Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Norteamericanos "Benjamin Franklin" Home

Instituto Franklin - UAH, according to its status and recognition as “University Research Institute”, is legally authorized to provide postgraduate education. The students of our Doctoral Program can access aids for the printing and publication of their Doctoral Thesis. In the subparts “Thesis" and “Dissertations” you will find a list of students that have already got the degree of “Doctor (PhD)” and “Masters (Dissertation)” respectively.

Given the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of our Program, any aspect related to the United States can be used by students for their research.

1. Which are the steps that a student must follow for the application to the Doctorate program?
   Students with an Official Master's Degree recognized by the European Union (at least 60 ECTS credits) can apply to the Program.
2. How long will it take me to finish the Doctorate program?
   It depends on your time to develop a coherent doctoral dissertation. There is no time limit.
3. What kind of dissertation topics will be possible to choose?
   

1. To access the Master's Program students are required to possess a Spanish Bachelor’s Degree or another degree issued by a Higher Education Institution belonging to the European Higher Education Space, which entitles the bearer in the country of issue to access a Master’s Degree.

    

Students and Scholars can use the different libraries of the Universidad de Alcalá, which enclose 250.000 volumes, 1.700 magazine titles and periodical publications.

All Faculties offer an inter-library loan service that allows students to borrow material from internal libraries and other libraries from Spain. You can also use Instituto Franklin - UAH Library and Biblioteca Nacional (National Library) Store.

Instituto Franklin - UAH is an institution that belongs to the Universidad de Alcalá, thus we follow the academic calendar marked by our home organization. Nevertheless, students who want to enter the doctoral phase of our postgraduate program may apply throughout the entire academic year (from September to July) except for August. Although they have to present their documentation at the Institute, it is an external Committee belonging to the Postgraduate School of the Universidad de Alcalá the one that finally decides the acceptance or rejection of their application.

Our staff comprises recognized specialists from different Spanish Universities who share, from very different disciplines, a common interest on the study of the United States.

The objective of our PhD Program is the specialization of our doctoral candidates in:

1. The management of bibliography related to US Studies, which will help them to write a doctoral dissertation.
2. To acquire the necessary proficiency to establish critical ideas using the most relevant information.
3. To establish a theoretical framework for their studies.
4. To adopt, assume and contrast different attitudes and research instruments.
5. To reach coherent conclusions.

Students willing to acquire a deepest knowledge on the United States and work on their Doctoral Thesis have a wonderful opportunity of developing their research activity at Instituto Franklin - UAH. Doctoral candidates will be guided through their investigation either by the Institute's Faculty or by any other instructor from a Spanish or international institution. Our goal is to encourage scholars from different places and areas to write their dissertations on American Studies.