Join one of Brazil’s most established and highly rated graduate programs in Industrial Engineering, offering a strong academic foundation, impactful research, and engagement with real challenges facing society, industry, and services.
1) About the Program
The Graduate Program in Industrial Engineering (PPGEP) at PUC-Rio offers Master’s and Doctoral programs designed to prepare researchers and professionals to analyze, model, and develop solutions for production systems, organizations, and value chains. Since 2020, the Program has held a CAPES rating of 7, the highest rating in Brazil’s graduate education assessment system. For the 2027.1 admissions cycle, classes begin on 15 February 2027, and the application process is entirely online.
Operations Research (PO)
This field focuses on developing and applying mathematical, statistical, and computational methods to support decision-making.
Operations and Business in Engineering (ONE)
This field focuses on studying, developing, and applying Industrial Engineering techniques to manage operations, businesses, and organizations.
Academic excellence
A strong foundation in operations management, modeling, decision support, business analytics, and applied research, with applications across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Industry and academia
Preparation for advanced careers in universities, research centers, industry, services, the public sector, and private organizations.
Institutional benefits
Opportunities for financial support and access to health insurance through an academic internship, subject to institutional rules.
Why apply to PPGEP at PUC-Rio? The Program combines tradition, excellence, impactful research, and strong connections with challenges relevant to the development of Industrial Engineering in Brazil and abroad.
For the current admissions cycle, read the 2027.1 public call — application deadline: 8 November 2026.
2) How to join PPGEP
Admission to PPGEP is through a selection process for the academic Master’s and Doctoral programs. Applicants must choose a field of concentration, gather the required documents, and apply through the PUC-Rio Academic Application System.
- Choose your field Select your area of interest: Operations Research or Operations and Business in Engineering.
- Read the public call Check deadlines, criteria, stages, affirmative action policies, and required documents in the 2027.1 public call.
- Prepare your documents Organize the required and optional files according to the degree program you are applying for.
- Submit your application Apply through the PUC-Rio Academic Application System.
When preparing your application, also check: financial support, affirmative action, and the application procedure.
Requirements for the Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering
- Successfully complete an individual study plan developed with the supervisor and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.
- Complete at least 26 credits in graduate courses.
- Take 2 elective courses in the field of concentration.
- Take no more than 2 courses outside the Department, subject to approval by the program coordination.
- Achieve an overall course grade average of at least 7.0.
- Pass the Master’s Dissertation Proposal Examination and the Research Project I and II courses.
- Complete the Teaching Internship requirement, if receiving a scholarship.
- Pass the foreign language examination — English (LET 3101).
- Write a scientific article to be submitted to a journal or conference related to the dissertation topic.
- Submit and successfully defend the Master’s dissertation.
Requirements for the Doctoral degree in Industrial Engineering
- Complete at least 42 credits in graduate courses, which may include up to 25 credits from a Master’s degree, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee.
- Pass the Qualifying Examination (IND 3004), based on an article related to the doctoral research and a public presentation before an examining committee.
- Pass the Thesis Proposal Examination (IND 3007), which assesses the relevance, originality, contribution, and feasibility of the research.
- Complete the Teaching Internship requirement, if receiving a scholarship.
- Pass the foreign language examination — English for Doctoral Students (LET 3106).
- Submit and successfully defend the doctoral thesis.
- Meet the scientific publication requirement: one article submitted to a recognized international journal and another article published or accepted in a recognized journal, both related to the doctoral research topic.
3) Application procedure
Applications must be submitted through the PUC-Rio Academic Application System. All documents, including reference letters, must be submitted electronically by the deadline.
Read the 2027.1 public call before starting your application.
3.1 General documents
- Two reference letters, completed online by referees nominated by the applicant in the application system.
- A complete Curriculum Vitae in PDF format, preferably from the Lattes Platform.
- Academic transcripts and diplomas or certificates of completion, according to the degree program applied for.
- Birth or Marriage Certificate.
- A letter confirming employment, where applicable, or a personal declaration acknowledging and committing to the program’s minimum time requirements.
3.2 Documents specific to the Master’s Program
Required
- Study Plan — PESTUDOSMESTRADO.DOC, completed and submitted in PDF format.
- Undergraduate academic transcript.
- Undergraduate diploma or certificate of completion.
- For employed applicants, a letter from the employer or a personal declaration acknowledging and committing to a minimum of 18 hours per week.
Optional
- Scholarship Application Form — BOLSAESTUDOSMESTRADO.
- Relevant academic work, such as an undergraduate final project, published articles, or undergraduate research reports.
- Certificates from MBA programs, specialization programs, or other relevant courses.
3.3 Documents specific to the Doctoral Program
Required
- Study Plan — PESTUDOSDOUTORADO.docx, completed and submitted in PDF format.
- Research Plan — FORM_ACEITAÇAODOUTORADO.rtf, signed by the prospective supervisor.
- Undergraduate and Master’s academic transcripts.
- Undergraduate and Master’s diplomas or certificates of completion.
- For employed applicants, a letter from the employer or a personal declaration acknowledging and committing to the program’s minimum time requirements.
- Prior approval from a faculty member on the Department’s permanent academic staff, based on a preliminary research proposal and study plan.
Optional
- Scholarship Application Form — BOLSAESTUDOSDOUTORADO.
- Master’s dissertation and/or articles published in journals or scientific conference proceedings.
- Certificates from MBA programs, specialization programs, or other relevant courses.
4) Financial Support
PPGEP offers financial support options for full-time and part-time students, subject to available funding, academic performance, and criteria established by the Graduate Studies Committee and funding agencies.
Scholarships
- CAPES and CNPq scholarships, normally lasting up to 2 years for Master’s students and up to 4 years for Doctoral students.
- FAPERJ scholarships and funding from other government and private organizations, subject to availability.
- PEC/PG scholarships for applicants from other countries in the Americas, requested through the relevant consular authorities.
Tuition waivers and benefits
- Part-time students may apply for tuition waivers, awarded according to allocations from the Vice-Rector’s Office for Academic Affairs.
- Doctoral students may have access to health and dental insurance by joining the Academic Internship Program, subject to institutional rules.
- Some companies and government institutions have agreements with PUC-Rio to cover their employees’ semester tuition fees.
Funding agency ordinances and regulations
- CAPES — Ordinance No. 149/2017
- CAPES — Ordinance No. 18/2020
- CAPES — Ordinance No. 34
- CNPq — Scholarship and Grant Categories
- FAPERJ — Scholarship Regulations and Categories
Affirmative action and financial support: in addition to reserved places, the Program may offer a scholarship to an applicant admitted through affirmative action and/or priority regional inclusion, subject to budget availability and funding agency rules. See the public call and its annexes for details.
5) Affirmative Action
The admissions process for the Master’s and Doctoral programs in Industrial Engineering at PUC-Rio adopts affirmative action policies in accordance with current legislation and the University’s institutional guidelines.
The admissions process reserves 30% of the places for Black applicants, Indigenous applicants, members of quilombola communities, individuals experiencing socioeconomic vulnerability, persons with disabilities, refugees, and applicants eligible under the priority regional inclusion policy who successfully complete the selection process.
One of these places is specifically reserved for persons with disabilities. Full criteria, required documents, and self-declaration templates are available in the public call and its annexes.
Eligible groups
- Black applicants who self-identify as preto or pardo, according to the IBGE classification.
- Indigenous applicants who self-identify and are recognized by their community of origin.
- Members of quilombola communities, with a declaration confirming community membership.
- Individuals experiencing socioeconomic vulnerability, according to the income and educational background criteria defined in the public call.
- Persons with disabilities, with the required supporting documentation.
- Refugees, asylum seekers, or humanitarian visa holders.
- Applicants from regions eligible for priority regional inclusion, according to the criteria in the public call.
How participation works
- Participation in affirmative action admissions is voluntary and must be requested when applying.
- Applicants must select only one quota group in the application form.
- Applicants are ranked both in the general admissions pool and in the affirmative action admissions pool.
- Applicants admitted through the general admissions pool may take a general place, freeing the reserved place for another eligible applicant.
- If there are not enough successful applicants to fill the reserved places, the remaining places are reassigned to the general admissions pool.
Ready to start your application?
Read the public call, gather your documents, and apply through the PUC-Rio academic system. For administrative questions, use the Department of Industrial Engineering’s official support channel.