Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a regular student and an isolated course student?
A regular student is formally admitted to the program and is subject to its full set of rights and responsibilities. This includes completing coursework, earning academic credits, and submitting and defending a dissertation or thesis. Upon successful completion, the student is awarded the degree of Master or Doctor in Communication and Territorialities.
An isolated course student may enroll in a single course for one academic semester. If the student is approved in that course and subsequently passes the regular admissions process, the course may be credited toward the degree, according to the program’s internal regulations.
How often does the selection process take place?
The selection process for regular students is held once a year, usually with the call for applications published in the second semester, opening spots for the following year’s cohort.
The selection process for isolated course students is conducted every semester, and course availability depends on the internal demand of the program for each academic term.
What types of graduate programs are offered?
In Brazil, graduate education is divided into two levels:
• Lato sensu, which includes specialization and professional development programs; and
• Stricto sensu, which includes academic Master’s and Doctoral degrees.
PósCom offers Academic Master’s and Doctoral programs (stricto sensu) in Communication and Territorialities.
What are the typical class hours?
Required courses at PósCom are usually offered from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Elective courses may be scheduled in the morning, afternoon, or evening, depending on the availability and planning of the faculty responsible for each course.
Do the Master’s and Doctoral programs require full-time dedication?
Students must be available to attend classes, participate in lab activities, seminars, supervision meetings, and to develop their dissertation or thesis.
Fellowship recipients are required to dedicate themselves full-time to the program, in accordance with the regulations of the funding agencies that grant the scholarships.
Are the graduate programs tuition-free?
Yes. While some lato sensu specialization programs may charge tuition, the Master’s and Doctoral programs at UFES are free of charge, as they are publicly funded by the Brazilian Federal Government.
Are scholarships available?
Generally, UFES graduate programs have access to scholarships from Capes, CNPq, Fapes, and other institutions or private partnerships. Some of these scholarships are distributed through quotas granted directly to the program; others are linked to specific research projects.
Availability may vary according to the annual budgets of the funding agencies and the execution of projects or agreements. PósCom has its own internal criteria for scholarship distribution, which are defined and monitored by the program’s Scholarship Committee.
