thesis has completed its deposit procedure and has been admitted for processing by the Doctoral School, we can  initiate the necessary steps to carry out the act of reading remotely. Once the reading date and time have been agreed among all those involved, we will make, on behalf of the Program coordinator, the corresponding official call that will also include the link from which everybody can access the public session, without password