USAL Teaching Positions 2026: I3/R3 quota and 15 business days deadline

Key data

Doctoral researchers who have passed the I3 program or who possess the established R3 researcher certificate now have a direct window of opportunity to access a university teaching position at the University of Salamanca. The call, published in the BOE of July 27, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-16306), activates the 15% reserve quota provided for in article 71.1.c) of the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU), a mechanism specifically designed to incorporate researchers with accredited track records into the teaching body.

The deadline is tight: 15 business days from the publication date. Anyone who does not submit their application within that timeframe loses the opportunity to compete for this specific quota.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution convenes a competition for access to university teaching positions under a restricted modality: the 15% quota that article 71.1.c) of the LOSU reserves exclusively for researchers with an accredited excellence profile.

The requirements that must be met simultaneously are as follows:

• Be a doctor and have passed the program for incentivizing the incorporation and intensification of research activity (I3), or possess the established R3 researcher certificate.
• Be accredited for the corresponding teaching position in accordance with Royal Decree 678/2023, which regulates the qualification and accreditation of university faculty.
• Meet the general requirements for access to public employment established in current legislation.

Processing is entirely electronic: applications must be submitted through the electronic headquarters of the University of Salamanca, using a recognized digital certificate or the Cl@ve identification system. Paper applications or in-person registration submissions are not accepted.

A relevant aspect for institutional planning: vacant positions that remain unfilled in this quota are not lost, but are accumulated to the ordinary free competition call of the same year 2026.

Economic and operational impact

For the researcher, the impact is direct: accessing a university teaching position means moving from a contractual position (contracted professor, postdoctoral researcher, Ramón y Cajal researcher, etc.) to the status of career civil servant, with the salary stability and professional career development that this entails.

From an operational standpoint, the critical points are:

• Prior verification of accreditation: without current accreditation in accordance with RD 678/2023 for the teaching position being sought, the application cannot succeed. This is the most frequent filter that eliminates candidates.
• I3 or R3 certification in force: must be documented at the time of application.
• Non-extendable deadline: the 15 business days from July 27, 2026 place the closing date around mid-August 2026, in the middle of the summer period. Electronic management is mandatory, so it is advisable to have the digital certificate or Cl@ve access operational in advance.
• Position absorption mechanism: if a position is not filled by this quota, it automatically passes to the ordinary call, which does not penalize the university but does eliminate the preferred route for the I3/R3 profile.

Who does it affect?

• Doctoral researchers who have passed the I3 program (incentivizing the incorporation and intensification of research activity).
• Doctoral researchers who possess the established R3 researcher certificate.
• Candidates who have current accreditation for the corresponding university teaching position according to RD 678/2023.
• Contracted professors, postdoctoral researchers or active research personnel who meet the above requirements and aspire to career civil servant status at the University of Salamanca.
• Departments and areas of knowledge at the University of Salamanca with positions included in this call.

Practical example

A doctoral researcher who in 2024 obtained positive evaluation of the I3 program and who in 2025 received accreditation as Associate Professor of University in accordance with RD 678/2023 can apply for this call under the 15% quota.

Their process would be as follows:

1. Verifies that their accreditation is current and corresponds to the teaching position of the position convened by USAL.
2. Accesses the electronic headquarters of the University of Salamanca with their digital certificate or through Cl@ve.
3. Submits the application within the 15 business days from July 27, 2026 (approximately until mid-August 2026).
4. Attaches supporting documentation: doctoral degree, I3 certificate, RD 678/2023 accreditation and documentation of general public employment requirements.

If there are no other candidates with better scores in the access competition, they obtain the position as a career civil servant. If the position remains vacant, it is incorporated into the ordinary free competition call of the same year, where they will compete with all accredited candidates without the I3/R3 requirement.

What should applicants do now?

1. Check accreditation: verify that you have current accreditation for the corresponding teaching position in accordance with RD 678/2023. Without this requirement, the application cannot succeed.
2. Confirm I3 evaluation or R3 certificate: gather the documentation that proves you have passed the I3 program or possess the R3 certificate, as it must be attached to the application.
3. Activate electronic access: verify that the digital certificate is in force or that access through Cl@ve works correctly, given that processing is 100% electronic.
4. Calculate the actual deadline: the 15 business days from July 27, 2026 place the closing date around mid-August. Count business days precisely, excluding national and local holidays in Salamanca.
5. Review the positions convened: consult the full text of the resolution in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-16306) to identify the specific positions included in this call and the area of knowledge of each one.
6. Submit the application with margin: do not wait until the last business day to avoid technical issues in the electronic headquarters, especially during the summer period.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is merely informative in nature and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16306