Rio Branco Institute

Requirements The Ministry of External Relations established the following prerequisites for admission: • Possess Brazilian citizenship by birth; • Be over 18 years old; • Possess an undergraduate degree recognized by the Ministry of Education of Brazil; • Be up-to-date with military and electoral obligations; • Possess a clean criminal record. Entry Admission to IRBr is achieved through a three-phase entrance examination: • First phase: pre-selection exam on Brazilian History, World History, Law, Economics, International Politics, Geography, Portuguese and English; • Second phase: written exams on Portuguese, English, Brazilian History, Law, Economics, International Politics, Geography, and either Spanish or French. The exam at the Rio Branco Institute is considered the most difficult public exam in Brazil and one of the most complex in the world. After being approved, the candidate must present the documents required by law and enroll in the Graduation and Improvement Program. Soon after, the candidate begins to study diplomacy at the Institute and becomes a career diplomat. ==Courses==

The Rio Branco Institute offers a mandatory and intense career program and three advancement courses. Higher Studies Course (PhD) The Higher Studies Course (CAE) consists of the preparation of an analytical and propositional thesis, with functional relevance and utility for Brazilian diplomacy or that represents a contribution to Brazilian historiography or diplomatic thought. The thesis is evaluated by an examining board composed of first-class ministers and subsidized by opinions prepared by two rapporteurs, one internal and the other external to the institution. The examining board decides if the work is able to pass to the defense phase, when its authors are summoned to the argument. The Higher Studies Course is mandatory for a Brazilian diplomat to become an ambassador. ==Career==

In Brazil, the diplomatic career is very hierarchical and after years of work based on meritocracy and completion of the Institute's courses, the diplomat moves up the career ladder. The six positions of Brazilian diplomacy are: • Third-Secretary (initial career position, where the public servant will take the Diplomat Training Course); • Second-Secretary (position where the civil servant will take the Diplomat Improvement Course); • First Secretary; • Minister-Counselor (position where the diplomat will take the Higher Studies Course); • Second Class Minister; • First Class Minister or Ambassador (highest position in the diplomatic career). Brazilian diplomacy is internationally recognized as one of the most respected and prepared in the world. ==References==