Types of Thesis

The monographic thesis is the "classic" thesis. It structures the research work into a series of essential, fixed sections that must also be included in the table of contents: Abstract, Introduction, Hypothesis and Objectives, General Methodology, Results and Discussion, General Conclusions, and Bibliography.

Specialized theses with content derived from publications

If the thesis includes content derived from publications published during the doctoral period, the following conditions must be met:

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THESIS

Include at the beginning of the thesis a list of the contributions that provide content to it with the following specifications for each publication:

1. Full reference

• Publication title
• Name and order of co-authors
• Institutional affiliation of each author
• Journal name / Full book / Book chapter
• Publisher
• ISSN/ISBN of the book, publisher, or journal, and DOI (if accepted but not yet published)
• Year of publication

2. Quality Indicators

• Journal/Publisher
• Name Impact Factor (IF) in the year the contribution was published
• Category ranking (tertile or quartile in the JCR or similar index relevant to the thesis's subject area)
• Other relevant metrics (Scopus, Scimago, JPI, etc.)

3. Indication of the content in the thesis chapters

Indicate the thesis chapters where content from the contribution is reproduced or used.

4. Contribution of the PhD candidate to the publication

Clear description of the tasks performed. For example: study design, data collection and analysis, etc.

AT THE END OF THE THESIS - ANNEXES

1. Authorization from Journals or Publishers

• Submit official authorization from the journals or publishers for the use of the material/content in the thesis.
• If this is not possible, indicate this circumstance and include the version sent by the main authors before publication or another version consistent with the journal/publisher's copyright protection, exploitation, and self-archiving policy that does not violate editorial exploitation rights.

2. Open Access Publications

• Indicate the type of license.
• Provide a link to the journal or publisher's open access declaration.

WRITING THE THESIS

• The formal structure of the thesis must be respected.
• Contributions may not be reproduced verbatim as chapters or sections of the thesis.
• Content from contributions co-authored with other doctoral students:
  • Content developed by the doctoral student who authored the thesis may be used in its entirety in the thesis.
  • Content not developed/produced by the author of the thesis may be used in summary form in the thesis, in order to ensure the comprehensibility and coherence of the research work.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

• At the time of application for defense, the doctoral candidate's declaration of responsibility must be submitted:
  • Indicating that the contributions to the publications that inform the thesis are original and substantial.
  • Identifying in detail the distribution of tasks performed by all co-authors of the contribution(s).
• This document must be signed by the person supervising the doctoral thesis.

NOTE:

• A block is a chapter of the thesis written in a single language.
• If a chapter is long and divided into subchapters, each subchapter will be considered an independent block.

The thesis by compendium of publications is the thesis that groups together a minimum set of 3 scientific contributions, prepared during the thesis stage and published or accepted in journals of:

• National/international prestige.
• Peer-reviewed.
• Included in recognized databases (JCR, Scopus, or CNEAI equivalents).
• At least one publication must be in the top tercile of its category.
• In Arts and Humanities/Social and Legal Sciences, books or chapters with a seal of quality or included in the Scholarly Publishers Indicators are eligible.

PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS

a) Co-authorship

If they are not in alphabetical order, the doctoral candidate must be the first or second signatory.

b) Alignment with the research plan

• Publications must reflect:
  • The thesis research plan.
  • The PhD candidate's affiliation with the USC.

c) Mandatory documentation to be included in the SVA

• Affidavit stating that the contributions included in the thesis are original and the author's own.
• Report from the thesis supervisor indicating:
  • Compliance with the thesis by compendium format.
  • Justification of the alignment of the thesis with the research plan.
  • Confirmation that the doctoral candidate's contributions to the publications in the compendium are substantial and relevant.
• Express waiver by non-doctoral co-authors of the contributions in their own theses.

STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS BY COMPENDIUM

a) Abstract

b) Introduction

• Theoretical Framework.
• Justification of the unity and coherence of the thesis contents.

c) Hypothesis and Objectives

• Hypothesis
• General and specific objectives.
• Indicate which works in the compendium address them.

d) General Methodology

• Brief description of the integrated methodology used.

e) Results: Published/Accepted Works

• Full inclusion or version permitted according to editorial policy.
• For accepted but unpublished works: Indicate DOI or include a certificate from the publisher.

f) Unpublished Results (optional)

• Possibility of including them in additional chapters in a block/section titled: "Unpublished Results."
• Presented in scientific/publication format.

g) General Discussion

• Unity and coherence of the works.
• Length: minimum 5,000 words.

h) Overall Conclusions

• Main findings of the thesis.

i) General Bibliography

• Ordered list of bibliographic sources.

DEFINITION

Thesis related to projects with corporate participation, the existence of confidentiality agreements, or the potential to generate industrial property (e.g., patents).

PROCEDURE

• Formal application from the doctoral candidate, endorsed by the supervisors and directors.
• Signing of a confidentiality and custody agreement endorsed by the CAPD and approved by EDIUS.
• This agreement must be signed by:
  • The thesis supervisor and director.
  • The external evaluators.
  • The members of the EDIUS Executive Committee.
  • The members of the thesis evaluation committee.

VERSIONS OF THE THESIS TO BE SUBMITTED

Reduced Version

• This version is included in the defense request through the SVA.
• It does not include protected/confidential content.
• It is submitted to the CAPD, defended publicly, and posted for review.

Extended Version

• Includes all protected content.
• Access requires a confidentiality agreement.
• It is provided only to external evaluators, EDIUS, and the members of the examining committee.
  • Upon request, the coordinator may also have access.
• Questions from the panel regarding protected content will be asked in a strictly private session during the defense.

PUBLICATION OF THE THESIS

• If the thesis is approved:
  • The reduced version is published in the institutional repository.
  • Once the results were protected or the confidentiality period has expired, it will be replaced by the full version.