Master's and Doctorate Qualifying Exams
Maximum deadlines
Master's: 18 months
extendable to a maximum of 21 months
Doctorate: 30 months (ideally 24 months)
extendable to a maximum of 33 months
add_alertIf the qualifying exam is not taken within the deadline (from the date of first enrollment), the student will be considered as having failed. The student will have one more chance to take the exam within an additional 3 months (in this case, an extension must be requested). If the student fails the first exam, the same rule applies. After the maximum period of 21 months for the master's and 33 months for the doctorate, the student who does not pass the qualifying exam will be disconnected from the course.
add_alertBe aware of the deadlines and remember that the qualifying exam must be scheduled at least 30 (thirty) days before the deadline. The procedure for scheduling examination boards can be consulted at: http://propg.ufabc.edu.br/bancas-de-defesa/
About the exams
The Qualification Exam aims to:
(i) evaluate the directions and progress achieved so far in the master's/doctoral project, with a view to its completion within the expected deadlines;
(ii) assess the maturity and scientific knowledge of the student;
(iii) assess the didactic articulation ability;
(iv) provide recommendations to improve the student research project.
The Qualifying Exam is evaluated by an examining board approved by the Program Coordination and made up of 3 (three) full members, 2 (two) of which necessarily professors accredited in the Graduate Program in Physics at UFABC, and a 4th (fourth) alternate member.
labelThe advisor and co-advisor are not eligible to participate in the Qualifying Exam panel.
labelThe advisor and co-advisor will be able to attend the presentation, but will not be able to participate in it, or assist the student in the answers, unless they are questioned directly by the board and/or its president..
labelIn the case of a student with an experimental research project, it is suggested that at least one of the full members of the board be a theoretician; in the case of a theoretical research project, it is suggested that at least one of the full members of the panel be an experimentalist.
labelIt is suggested that one of the members of the board belong to a different Program Research Line from the one in which the student's project is inserted.
Before taking the Qualification Exam, the student must send material that helps the board to previously learn about the fundamental aspects of their research project.
labelThis material must take into account the presence on the board of non-expert members on the subject of the Qualifying Exam, by including a general introduction to the topics covered.
labelIn the case of Doctoral Qualification Exams (EQD), the student must deliver to the board a monography with up to 50 pages on the subject of the presentation, at least one week before the date of the EQD.
labelIn the case of Master's Qualifying Exams (EQM), the student must send the slides used in the presentation to the board members at least 48 hours in advance.
labelIn both cases, the material can be sent to the board in digital format (PDF) by email.
Allowed presentation times are 30-40 minutes for the EQM and 40-50 minutes for the EQD.
A maximum total time of questioning of 60 (sixty) minutes by the board is suggested.
After the presentation and questioning, the panel will meet behind closed doors to evaluate the presentation and performance of the student, until arriving at the final decision.
labelIf the student is considered to have failed, the committee must explain in the record document which factors led to this judgment and suggest the necessary changes in the development/presentation of the student's research project. The student may take a second qualifying exam within a maximum period of three months.
labelIt is recommended that, in case of failure in the Qualifying Exam, at least one of the members present in the panel that failed the student is also a member of the evaluation panel of the second Qualifying Exam.
Since June 2019, exams are scheduled via online procedure in the SIGAA system. Detailed information on scheduling qualifying and defense boards are available at: http://propg.ufabc.edu.br/bancas-de-defesa/