Master’s (Mestrado) and Doctoral/PhD (Doutorado) students have the opportunity to apply directly to graduate programs at USP for a Research Placement under the guidance of an accredited supervisor. Upon acceptance, research placement students may also enroll in courses if desired. The option to combine research and taught courses is available at the discretion of the student.

If you also intend to enroll in graduate-level courses, please refer to the information regarding the Course-based Exchange Program.

1. Language Requirements
2. Before you apply
3. Length of stay
4. Programs, Areas of Concentration and Research Interests
5. Nomination and Application Deadlines
6. Search for a Supervisor
7. How to Apply
8. Further important information

There are no specific language requirements for students who wish to engage in research activities only. The language of communication during these activities can be agreed upon by the student and the accepting supervisor.

To apply for the graduate exchange program, students need to be invited by an accredited supervisor. For more information on finding a supervisor, please refer to the section on Search for a Supervisor.

A graduate study period abroad at USP can last up to 12 months, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 12 months. To access all facilities and avail discounts on services such as restaurants (Cafeteria [Bandejão]) and public transport, the duration of the stay should be more than 3 months (91 days or longer). Students whose stay at USP is 3 months (90 days) or less will not be eligible for the same benefits but will receive proof of enrollment. Regardless of the duration of the exchange program, all students will receive a certificate of participation in the program by the end of their stay (Circ. CoPGr/08/2019).

Each Graduate Program consists of one or more Areas of Concentration, and within each Area of Concentration, there are potential supervisors available. When applying, graduate students will need to specify the desired Graduate Program, the relevant Area of Concentration, and, if applicable, the corresponding Research Interests in their application form. Further details can be discussed with the prospective supervisors directly.

A comprehensive list of Programs and Areas of Concentration is available at https://uspdigital.usp.br/janus (select: Orientadores > Listar orientadores por Área de Concentração), where you can explore the Programs and Areas of Concentration by School/Institute and also view the supervisors affiliated with them. The research interests of potential supervisors are typically listed on the website of each department and are associated with a specific Program and its corresponding Area of Concentration.

Nominations and applications for a Research Placement at the graduate level are accepted on a rolling basis (only via email). To be eligible for an exchange place, students need to be nominated by the Exchange Coordinator of their home university. The application documents should be submitted at least 3 months before the start of the mobility period, although earlier submission is recommended for better consideration (refer to the section on How to Apply for more details).

Graduate students who are applying for a research placement at USP need to be invited by an accredited supervisor.

Students searching for a supervisor can access the full list of accredited supervisors at https://uspdigital.usp.br/janus (option: Orientadores [supervisors] > Listar orientadores por Área de Concentração [List supervisors by Area of Concentration]). The list can be browsed by School/Institute and then by Graduate Program/Area of Concentration.

Their profiles and research interests will be found on the webpage of the relevant Schools/Faculties/Institutes.

Their complete academic profiles are available on the Lattes platform (Plataforma Lattes). The Lattes platform is the primary scientific information system and integrated database in Brazil, maintained by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). It serves to manage information on science, technology, and innovation related to individual researchers working in Brazil.

Before contacting a potential supervisor, the student should take their time to gather as much information as possible about the professor’s work before emailing them. When contacting a professor, the applicant should be precise about their own research interests and also attach a CV and a draft research proposal. Students who need help to find a supervisor may contact the relevant Local International Office operating at the faculty level.

After both parties agree to the exchange, the host supervisor should provide the student with an Invitation Letter. This one-page letter of invitation, signed by the prospective supervisor, should mention the intended period of the exchange, including the start and end dates in the format dd/mm/yyyy, even if they are tentative.

Nominations and applications for a research placement at the graduate level are accepted on a rolling basis (via email only). To be eligible for an exchange place, students need to be nominated by the Exchange Coordinator of their home university. The application documents should be submitted at least 3 months before the start of the mobility period, although submitting them sooner is highly recommended (see the section on How to Apply for more information).”

Before applying, please ensure that you have read the information on the Student Exchange Programs and the Research opportunities available for graduate exchange students at USP. If you have not found a supervisor yet, please refer to Search for a Supervisor above.

If you also plan to enroll in courses, please refer to the section on Taught Courses.

The following documents must be sent by email directly to the Local International Office of the host school at USP:

1. A Nomination Letter (or an email);
2. Application form (download template);
3. Proof of Enrollment in a degree-granting program at the home university (Master’s or doctoral);
4. Curriculum;
5. Diploma(s) and Transcript of Records of previous as well as current degree programs;
6. Passport (bio-data page);
7. A recent colour photo (in .jpg format);
8. Research Proposal/Work Plan that should contain:
10. Full name and further relevant details;
11. Intended period of exchange (start and end dates of the mobility in the format dd/mm/yyyy, even if only tentative);
12. Research topic/title;
13. Project description (aims, methodology, expected outcomes, and detailed timetable indicating the timeframe for each broad stage considering literature surveys, data collection, production, modeling, review, analysis, testing, reporting, etc.)”;
14. An Invitation Letter from the host supervisor: a one-page letter of invitation signed by the faculty member who will serve as the host supervisor;
15. Letter of Recommendation from Professor/Supervisor/Faculty member (or the equivalent at the home institution) for participation in the relevant exchange programme at USP.

The applications received will then be subject to assessment on an individual and rolling basis.

Since USP operates on a strongly decentralized basis, once the application is accepted, the School/Institute itself (not the Central International Office) will send the acceptance letter directly to the address informed by the Study Abroad Advisor/Exchange Coordinator of the sending institution, who will also receive a copy of the letter by email.

• Student Exchange Programmes (General Information, visa, insurance, fees etc.)
• Structure of Degree Programmes
• Credit System
• Grading System
• Credit Transfer Guidelines & Grade Equivalency