Instructions
What is the Professional Master (PM) in Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences (NCN)?
The PM in NCN is a graduate program at USP currently aimed at neurologists and pediatric neurologists to train qualified professionals to develop advanced technical-scientific activities and work in specialized areas of Neurology. The PM requires that students participate in theoretical and practical disciplines and present a dissertation at the end of the course. From a practical point of view, the PM course is equivalent to an academic master’s degree.
What is necessary to apply for the PM?
The PM in NCN may offer vacancies for enrollment every six months, but this frequency will depend on the availability of advisors. Any doctor who has completed the Medical Residency in Neurology or Pediatric Neurology may apply for the position. Also, to enroll in the admission process, it is necessary to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting a certificate in one of the following tests: TEAP, TOEFL, ALUMNI, IELTS, or CAMBRIDGE.
What are the research areas in which I can apply for the PM?
Students can choose two areas of expertise, comprising seven sub-areas in neurology, which are:
● Chronic-degenerative and immune-mediated diseases of the nervous system
1. Neuromuscular Diseases and Clinical Neuroimmunology
2. Movement Disorders and Behavioral Neurology
3. Vascular Neurology
● Developmental Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology
1. Pediatric Neurology
2. Epilepsy
3. Electroneuromyography
4. Polysomnography
How is the admission process?
Students shall present the documents listed in the public notice. After approval, the registration will be done automatically, if there is no contrary statement from the student.
The selection of candidates for the vacancies will consist of:
1. Essay test in the specific area chosen by the applicant
2. Analysis of the curriculum considering the grades obtained in the undergraduate course, tutoring and/or internships in research, Scientific Initiation with scholarship, works in conferences and scientific meetings, publications, etc.
3. Interview to identify and define the applicant’s research project
It is necessary to contact one of the advisors before participating in the admission process to approve the research in advance.
Once enrolled, what are my duties and deadlines?
Once approved, the registration will be carried out automatically by the GP Office. After enrollment, the student has several obligations. One of them is to enroll each semester in the disciplines until reaching the credits required. STUDENTS MUST APPLY THE FOLLOW-UP ENROLLMENT even if they have completed the credits or if there are no disciplines in that semester.
Also, the student must:
● submit a biannual report of the activities carried out in the period (form on the website)
● submit, within six months of the date of admission into the Program, the approval of the Ethics Committee on the research project
● register for the qualifying exam within one year of the date of admission into the Program
● deliver the dissertation within a maximum of two years from the date of admission into the Program
STUDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY ARE USP GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE STANDARDS AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN THE USP JANUS SYSTEM. STUDENTS MUST BE AWARE OF THEIR DEADLINES AND THEIR OBLIGATIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT OUR OFFICE
If I miss the deadline for enrollment in a discipline in the JANUS SYSTEM, what should I do?
You will be able to enroll through the form, as you did for the first enrollment, as long as you are within the deadline for enrollment. Contact our Office immediately to solve this issue. LACK OF ENROLLMENT MAY LEAD TO THE DISMISSAL OF THE STUDENT FROM THE GRADUATE COURSE.
What is the semiannual report?
THE SEMESTER REPORT MUST BE DELIVERED TO OUR OFFICE EVERY SIX MONTHS (form on the website). The report shall describe the disciplines taken during the semester and the progress of the research project. It must be made on a standard sheet available on the LINK website or the Office. Failure to deliver the report may result in penalties for the student and the advisor. Reports must be delivered by the end of December and June.
What is the deadline to deliver the Ethics Committee’s opinion on my course completion work?
YOU HAVE UP TO SIX MONTHS, COUNTING THE DATE OF ADMISSION INTO THE PROGRAM TO DELIVER THE OPINION OF THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WITH THE APPROVAL OF YOUR PROJECT.
Which disciplines should I enroll in?
Students must enroll:
● in the MANDATORY disciplines
● in the disciplines defined according to their specific area of training.
Students shall obtain 10 credits in compulsory disciplines and 50 credits in theoretical and practical disciplines related to their training area to present their dissertation. Without credits, it is not possible to complete the course.
The attendance of students in other disciplines that are not in the specific area will be the initiative of each student and will not serve to replace the disciplines required by the advisor. EACH AREA DEFINES THE DISCIPLINES REQUIRED FOR EACH COURSE
How do I enroll in disciplines?
The first enrollment in disciplines must be made through a form available on the graduate website and delivered in person to our Office. Enrollments in subsequent disciplines will be carried out through the JANUS SYSTEM.
Enrollments in disciplines must then be made every semester by accessing USP’s Janus system. Students must be aware of the opening periods for enrollment. Students receive an email alert about these dates. Check with the advisor or at the Office the disciplines required in each semester before enrolling.
Enrollment in disciplines through the JANUS SYSTEM is available for a period in January and July, according to the USP calendar.
THE STUDENT SHALL ENROLL IN THE FOLLOW-UP ENROLLMENT EVEN IF THERE ARE NO DISCIPLINES TO ENROLL IN A SEMESTER.
What is and how should I submit my qualifying exam?
The qualifying exam is mandatory for all graduate students at USP. Students have UP TO ONE YEAR to register for it, counting from the date of enrollment in the Program. Taking and passing this exam are requirements for the student not to be disconnected from the graduate course.
The qualifying exam aims to assess the students’ maturity concerning the area they are working in and the research project.
Students must go to our Office WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER ENROLLMENT in the Program to register for the qualifying exam, under the risk of being excluded from the graduate course if this deadline is missed. After registration, students will have up to 60 days to take the exam. When enrolling, the student must submit a standardized sheet suggesting the names to compose their evaluation board. The student and advisor must suggest four names for the board.
In the qualifying exam, the student will be evaluated by an examining board composed of three members. The topic of the student’s presentation will be the same as the research project. When registering for the exam, the student must submit written material about their topic in the form of a SUMMARIZED scientific work containing: 1) introduction, 2) rationale, 3) objectives, 4) material and methods, 5) the current stage of the study, 6) references. This text should be written in a maximum of 5 A4 sheets, using Arial 12, and 1.5-line spacing. The student must also deliver the Ethics Committee approval document.
On the day of the exam, the student will present the topic of the research project for 40 minutes. It is expected that the students present: an updated review on the main topic of the research, rationale, objectives and the methodology used, in addition to describing the progress of the project, including preliminary data if already obtained.
The examining board must evaluate:
1. The quality of the student’s oral presentation
2. The student’s knowledge about:
A. the main topic of the research
B. the research project and the methods to be used
C. basic aspects of scientific methodology associated with the study
The board will have up to 120 minutes to interview the student.
At the end of the presentation, each member will decide if the student is approved.
The student who obtains approval from the majority of the members of the examining board will be considered approved in the qualifying exam.
How should I prepare my dissertation?
Students have a deadline of two years to deliver their dissertation. They must submit the work following the “Guidelines for the presentation of dissertations and theses at USP: electronic and printed document. Part I (ABNT)” published by the Integrated Library System (SIBI) USP, available on this program website (LINK). The dissertation may contain:
● a scientific work
● a collection of papers published by the student
● a proposal for a diagnostic or therapeutic care protocol
● a systematic review
REGARDLESS OF THE CONTENT, THE DISSERTATION FORMAT IS ALWAYS THE SAME AND FOLLOWS THE GUIDELINES POINTED OUT ABOVE, AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE
ATTENTION: THE DISSERTATION WILL BE DELIVERED IN ITS FINAL FORMAT AND THERE WILL BE NO POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER MODIFICATIONS.
How do I deposit my dissertation?
To deliver the dissertation to the Office, the student must attach the following documents:
● completed deposit form
● copy of the advisor’s opinion
● list with the names for the Examining Board, which should be formalized with the advisor consent
● nine electronic copies of the dissertation (CD) and one printed copy.
How will the public defense of the dissertation be?
The student will be evaluated by a board composed of his advisor and three other evaluators. The defense will be public and will consist of the student’s oral presentation of the work (maximum of 60 minutes) followed by the interview by the evaluators. In the end, the candidate will be considered approved or not. Approval at this stage is required to obtain the Master of Science degree at USP.
How will my Certificate be issued?
The certificate is issued by USP and it will state that the student obtained the Master of Science degree with training in the area of expertise:
1. Chronic-degenerative and immune-mediated diseases of the nervous system, or
2. Developmental Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology
Where is the Office of the University Registrar?
CEAPS – 2nd floor – HCFMRP-USP
3900 Bandeirantes Avenue – Monte Alegre
14048-900 – Ribeirão Preto – SP
Telephone: +55(16) 3602-2931
Secretary: Cláudia