Admission Guidelines
Preparation, Selection and Evaluation of the Thesis Project
The doctoral thesis must be developed under the supervision of the advisor until the final version.
It must be an original investigation that demonstrates the candidate’s scientific maturity and contributes new knowledge to the field.
To have the thesis project approved, the graduate candidate must submit it to the Scientific Committee of the Heart Institute (InCor) of HCFMUSP (CC), regardless of whether the research will be conducted fully or partially within the Institution, or involves human subjects (patients) who are not part of the HC-FMUSP Complex. The submission must follow the instructions available on the InCor Scientific Committee’s webpage.
The Scientific Committee will forward the project to the Graduate Program Coordination Office (Stricto Sensu) for evaluation.
The candidate and their advisor will be called to a meeting with the Program Coordinating Committee, which, after approval, will return the project to the Scientific Committee. The project will then be sent to the Ethics Committee for Research Project Analysis of HCFMUSP (CAPPesq), and the student may proceed with the required documentation for registration and enrollment.
The evaluation of the candidate, with the advisor present, consists of a discussion of the research project to analyze its scientific relevance, suitability for scientific training, and feasibility. This evaluation is eliminatory.
Research projects requiring corrections and/or adjustments suggested by the Program Coordinating Committee during the thesis project evaluation must be revised within 30 days. Failure to meet this deadline will result in the project being returned to the Scientific Committee, restarting the evaluation process.
After approval, if changes to the thesis methodology are necessary, the student must resubmit the revised version to the InCor Scientific Committee (HCFMUSP). Requests for changes may be made up to 12 months before the deadline for registration in the Qualification Exam. Once CAPPesq approval is obtained, a copy must be submitted to the Graduate Coordination Office.
The candidate must keep their academic résumé updated on the LATTES Platform at: http://lattes.cnpq.br/.
Program Registration and Enrollment
The Examining Committee will evaluate:
scientific and teaching activities;
involvement with higher education and research institutions;
consistency, relevance, and alignment of the project with the advisor’s research line.
Please read carefully the 2025 Admission Notice.
Registrations are open continuously throughout the academic year (as stated in the current year’s Notice) via the link:
👉 https://digital.fm.usp.br/alunoregular
According to Resolution CoPGr 8546 (December 1, 2023), at least 60% of course credits must be completed in person.
⚠️ Documents submitted by email or delivered in person will not be accepted.
Required Documents for Enrollment
Enrollment and registration forms (do not fill in the date);
Legible copy of the National ID (RG); for foreign applicants: legible copy of the National Identity Card (RNE – National Foreigner Registration). Note: although the Regional Medical Council ID is legally equivalent to the RG, the Janus database used by all USP programs does not recognize this field.
Legible copy of the Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF);
One recent 3×4 photo;
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination;
Legible copy of the undergraduate diploma recognized by the Ministry of Education (front and back). If unavailable, submit an official statement from the home institution (with a recent date) indicating the date of graduation. Declarations stating a future graduation date will not be accepted;
Proof of English proficiency (valid for 5 years):
Reading Test in English for Candidates for Postgraduate Courses by Cultura Inglesa – Pinheiros branch, exclusively for the USP School of Medicine. Minimum score for the doctoral program: 60 points. The result is provided by the program’s graduate office;
TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test): minimum 61 points;
TOEFL CBT (Computer-based Test): minimum 173 points;
TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test): minimum 500 points;
Institutional TOEFL is not accepted;
APT(A) Alumni Proficiency Test, Oral Interview, Translation, conducted by Associação Alumni, exclusively for the USP School of Medicine, minimum 70 points;
Tests conducted by Tese Prime (https://teseprime.org/) – TEAP: minimum 60% for Master’s and 70% for Doctorate.
In exceptional cases, English proficiency evaluation may, at the discretion of the CCP, be conducted by a committee chaired by a full advisor of the Program and two additional members appointed by the CCP. The result will be valid for five (5) years.
Approval of the project by the InCor/HCFMUSP Scientific Committee (Plataforma Brasil or CEUA), regardless of where the research is conducted or whether it involves human subjects outside the HC-FMUSP Complex;
Proof of payment of the registration fee (a payment slip will be issued after verification of documents).
Note 1: Candidates holding a master’s degree from outside USP must provide proof of degree recognition.
Note 2: According to Article 50 of the USP Graduate Regulations, the completion of a New Enrollment Form is mandatory upon initial registration.
Enrollment in Courses (Regular Students)
Enrollment periods are semester-based and mandatory, notified via USP email.
If the enrollment period is missed, it may still be completed up to 5 days before the course start date using an authorization form within the Janus system.
Enrollment in the Janus System (for regular students not on leave) includes three consecutive stages:
Student Pre-enrollment: students select courses or choose “Enrollment in Monitoring,” which is mandatory if they are not enrolling in any course. Each confirmed action generates an email confirmation.
Advisor Approval: advisors validate students’ pre-enrollments and accept monitoring enrollments. If not approved by the deadline, pre-enrollments are automatically accepted.
Instructor Confirmation: course instructors approve pre-enrollments validated by advisors. If no response is given, pre-enrollments are automatically accepted.
⚠️ Attention: If a regularly enrolled student is not taking any courses in a semester, they must complete the “Monitoring Enrollment” in the Janus system. Advisor approval is not required.
Enrollment as a Special Student
Special Students are individuals interested in taking graduate-level courses at USP who are not currently enrolled in a graduate program or belong to other higher education institutions.
All information about enrolling as a special student is available at:
👉 https://www.fm.usp.br/posgrad/programas/aluno-especial
Credits earned as a special student remain valid for up to 3 years after the end of the course and may be applied after enrollment via the Janus System (through a formal request).
⚠️ Before the course begins, contact the program’s office to confirm the date, time, and location.
Access to the Virtual Private Network (VPN)
The VPN provides remote access to the USP network from any computer connected to the internet.
Access via:
and follow the instructions to create the connection.
