Derived from www.cic.ipn.mx/posgrados/convocatorias/convocatoria_doctorado_A12.pdf; see details there (in Spanish). These data correspond to Spring 2012; for Fall semester things might change slightly.
To start your study in August, it is best to apply ASAP, but not later than in March. The admission process can take a couple of months, plus getting a visa can take also a couple of months.
Meanwhile you can advance in getting certified translations of the documents (see below) because this also takes time.
Among faculty of CIC (PhD), find a professor that would accept to be your advisor. Ask them to make sure they have available slots for students according to the rules of CIC.
Send the following documents to your future advisor. Some of the documents can probably be presented later than the main set if you don't have them now.
CV, emphasizing education (specify average marks when applicable), honors, academic and/or relevant work experience and publications. Attach the full text of your publications, if any, and any other relevant information, documents, or explanations that proves what you say in your CV and/or helps us to interpret it. For example, if you have a "Second National Diploma," please explain how this can be mapped to the education hierarchy in the countries we are likely familiar with; if you have average mark of 14, please indicate the lower and higher limits on the marks in your country and give some idea of what percentage of students have this or higher mark. Help us really understand your CV. Don't be modest!
Letter explaining your motivation to enter CIC. This should be a formal signed letter addressed to, say, Doctorate Committee of CIC (not to your advisor)
Three recommendation letters from PhDs actively working in the corresponding area. They can also be addressed to the Doctorate Committee of CIC
PhD research proposal (some 15–30 pages can be recommended; a formal document resembling in format a thesis: title page, contents, section headings, numbered pages, etc.), structured as follows:
Title (tentative title of your thesis),
Antecedents / state of the art / related work,
Description,
Objectives (of the research),
Specific goals / stages,
Calendar plan of actions,
Resources required (such as specialized hardware or software, if any),
Bibliography.
Evidence of knowledge of English: TOEFL or equivalent. For English-speaking countries this seems not needed. If your classes were in English, possibly presenting an evidence of this could be enough
Payment proof. This probably can be arranged with your future advisor to be paid locally. The cost of exams is about 50 US dollars
BSc diploma and MSc diploma (or equivalent; in principle MSc can be waived if average mark is (much) better than 80%). This can be presented at the last moment if you don’t yet have it; in this case present some evidence of your planned graduation date
Official transcript of marks received during MSc study; please explain how to interpret these marks (lower and upper limits, percentage of students with such marks or above)
Preferably information on the finished (BSc/MSc) programs (subjects, syllabus, evidence of quality). Generally this is not needed, but might be required at some moment of the process and might help us interpret the quality of a degree from less known universities or countries.
Birth certificate
Passport (only the page with the photo)
While to start the process it is enough that you send us all documents (such as diplomas or certificates) in the original language, to finish the process you will need to present certified translations into Spanish (not English!) of:
BSc diploma and MSc diploma
Transcript of marks received during MSc study
Birth certificate
and probably some other documents (ask your future advisor). If your country is a member of the apostille convention, then the certified translation should have apostille. It is advisable that you first send a scanned copy of all these documents to your future advisor, who will ask the authorities which of them really need to be translated and have apostille.
Exams can be presented via videoconference, e.g., Skype. The schedule should be agreed with your future advisor.
Knowledge exam (2 hours); coordinate this with your future advisor. If presented remotely, should be presented via the CIC’s MOODLE system on a specific day.
Oral presentation of your research proposal.