Frequently Asked Questions

About Degrees

 

1. What is a lato sensu graduate degree?

Considered specialization degrees, they’re aimed primarily at professionals and those with bachelor degrees looking to brush up. They are at least 360 hours long and include MBAs. Unlike in the United States, MBAs are not comparable to Master’s degrees.

MBA Degree

An MBA, despite its name, is considered by the National Board of Education (CNE) to be a specialization. Specializations are not submitted to the systematic evaluation of CAPES, and are supervised in a less rigorous manner by the Ministry of Education. The accreditation of institutions offering these degrees should be verified and there should be a declaration that the course of study fulfills the requisites enumerated by Resolution CNE/CES nº 001/07.

Professional Master’s Degree

It is equal to the academic Master’s in its concepts. The objective and the form of this degree are oriented toward solving real problems in business environments. The academic Master’s thesis is substituted by a concluding paper that demonstrates the competence of the student in resolving real problems with current methods and techniques. It is aimed at professionals in business and public institutions who wish to maintain their activities during their course of study. In principle it is a degree that has no continuation and, even though it’s possible to continue one’s studies, this degree is not recommended for those who are interested in obtaining a Doctoral degree.

2. What is a stricto sensu graduate degree?

These are degrees oriented towards academic scientific education and research. They are divided into Master’s and Doctoral degrees. The Master’s degree lasts for two to two and a half years and involves the taking of courses related to the student’s research and the writing of a thesis. The Doctoral degree lasts four years on average and involves taking courses related to the student’s research and the writing of a dissertation.

Academic Master’s Degree

The academic Master’s degree seeks to introduce the student to research. The specialty is very focused and is a subset of the professional area (the major studied over the entire course of an undergraduate degree). In addition to advanced courses, which include a significant amount of individual bibliographic research and interpretation, the student is introduced to the work of scientific research. It is expected that by the end of the degree, the student will have acquired the capacity to develop autonomous work. This work is characterized by searching for references and using current methods and technologies and applying them in a creative fashion. It is also expected that the student will demonstrate the capacity to write scientific articles. This capacity will mainly be demonstrated by the Master’s thesis. It is desirable to publish articles in recognized specialist journals and annals of congresses during and after the degree, which will indicate the importance of the research conducted and its recognition by specialists from Brazil and all over the world.

Doctoral Degree

The Doctoral degree is obtained by defending a dissertation which should be an original work (which is not necessarily the case in a Master’s thesis which may be a review of field literature, preparing for a future dissertation). Currently, around half of the programs that offer Master’s degrees also offer Doctoral degrees, which is the more restricted and demanding of the two. It is considered a continuation of the Academic Master’s, even though the best graduate school candidates are permitted to have direct entry into the Doctoral program. Funding agencies, which in the 1980s and 1990s encouraged Brazilians to get Doctoral degrees abroad, have concluded that now Brazil has Doctoral programs of sufficient quality that going abroad is no longer necessary. While CNPq and FAPESP grant very few Doctoral fellowships abroad, CAPES continues to offer them but in reduced quantity. These agencies currently prioritize Doctoral exchange programs in which the Doctoral student spends six months to a year abroad, working at advanced centers of research and making contacts that can be developed in the future. Usually the Doctoral exchange program occurs during the third year of the degree.

3. What does the Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering (PPGEE) offer?

PPGEE offers exclusively stricto sensu graduate degrees. In Brazil, ever since the Newton Sucupira Report, approved by the Federal Board of Education in 1965, graduate degrees have been divided into two levels, stricto sensu and lato sensu.

4. Does one have to have a Master’s degree to obtain a Doctoral degree?

No. If a candidate doesn’t have a Master’s degree, he or she can apply to be accepted for the Direct Entry Doctorate.

5. What is a Direct Entry Doctorate?

A Direct Entry Doctorate is a Doctoral degree that does not require the previous obtaining of a Master’s degree. A student’s application to the Direct Entry Doctoral program must be approved by the Admissions Commission. See question 10 below.

6. What is a Master’s thesis?

A Master’s thesis is a text resulting from supervised work that demonstrates a capacity for the systematic critique of knowledge accumulated on the given topic and uses methods and techniques of scientific investigation, technological or artistic, seeking to further the student’s academic or professional development according to the nature of the specialty and the objectives of the degree.

7. What is a Doctoral dissertation?

A Doctoral dissertation is the result of a supervised work of scientific investigation, technological or artistic, which represents an original piece of research or an innovation, that seeks to further the student’s academic or professional development according to the nature of the specialty and the objectives of the degree.

About Admissions and Fellowships

 

8. Where can I find information about the admissions process?

Information about the admissions process can be found on PPGEE’s webpage (ppgee.poli.usp.br). On this page you can find the documents necessary to apply, the number of spots available for each major, a list of advisors, and curriculum evaluation items, as well as topics and references for the admissions process. If there are any questions that haven’t been answered by this FAQ section, you can contact the graduate school secretariat at postgrad.eletrica@poli.usp.br or (55-11) 3091-5733.

9. What are the criteria for admission to the Master’s program?

The criteria for admission to the Master’s program are:

• the presentation of application documents as listed in the PPGEE’s official announcement;
• passing the Knowledge Exam, which covers fundamental aspects of the chosen major; and
• an analysis of the applicant’s course of study and an oral examination.

10. What are the criteria for admission to the Doctoral program?

The criteria for admission to the Doctoral program for candidates with Master’s degrees from USP or recognized equivalents are:

• the presentation of application documents as listed in the PPGEE’s official announcement; and
• an analysis of the applicant’s course of study and an oral examination of the candidate’s knowledge of the area and dissertation research project, given by a committee including at least two members chosen by the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP).

 

11. What are the criteria for admission to the Direct Entry Doctoral program?

Admission to the Direct Entry Doctoral program is for candidates with Master’s degrees which are not recognized as equivalent by USP or Brazil, or candidates with double bachelor degrees, with part of their undergraduate education having been in foreign institutions. The criteria for admission to the Direct Entry Doctoral program are:

• the presentation of application documents as listed in the PPGEE’s official announcement;
• a referral and the presentation of a justification for the candidate’s admission into the Direct Entry Doctoral program;
• passing the Knowledge Exam, which covers fundamental aspects of the chosen major; and
• an analysis of the applicant’s course of study and an oral examination of the candidate’s knowledge of the area and dissertation research project, given by a committee including at least two members chosen by the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP).

12. I have a Bachelor’s degree from another university, can I apply to the Master´s program?

Candidates who have Bachelor’s degrees from other universities can apply to the Master’s program as long as they present, at the time of registration, a copy of their Bachelor’s diploma duly registered or certified with the date and degree obtained at graduation. Associate degrees are not accepted, except in special cases of proven academic merit.

13. I have a Master’s degree from another university, can I apply to the Doctoral program?

A candidate with a Master’s degree from another university can apply to the Doctoral program as long as this degree is recognized as equivalent by USP. If it is not recognized as equivalent, the candidate can apply for admission to the Direct Entry Doctorate.

14. I’m a foreigner, can I apply to the program?

Foreign candidates can apply to the program as long as they present a copy of their Bachelor’s diploma duly registered or certified with the date and degree obtained at graduation (for the Master’s), or a Master’s diploma from USP, or a recognized equivalent (for the Doctorate). Students who have a Master’s diploma from a foreign institution should initially enroll in the Direct Entry Doctorate and then solicit the recognition of equivalence for their Master’s degree. Finally it is important to note that according to the norms of USP, a foreign candidate can only be admitted and remain in a graduate program with a valid ID and a temporary IV visa or a permanent visa which authorizes the student to study in Brazil (access the Guidelines and Visa Application Form here).

15. I’m a foreigner and I don’t have the means to travel for the entrance examination. Is there any way to apply remotely? Is this possible for the fellowship exam as well?

The entrance exam can be taken remotely and information about sending it is published in the official announcement made each semester. The fellowship exam cannot be taken remotely and must be taken in Brazil.

16. Does PPGEE offer graduate fellowships? Where can I find information about the fellowship exam and the criteria for awarding fellowships?

PPGEE has a quota of institutional fellowships financed by CNPq (National Board of Scientific and Technological Development) and by CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel). Information about the fellowship exam and the criteria for the awarding of fellowships can be found in the Fellowships section of PPGEE’s webpage.

17. Are there other graduate fellowships beyond those reserved for the institution’s quota? Where can I find information about these fellowships?

Yes, but the criteria for the awarding of these fellowships may vary. Among non-institutional fellowships for graduate study, the fellowships offered by FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation), are of particular interest, and you can find information about them here. In addition to this, some foundations and private companies offer fellowships for the graduate program. Information about these fellowships is periodically updated here.

18. Can I receive a fellowship for teaching assistant activities (a department fellowship or PAE (Teaching Improvement Program) fellowship) at the same time as I receive a PPGEE fellowship?

Yes, the fellowship received by a student can be supplemented by a fellowship for teaching assistant activities (a department fellowship or PAE (Teaching Improvement Program) fellowship).

19. If I’m a PPGEE fellowship student, can I perform any remunerated activities?

PPGEE fellowship students who wish to perform remunerated activities should send a remunerated activity request form to the CCP (Graduate Program Coordinating Commission). For the request to be approved, the activity should be of interest in the student’s academic formation, should not occupy more than 12 hours a week of the student’s time, and should not be in a government body. The details and rules regarding remunerated activities for PPGEE fellowship students may be found here.

About Students

20. Who oversees compliance with the rules of the graduate program? 

Compliance with the rules of the graduate program is overseen by the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP). It is made up of six full time faculty members and a student representative and their respective alternates. The faculty members are elected from each one of the six majors at PPGEE.

21. Are students represented on the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP)?

Yes, the CCP has a student representative and his or her alternate, who represent graduate school students in decisions related to PPGEE’s rules and norms. The contact data for the student representative can be found here.

22. What’s the difference between a regular student and a special student?

Special students are students who have passed the admissions process, but are only taking courses and are not registered directly in USP’s Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering (PPGEE). While a student is a special student, the time limits for the qualifying exam, the thesis defense and the dissertation defense don’t count. To take the qualifying exam or receive a fellowship from the institutional quota, the student has to become a regular student, thereby registering the student in the graduate program. The moment that a student becomes a regular student, the time limits for the qualifying exam and defense enter into effect. Credits for courses taken as a special student can be approved for the 36 months prior to the student’s registration as a regular student.

23. What do I have to do to become a regular student?

The request to change from being a special student to a regular student can be made at any time, according to the needs of the student. For the student to be registered as a regular student, the student needs to pass an English Proficiency Exam. In addition, students from foreign nations whose native tongue is not Portuguese need to take a Portuguese Proficiency Exam in addition to the English Proficiency Exam. The form to request to change from being a special student to a regular student can be found here.

24. What is the role of the advisor/tutor at PPGEE?

A stricto sensu graduate degree at USP’s PPGEE requires the mandatory involvement of an accredited advisor selected by the student. Master’s and Doctoral students have to have an advisor during the entire program. The advisor is responsible for the student’s being approved in various administrative procedures during the graduate program, such as registering for courses, transferring majors, and fellowship requests, etc. 25. What is a co-advisor?

A co-advisor contributes to the student’s research project on specific topics, complementing the work of the student’s advisor. The co-advisor should at least have a doctorate and he or she needs to be approved for each specific student by the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP).

26. Is there a limit to the number of advisees that an advisor may have?

According to the USP’s graduate program regulations, the maximum number of advisees per advisor is 10 (ten). In addition to this, an advisor can co-advise up to 10 (ten) students as long as the sum of students that he or she is advising and co-advising doesn’t total more than 15 (fifteen).

27. Can I change my type of degree or my major? 

Yes. A student can request a transfer from the Master’s degree to the Direct Entry Doctoral degree, from the Direct Entry Doctoral degree to the Master’s degree, and from the Direct Entry Doctoral degree to the Doctoral degree within the same major. The request together with a justification and the advisor’s approval will be analyzed by the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP).

A student can also request to change majors within the same degree program by making a request with a justification and the advisor’s approval.

28. Can I change my advisor? 

Yes, a student can request to change his or her advisor with the approval of the current and new advisors. The request needs to be approved by the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP).

For fellowship students at PPGEE, the switching of your advisor will result in the loss of your fellowship, given that the fellowship is associated with your advisor. In such a case, the student should apply for another fellowship under the supervision of the new advisor.

29. What are the time limits for concluding a PPGEE degree?

The time limits for concluding a PPGEE degree begin with the student’s initial registration and end when the thesis or dissertation is deposited.

For the Master’s degree, the time limit for depositing the thesis is 36 (thirty-six) months. For the Doctoral degree, the time limit for depositing the dissertation is 56 (fifty-six) months. For the Direct Entry Doctoral degree, the time limit for depositing the dissertation is 66 (sixty-six) months.

The time limits for concluding a PPGEE degree are shorter than those for USP. In addition, the time limits for fellowship students at PPGEE may vary in accordance with the Commitment Agreement signed by the student.

The minimum time frame for concluding a Master’s or Doctoral degree is six months.

30. What is an extension for finishing your degree?

An extension to finish your graduate degree may be granted by the respective Graduate School Commission (CPG) for making final alterations to the thesis or dissertation (in the case of a dissertation, verify the appropriate regulations in the Graduate Section).

The request, signed by the student and the advisor, has to be sent to the respective CPG and will provide the reasons for the request along with related proof.

The extension request will be accompanied by a preliminary version of the thesis or dissertation and a schedule listing the activities that the student will perform during the extension period.

An extension that fulfills the regulation requirements may be granted up to a maximum of 120 (one hundred and twenty) days.

31. What is a qualifying exam? 

The qualifying exam is made up of a monograph and an oral explanation of the research project as well as an examination of the student’s academic history by the Qualifying Exam Committee. At PPGEE, qualifying exams are mandatory for Master’s and Doctoral degrees. The student may be approved for the Master’s or Doctoral program or may be rejected if the concept is not deemed of sufficient relevance.

The objective of the qualifying exam for the Master’s program is to evaluate the relevance of the topic, along with its viability and the associated schedule, together with the student’s capacity to conduct this research project. For the Doctoral or Direct Entry Doctoral programs, the objective of the exam is to evaluate the capacity of the candidate to independently develop this dissertation project within the student’s research area.

The Qualifying Exam Committee, for the Master’s program as well as the Doctoral and Direct Entry Doctoral program, will be made up of 3 (three) full faculty members with Doctoral degrees, one of them being an advisor, as well as an alternate, and must be approved by the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP).

32. How are the Qualifying Exam Committee members selected?

At the time of the student’s registration, the advisor should send the Graduate Program Coordinating Commission (CCP) suggestions for potential members of the Qualifying Exam Committee.

33. What is the minimum number of credits necessary to qualify?

The student should have taken at least 70 (seventy) percent of the necessary credits in courses or special degree credits by the time of the qualifying exam.

34. What is the time limit for registering for the qualifying exam?

Current Regulations (valid for students who began the program after 2013):

A Master’s student should register for the qualifying exam within 18 (eighteen) months after registering in the program as a regular student. A Doctoral student should register for the qualifying exam within 28 (twenty-eight) months after registering in the program as a regular student. A Direct Entry Doctoral student should register for the qualifying exam within 33 (thirty-three) months after registering in the program as a regular student.

Former Regulations (valid for students who began the program before or during 2013):

A Master’s student should register for the qualifying exam within 21 (twenty-one) months after registering in the program as a regular student. A Doctoral student should register for the qualifying exam within 30 (thirty) months after registering in the program as a regular student. A Direct Entry Doctoral student should register for the qualifying exam within 36 (thirty-six) months after registering in the program as a regular student.

In terms of registering and concluding the qualifying exam, the time limits for fellowship students at PPGEE under both of these regulations may vary in accordance with the Commitment Agreement signed by the student.

35. How are the members of the Thesis Defense Committee selected?

For the Master’s degree, the Thesis Defense Committee will be made up of three people, meaning three full members and three alternates. Most of the members should be from outside of the program and at least one member should be from outside USP. This applies to the full members as well as the alternates. The advisor or co-advisor will preside over the Thesis Defense Committee and will have the right to vote.

36. How are the members of the Dissertation Defense Committee selected?

For the Doctoral degree, the Dissertation Defense Committee will be made up of five people, meaning five full members and five alternates. Most of the members should be from outside of the program and at least one member should be from outside USP. This applies to the full members as well as the alternates. The advisor or co-advisor will preside over the Dissertation Defense Committee and will have the right to vote.

37. What is the minimum number of credits necessary to complete a degree?

A Master’s student should take at least 96 (ninety-six) credits, including 40 (forty) course credits and 56 (fifty-six) credits corresponding to the thesis.

A Doctoral student should take at least 152 (one hundred and fifty-two) credits, including 40 (forty) course credits and 112 (one hundred and twelve) credits corresponding to the dissertation.

A Direct Entry Doctoral student should take at least 192 (one hundred and ninety-two) course credits, including 80 (eighty) course credits and 112 (one hundred and twelve) credits corresponding to the dissertation.

38. Which activities can be converted into graduate credits?

Up to 20 (twenty) special credits may be granted for the Master’s degree, 20 (twenty) special credits for the Doctoral degree, and 40 (forty) special credits for the Direct Entry Doctoral degree. The credits will be attributed according to the table that can be seen here.

39. Can I present my thesis/dissertation in another language? 

Theses and dissertations can be written and defended in Portuguese, English or any other language in accordance with the norms established by the program. All theses and dissertations should have titles, abstracts and key-words in Portuguese and English.

40. If I’m taking a course, can I withdraw from it?

Yes. If the student, with the approval of the advisor, cancels a course before the calendar year deadline stipulated by the CPG, the course will not appear in the student’s record. The course cancellation form can be found here.

41. Is there a time limit during which I can take a leave of absence from the program? 

In exceptional circumstances, a student in the Master’s or Doctoral program may request and present a justification for a leave of absence of no more than 12 months, for cases in which the student is temporarily unable to maintain his or her academic activities. Students registered in the Master’s or Doctoral program can also go on maternity or paternity leave and the program time limits will be suspended for their stipulated duration.

42. For what reasons may I withdraw or be dismissed from the program?  

Current Regulations (valid for students who began the program after 2013):

The CCP may approve a student’s leaving the PPGEE program under the terms of Article 52 of USP’s Graduate School Regulations, or under one of the following conditions:

• through a withdrawal request and justification sent by the student’s advisor to the CCP, in which he or she will present the facts that attest to the clear lack of student productivity that would result for the period and must last at least a semester. Upon receiving a withdrawal request under these conditions, the CCP will solicit a response from the student in question; or
• through a communication from a faculty member indicating that the student has presented work that contains significant parts that were written by someone else, without proper identification, which characterizes intellectual plagiarism. Upon receiving a request for the student’s dismissal under these conditions, the CCP will solicit a response from the student in question.

Former Regulations (valid for students that enrolled before or during 2013):

The student can be dismissed from the program due to unsatisfactory academic performance:

• for failing the same course twice or failing three distinct courses;
• for not enrolling for two consecutive semesters within the time limit stipulated by the CPG in the academic calendar;
• for failing the qualifying exam twice; or
• at the request of the student.

The CCP may approve a student’s leaving the PPGEE program, under the terms of Article 54 of USP’s Graduate School Regulations, or for unsatisfactory performance under one of the following conditions:

• if the student has been to less than 70% of the compulsory activities established by PPGEE, such as: seminars, symposiums and other types of meetings for the presentation and discussion of projects and their results as well as research results;
• if the student turns in less than 70% of the research and activity reports required by PPGEE;
• if the student has completed less than 70% of the individual academic plan established by the advisor in terms of the courses to be taken and the research activities to be completed.

43. If I leave the program, can I register again? 

If a student leaves the Master’s or Doctoral degree programs, he or she can register again by applying for admission and being accepted again. This second registration will be considered a new registration which should be formalized later.