If I get accepted in the master’s or doctoral program, does that mean that I could have financial support?
No, it doesn’t. Admission to the Graduate School in Philosophy of Science and the obtention of a scholarship during your time of study (be this one given by UNAM or CONACyT) are two independent processes.
Of course, admission to the Graduate Program is a condition for obtention of a scholarship, just as it is also a condition for it to have good grades and compliance with all academic activities.
The Coordination of the Graduate Program in Philosophy Science is only in charge of postulating the candidates, and of elaborating a ranking list, for obtaining both types of scholarship, according to the antecedents of the candidates. Applicants are fully responsible of giving in form and time the documentation required for the application of these scholarships, of being adequately informed of any requirement for the scholarship, of regularly checking the corresponding websites for the results, and of knowing about any paperwork related to the scholarship.
Is there any age-limit for applicants in order to be admitted at the Graduate Program in Philosophy of Science?
No, there is no age-limit for applicants in order for your application to be considered.
I have just finished my bachelor’s degree but my degree certificate has not been issued yet. Is it possible to start the admission process already?
It is possible to apply for admission to the Graduate Program assuming that the diploma will be issued, or that the thesis will be defended, during the following 4 months after sending the application, during the pre-degree semester.
If you are admitted, it will be necessary to present an official document stating that the viva has taken place. Only prospective students whose UNAM bachelor’s degree allows them to undertake a graduate degree as a final graduation requirement may be exempt of the requisite concerning the degree certificate.
Is it possible to be admitted to the doctoral program if I do not have a master’s degree?
It is possible to be admitted to the doctoral program in case you do not have a master’s degree or an equivalent one, and if the Academic Committee determines that you have the adequate academic sufficiency. In that case, the Committee could implement as a condition that you take some seminars or modules from the master’s degree.
What are the conditions to be exempted of the pre-degree semester requirement?
These conditions depend on the previous background of the prospective student. If the prospective student has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, the Academic Committee may exempt the prospective student from it in case they demonstrate outstanding performance in the knowledge examination and in the examination of previous abilities.
If the application is sent to the doctoral program, prospective students who have a Master in Philosophy of Science are exempted of taking the pre-degree semester.
What documents function as proofs of competence in reading comprehending in English?
It is a requisite to present a certificate demonstrating competence in reading comprehension in English.
This certificate could be issued by UNAM, or by any other institution of higher education, or it could be one issued by an agency of international standardized tests, such as that of TOEFL or DALF.
If the certificate does not include an expiration date, it must not have more than four years of antiquity.
Other than English, could the language requirement be fulfilled with certification in another language?
It must be a language relevant to the prospective student’s graduate studies, mainly either German or French. Reading comprehension in classical languages may also help fulfill the language requirement, if the student’s proposed project allows it.
What are the admission criteria?
Generally speaking, the admission criteria are the following: a fitting academic background to the field of knowledge that the prospective student is applying to, having the minimal GPA in the degree previously obtained required by the Graduate Program, a good research project or draft of it, optimal performance during the interview, and to pass with at least a 8/10 grade in each pre-degree modules.
How will I know if I have been admitted to the pre-degree semester?
All the information concerning the results of the application process will only be published in the Graduate Program’s website. Prospective students are not personally informed via email.
I would like to know more about the knowledge and abilities examination.
This is a very important requirement during the admission process to the Graduate Program in Philosophy of Science, since it lets the Graduate Program know if prospective students have the necessary academic-writing and argumentative skills needed to undertake the degree, as well as if the prospective students have the necessary familiarity with philosophical concepts and problems. The presented writing sample must be a short one, no longer than 5 pages.
I would like to know more about the interview.
The schedule of interviews is designed after having done a first selection of prospective students according to their academic backgrounds.
During the interview, the Admissions Committee questions prospective students about specific doubts it may have concerning their interests, past job-experience, and the expectations which they may have concerning the Graduate Program.
Moreover, the interview is a great opportunity for students to get to know more about the Graduate Program be personally asking questions to the members of the Committee.
Why was my application not accepted?
Mainly it was because some of the minimal requirements were not fulfilled, or because the prospective student did not have the right profile for the area of knowledge in which they applied.
The Graduate Program has a small capacity that only allows for the best fit students to be admitted.
Scholarships.
Is there any scholarship or financial support given to prospective students while they take the pre-degree semester?
The Graduate Program does not resources destined to this sort for prospective students. Scholarship can only be applied to once the student is admitted and enrolled.
Research
Should I have a tutor at the start of the first semester?
For master’s students it is not necessary to have one right from the start. Nonetheless, it is advisable that students start to look up for possible tutors and get to know them students may propose them during the second semester as the supervisors of their graduation project.
For doctoral students, it is a condition right from the start of the application process to present a research project approved by a supervisor registered at the Graduate Program or another UNAM institution who accepts to supervise their doctoral research.
