The Doctoral Programme in Inclusive and Sustainable Development at Loyola University aims to offer complete training in innovative analysis methods, processes and techniques, with a multidisciplinary and practical approach, capable of dealing scientifically with complex socio-economic problems in the field of sustainable development. Multidisciplinary research for the study of sustainable development
The Doctoral Programme in Inclusive and Sustainable Development aims to train researchers to pursue a research career in the field of development.
The PhD student is expected to be competent at scientifically handling the analysis, planning and resolution of specific problems in the areas of development in countries and territories. This programme offers a unique opportunity to complement the subject specialisation of a doctoral thesis with a broad, grounded, and unique perspective on how to understand human development.
The programme is based on more than 30 years of institutional experience working in the field of international development and cooperation. Through open, flexible and multidisciplinary training, students from different academic disciplines can develop their theses within the framework of the programme's lines of research.
This doctoral programme is for people who wish to adapt their study discipline to lines of research related to sustainable development, international cooperation and human rights offered by this programme
Research teams of recognised Prestige
In person and virtual training, compatible with other activities
International mobility and collaboration agreements
Personalised academic guidance and support with a tutor
Through its doctoral programmes, Loyola University implements specific agreements with universities and research centres of interest based on the specific needs expressed by teachers, tutors and directors. Depending on the specific topics developed by the PhD students, the Academic Committee will be responsible for guiding the students towards a research stay, grant or activity that is specific and personalised for the profile of the people who are doing their dissertation in this programme.
If your past efforts are reflected in your marks, you’ll have the opportunity to obtain one of the 10 prizes we award, which can cover up to 100% of the programme cost.
Further, Loyola University has a wide range of scholarships and financial aid so that nobody who is fulfilling their academic requirements will have to stop studying for financial reasons. The scholarships and financial aid packages for studying at Loyola University are established with the university’s own funds.
Loyola University has signed agreements with financial institutions to facilitate students’ access to undergraduate, postgraduate, executive and doctoral studies.
Victoria Villegas. Doctoral Thesis: “Influence of Entertainment Media on Children’s Eating Behaviors: An Analysis of Food Placements Focused on Cartoons”
The research is based on a study that explores the representations of food appearing in cartoon series and how these influence childhood obesity and overweight.
Joaquín García-Tapial Arregui. Doctoral Thesis: “The Impact of Start-ups and Scale-ups on the Andalusian Economy”
The main objective of this research is to conduct an analysis of entrepreneurship as one of the principal catalysts of the economy, the support for entrepreneurial initiatives provided by public authorities, and the perception of the effectiveness of this investment in relation to the impact of such entrepreneurial activity.
María José Vázquez de Francisco. Doctoral Thesis: “The Contribution of the Capability Approach to Development Cooperation Evaluation Methodologies: An Application to University Cooperation in Latin America”
This study investigates, from a Capability Approach perspective, the perception that recipients of university development aid in Southern universities have regarding the long-term effects of development cooperation programs they maintain with Northern universities.
Possibility of establishing a collaboration with the research groups at Loyola University from the time you embark upon your dissertation, as well as with companies and organisations with R&D departments. You will enjoy research stays, grants and precise and personalised activities based on the profile of the doctoral students working on their dissertations.

All doctoral programmes at Loyola University include research courses, seminars, conferences and workshops that contribute to developing their necessary academic skills.

You will have the chance to reap the benefits of the teaching and research experience of professionals with high-impact studies, R&D projects and management of PhD dissertations. Loyola Doctorates also works with an impressive list of collaborators with recognised academic prestige in each field.

At Loyola Doctorates you can present your dissertation with international mention, with joint tutoring from other institutions or universities, or you can do an industrial doctorate.

The Seville Campus is the only campus in the world that has been honoured with LEED Platinum environmental certification, thanks to its deep commitment to the comprehensive sustainability of the entire grounds. There is a free wi-fi connection on the entire campus, study rooms, a modern library, terraces for resting and relaxing, a cafeteria, landscaped areas for strolling, sports facilities.

Our Jesuit identity unifies us in a network of over 230 universities throughout the world with an unmistakable background and prestige, which endorses our social mission. Loyola University is a member of UNIJES and the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU).

| Name | Doctoral Program in Inclusive and Sustainable Development at Loyola University |
| Field of study | ISCED Code 1: Social and behavioral sciences. ISCED Code 2: Business administration and management |
| Center responsible for the degree | Doctoral School (Córdoba Campus) |
|
Teaching center(s) |
Córdoba Campus, Doctoral students may use the facilities at the Seville Campus |
| Date of publication of the curriculum in the BOE (Official State Gazette) | |
| First year of implementation of the degree | 2015-2016 |
| Duration of the training program | |
| Teaching mode | Face-to-face-Virtual |
| Languages used in teaching the degree | Spanish |
| Places offered per year implemented | |
| Regulated profession | Not applicable |
Permanence Regulations
Download Permanence Regulations
Information on places for the degree
| Academic year | Number of new places offered per academic year implemented | Number of new doctoral students enrolled per academic year implemented |
| 2016/2017 | 20 | 14 |
| 2017/2018 | 20 | 11 |
| 2018/2019 | 20 | 12 |
| 2019/2020 | 20 | 6 |
| 2020/2021 | 20 | 10 |
| 2021/2022 | 20 | 4 |
| 2022/2023 | 20 | 13 |
| 2023/2024 | 20 | 9 |
Regulations for the transfer and recognition of academic credits![]()
Members of the academic committee:
Araceli de los Rios (Coordinator of the Inclusive and Sustainable Development Program)
Maria José Montero Simó (program professor and line sponsor)
Antonio Sianes Castaño (program professor and line sponsor)
Juan Antonio Senent de Frutos (program professor and line sponsor)
Mª Luz Ortega Carpio (program professor)
Rafael Angel Araque Padilla (program professor)
Responsibilities of the Program's Academic Committee.
1) Each of Loyola University's Doctoral Programs will have an Academic Committee and a Director.
2) The Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program is responsible for the academic coordination, updating, and excellence of the corresponding Doctoral Program, as well as for monitoring and supervising the activities carried out by doctoral students, tutors, and doctoral thesis directors.
a) The Academic Committee will be made up of the Director of the Doctoral Program and four doctors with recognized research prestige belonging to the lines of research associated with the program. The researchers who form the group of professors responsible for or endorsing the program will be ex officio members of the Academic Committee. The remaining members shall be appointed by the Vice-Rector for Research from among the doctoral professors of the corresponding program.
b) The director of the Doctoral Program will be one of its professors responsible for or endorsing the program. He or she will be appointed by the Rector, at the proposal of the Vice-Rector for Research. He or she will direct the Doctoral Program and convene and chair the Academic Committee of the Program.
c) The Academic Committee's functions with regard to the supervision of the Doctoral Program are:
i) To organize and coordinate the training and research activities of the Doctoral Program.
ii) To plan and evaluate the acquisition of skills by doctoral students in the Doctoral Program.
iii) To propose to the School Board new lines of research to be incorporated into the Doctoral Program, the maximum number of students to be admitted, and to define the criteria for their selection.
iv) To inform the School Board about the candidates to be admitted to the Doctoral Program.
v) Advise the EDOC on the additional training required for students who need it.
vi) Manage, monitor, control, and evaluate the mobility activities of the Doctoral Program.
vii) Advise the School Board on any additional requirements that may apply to the incorporation of new research groups and the supervision, direction, and reading of doctoral theses.
viii) Report on the incorporation and separation of professors in the Doctoral Program.
ix) Monitor doctoral graduates from the Doctoral Program.
x) Provide and manage the information necessary to maintain the accreditations of the Doctoral Program, as well as that necessary for the University's quality systems. Specifically, it is the responsibility of the Academic Committee to keep the information on the Doctoral Program up to date on the University's website.
xi) Resolve all issues relating to the Doctoral Program.
xii) Any other function that may be assigned to it by the EDOC Management.
d) The Academic Committee's functions with regard to doctoral students are as follows:
i) To monitor, control, and evaluate the Activity Documents of doctoral students, their Research Plans, and their annual Monitoring Reports.
ii) To assign the tutor and director of the students' Doctoral Thesis.
iii) To approve the students' first doctoral thesis project.
iv) To authorize part-time doctoral studies, as well as to authorize changes in study mode.
v) To evaluate co-supervision proposals and report to the School Board.
vi) To ensure that theses submitted for reading meet the minimum requirements.
vii) Authorize requests for international recognition.
viii) Propose to the School Board the members of the committee that will evaluate a doctoral thesis, determining the permanent and alternate members.
3) The Academic Committee of a Doctoral Program may be dissolved by the Rector.
| Year 2016 - 2017 | Year 2017 - 2018 | Year 2018 - 2019 | Year 2019-2020 | Year 2020 - 2021 | Year 2021-2022 | Year 2022 -2023 | Year 2023-2024 | Year 2024 -2025 |
| 21.11.16 | 02.09.17 | 10.10.18 | 19.09.19 | 18.09.20 | 13.09.21 | 21.09.22 | 11.10.23 | |
| 10.01.17 | 03.10.17 | 16.11.18 | 26.09.19 | 16.10.20 | 27.09.21 | 20.10.22 | 30.10.23 | |
| 10.03.17 | 21.11.17 | 05.12.18 | 1.10.19 | 30.10.20 | 18.10.21 | 25.11.22 | 08.11.23 | |
| 29.05.17 | 30.01.18 | 15.01.19 | 02.12.19 | 18.11.20 | 22.11.21 | 19.12.22 | 17.11.23 | |
| 07.03.18 | 08.02.19 | 19.12.19 | 03.12.20 | 02.12.21 | 10.01.23 | 13.12.23 | ||
| 08.06.18 | 26.02.19 | 17.01.20 | 18.12.20 | 20.12.21 | 02.02.24 | |||
| 20.06.18 | 21.09.19 | 14.02.20 | 25.01.21 | 17.01.22 | 20.03.24 | |||
| 19.07.18 | 26.04.19 | 11.03.20 | 12.02.21 | 15.02.22 | 20.05.24 | |||
| 13.05.19 | 03.04.20 | 19.03.21 | 08.04.22 | 07.06.24 | ||||
| 16.07.19 | 15.05.20 | 16.04.21 | 09.05.22 | 09.07.24 | ||||
| 03.07.20 | 21.05.21 | 16.05.22 | ||||||
| 21.06.21 | 11.07.22 | |||||||
| 13.07.21 |
| September | 11/09/24 y 23/09/24 |
| October | 02/10/24 |
| November | Between 18th to 22th de November |
* These dates are subject to change if so decided by the Academic Committee.
Access Profile:
The knowledge required for admission to the Doctoral Programme in Inclusive and Sustainable Development at Loyola University matches one of these three profiles:
Profile 1
The knowledge required for admission to the Research Doctoral Programme in Inclusive and Sustainable Development at Loyola University are those corresponding to:
1. A bachelor's degree in an area of knowledge related to research methods or to the field of development, such as economics, business administration and management, engineering, sociology, mathematics and statistics, among others, and
2. A postgraduate degree in one of the areas of knowledge related to the previous bachelor's degrees awarded by an official master's programme in the European Union with a research or mixed focus in which the candidate has completed the research pathway and a master's thesis.
Languages required and level:
Spanish. Recommended level: B1
English. Recommended level: B2
Although fluency in English is not required in the admission exams, as the programme is taught in Spanish, students should understand that many of the materials used in the subjects (scientific articles, projects, etc.) and activities (seminars by international experts) will require a certain command of English. A B2 level of English is recommended.
The training activities of the doctoral programme are designed not only to increase the knowledge, skills and competence level of doctoral students, but also play an important role in compensating for any possible shortcomings.
Profile 2
In the second admission profile, the knowledge required for the Doctoral Programme in Inclusive and Sustainable Development at Loyola University is:
1. A bachelor's degree in an area of knowledge related to research methods or to the field of development, such as economics, business administration and management, engineering, sociology, mathematics and statistics, among others, and
2. A postgraduate degree in one of the areas of knowledge related to the previous bachelor's degrees awarded by an official master's programme in the European Union with a professional or mixed focus in which the candidate has completed the professional pathway.
Those who fit this second admission profile will have the opportunity to access the Doctoral Programme by taking the corresponding further training courses.
Languages required and level
Spanish. Recommended level: B1
English. Recommended level: B2
Although fluency in English is not required in the admission exams, as the programme is taught in Spanish, students should understand that many of the materials used in the subjects (scientific articles, projects, etc.) and activities (seminars by international experts) will require a certain command of English. A B2 level of English is recommended.
The training activities of the doctoral programme are designed not only to increase the knowledge, skills and competence level of doctoral students, but also play an important role in compensating for any possible shortcomings.
Profile 3
In the third admission profile, the knowledge required for the Doctoral Programme in Inclusive and Sustainable Development at Loyola University is:
1. A bachelor’s degree in an area of knowledge not related to research methods or the field of development, and
2. A postgraduate degree in an area of knowledge related to research methods or to the field of development, such as economics, business administration and management, engineering, sociology, mathematics, statistics, (among others), awarded by an official master's programme in the European Union.
Those who fit this third entry profile will have the opportunity to access the Doctoral Programme by taking the pertinent further training courses.
Languages required and level
Spanish. Recommended level: B1
English. Recommended level: B2
Although fluency in English is not required in the admission exams, as the programme is taught in Spanish, students should understand that many of the materials used in the subjects (scientific articles, projects, etc.) and activities (seminars by international experts) will require a certain command of English. A B2 level of English is recommended.
The training activities of the doctoral programme are designed not only to increase the knowledge, skills and competence level of doctoral students, but also play an important role in compensating for any possible shortcomings.
The training activities of the doctoral programme are designed not only to increase the knowledge, skills and competence level of doctoral students, but also play an important role in compensating for any possible shortcomings.
Required languages and levels
In addition to the above, a Spanish level of B1 (if it is not your mother tongue) and an English level of B2 will be required.
The Loyola School of Language, Culture and Communication is available to those who cannot accredit their language level by means of the corresponding certificate. By using this service, they will be able to accredit their language level using its online assessment system.
| Perfiles | Complementos de Formación | ||
| Profile 1 | Not required | ||
| Profile 2 | 12 ECTS | ||
| Profile 3 | 20 ECTS |
Those students who do not meet the conditions for direct admission to the Doctoral Programme will be required to take some complementary training, which may be:
If the master's programme that the candidate completed in their country of origin was not research-oriented, they will have to take: 20 ECTS as detailed above, in the same way as a student with a profile 3.