The master’s and doctoral courses follow the Postgraduate Regulations of USP and the Specific Rules for Postgraduate Courses. Master’s, Doctoral and Direct Doctorate students must take at least one discipline that addresses the methodological dimension of the research, on a mandatory basis, as stated in the program regulations.

The duration of the Direct Doctorate course is up to 60 months. The Direct Doctorate course consists in:

1. taking classes totaling 80 (eighty) credits;
2. it is mandatory to take a course about research methodology
3. participating in periodical orientation meetings;
4. participating in academic and scientific activities in the area of study and in seminars offered by the graduate course;
5. developing the dissertation topic on the advisor’s line of research;
6. taking the General Qualifying Examination. This is a requirement to obtain a Doctorate degree. Students may apply for the Direct Doctorate (without a Master’s degree) Qualifying Examination after having earned 40 (forty) credits demanded in the course. Students must apply for the Qualifying Examination within 60 (sixty) percent of the maximum interval for the thesis deposit.
7. preparing the thesis and participating in the public defense of the paper;
8. making the dissertation available on the SABER USP portal. Upon depositing the thesis, students must make it integrally available for publication on the Portal.