Visual Roadmap

ENROLLMENT
  └─ Enter the program
  └─ Advisor may or may not be defined
  └─ First enrollment is done at the graduate secretariat
60 DAYS
└─ Submit Formative Track Plan
└─ Indicate list of 4 potential assessors
└─ Forms available in Sabiá for both
└─ Assessor is designated by CCP
UP TO 6 MONTHS
└─ Define advisor (mandatory)
└─ Recommended: define within first 2 months, if possible
└─ If not defined on time, CCP assigns an advisor
1st SEMESTER
└─ Required courses: QFL5930 + QFL5939 (4 cr)
└─ Courses from clusters [B] (Basic) and [C] (Conceptual)
└─ Technical training and internships, if any
2nd SEMESTER
└─ Courses from any cluster: [A] (Advanced), [F] (Frontier), [TT] (Cross-cutting Topics) or [S] (Topics)
└─ Technical training and internships, if any
└─ Complete course credits
UP TO MONTH 10
└─ Maximum deadline for qualification enrollment
└─ Requirements: 24 cr + B1 proficiency
└─ If applying for DD scholarship: 30 cr, 80% A, no C/R, DD scholarship application submitted or scholarship already granted
└─ Exam occurs within 60 days after enrollment
MONTH 12
└─ Deadline for co-advisor request
MONTH 24
└─ Dissertation submission
MAX 30 MONTHS
└─ With extension (180 days, in exceptional circumstances)

Required Courses

Critical Milestones

Visual Roadmap

ENROLLMENT
  └─ With defined advisor (mandatory)
60 DAYS
└─ Submit research plan
└─ Indicate list of 4 potential assessors
└─ Assessor is designated by CCP
1st SEMESTER
└─ Required courses: QFL5930 + QFL5940 (4 cr)
└─ Courses from clusters [B], [C]
└─ Technical training and internships, if any
2nd SEMESTER
└─ Courses from clusters [A], [F], [TT], [S]
└─ Technical training and internships, if any
MONTH 24
└─ Qualification (minimum 32 cr + B1 proficiency)
└─ Deadline for co-advisor request
└─ Recommended to take required course QFL5942 before qualification (2 cr; note: 32 cr required for enrollment, not all required courses completed)
UP TO MONTH 56
└─ Thesis submission
MAX 60 MONTHS
└─ With extension (120 days, in exceptional circumstances)

Required Courses

Critical Milestones

Visual Roadmap

ENROLLMENT
  └─ With defined advisor (mandatory)
60 DAYS
└─ Submit research plan
└─ Indicate list of 4 potential assessors
└─ Assessor is designated by CCP
1st SEMESTER
└─ Required courses: QFL5930 + QFL5939 + QFL5940 + QFL5942 (8 cr)
└─ Courses from clusters [B], [C]
└─ Technical training and internships, if any
2nd SEMESTER
└─ Courses from clusters [A], [F], [TT], [S]
└─ Technical training and internships, if any
MONTH 24
└─ Deadline for co-advisor request
MONTH 30
└─ Qualification (minimum 40 cr + B1 proficiency)
MONTH 60
└─ Thesis submission
MAX 66 MONTHS
└─ With extension (180 days, in exceptional circumstances)

Required Courses

Critical Milestones

Migration Information

The 2026 Regulations came into effect on January 9, 2026. Students already enrolled will have until April 9, 2026 (90 days after publication, as per CoPGr Resolution No. 8928, of January 9, 2026) to opt for migration.

Migration characteristics:

• The choice is irrevocable
• Upon migrating, the student assumes the new deadlines and requirements
• Everyone must indicate an assessor along with the research plan (60 days)

Why Master’s Students Under 2020 Should NOT Migrate

Master’s 2020

60 DAYS
  └─ Research plan + list of assessors. All students will have until **April 9, 2026** to submit documentation in Sabiá. The program will no longer use the SIAD system, but the project can be the same one submitted there. Ad hoc assessment will be replaced by the new open assessment model.
MONTH 18
└─ Qualification (minimum 22 cr + proficiency)
MONTH 28
└─ Deadline for co-advisor
MONTH 36
└─ Dissertation submission
MAX 40 MONTHS
└─ With extension (4 months)

Required courses (6 cr):

• QFL5930 or QBQ5744 (2 cr)
• QFL5939 (2 cr)
• QFL5940 (2 cr)

Doctorate 2020

60 DAYS
  └─ Research plan + list of assessors. All students will have until **April 9, 2026** to submit documentation in Sabiá. The program will no longer use the SIAD system, but the project can be the same one submitted there. Ad hoc assessment will be replaced by the new open assessment model.
MONTH 24
└─ Qualification (minimum 32 cr + proficiency)
MONTH 44
└─ Deadline for co-advisor
MONTH 56
└─ Thesis submission
MAX 60 MONTHS
└─ With extension (4 months)

Required courses (6 cr):

• QFL5930 or QBQ5744 (2 cr) — waived if already taken during Master’s
• QFL5941 (2 cr)
• QFL5942 (2 cr)

Direct Doctorate 2020

60 DAYS
  └─ Research plan + list of assessors. All students will have until **April 9, 2026** to submit documentation in Sabiá. The program will no longer use the SIAD system, but the project can be the same one submitted there. Ad hoc assessment will be replaced by the new open assessment model.
MONTH 30
└─ Qualification (minimum 38 cr + proficiency)
MONTH 54
└─ Deadline for co-advisor
MONTH 68
└─ Thesis submission
MAX 72 MONTHS
└─ With extension (4 months)

Required courses (10 cr):

• QFL5930 or QBQ5744 (2 cr)
• QFL5939 (2 cr)
• QFL5940 (2 cr)
• QFL5941 (2 cr)
• QFL5942 (2 cr)

Note for All 2020 Students

All students, regardless of regulations, must indicate an assessor along with the research plan (the 60-day deadline after enrollment has been extended to April 9, 2026).

Submission Deadlines

Qualification Deadlines

Credits for Qualification

Can I enter the Master’s without a defined advisor?

Yes, under the 2026 Regulations. You have 60 days to submit the Formative Track Plan and up to 6 months to define the advisor. Under the 2020 Regulations, the advisor must be defined at the time of enrollment.

What happens if I miss a deadline?

The deadlines are strict. Failure to submit the research plan within 60 days, failure to complete qualification on time, or failure to submit within the maximum deadline results in dismissal from the Program.

Can I change from Master’s to Direct Doctorate?

Yes. At qualification, you can request the transition to Direct Doctorate. If you wish to apply for a scholarship, the requirements are: 30 credits (100%), grade A in at least 80% of courses (no C/R), and DD scholarship application submitted or scholarship already granted. See Transfer.

Do I need English proficiency to enter?

No. Proficiency is not required for admission. You must prove it (B1 level) by the time of qualification enrollment.

The EUQ is the first stage of the selection process for admission to the Program. It is organized by the Brazilian Chemical Society and takes place twice a year.

Important information:

• You can choose to take the exam in Portuguese or English
• To be admitted, you need to score equal to or higher than the overall average
• The EUQ certificate is valid for 3 years
• To compete for an institutional scholarship, you must have taken the edition immediately prior to the admission notice
• You do not need to have an advisor defined before the exam

After passing the EUQ, you need to find an advisor. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the Faculty page and see the complete list of advisors
2. Filter by research area or name
3. Research each professor’s profile to understand the group’s work
4. Send a formal email: introduce yourself, attach your abbreviated CV and show genuine interest in the research; sending generic emails to multiple people at once is inappropriate
5. Talk in person or via video conference to get to know the advisor better

Tip: For Master’s entrants, the beginning-of-semester events promoted by the CCP help you meet potential advisors.

Yes. The Program values diversity. Starting from the first 2026 notice, low-income candidates, people with disabilities, Black, Brown or Indigenous people are covered by affirmative action policies to improve their chances of obtaining institutional scholarships.

Other Program notices also include affirmative action policies.

Regulation 2026

The deadline for proof coincides with qualification registration:

The required level is B1 (intermediate). You can use various certificates, including the one issued by FFLCH-USP.

Regulation 2020

The required level is intermediate, according to minimum score table for specific exams.

The first 60 days after admission are crucial. You must:

1. Register at the Graduate Office (Block 6, room 669)
2. Obtain your USP number and request the USP ID Card and USP Pass
3. Access Janus and set up your USP email — the @usp.br email is mandatory to receive automatic system notifications
4. Submit your research plan (up to 20 pages) within 60 days — failure to submit may lead to dismissal

The Office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.

After the first semester, enrollment is your responsibility:

• January: enrollment for the 1st semester
• July: enrollment for the 2nd semester

Access Janus → Courses → Queries → Offerings → Chemistry Program.

Important: Even if you are not taking courses, complete the follow-up enrollment. Not enrolling for two consecutive semesters may result in dismissal.

There are different sources of scholarships:

Institutional scholarships (CAPES and CNPq)

The Program has CAPES and CNPq scholarship quotas, distributed according to the admission notice published twice a year on the Program’s website.

Scholarships from other sources

Scholarships from agencies like FAPESP or from projects with companies are the advisor’s responsibility. Talk to your advisor about these possibilities.

Note: The amounts and rules for each scholarship vary. Read the notice carefully at the time of submission and the grant agreement before signing.

All notices are published on the official Program website. The main notices are:

Check the Program website and your USP email regularly so you don’t miss deadlines.

Regulation 2026

Regulation 2020

Regulation 2026

Regulation 2020

Regulation 2026

After this deadline, co-advising is only authorized in exceptional cases with justification approved by the CCP.

Regulation 2020

Regulation 2026

Proof must be submitted by the qualification registration deadline:

Required level: B1 (intermediate).

Regulation 2020

Required level: intermediate, according to minimum score table.

Regulation 2026

The list of potential advisors must be submitted together with the research plan (60 days after first enrollment). The CCP will designate the advisor from this list.

Regulation 2026

Regulation 2020

Yes. The deadline can be suspended in the following situations:

*Depends on whether course credits have been completed. **Requires minimum 50% attendance at meetings.

To request, submit a formal request to the CCP or CPG with the necessary documentation.

The Formative Track is a new feature of Regulation 2026 that replaces the traditional curriculum with a personalized plan.

It integrates three dimensions:

1. Courses for obtaining credits
2. Research project in development
3. Internships and technical training in equipment and methods

You build the track together with your supervisor and an assessor designated by the CCP. The focus is on developing real competencies, not just accumulating credits.

Important: If you enrolled before 2026 and follow Regulation 2020, this system does not apply to you.

Yes, but it’s not automatic.

Rules:

• Students who enrolled through December 2025 follow Regulation 2020
• From January 2026 onwards, the new regulation applies
• To migrate, you had until 90 days from January 9, 2026 (early April) to apply
• The CCP analyzed case by case, considering the course stage

What changes between regulations?

Note: The change is irrevocable. Evaluate carefully and talk to your supervisor before deciding.

Special credits are credits earned from activities beyond traditional courses:

• Publication of scientific articles
• Presentations at conferences
• Patent registration
• Participation in PAE (Teaching Improvement Program)
• Technical training (2026 Regulation)
• Student representation (2026 Regulation)

2026 Regulation

The special credits limit is 50% of course credits:

2020 Regulation

Special credit limits are fixed:

To request special credits:

1. Gather supporting documentation (published article, conference certificate, etc.)
2. Fill out the request form available at the Office
3. Submit to the Graduate Office
4. Wait for CCP analysis

Important: i. Institutional affiliation must be correct in publications. See the Academic Production page for details. ii. It’s recommended to request all special credits at once, with all completed activities, rather than one at a time.

Evaluation in graduate school is different from undergraduate. Everything you do counts:

The advisory provides an external perspective on your journey. You will receive criticism and praise — learning to use them is part of the training.

2026 Regulation

PhD and Direct PhD: Traditional research project (up to 20 pages), since you already have a defined advisor.

Master’s (with advisor): Traditional research project (up to 20 pages).

Master’s (without advisor): You have up to 6 months to indicate an advisor. The 60-day document is the Formative Track Plan (up to 10 pages), which should contain:

• Expectations and areas of interest
• Courses you intend to take in the first year
• Internships and technical training of interest
• List of potential advisors
• Schedule for the first 6 months

The detailed research project will be developed after defining your advisor.

2020 Regulation

All students must submit the traditional research project (up to 20 pages).

Every year you must submit an activity report. It should show:

• What was done compared to what was planned
• What changed and why
• What will be done next

The report is evaluated by the advisor and the assessor. It’s not an exhaustive document — it’s a summary that gives an overview of progress.

FAPESP fellows: The Program accepts the same report within the grant term deadline.

Failure: If the report is rejected, you have 30 days to correct and resubmit. Two consecutive rejections result in dismissal.

Tip: Work in an organized way throughout the year. Don’t leave it to the last minute!

The assessor is a PhD holder appointed by the CCP to monitor your research project.

How it works:

1. You and your advisor indicate a list of 4 potential assessors
2. The CCP chooses 1 or 2, according to your request
3. The assessor evaluates your research plan and reports
4. You must meet with the assessor at least once a year

If you have difficulties with the project’s progress, the assessor can help as an external perspective.

No. Required courses are needed for defense, not for qualification.

For qualification, you need the minimum credits in courses (required or elective):

2026 Regulation

2020 Regulation

The qualification is when you present your project to a committee that evaluates if you’re on the right track. You will be examined to verify that you master the basic concepts required for the degree.

For enrollment and completion deadlines, see the Deadlines page.

2026 Regulation

2020 Regulation

At the defense, you present your thesis or dissertation to an examining committee.

Requirements to defend:

• Have completed all required credits
• Have proven English proficiency
• Have submitted the work on time

Possible results:

• Approved
• Approved with corrections
• Failed

After approval, you receive your degree.

Yes, but it requires prior approval from the CCP.

The Program’s defense room has adequate technical infrastructure (stable internet, quality camera and audio), but you should test everything before the defense day.

The Program prefers in-person defenses, but special situations are analyzed case by case. Plan ahead and talk to your advisor.

The standard rule is to write and defend in Portuguese or English.

If your thesis is a collection of articles, you can mix both languages.

2020 Regulation

Spanish is allowed with CCP approval.

2026 Regulation

Any other language can be authorized by the CCP, upon request from the advisor.

Yes. You can:

1. Do a Master’s and then a PhD in the same Program
2. Go directly to Direct PhD after finishing your undergraduate degree, skipping the Master’s
3. Transfer from Master’s to Direct PhD during qualification, provided you meet specific criteria

Talk to your advisor about the best path for you.

The most common reasons for dismissal are:

• Two failures in the same course
• Three failures in different courses
• Two failures in the qualification
• Not enrolling for two consecutive semesters
• Not completing the qualification on time

2026 Regulation

Additional reasons:

• Not submitting the research plan within 60 days
• Failing the annual report twice in a row

Unsatisfactory performance can also lead to dismissal, but only after the advisor’s report and CCP deliberation.

Those who are dismissed receive a certificate for approved courses, but not the degree.

Yes. To change advisors, you need to:

1. Submit a justification
2. Obtain consent from your current advisor
3. Obtain consent from your new advisor
4. Wait for the CCP’s decision

Important: Your course deadline continues counting from the original enrollment — there is no extra time.

Before making this decision, try to talk openly about the difficulties with your advisor.

Yes. You can have a co-advisor to complement the guidance of your project.

The co-advisor must:

• Work in an area complementary to the advisor
• Have qualified scientific production

Regulation 2026

Deadlines for requesting a co-advisor:

After this deadline, co-advising is only authorized in exceptional cases with justification approved by the CCP.

Regulation 2020

Deadlines for requesting a co-advisor:

PAE (Teaching Improvement Program) allows you to work as a teaching assistant in undergraduate courses, gaining teaching experience.

The program has two stages:

1. Pedagogical preparation: courses on didactics and teaching
2. Supervised internship: working in an undergraduate course (up to 6 hours per week)

Important: CAPES-funded doctoral students are required to participate in PAE.

You earn special credits for participation.

1. Complete pedagogical preparation with courses on didactics
2. Identify an undergraduate course and talk to the responsible professor
3. Apply through Janus, according to the semester notice
4. Wait for selection

Note: Withdrawal without just cause puts you at lowest priority in the next selection.

The Technical Training Program offers short-term practical training in research laboratories. The objective is to develop specific technical skills and promote safe use of equipment.

Features:

• Duration: 15 to 30 hours (1 to 2 credits)
• Small groups: 2 to 6 students
• Minimum attendance: 75%
• Can be converted to special credits

For complete details, see the Technical Training page.

The following can serve as instructors:

• Doctoral students
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Laboratory technicians
• Faculty (preferably as supervision)

Laboratories that offer training may receive resources for use at the Analytical Center. See the Technical Training page for details on financial incentives.

Yes. You can withdraw from enrollment for health, maternity or paternity reasons.

Benefits of withdrawal:

• The course deadline is suspended for up to 365 days
• This period does not count toward your timeline

How to apply:

1. Gather the necessary documentation (medical certificates, birth certificates, etc.)
2. Submit a formal request to the CCP or CPG
3. Wait for analysis

Take care of your health and well-being without worrying about deadlines.

Graduate school can be challenging. If you need emotional support:

You are entitled to care at the University Hospital (HU).

To register, bring:

• USP Card
• ID (RG)
• CPF
• SUS Card

If you work in a laboratory:

• Know the safety rules of your institute’s CIPA
• In an emergency, call SAMU: 192

Taking care of your health is not a waste of time — it’s a condition for doing quality research.

All documents submitted to the Graduate Chemistry Committee (CCP-Chemistry) for request purposes must be directly linked to the student’s academic work in the ongoing course and present, correctly and completely, the institutional affiliation of students and advisors, as specified below.

Adherence to these requirements will be evaluated by CCP-Chemistry.

Institutional Affiliation

In Portuguese:

Departamento de Química Fundamental [ou Departamento de Bioquímica], Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo. 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

In English:

Department of Fundamental Chemistry [or Department of Biochemistry], Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo. 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Acknowledgments

Standard form (mandatory):

This work was carried out within the scope of the Graduate Program in Chemistry (33002010191P0) with support from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Funding Code 001).

Extended form (optional):

This work was carried out within the scope of the Graduate Program in Chemistry (33002010191P0) with support from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Funding Code 001) and is part of the [Master’s/Doctoral] work of [abbreviated student name, A.B.C.].

Important: Without the correct affiliation, your work may not be accepted for special credits.

Yes. The Program offers three awards:

The Annual Meeting takes place before classes begin in the first semester. It’s an opportunity to:

• Meet other students and faculty
• Expand your network
• Present your work
• Learn about the Program’s research

Participate!

The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) Percentile indicates a journal’s relative position in its field. To check it:

1. Access Journal Citation Reports (requires USP VPN or campus access)
2. In the search field, look for the journal by title, ISSN or publisher
3. Click on the journal name
4. Look for “JIF Percentile”
5. Consider the most recent data value (currently 2024)

Tip: The JIF Percentile is used to evaluate publication quality in some notices and reports.

The campus Student Transit Pass Office handles card requests with SPTrans and EMTU/SP. The process varies depending on the type of affiliation.

Stricto sensu graduate students

Postdoctoral researchers

Faculty

What is Sabiá?

Sabiá is a web platform for administrative request management in the graduate program at the Institute of Chemistry, USP.

Its purpose is to organize academic administrative workflows, including requests, reviews, and decisions related to graduate academic life.

Who can use it?

The platform is restricted to authorized users:

Privacy and LGPD

Sabiá operates in compliance with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGPD – Law No. 13,709/2018).

Data processed: identification, academic information, documents, and when necessary, demographic and banking data.

Security: sensitive data is protected with AES-256-GCM encryption and restricted access.

Data subject rights: you may request access, correction, or information about the use of your data, according to USP institutional procedures.

Important limitations

• Sabiá does not replace formal decision-making bodies — final academic decisions rest with the committees and coordination.
• The platform is provided without guarantee of continuous availability — interruptions may occur due to maintenance or technical factors.

Full documentation

Complete documents are available within the Sabiá platform itself:

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

Why is the system called Sabiá?

The word sabiá has indigenous origins, derived from the term sawi’a in the Tupi language — the name given by the Tupi peoples to birds of this family.

In Brazil, the sabiá (thrush) holds strong cultural symbolism. It is a bird associated with Brazilian identity and the nation’s nature, celebrated as the symbol of the state of São Paulo and unofficially considered a symbol of the country.

The sabiá’s song pervades Brazilian culture: from the poetry of Gonçalves Dias to the melodies of Tom Jobim and Chico Buarque, and through the mornings in Brazilian backyards. This song symbolizes the emotional connection to the land, the joy of nature, and the renewed hope of each new dawn.