Departamento de Parasitologia – ICB

Departamento de Parasitologia

Graduate Program Coordination Committee -|Biology of the Host-Pathogen Relationship|Department of Parasitology - Institute of Biomedical Sciences - University of São Paulo

PUBLIC CALL FOR THE GRADUATE PROGRAM ADMISSION PROCESS - ACADEMIC YEAR 2026

The Coordinatin Committee of the Graduate Program  (CCP) in Biology of the Host-Pathogen Relationship of the Parasitology Department (Institute of Biomedical Sciences / University of São Paulo) hereby announces the opening of applications for the selection process  for Master’s (ME), Phd (DO)  and Direct PhD (DD) programs  for the year 2026:

SELECTION PROCESS

All the time of application, candidates to all levels (ME, DO and DD) must submit the following documents:
 
a) Initial Application Form filled out and signed. The form is available at https://sites.usp.br/bmp/pos-graduacao-formularios-e-links-uteis/ or may be requested by e-mail: pgbmp@icb.usp.br.

It is mandatory that the applicant indicate, in the application form, a supervisor who is a full member of the program’s faculty, and the supervisor must agree to the indication. For ad hoc supervision, the CCP must be consulted before submission. All applications will be reviewed by the CCP, which will decide on approval or rejection.

Research Project in Portuguese or English
 
For PhD level (DO) only: Proof of Master’s degree (completed or to be completed) from a graduate program recognized by CAPES, and a detailed Curriculum Vitae.
 

Application periods:

  • I  –  April 13–24, 2026
  • II – October 12–23, 2026

Examinations will take place on May 11–15, 2026 (for applications submitted in period I) and November 9–13, 2026 (for applications submitted in period II).

From 04/13/2026 to 04/24/2026
From 10/12/2026 to 10/23/2026

SELECTION PROCESS

Candidates to all levels (ME, DO, and DD) must present their research projects to an examination board on a date determined by the CCP. The process will be conducted through a public examination, consisting of an oral presentation of the project, followed by academic discussion by a committee appointed by the CCP. The committee will evaluate:

  • The candidate’s knowledge of the project relevance, scientific context, and related literature, as well as the experimental strategy and techniques to be applied;
  • The candidate’s detailed Curriculum Vitae.

To be approved, the candidate must achieve a minimum score of 5 (five) out of 10 (ten), with weight 3 for the project presentation and weight 7 for the academic discussion. This evaluation will remain valid for one year for enrollment purposes. However, to compete for a fellowship from the program, it will be valid only until the beginning of the next application period.

Note: Alternatively, candidates may be admitted to the Graduate Program in Biology of the Host–Pathogen Relationship at the ME, DO, or DD levels via the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) – General Test, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Candidates will be approved if they achieve at least 70% correct answers in each of the GRE General Test sections (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing).

Enrollment will take place on a rolling basis once approval is granted and the required documents listed below are submitted:

 
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT

At the time of enrollment, candidates at all levels (ME, DO, and DD) must submit the following documents:

  1. Brazilians: Identity card (professional IDs, Class Council IDs, or driver’s licenses will not be accepted);

Foreigners: Valid passport with a Type IV visa issued by the Brazilian Consulate in their country of origin.

  1. CPF (all candidates).
  2. Birth and/or marriage certificate (Brazilians only).
  3. Voter registration card with proof of the last vote or proof of electoral compliance (Brazilians and naturalized foreigners only).
  4. Military service certificate or certificate of exemption (Brazilian males only).
  5. National Registry of Foreigners (RNE).
  6. Brazilians: Undergraduate transcript and diploma, officially recognized, with graduation date (all levels); Graduate transcript, diploma or Master’s completion certificate, and a copy of the dissertation (PhD only). Dissertations defended outside USP must be reviewed and validated by the CCP.
  7. Foreigners: Undergraduate transcript (or equivalent) and original diploma with Brazilian Consulate authentication in the country where the degree was obtained (all levels); Graduate transcript and diploma with Brazilian Consulate authentication (PhD only); Copy of the dissertation (PhD only).
  8. Certificate of English language proficiency (see below).
  9. Proof of approval in the selection process or GRE result (with at least 70% correct answers).
  10. Advisor’s acceptance letter and Initial Enrollment Form (undated), completed and signed. Forms are available at https://sites.usp.br/bmp/pos-graduacao-formularios-e-links-uteis/ or may be requested by e-mail (pgbmp@icb.usp.br).
  11. Ethics Committee approval certificate: Animal Ethics Committee (CEUA) and/or Human Research Ethics Committee (CEPSH) of ICB-USP, or exemption certificate (for projects not involving animals or humans). For CEUA submission requires completion of the course “Ethical Principles and Animal Research Management” or “Use of Animals for Experimentation” (https://ww3.icb.usp.br/pes/cursos-de-capacitacao-no-uso-de-animais/). Notes: If animal or human experimentation occurs partially at another USP unit or institution, the respective Ethics Committee approval must be presented. If experimentation with animals is conducted exclusively outside ICB-USP, only the external institution’s CEUA approval is required. For human research projects, external CEPSH approval must also be endorsed by the CEPSH of ICB-USP. If the project review is pending, proof of submission to the CEUA and/or CEPSH must be presented. Approval must be submitted before the qualification exam
  12. Certificates of completion of the following online courses:

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:

English proficiency is a requirement for enrollment in the program (all levels). Accepted certificates include:

  • FFLCH/USP Language Center: Semesterly exam for graduate candidates of all ICB-USP programs. Requirement: Sufficient for Master’s or PhD.
  • TEAP (Test of English for Academic and Professional Purposes). Requirement: 70 points (PhD), 65 points (Master’s).
  • WAP (Writing for Academic and Professional Purposes). Requirement: 50 points (PhD), 45 points (Master’s).
  • TOEFL iBT. Requirement: 60 points (PhD), 55 points (Master’s).
  • TOEFL ITP. Requirement: 500 points (PhD), 480 points (Master’s).
  • IELTS. Requirement: 4.5 (PhD), 4.2 (Master’s).
  • Cambridge University Exams: C Level in FCE (PhD) and A Level in PET (Master’s).
  • University of Michigan Exam: C Level (PhD and Master’s).

For admission purposes only, certificates from the above institutions will be valid for 5 (five) years. Notes: Candidates from countries where English is the official language, as well as those who obtained their undergraduate or Master’s degree in such countries, are exempt from presenting an English proficiency certificate. Proficiency in Portuguese is not required for foreign students.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Candidates diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who require special conditions to take the exam must submit to the Program’s Secretariat, via e-mail (pgbmp@icb.usp.br), a medical certificate issued by a qualified professional (physicians, psychologists, and/or other specialists, in accordance with current legislation) attesting to the condition and specifying the necessary accommodations.

One fellowship will be reserved for mother candidates admitted to each level (Master’s and PhD) in each selection process. If more than one mother candidate is approved, the fellowship will be awarded to the one with the highest weighted average in the corresponding level. To enroll, the candidate must present her child(ren)’s birth certificate.