- STATUTES AND RULES -

The following is a guide to orient students and professors of the UFRGS Animal Science Graduate Program, aiming to systematize the main processes for Master’s and Doctorate degrees.

All the decisions presented are regulated by the appropriate department or by consultation with the Council or Commission of the UFRGS Animal Science Graduate Program.

Item or task
Master’s degree
Doctorate degree
Course duration (maximum)
24 months
48 months
Required credit hours  (minimum)
25
22
Study plan (Form 01, Form 01 M and/or Form 01 D)
Must be delivered to the Secretariat of the Graduate Program for review by the Commission, in accordance with the established annual calendar.
Required courses
1) Experimental Planning and Basic Statistics
2) Experimental Design
3) Directed Teaching Internship
4) Directed Research
5) Animal Science Seminar
1) Directed Teaching Internship
2) Animal Science Seminar
Directed Teaching Internship (Form 02)
Minimum 1 semester (1 credit). After completion (end of the corresponding semester), the student must submit the appropriate form for the activity with the advisor’s approval.
Minimum 2 semesters (2 credits). After completion (end of the corresponding semester), the student must submit the appropriate form for the activity with the advisor’s approval.
Number of semesters as presenter for Animal Science Seminar
1 semester
2 semesters
Number of semesters of Directed Research
1 semester
Not applicable
Credits taken outside the Animal Science Graduate Program
Not applicable
Minimum of 6 credits
Proficiency in foreign language(s) during degree program
English only. Students who have taken a foreign language proficiency test before enrolling in the Animal Science Graduate Program may request to waive this requirement. The examination is the responsibility of the Institute of Letters of UFRGS.
English (required) and 1 of either German, French, Spanish or Italian (possible to use 1 taken during Master’s degree). Students who have taken a foreign language proficiency test before enrolling in the Animal Science Graduate Program may request to waive this requirement. The examination is responsibility of the Institute of Letters of UFRGS.
Research project (Form 03 M, Form 03 D, Form 03 P and Form 09)
Must be delivered to the Secretariat of the Graduate Program for review by a referee and approval by the Commission, in accordance with the established annual calendar
Must be delivered to the Secretariat of the Graduate Program in accordance the established annual calendar. Proof of examination must also be delivered (Form 03 D). The research project must be defended in accordance with the established annual calendar established (Form 09).
Co-advisor selection (not obligatory)
Included in Research Project.
Forming the Examination Committee for the Research Project Defense (Form 03 D)
Not applicable
3 evaluators with Doctorate degrees, chosen from a list of 4 names sent by the advisor (Form 03 D), 1 of whom is external to the Graduate Program. The advisor will act as Chair of the Examination Board.
Research Project Defense (Form 09)
Not applicable
Date defined by the Examination Committee, according to the period determined by the Graduate Program. The duration of the presentation is 30 min. The duration of questioning by the Examination Committee is 2 hours. Content: Norms of the Research Project Defense (Resolution n. 01/2015). Results given in specific report.
Accreditation of External Co-Advisor (Form 04 A, Form 04 B and Attachment 6)
The following documents must be delivered to the Secretariat of the Graduate Program: 1) advisor approval of the co-advisor selection; 2) specific forms; and 3) co-advisor Curriculum Vitae. The deadline for accreditation is 15 months after the beginning of Master’s degree period.
The following documents must be delivered to the Secretariat of the Graduate Program: 1) advisor approval of the co-advisor choice; 2) specific forms; and 3) co-advisor Curriculum Vitae. The deadline for accreditation is 30 months after the beginning of Doctorate degree period.
Foreign retreat (more than 15 days) (Does not apply to foreign exchange periods processed by the Graduate Program) (Form 10)
A solicitation from the advisor, with justification, must be delivered to the Secretariat of the Graduate Program. The solicitation will be reviewed by the Graduate Program Commission. Upon the student’s return, a report must be delivered with the advisor’s approval.
Foreign exchange period
Not applicable
Solicit the exchange period with the Sponsoring Agencies, obeying all rules and deadlines. Meet the obligations of the Schedule of Activities of the Graduate Program. Request suspension of scholarship on the last month before the exchange period. Request reactivation of the scholarship on the month of return to Brazil.
Qualifying Exam
Not applicable
Must be initiated by the 25th month and concluded by the 27th month after enrollment in the Graduate Program, in accordance with the established annual calendar. Requested by the advisor and the student, with the Research Project as attachment.
Examination Committee for Qualifying Exam (Form 05)
Not applicable
3 examiners with Doctorate degrees, chosen from a list of 5 names sent by the advisor (Form 05), 1 of whom must be external to the Graduate Program. One of the Graduate Program evaluators will act as Chair of the Examination Committee, as designated by its Commission. The advisor is not allowed to participate in the Qualifying Exam.
Qualifying Exam Written test
Not applicable
1 exam per day of up to 4 hours duration, with or without consultation. Exam is taken during the same week for all students in the Graduate Program. Content: Norms of the Qualifying Exam (Resolution n. 02/2012).
Qualifying Exam Oral test (Form 06 A, Form 06 B)
Not applicable
Must be performed by 3 weeks after passing the written test. Scheduling is performed by the Chair of the Examination Board. During the test, each evaluator has 50 min. Results given in specific report.
Procedures for performing the defense (Form 07 M, Form 07 D)
A solicitation from the advisor requesting approval of the Examination Committee and the date must be delivered to the Graduation Program Coordinators at least 21 days before the date of the defense. Delivery of the dissertation or thesis copies to the Examination Committee may be carried out by the Secretariat of the Graduate Program if the applicant requests.
Forming the Examination Committee for the defense
At least 3 evaluators with Doctorate degrees, 1 of whom must be external to the Graduate Program. The co-advisor is not allowed to participate as a committee member in the defense.
At least 3 evaluators with Doctorate degrees, at least 2 of whom must be external to the Graduate Program and, of these, at least 1 of whom is external to UFRGS. The co-advisor is not allowed to participate as a committee member for the defense.
Procedures for confirmation
Send a copy of the final text (dissertation or thesis), with a cover letter signed by the advisor and at least 2 of the Examination Committee members to the Graduate Program Commission a maximum of 45 days after the date of the defense. Said document must be accompanied by the certificate emitted by the Library, concerning the adequacy of bibliographic references.
Diploma delivery
A maximum of 45 days after confirmation, a copy of the dissertation or thesis bound in hardcover (black) with golden letters, a CD with the final version in PDF and the authorization form for availability of the digital version in LUME/UFRGS must be delivered to the Secretariat of the Graduation Program.