Sub-Comissão de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia
Cx. Postal 6109- CEP 13.083-970 - Campinas/SP
Fax (+55-19) 3521-6374 – Fone (+55-19)35216381
email:APPLICATIONS TO THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ECOLOGY AT UNICAMP – INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS
Foreign students may apply to the Graduate Program in Ecology at Unicamp (GPE-U) in two ways:
a) a normal application, in which the foreign student competes equally with Brazilian candidates. Currently this is the only possibility of application for a Master’s Degree (further information, in Portuguese only, is available at
b) foreign Doctoral candidates may also apply by means of an international agreement or interchange program maintained by the Brazilian government (especially the CAPES agency) or Unicamp itself. These candidates are not required to take the entrance exam in person in Campinas.
To apply by way of option (b), follow these steps:
- The candidate must obtain a scholarship to maintain her/himself, from funding programs in her/his country of origin, international agencies, or specific Brazilian programs (such as the PEC-CAPES program, seek link below). Note that:
- The candidate must seek information on potential funding sources by him/herself. The GPE-U has no complete or updated information on all the options available.
- Any doctoral student accepted through this channel will be disqualified from receiving a scholarship awarded by the GPE-U, even if, after starting the Doctoral program, s/he loses his/her original scholarship or grant for whatever reason.
- If your University or country does not offer a Master’s program, you must provide documentation or an institutional declaration that your academic degree and experience are equivalent to an M.Sc.
- Inform yourself on potential advisers and their research areas in the GPE-U. Contact intended advisers directly. If an adviser is willing to accept you, discuss and write up a thesis proposal.
- To apply as a doctoral candidate, you will have to submit the following documents:
- Copies of your Bachelor and Master’s diplomas and respective academic syllabuses. To initiate you application to the GPE-U, no certified translations or consular notarization are required (however, if you are accepted, you will probably need these to enroll in the University and to obtain a student visa for Brazil).
- Copy of an identity card or birth document and of a valid passport, if you have it.
- Curriculum vitae of up to 5 pages.
- A letter of intent, stating your reasons for wanting to work for a Ph.D. in Ecology in Brazil and, particularly, in the Unicamp program; your choice of research theme, and your career expectations after the Doctorate.
- Thesis research proposal, 10-20 pages, containing: introduction, objectives and grounds for the project; delineation of the study area and study system – described in more detail if these are outside Brazil; methods, including sampling or experimental design, and data analysis; schedule for research; proposed financing of research costs (field travel and expenses and consumables). The proposal may be submitted in Portuguese or English (preferred) or in Spanish.
- Letter of acceptance by the future adviser approving the thesis proposal (to be sent directly to the office of the GPE-U).
- Test result or document attesting fluency in English for scientific reading and writing (not required for native English speakers).
- Name, postal and e-mail address and telephone of three persons that can offer recommendations
- Copies (preferably electronic, in PDF or equivalent format) of your M.Sc. thesis (or equivalent final research paper - tesis de grado, DEA, Diplomarbeit etc), publications and manuscripts in press or in review.
- On receipt of the application documents, the GPE-U Chair may offer a declaration that the applicant fulfilled the requirements to be evaluated for entrance in the Ecology Graduate Program at Unicamp. The GPE-U Committee and other professors in the Program will evaluate the application. Information and recommendations will be sought from the persons indicated by the applicant.
- If the proposal and curriculum receive a favorable appraisal, an interview, by phone or other means, will be set up with the applicant.
- Once the applicant is approved, the GPE-U office will inform the Offices of the Dean of Graduate Programs (PRPG) and of International Affairs (CORI) of the Unicamp that the candidate has been accepted. These offices will provide the documents required for visa, enrolment, and grant or scholarship procedures.
Be aware that:
- Applications may be submitted at any time. During course terms (March to June and August to November) evaluation will normally be completed within 60 days. At other times, it may require 90 days or more, due to vacations and field work or field courses. We strongly advise you to count on 90 days evaluation plus visa and scholarship processing times.
- The GPE-U does not offer a proficiency exam in Portuguese for foreign students; this however may be required to obtain a student visa or scholarship. Theoretical and practical courses are usually given in Portuguese and exams, term papers and reports will have to be written in Portuguese. Moreover, fluency in scientific English is required, since this is the language for most of the literature. Doctoral theses at Unicamp have to be presented in Portuguese, except for chapters, which correspond to papers published or accepted for publication.
- The GPE-U has no means for helping with visas or housing. Information and some support may be obtained from the university Office of International Affairs (CORI, see link below):
For further information:
Coordenação de Relações Institucionais e Internacionais – Unicamp (Office of International Affairs):
information for foreign students, in Portuguese:
in English:
CAPES – Cooperação Internacional (Brazilian Office for Higher Education – international cooperation):
scholarship program for developing countries (PEC-PG):
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