PG-EAM - Graduate Program in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering
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4. Final Exams: Qualification and Defense

This section focuses on the crucial evaluation moments of the student’s work: the Qualification Exam and the Defense Exam.

Qualification Exam (PhD)

The Qualification Exam is a mandatory step for PhD students, where the maturity and feasibility of the thesis project are assessed.

Process:

  1. The student and their advisor submit a suggestion for the examination committee to the area representative.
  2. The area representative approves the committee’s composition, ensuring that the members’ experience is relevant to the research topic.

Composition of the Qualification Committee:

  • The advisor (president).
  • At least 2 (two) other members, with at least one of them being a professor accredited as permanent or a collaborator in one of ITA’s Graduate Programs.

Source: PG-EAM Internal Regulations, Section 9; ICA 37-356, Section 10.1.

Defense Exam (MSc and PhD)

The Defense Exam is the final stage of the course, where the student presents and defends their dissertation or thesis before an examination committee.

Request Requirements:

  • Master’s (MSc):
    • Must have obtained approval in the credit count.
    • Must have passed the English language exam.
  • Doctorate (PhD):
    • Must have obtained approval in the credit count.
    • Must have passed the Qualification Exam.
    • Must present a full article related to the thesis that has been published, accepted for publication, or submitted to an indexed journal.

Composition of the Defense Committee: The committee suggestion is made by the advisor to the area representative, following criteria of academic and technical merit. The committees must be composed exclusively of members with a doctoral degree.

  • H-index Requirement: At least 50% + 1 of the evaluating members (rounded up) must have:
    • Master’s: h-index (Scopus) of 3 or higher.
    • Doctorate: h-index (Scopus) of 5 or higher.
  • External Members: The participation of members external to ITA is mandatory. For the Doctorate, the committee must include at least one external member from a foreign institution or from a Brazilian state other than São Paulo.

Source: PG-EAM Internal Regulations, Section 9; ICA 37-356, Section 10.3.