Doctoral Programme

The Doctoral Programme in Design and Communication is a doctoral programme promoted by BAU, College of Arts and Design (Doctoral Unit) and the Faculty of Business and Communication (Department of Communication).

The main objective of the doctoral programme is to train researchers in the development of original research work, the doctoral thesis, in various fields of design and communication, both theoretical and applied, which will entitle them to obtain the doctoral degree.

Edition: 5th

Qualification: Doctorate in Design and Communication

Centre: Doctoral School of BAU, College of Arts and Design Barcelona and the Doctoral School of UVIC-UCC.

Languages: Catalan, Spanish and English

Places: 10

Duration: 3 years

Price: 968€ for academic tutoring of the doctoral thesis + taxes + insurance policies.

Coordinator: Dr. Jordi de San Eugenio

Deputy coordinator: Dr. Jaron Rowan

Academic Committee of the doctoral programme

President: Dr. Jordi de San Eugenio

Members: Dr. Joan Frigola Reig, Dr. Alejandra López Gabrielidis and Dr. Jaron Rowan

The doctorate programme is structured according to two lines of research:

• Design and Society. Politics, art and education
• Communication and its environments. Corporations and Institutions; media, networks and territory

The main objective of the doctoral programme is threefold. Firstly, to contribute to the qualitative growth of high-level academic research related to the fields of design and communication. Particularly in relation to design, as an emerging field from an academic point of view, it seeks to encourage the production of rigorous and quality project-based doctoral theses. This will result in the promotion of research and experimentation in design. On the other hand, its close links with different fields of knowledge and, especially, with the field of communication will also provide an opportunity to enrich this research not only in its technical aspects, but also in its social, political, cultural and artistic links, always encouraging creativity and innovation.

Secondly, this doctoral programme aims to academically reinforce design and communication studies, thus culminating an academic structure in these fields, together with the related bachelor's and master's degrees. It should be noted that the growing interest in research in design and communication has not always been accompanied by an offer of third cycle programmes that contribute to establishing these fields of knowledge. This doctoral programme makes it possible to complete third cycle design and communication studies, contributing to the creation of a research community in the fields of design and communication.

Thirdly, and as a consequence of the previous section, this doctoral programme offers continuity to students who have studied bachelor's and master's degrees in the field of communication and design. Bachelor's degrees in Design, Audiovisual Communication, Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations, Marketing and Business Communication. It also allows students of the Master's Degree in Research and Experimentation in Design offered by BAU, College of Arts and Design and the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) to further their studies and research. 

To achieve the objectives of the programme and ensure the multidisciplinary approach that we want to give to doctoral theses, researchers from the Faculty of Business and Communication of the UVic-UCC and BAU, College of Arts and Design of Barcelona, who are members of the following research groups, participate in this doctoral programme:

• Design and Social Transformation (GREDITS)
• Educational Research (GREUV)
• Audiovisual Translation, Communication and Territory (TRACTE)

All doctoral students enrolled in the doctoral programme are part of a research group and can therefore use the general spaces and workshops available to the Faculty of Business and Communication and those of the centre affiliated to the UVic-UCC: BAU, College of Design of Barcelona. They can also use the specific spaces of the research group, which facilitates interaction between doctoral students and other members of the group or its director. Because of the type of studies on the programme, in the field of design and communication, doctoral students and researchers will have at their disposal the workshops, studios and technical and artistic laboratories and equipment of both centres, as well as their library services.

The main professional opportunities for this doctoral programme are as follows:

• Research in the specific areas of the doctoral programme (public or private institutions).
• Teaching in the specific areas of the doctoral programme (public or private institutions).
• Employment in public institutions/administrations (local, state or international level).
• Employment in private institutions/companies in the specific areas of the programme.

If you would like more information about the BAU Doctoral Programme, please contact us here.

The dates for the period of enrolment in the course are:

First period (New Access)

• Pre-registration: from June 25th to July 9th of 2025
• Admission: from September 1st to 12th of 2025

Second period (New Access)

• Pre-Registration: from 12 to 16 January 2026
• Admission: from 2 to 13 February 2026

The admission and enrolment process for the Doctorate Programme in Design and Communication is conducted through the Doctoral School of the UVIC-UCC. More information.

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