Degree
PhD in Computer Engineering
Academic Unit
School of Computer Engineering
Program Director
Broderick Crawford
Duration
8 semesters
Academic
schedule
Semester-based
Dedication
Full-time
Study mode
On-campus
Accreditation
Accredited for 4 years by CNA-Chile, from November 24, 2022 to November 24, 2026
Why Study a PhD in Computer Engineering?
- Research-oriented doctoral training.
- Supervision by experienced researchers in Computer Engineering and related disciplines.
- Opportunities to participate in research projects and scientific activities.
- Training in innovation and technology transfer.
- Opportunities for research internships and international academic activities.
- Financial support opportunities for national and international students.
- International academic collaboration.
- Possibility of pursuing a double degree with Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Spain.
Admission Profile
Applicants should hold an academic degree
equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Computer
Engineering, or a related discipline, or a Master’s degree in Computer
Engineering or a related field.
- Previous exposure to research
activities.
- Academic rigor and
responsibility.
- Ability to work independently
in a research environment.
- Capacity to develop an original
doctoral research project.
- Ability to understand academic
texts written in English.
Admission Requirements
The program is open to applicants holding a
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, awarded in Chile or abroad, in the following
areas:
- Master’s degree in Computer
Engineering.
- Master’s degree in a field
related to Computer Science or Computer Engineering.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer
Science.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer
Science/Computing.
- Bachelor’s degree in
Engineering Sciences.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
in another discipline closely related to the areas above.
International applicants must provide
documentation demonstrating the validity and academic level of their previous
qualifications, in accordance with applicable Chilean and university
requirements.
Application Documents
- Completed application form and
birth certificate.
- Two confidential letters of
recommendation, following the program’s prescribed format.
- Degree and academic
qualification certificates.
- Undergraduate graduation
ranking certificate, unless the applicant’s university does not issue this type
of document.
- Official academic transcripts
for undergraduate and graduate studies, as applicable.
- Curriculum vitae, including
publications, conference participation, and research projects.
- Certificate demonstrating
English language proficiency at least at a basic level.
- Motivation letter explaining
the reasons for applying to the program.
Admission Process
- Online application: submit the
required documentation through the university’s online application platform.
- Academic evaluation: the
program reviews the applicant’s academic background, research experience,
curriculum vitae, and supporting documentation.
- Interview: applicants who pass
the initial curricular evaluation may be invited to an interview.
- Admission decision: applicants
are formally informed of acceptance or rejection. Successful applicants must
subsequently provide original or legalized copies of the required documents.
Curriculum
The program has a minimum duration of seven
semesters and a maximum period of twelve semesters to complete the doctoral
degree. Depending on the applicant’s previous academic background, competency
examinations or leveling courses may be required. Leveling activities are not
part of the doctoral program.
|
Academic Activity
|
Credits
|
|
Research Methodology
|
7
|
|
Innovation and Technology Transfer Seminar
|
7
|
|
Doctoral Thesis Seminar
|
8
|
|
Thesis Project
|
16
|
|
Research and Technology Transfer Internship
|
16
|
|
Doctoral Thesis
|
82
|
|
Elective courses
|
24
|
Recent Elective Course Areas
Elective courses offered in recent years
have included topics in Software Engineering and Computational Intelligence,
such as:
- Software Engineering,
Human-Computer Interaction, IT Project Management, Usability Engineering,
Educational Software Development.
- Software Quality and Security,
Agile Software Development, User Experience, Customer Experience, DevOps and
Information Security.
- Affective Computing and
parallel/distributed approaches for machine learning.
- Optimization Techniques in
Engineering, Metaheuristics, Evolutionary Neural Networks, Machine Learning and
Combinatorial Optimization.
- Big Data Mining, Global
Optimization, Algorithm Design and Configuration, Network Science, Deep Neural
Networks.
- Machine Learning applied to
Bioinformatics, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing.
Research Areas
- Artificial Intelligence and
Machine Learning
- Computational Intelligence
- Optimization and Metaheuristics
- Software Engineering
- Software Quality and Security
- Information Security
- Human-Computer Interaction and
User Experience
- Data Mining and Big Data
- Natural Language Processing
- Bioinformatics
- Network Science
- Affective Computing
Faculty
Core Faculty
Dr. Héctor Allende Cid
Dr. Ignacio Araya Zamorano
Dr. Marcelo Becerra
Dr. Guillermo Cabrera Guerrero
Dr. Daniel Cabrera
Dr. Sandra Cano Mazuera
Dr. Broderick Crawford Labrín
Dr. Claudio Cubillos Figueroa
Dr. Wenceslao Palma Muñoz
Dr. Cristian Rusu
Dr. Ricardo Soto De Giorgis
Dr. Carlos Valle
Dr. Emanuel Vega Mena
Collaborating Faculty
Dr. Christoffer Löffler
Dr. Leslie Pérez Cáceres
Dr. Nicolás Matus
Dr. Daniela Quiñones Otey
Dr. Claudia Vasconcellos
Dr. Bady Gana
Dr. Francisco Ponce
Applicants interested in a particular research area are encouraged to contact a potential supervisor whose research interests align with their proposed doctoral work.
Tuition and Fees
Total program tuition: 400 UF
Tuition is expressed in Unidad de Fomento (UF) and is subject to applicable university regulations and institutional updates.
Scholarships and Financial Support
PUCV Scholarships
- PUCV Vice-Rectorate Maintenance Scholarship for International Students
- Scientific Events Participation Scholarship
- Research Internship Scholarship
Doctoral Program Scholarships and Benefits
- Tuition fee reductions
- INF-PUCV Maintenance
Scholarship for national and international students
- Financial support for
participation in scientific events
- Financial support for research
internships
Availability and eligibility depend on each call and the applicable institutional regulations.
International Opportunities
- International research internships.
- Participation in scientific conferences.
- Collaboration with international research groups.
- Research activities abroad.
- International academic networks.
Double Degree
The program has a double-degree agreement with Miguel Hernández University of Elche (Spain), allowing eligible doctoral students to develop part of their academic and research activities in an international environment, subject to the conditions of the agreement and the applicable academic requirements.
International Students
International applicants are welcome to
apply to the PhD in Computer Engineering at PUCV. Located in Valparaíso, Chile,
PUCV offers an academic environment connected to research, innovation, and
international collaboration.
- Recognition and validity of
previous academic degrees.
- Immigration and visa
requirements applicable to the applicant.
- Financial planning for tuition
and living expenses.
- English language proficiency requirements.
- Availability of scholarships or
other financial support.
- Alignment between the
applicant’s research interests and faculty expertise.
Prospective international students are encouraged to contact the program before applying to discuss their research interests and potential supervision.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through PUCV’s
online application platform.
Application period for the second semester
of 2026: April 1 – July 1, 2026
Program start: August 2026
Online application platform: https://navegador.pucv.cl/administracion/mantenedores/postulaciones/index.php
Prospective applicants should review the current admission requirements and contact the doctoral program before applying, particularly when their previous degree was obtained outside Chile.
Discover Research Opportunities at PUCV
Are you interested in pursuing doctoral
research in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Optimization, Software
Engineering, Data Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Cybersecurity, or
related areas?
We invite prospective international
students to explore our research areas and contact our faculty members to
identify potential research opportunities.
Contact
doctorado.informatica@pucv.cl