Join one of Brazil’s most traditional and highly ranked graduate programmes in Production Engineering, with rigorous academic training, high-impact research and strong connections with real challenges in society, industry and services.
1) Programme overview
The Graduate Programme in Production Engineering (PPGEP) at PUC-Rio offers Master’s and Doctoral degrees designed to train researchers and professionals able to analyse, model and propose solutions for production systems, organisations and value chains. Since 2020, the Programme has held CAPES grade 7, the highest score in the Brazilian graduate evaluation system. Classes start in March and August each year, according to the University academic calendar, and the application process is fully online.
Operations Research (PO)
This area focuses on the development and application of mathematical, statistical and computational methods to support decision-making.
Operations and Business Engineering (ONE)
This area focuses on the study, development and application of Production Engineering techniques for the management of operations, businesses and organisations.
Academic excellence
Strong training in quantitative methods, modelling, statistics, computing and applied research.
Career opportunities
Preparation for high-level careers in universities, research centres, industry, services, the public sector and private organisations.
Institutional benefits
Possibility of financial support and access to a health plan through the academic internship programme, subject to institutional rules.
Why apply to PPGEP/PUC-Rio? Because the Programme combines tradition, academic excellence, impactful research and strong engagement with relevant challenges for the development of Production Engineering in Brazil and abroad.
For the current selection process, please consult the 2026.2 call for applications — application deadline: 29 May 2026.
2) How to join PPGEP
Admission to PPGEP takes place through the selection process for the Academic Master’s and Doctoral programmes. Applicants must choose a research area, prepare the required documents and submit the application through PUC-Rio’s Academic Requests System.
- Choose your areaDefine your research interest in Operations Research or Operations and Business Engineering.
- Read the callCheck deadlines, criteria, stages, affirmative action policies and required documents in the 2026.2 call for applications.
- Prepare the documentsOrganise all mandatory and optional files according to the degree level you are applying for.
- Submit your applicationApply through PUC-Rio’s Academic Requests System.
During your application, also check: financial support, affirmative action policies and the application procedure.
Requirements to obtain the degree of Master in Production Engineering
- Successfully complete the individual study plan, prepared with the academic adviser and approved by the Graduate Committee.
- Complete at least 26 credits in graduate courses.
- Take 2 elective courses from the chosen research area.
- Take no more than 2 courses outside the Department, subject to approval by the coordination.
- Achieve a minimum academic performance of 7.0 in the set of courses.
- Pass the Dissertation Project Examination and the Research Project I and II courses.
- Pass the Teaching Internship course, when applicable to scholarship holders.
- Pass the foreign language examination — English (LET 3101).
- Prepare a scientific paper to be submitted to a journal or conference related to the dissertation topic.
- Present, defend and obtain approval for the Master’s dissertation.
Requirements to obtain the degree of Doctor in Production Engineering
- Complete at least 42 credits in graduate courses, which may include up to 25 credits from the Master’s degree, subject to approval by the Graduate Committee.
- Pass the Qualification Examination (IND 3004), based on a paper related to the doctoral research and a public presentation before an examination board.
- Pass the Thesis Proposal Examination (IND 3007), which assesses the relevance, originality, contribution and feasibility of the research.
- Pass the Teaching Internship course, when applicable to scholarship holders.
- Pass the foreign language examination — English for Doctoral Studies (LET 3106).
- Present, defend and obtain approval for the Doctoral thesis.
- Meet the scientific output requirement: one paper submitted to a qualified international journal and another paper published or accepted in a qualified journal, both related to the doctoral research topic.
3) Application procedure
Applications are submitted through PUC-Rio’s Academic Requests System. All documents, including reference letters, must be uploaded electronically by the stated deadline.
Before applying, read the 2026.2 call for applications and check the University academic calendar.
3.1 General documents
- Two reference letters, completed online by the referees indicated by the applicant in the application system.
- Curriculum Vitae, preferably from the Lattes Platform, in a complete PDF version.
- Academic transcripts and diplomas or certificates of completion, according to the level of application.
- Birth or marriage certificate.
- Employment letter, when applicable, or a personal statement confirming awareness of and commitment to the minimum workload required by the programme.
3.2 Specific documents for the Master’s programme
Mandatory
- Study Plan — PESTUDOSMESTRADO.DOC, completed and uploaded as a PDF file.
- Undergraduate academic transcript.
- Undergraduate diploma or certificate of completion.
- Employer’s letter or personal statement, when applicable, confirming awareness of and commitment to the minimum workload of 18 hours per week.
Optional
- Scholarship application form — BOLSAESTUDOSMESTRADO.
- Relevant academic work, such as undergraduate thesis, published papers or undergraduate research reports.
- Certificates from MBA, specialisation or other relevant courses.
3.3 Specific documents for the Doctoral programme
Mandatory
- Study Plan — PESTUDOSDOUTORADO.docx, completed and uploaded as a PDF file.
- Research Plan — FORM_ACEITAÇAODOUTORADO.rtf, signed by the faculty member who will supervise the applicant.
- Undergraduate and Master’s academic transcripts.
- Undergraduate and Master’s diplomas or certificates of completion.
- Employer’s letter or personal statement, when applicable, confirming awareness of and commitment to the minimum workload required by the programme.
- Prior approval from a faculty member of the Department’s permanent academic staff, based on a preliminary research proposal and a consistent study plan.
Optional
- Scholarship application form — BOLSAESTUDOSDOUTORADO.
- Master’s dissertation and/or papers published in journals or conference proceedings.
- Certificates from MBA, specialisation or other relevant courses.
4) Financial support
PPGEP offers different types of financial support for full-time and part-time students, subject to available quotas, academic performance and the criteria defined by the Graduate Committee and funding agencies.
Scholarships
- CAPES and CNPq scholarships, with a regular duration of up to 2 years for Master’s students and up to 4 years for Doctoral students.
- FAPERJ scholarships and support from other public or private organisations, subject to availability.
- PEC/PG scholarships for applicants from other countries in the Americas, requested through the competent Brazilian consular authorities.
Tuition waivers and benefits
- Part-time students may request tuition waiver scholarships, allocated according to quotas established by the Academic Vice-Rectory.
- Doctoral students may have access to health and dental plans through participation in the Academic Internship Programme, subject to institutional rules.
- Some companies and government institutions have agreements with PUC-Rio to cover tuition fees for their employees.
Funding agency regulations and scholarship information
- CAPES — Ordinance No. 149/2017
- CAPES — Ordinance No. 18/2020
- CAPES — Ordinance No. 34
- CNPq — Scholarship and grant modalities
- FAPERJ — Scholarship regulations and modalities
Affirmative action and financial support: in addition to reserved places, the Programme may offer a scholarship to an applicant admitted through the affirmative action and/or priority regional inclusion system, subject to budget availability and funding agency regulations. See the details in the call for applications and its annexes.
5) Affirmative action policies
The selection process for the Master’s and Doctoral programmes in Production Engineering at PUC-Rio includes affirmative action policies, in accordance with current legislation and the University’s institutional guidelines.
The selection process reserves 30% of places for approved applicants who are Black, Indigenous, Quilombola, socially vulnerable, persons with disabilities, refugees, or applicants from priority regional inclusion areas.
One place is mandatorily reserved for persons with disabilities. The complete criteria, required documents and self-declaration models are available in the call for applications and its annexes.
Eligible groups
- Black applicants, self-declared as Black or Brown according to the IBGE classification.
- Indigenous applicants, self-declared and recognised by their community of origin.
- Quilombola applicants, upon presentation of a declaration of belonging.
- Applicants in situations of social vulnerability, according to income and educational background criteria defined in the call.
- Persons with disabilities, upon presentation of the required supporting documents.
- Refugees, asylum seekers or holders of humanitarian visas.
- Applicants from priority regional inclusion areas, according to the criteria defined in the call.
How participation works
- Participation in affirmative action places is voluntary and must be indicated at the time of application.
- The applicant must choose only one affirmative action group in the application form.
- Applicants are ranked both in the general competition and in the affirmative action classification.
- Applicants admitted through the general competition may take a general place, releasing the reserved place to another eligible ranked applicant.
- If there are not enough approved applicants for the reserved places, the remaining places are reallocated to the general competition.
Ready to start your application?
Read the call for applications, prepare your documents and submit your application through PUC-Rio’s academic system. For administrative questions, use the official service channel for requests to the Department of Industrial Engineering.