The Qualifying Examination determines whether the student has an adequate command of knowledge in the field of study, and can organize, apply and convey that knowledge. This exam must be taken no longer than 18 months after the enrollment date. The graduate student must have obtained at least 20 credits, must have been approved in the English Proficiency Test, and advanced considerably in his/her research project.

The graduate student must describe the results obtained in his/her Project in a document of 20 pages or less (cover excluded). The following steps must be followed:

1. Request the Qualifying Examination to the Graduate Commission at least 7 days prior to the Monthly Commission Meeting, filling out the specific form: formulário Q1. Three official members must be suggested for the referee’s commission (it is suggested that the adviser is one of them) and 2 substitutes. All members must have Ph.D. degree. The following documents must be presented:
   1. Form submitted to request the examination with the suggestion of the committee members who will judge the student. Form Q1,
   2. Graduate Transcript (Cumulative Record File)
   3. English Proficiency Test confirming the student was approved.
   4. Approval of the research project by the University Ethics Committee.
   5. 6 copies of the Qualifying Examination Report.
2. After the approval by the Graduate Commission, the student/adviser should contact the committee members and set a date, no less than 60 days after the approval.
3. Next, the Graduate Office will be informed of the date suggested, filling out the form Q2.
4. The Graduate Office will then reserve the room and forward the Qualifying Exams to the committee members (and substitutes), with the letter communicating the date, place, and time 14 days in advance. The reservation of the examination room cannot be requested by the student, so he/she should contact the Graduate Office requesting the reservation after a date and time have been set.
5. The Qualifying Examination will be held in a public section of the University’s premises. Students must present their work orally for 20 or 30 min. and then each committee member will have 30 minutes to ask the student questions.
6. After the Qualifying Examination, the committee will judge the student using the form form Q3.
7. If the student fails, he must repeat the Qualifying Exam within 60 days from the date of the first Exam.