The Postgraduate Program

In this section, you can see:
– Program Overview

– Mission, Vision, and Values

– Some characteristics of the graduate student’s training process

– Selection Process (Admission) and Scholarship

– Relevant documents

– Financial Support

Program Overview

The Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) has offered the Graduate Program “Stricto Sensu” in Soils and Plant Nutrition (SNP-UFV) at the Master’s and Doctorate Levels since 1977 and 1982, respectively. According to CAPES evaluations, the Master’s Degree maintained grade A since 1983/84 and the Doctorate since 1992/93. Under CAPES’s current evaluation system, the PPGSNP-UFV has a score of 7 out of 7, indicating excellence according to CAPES criteria.

The SNP aims to consolidate itself on a solid basis, integrating basic and applied knowledge in Soil Science. The Program considers soil an essential component of our ecosystem, performing functions such as maintaining natural balance and environmental quality, and supporting the production of goods and services for society. The SNP focuses its actions on training human resources in the foundations of Soil Science through teaching and research activities, in permanent articulation with university extension and stakeholders.

Definitely, the most vital and most visible part of the SNP-UFV is its graduates and the success they have achieved, which certifies the Program’s quality. Details of these professionals are presented in the People/Alumni section.

Equally important for the Program’s success are the teaching and technical support staff, the infrastructure, the quality of the Master’s dissertations and Doctorate’s Theses, and the consequent intellectual production (technical and bibliographic).

Mission, Vision, and Values of the SNP-UFV

Mission: To train professionals with analytical and critical skills and advance knowledge in Soil Science and its interfaces to respond to social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Vision: To be a national and international reference in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

Values: Ethics. Excellence. Cooperation. Social and Environmental Responsibility. Respect for diversity.

Some characteristics of the graduate student’s training process

The graduate student works full-time under the supervision of an Advisory Committee. The study plan is designed to align with the graduate professional’s training interests and with the Program’s mission and objectives.

The research projects address themes of Soil Science and its interfaces, including Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition; Soil Genesis, Morphology and Soil Classification; Soil Mineralogy; Soil Chemistry; Soil Physics; Soil Organic Matter; Soil and Water Management and Conservation; Forest Soils; Soil Education; Land Reclamation; Soil-Environment Relationship; Agroecology; Pollution, Contamination and Environmental Monitoring; Water Resources, Environmental Impacts, Pedometry and Geoprocessing.

Candidates for the Master’s and Doctorate must complete at least 24 credits and take at least five different courses, including the Seminar presentation. The mandatory number of courses must be fulfilled, considering the additional requirement that at least three of them belong to the different groups listed below (more details in the Courses section):
– Group 1 – Pedology
– Group 2 – Soil Management
– Group 3 – Edaphology

The candidate for the title of “Magister Scientiae” or “Doctor Scientiae” is required to prepare and defend a dissertation or thesis, based on original and quality research conducted under the supervision of an Advisory Committee. The candidate for “Doctor Scientiae” must submit to a Qualification Examination before the thesis defense.

To know more about the Graduate School at Universidade Federal de Vicosa, please visit our Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

Selection Process (Admission) and Scholarships

There are grant scholarships for a maximum of 24 for Master’s and 48 months for Doctorate, supported by CAPES, CNPq, FAPEMIG, and other agreements with public and private companies.

The selection process for each academic semester is previously announced on this page through a Public Notice, in which the number of vacancies and the rules are defined. More details are available in the Admission Selection Process icon on the side of this page.

UFV adopts an Affirmative Action Policy aimed at including self-declared black people, indigenous people, and people with disabilities. The SNP also allows scholarships to be granted to foreign candidates. In all cases, candidates must be approved in the selection process, and vacancies and scholarships are subject to conditions and limits set out in each Selection Notice.

Brazilian candidates with scholarships are valued in the selection process, and foreign applicants with scholarships undergo a simplified selection process. In this last case, please contact the Program Coordination (snp@ufv.br) directly.