Norms

I – COMPOSITION OF THE PROGRAM COORDINATING COMMITTEE (CCP)

The Program Coordinating Committee (CCP) shall consist of:

  • 5 (five) full advisors accredited in the Program, one of whom shall be the Coordinator and another the Coordinator’s substitute.

  • 1 (one) student representative, with each member having a substitute.

II – ADMISSION CRITERIA

Admission to the program occurs through a selection process regulated by a specific notice prepared by the CCP and published periodically in the Official Gazette of the State of São Paulo and on the program’s website. The notices shall specify:

  • Number of vacancies

  • Required application documents

  • Enrollment procedures

  • Selection stages and schedule

  • Evaluation criteria and weightings

II.1 Master’s Admission Requirements

Candidates must:

Selection Process:

  1. Written exams in Mathematics, Physics, and Essay Writing.

  2. CV analysis (following the program’s template).

  3. Undergraduate transcript evaluation.

International candidates may substitute written exams with the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) if specified in the notice.

II.2 Doctoral Admission Requirements

Candidates must:

  • Submit a research proposal.

  • Provide a CV and academic transcripts (Master’s and undergraduate).

  • Meet the English proficiency requirement (Section V).

II.3 Direct Doctoral Admission (without a Master’s degree)

Requirements are similar to the Doctoral program, but candidates must submit:

  • A research proposal.

  • Undergraduate transcripts.

III – DEADLINES

  • Master’s: 36 months (thesis submission).

  • Doctoral (with Master’s): 56 months.

  • Direct Doctoral (without Master’s): 68 months.

  • Extensions: Up to 4 months in exceptional cases.

IV – MINIMUM CREDITS

  • Master’s: 144 credits (72 coursework + 72 thesis).

  • Doctoral (with Master’s): 168 credits (48 coursework + 120 thesis).

  • Direct Doctoral: 216 credits (96 coursework + 120 thesis).

Mandatory Courses:

  • STT5859 – Transportation Technology

  • STT5893 – Instructional Strategies

  • STT5861 – Fundamentals of Transportation Infrastructure

Special Credits (max. 10 credits):

  • National peer-reviewed journal: Up to 4 credits/article.

  • International peer-reviewed journal: Up to 8 credits/article.

V – FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

  • English proficiency is mandatory for all applicants.

  • Accepted tests (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS) must be taken within 5 years of application.

  • Portuguese proficiency is not required for international students.

VI – COURSE REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION

  • Courses must be accredited by the CCP based on relevance to research lines.

  • Cancellation is permitted if fewer than 3 students enroll.

VII – QUALIFICATION EXAM (QE)

  • Master’s: Must be completed within 18 months of enrollment.

  • Doctoral: Within 28 months (or 34 months for Direct Doctoral).

  • Format: Public oral defense (30 min presentation + Q&A).

  • Failure: A second attempt is allowed within 90 days.

VIII – TRANSFER BETWEEN PROGRAMS OR RESEARCH AREAS

  • Transfers require CCP approval based on academic performance and advisor consent.

IX – ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Students submit semester reports (research progress, coursework, timelines).
Grounds for dismissal:

  • Two consecutive failed reports.

  • Plagiarism or research misconduct.

  • Failure to submit a doctoral research proposal.

X – ADVISORS & CO-ADVISORS

  • Full advisors must teach in the program and supervise at least 2 Master’s students.

  • Maximum advisees: 10 (plus 5 as co-advisor).

  • External advisors require CCP approval.

XI – THESIS/DISSERTATION SUBMISSION

  • Format: Traditional monograph or article collection (with linking chapters).

  • Master’s: Proof of article submission in a CAPES-qualified journal.

  • Doctoral: Proof of article acceptance.

XII – THESIS DEFENSE

  • Follows USP’s Graduate Regulations.

  • No written evaluation required.

XIII – LANGUAGE OF THESIS/DISSERTATION

  • Must include title, abstract, and keywords in Portuguese and English.

  • Main text may be written in Portuguese or English (other languages require CCP approval).

XIV – DEGREE TITLE

  • Master’s: Master of Science in Transportation Engineering.

  • Doctoral: Doctor of Science in Transportation Engineering.

XV – OTHER RULES

  • Research internships require advisor and CCP approval.

Published in:

  • D.O.E.: 07/06/2019 (Resolution CoPGr No. 7763)

  • D.O.E.: 03/16/2022 (Resolution CoPGr No. 8188)