Transfer

The USP Graduate Bylaws allow students to request transfer between programs, provided certain conditions are met. This possibility exists to accommodate changes in the development of the research project or in the student’s academic circumstances.

Permitted Transfers:

Required Documentation:

• Detailed justification from the student explaining the reasons for the request
• Formal consent from the current advisor
• Consent from the new advisor (if there is a change)
• Complete academic transcript

Analysis and Deliberation:

• The transfer requires deliberation by the CPG
• The CCP issues an opinion on the appropriateness of the transfer to the program

Treatment of Deadlines and Credits:

• Important: The deadline count considers the date of first enrollment in the program, not the transfer date
• Credits obtained in the original program may be partially or fully recognized by the new program, as assessed by the CCP

Transfer after Qualification: If the student has already taken the qualifying examination in the original program, the transfer analysis requires an additional detailed opinion, considering the advanced stage of the work.

The student may request, with justification and with the advisor’s consent, a change of program. The request will be analyzed by the CCP, based on a detailed opinion from an assessor appointed by them or on the opinion of the funding agency responsible for granting a scholarship for the new program.

General Requirements:

• Present a substantiated justification
• Obtain formal consent from the advisor
• Be in regular academic standing

There are two pathways for changing from Master’s to Direct Doctoral:

Pathway 1 - By suggestion of the qualifying committee:

• After approval in the Master’s qualifying examination
• By suggestion of the examining committee
• Deadline to request: 30 days after approval in the qualification
• The CPG will analyze based on a detailed opinion

Pathway 2 - By student initiative:

• Deadline: up to 28 months after first enrollment
• Required documents:
  1. Letter to the CPG Chair with the advisor’s consent
  2. Updated academic transcript
  3. Detailed justification from the advisor

• Deadline: up to 16 months after first enrollment
• Documents: letter to the CPG Chair, academic transcript, advisor’s justification

• After recognition of a Master’s degree obtained at another institution
• Deadline: up to 22 months after first enrollment

For any program change:

• Qualification deadlines for the new program must be verified
• Minimum required credits must be completed or possible to complete
• If the deadline has already passed or minimum credits are not met, the change will not be possible

For the change to be approved, the student must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Recommendation from the qualifying committee: The examining committee of the qualifying examination must expressly recommend the level change, based on the student’s performance and the project’s potential

2. Approval of the work plan: The proposed work plan for the Doctorate must be approved by the CCP, demonstrating the feasibility of expanding the scope

3. Course credits: Have completed 30 credits in courses (100% of what is required for the Master’s), including at least one technical training or formative internship

4. Academic performance: Have obtained grade A or B in all courses taken, demonstrating consistent mastery of the content

5. Doctoral scholarship: Have submitted a doctoral scholarship application to FAPESP or have a doctoral scholarship granted by any funding agency

1. During the Master’s qualifying examination, the student must indicate their interest in the level change
2. Submit the Doctoral Project summary (up to 2 pages) along with the qualification documentation
3. The committee will evaluate the merit of the request and issue an opinion
4. If approved by the committee, the CCP will deliberate on the change

The student who makes the level change must undergo a new qualifying examination as a doctoral student:

Note on proficiency: If the student has already demonstrated English proficiency in the Master’s qualification, no new proof is required.

• Deadlines established for qualification in the Direct Doctoral must be observed
• Minimum required credits must be fulfilled (50 credits)
• If the qualification deadline has already passed or minimum credits are not completed, the change will not be authorized

The change from Master’s to Direct Doctoral without applying for an institutional scholarship can be requested at any time during the program, provided other criteria are met.

CAPES Scholarship Holders:

Students with a CAPES Master’s scholarship may apply for conversion to a Doctoral scholarship at the time of qualification. The converted scholarship consists of:

• CAPES Doctoral scholarship
• FAPESP supplement (amounts corresponding to the FAPESP scholarship)
• Possibility of applying for BEPE (Research Internship Abroad Scholarship)

Ranking Process:

The qualification of Master’s students who wish to compete for these scholarships occurs during the same period. This enables a ranking process for requesting quotas from the Rectory. Classification criteria are described in the Program Regulation 2026.

To request this change, the student must:

1. Justification: Present a detailed justification explaining the reasons for the request
2. Advisor’s consent: Obtain formal consent from the advisor
3. Deadlines: Master’s qualification deadlines must not have been exceeded
4. Credits: Minimum credits for Master’s qualification must be completed or possible to complete within the deadline

• The student must undergo the Master’s qualification if they have not already done so
• The research project must be adapted to the scope of a dissertation
• The deadline count continues from the original first enrollment