Comparison

Comparison between 2020 and 2026 Regulations

Summary of Main Changes

Deadlines

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Master’s - maximum term36 months24 monthsREDUCED
Doctorate - maximum term56 months56 monthsMAINTAINED
Direct Doctorate - maximum term68 months60 monthsREDUCED
Extension - Master’sMaximum 4 monthsMaximum 180 days (~6 months)INCREASED
Extension - DoctorateMaximum 4 monthsMaximum 120 days (~4 months)MAINTAINED
Extension - Direct DoctorateMaximum 4 monthsMaximum 180 days (~6 months)INCREASED

Credits and Courses

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Master’s - total160 credits (30 courses + 130 dissertation)160 credits (30 courses + 130 dissertation)MAINTAINED
Doctorate - total320 credits (40 courses + 280 thesis)320 credits (40 courses + 280 thesis)MAINTAINED
Direct Doctorate - total330 credits (50 courses + 280 thesis)330 credits (50 courses + 280 thesis)MAINTAINED

Required Courses

Program2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Master’sQFL5930, QFL5939, QFL5940 (6 credits)QFL5930, QFL5939REDUCED
DoctorateQFL5930, QFL5941, QFL5942 (6 credits)QFL5930, QFL5940, QFL5942 (Seminars)CHANGED
Direct DoctorateQFL5930, QFL5939, QFL5940, QFL5941, QFL5942 (10 credits)QFL5930, QFL5939, QFL5940, QFL5942REDUCED

Note: Course QFL5942 became “Seminar Presentation Practice” in the 2026 Regulation.

Special Credits

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Maximum limitM: 8 / D: 12 / DD: 16 creditsUp to 50% of course creditsCHANGED
Journal articleMaximum 3 credits per work3 credits per workMAINTAINED
PatentInternational: 3 / National: 2 credits3 credits per patentUNIFIED
ConferenceNational: 1 / International: 2 credits2 credits per eventSIMPLIFIED
PAE2 credits (limit per program)2 credits (limited to 20% of credits)CHANGED
Technical TrainingNot provided1 credit per 15 hoursNEW
Student representationNot provided1 credit per term (attendance >75%)NEW
Project linkageNot mentionedRequired for articles, patents, and conferencesNEW

Foreign Language

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Deadline - Master’s18 months after enrollmentBefore qualification registrationCHANGED
Deadline - Doctorate24 months after enrollmentBefore qualification registrationCHANGED
Deadline - Direct Doctorate30 months after enrollmentBefore qualification registrationCHANGED
Accepted examsTOEFL, iBT, TEAP, WAP, IELTS, Cambridge (with score table)B1 level certificates (CEFR) or “sufficient” FFLCHSIMPLIFIED
Level - Master’sTOEFL ITP: 400 / iBT: 31 / IELTS: 3.2B1 level (CEFR)SIMPLIFIED
Level - DoctorateTOEFL ITP: 450 / iBT: 45 / IELTS: 3.7B1 level (CEFR) - same for allREDUCED
ExemptionEducation in English-speaking countryNatives of countries with English as official languageEXPANDED

Qualification Exam

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Deadline to take after registrationMaximum 90 daysMaximum 60 days (public session)REDUCED
Deadline for new registration after failure60 days90 daysINCREASED
Deadline for 2nd exam after new registration90 days30 daysREDUCED
Committee composition3 examiners, minimum 2 full advisors3 members, minimum 1 full advisorFLEXIBILIZED
Registration documentsReport up to 4 pagesForm, proficiency, Lattes/ORCID, summary up to 10 pagesDETAILED

Master’s

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Registration deadline18 months10 monthsREDUCED
Minimum credits22 credits + proficiency24 credits (100% if level change)INCREASED
Presentation durationMaximum 60 min / total 120 minMaximum 30 min / examination 60 minREDUCED
Transition to DDNot mentioned in QEMay request consideration in QENEW

Doctorate and Direct Doctorate

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Registration deadline - Doctorate24 months24 monthsMAINTAINED
Registration deadline - DD30 months30 monthsMAINTAINED
Minimum credits - Doctorate32 credits32 creditsMAINTAINED
Minimum credits - DD38 credits40 creditsINCREASED
Presentation durationMaximum 60 min / total 180 minMaximum 40 min / examination 120 minREDUCED

Advisors and Co-advisors

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Full accreditation validity4 years5 yearsINCREASED
Maximum advisees10 advisees + 10 co-advisees (max. 15)10 advisees + 5 co-adviseesREDUCED
Maximum - specific advisorNot specifiedMaximum 2 adviseesNEW

Full Accreditation

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Scientific production3 articles in top 3 QUALIS/CAPES strata (4 years)5 JCR articles with percentile ≥50% (5 years) or teaching productionCHANGED
Course1 course every 2 yearsSubmit course proposalCHANGED
Newly hired IQ-USPNot mentionedExempt from production and funding (up to 6 months)NEW

Re-accreditation

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Production with students3-5 QUALIS articles with students4 JCR productions percentile ≥50% with students/alumniCHANGED
Courses2x in 4 years2x in 5 yearsCHANGED
Committee participationAt least 4 in 4 yearsNot mentionedREMOVED

Co-advisor Accreditation

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Deadline - Master’s28 months12 monthsREDUCED
Deadline - Doctorate44 months24 monthsREDUCED
Deadline - Direct Doctorate54 months24 monthsREDUCED

Submission and Defense

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Dissertation formatFollows detailed SIBi guidelines (ABNT)Traditional or article collectionSIMPLIFIED
Dissertation as collectionNot provided for Master’sAllowedNEW
Submission procedure4-5 bound copies + PDF + DOCVia USP corporate systemSIMPLIFIED
Defense languagesPortuguese, English, or Spanish (with approval)Portuguese, English, or other languages (with approval)EXPANDED

Evaluation

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Advisory systemEvaluation by annual reportsAssessor appointed by CCP (up to 6 months)NEW
Research plan60 days after enrollment60 days after enrollment (detailed structure, up to 20 pages)DETAILED
Report formatSummary, activities, goals, planningSummary (1 page), activities (10 pages), planning (2 pages)DETAILED

Causes for Dismissal

2020 Regulation2026 Regulation
Missing plan in 60 daysMissing plan in 60 days
2 failures in same course or 3 different2 failures in same course or 3 different
Absence for 2 consecutive periodsAbsence for 2 consecutive periods
2 failures in QE2 failures in QE
Plan rejection by ad hoc—
Missing annual reportsMissing annual reports
Report rejection by ad hoc2 consecutive report failures
Advisor opinion on performanceUnsatisfactory performance (advisor + CCP rapporteur)

Program Transfer

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Master’s to DDDetailed (specific deadlines, documentation)Justification + advisor consent + opinionSIMPLIFIED
DD to Master’sUp to 16 monthsMay request (deadlines must be observed)FLEXIBILIZED
Area TransferProvided with rapporteur analysisNot mentionedREMOVED

Admission Selection

Item2020 Regulation2026 RegulationChange
Selection processDetailed (vacancies, exams, weights, Examining Committee)Referred to specific callSIMPLIFIED
Access routesECGQ (score ≥5.0) or GRE Chemistry (>700)Not specified (according to call)REMOVED
Acceptance letterRequired for Direct DoctorateAccording to callREMOVED

Favorable to Students

  1. Longer extension for Master’s and Direct Doctorate (180 days vs 4 months)
  2. Expanded special credits (up to 50% vs absolute values)
  3. New activities for credits: technical training, student representation
  4. Simplified proficiency: single B1 level for all programs
  5. Flexibilized qualification committee: minimum 1 full advisor (vs 2)
  6. Extended accreditation validity to 5 years
  7. Dissertation as collection allowed for Master’s
  8. New assessor for individualized follow-up

More Demanding

  1. Master’s term reduced from 36 to 24 months
  2. Direct Doctorate term reduced from 68 to 60 months
  3. Earlier qualification for Master’s (10 vs 18 months)
  4. Increased minimum credits for qualification (DD: 40 vs 38)
  5. Significantly reduced co-advisor deadline
  6. Accreditation criteria based on JIF Percentile (vs QUALIS)

Administrative Simplifications

  1. Submission via corporate system (vs physical copies)
  2. Selection process referred to call (vs detailed rules in regulation)
  3. More flexible dissertation/thesis format