On 4 December, the UIC Barcelona Doctoral School held the official welcome ceremony for the 83 new doctoral students for the 2025-2026 academic year, an event designed to support students in their initial forays into the world of university research. The session served to introduce the new students to both their thesis supervisors and representatives from the various Academic Doctoral Committees.

The director of the Doctoral School, Dr Núria Casals, opened the event with a message of gratitude and encouragement: “Choosing to pursue a doctoral degree at UIC Barcelona strengthens our research community. Once you graduate, no matter where you go, you will always be a holder of a PhD from UIC Barcelona.” Her words marked the beginning of a session that sought, from the very start, to convey the power and value of joint research.

The Doctoral School presented the academic structure of the doctoral programmes, the management tools and the range of training activities that will support students throughout their time at the University. The speakers included Humanities lecturer Xavier Escribano, who offered an inspiring reflection on the three ideals that, according to him, should guide every researcher: “A PhD is like a voyage. There isn’t just one destination: everyone chooses their own. And to guide us, we can look to three stars: truth, freedom and the individual.” Escribano concluded his talk by underscoring the social commitment and rigour inherent in research and congratulated the students on their decision to embark on this endeavour: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars," he asserted, quoting Oscar Wilde.

One of the event’s most moving moments was the presentation by Miguel Ángel Gallo, a 92-year-old doctoral degree in Humanities student, who shared his story with a vitality that left a strong impression on the attendees: “I’m already a doctor, but I started painting and enrolled in Fine Arts. When I finished, a lecturer encouraged me to pursue a PhD because of my passion for painting: now I want to research the sense of wonder we feel when gazing at a piece of art.”

Following a short coffee break that gave the students time to mingle, the attendees joined programme-specific sessions, where they were able to meet their committee representatives up close and clarify any initial doubts.

Júlia Nageb, who is pursuing a PhD in Physiotherapy, highlighted “the warmth with which we were received.” “Beyond practical information, the message was clear: this is a community in the making. I left with a beautiful combination of excitement and peace of mind.”

The event served to emphasise the collective, open, challenging and forward-looking nature of doing a doctoral degree. This session marks the start of a year at the Doctoral School poised to deliver new research, partnerships and scientific contributions from a diverse and highly motivated class.

The Doctoral School currently offers four doctoral programmes: Architecture, Economics and Law, Health Sciences and Communication, Education and Humanities.