Ibrahim Gardner
Brazil offers free public education up to the postgraduate level for both domestic and international students. However, due to the limited number of tuition-free spots, competition is fierce, and wealthy students tend to secure these places. Private universities in Brazil charge tuition fees, which can range from $2,000 to $10,000 per year, depending on the course and institution. Scholarships are available, often provided by the Brazilian government or international organisations, to support students financially.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of higher education institutions | 2,457 |
| Number of undergraduate courses | 41,953 |
| Number of public HEIs | 316 |
| Number of private HEIs | 2,264 |
| Number of public colleges | 312 |
| Start of academic year | February or March |
| End of academic year | November or December |
| Semester breaks | Summer (Dec-Feb) and Winter (July) |
| Duration of doctorate | 4 years |
| Qualification for doctorate | Original and unpublished thesis |
| Qualification for professional doctorate | Study of topics related to market demands |
| Qualification for master's degree | Not mentioned |
| Qualification for undergraduate degree | Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM) |
| Qualification for public universities | Student/professor exchange program |
| Student accommodation | Communal houses |
| Tuition fees | Free for public universities |
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What You'll Learn
Public and private universities
Brazil has a mix of public and private universities. The first full-fledged public university, the Universidade do Rio de Janeiro, was founded in 1920. Soon after, several other public universities were established across various Brazilian states, increasing access to higher education for middle-class students. These universities were autonomous and tuition-free, marking a shift from catering solely to the wealthy elite.
Public universities in Brazil are highly selective, and the slashing of public science budgets has led to a shortage of high-quality graduate programs. As a result, growing numbers of students from affluent backgrounds are opting to study abroad. Despite these challenges, Brazil has initiatives to promote access to education for socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Many universities have racial quotas and quotas for students from publicly funded secondary schools. Additionally, the Brazilian government offers a limited number of tuition grants for poorer students to attend private universities, although these are not available to international students.
Brazilian universities can also be federal institutes, university centers, or colleges. University centers have a structure similar to universities but are not required to conduct institutionalized research. They can become universities if they meet the requirements of Brazilian legislation.
International students can access higher education in Brazil through the Brazilian Program for Exchange Students (PEC), which offers free places and scholarships at the postgraduate level for master's and doctorate studies.
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University entrance exams
Brazil has over 2,300 registered higher education institutions, and the country's public universities are free to attend for Brazilian citizens. International students can also access undergraduate courses in Brazil for free through the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem). This is a Brazilian government exam that assesses high school students. The Enem exam consists of four objective tests with 180 questions in total, plus an essay in Portuguese. The tests cover languages, codes and their technologies; human sciences and their technologies; natural sciences and their technologies; and mathematics and its technologies.
Some Brazilian university entrance exams are known for their complexity and rigor. For example, the ITA exam (Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica) demands not just rote memorisation but a deep understanding and problem-solving skills in subjects like Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. These exams usually have an essay section, where students must explain their reasoning step-by-step.
International students are expected to prove their proficiency in Portuguese through the CELPE-Bras exam. They must also demonstrate their proficiency in English through TOEFL or IELTS.
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Funding and grants
Brazil has both private and public higher education institutions (HEIs) classified into four main categories: universities, colleges, university centres, and federal institutes. Universities are the most complex institutions as they incorporate regular learning activities, scientific research, and extension programs. Government spending on public higher education in Brazil is low. Spending in public higher education institutions increased by 19% between 2010 and 2016, but spending per student was still below the OECD member countries' average in 2016.
In recent years, Brazil has witnessed significant developments in higher education. The Science Without Borders Program, launched in 2011, aimed to promote internationalization and provide scholarships to Brazilian students for studying abroad in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The University for All Program (ProUni) and the Student Financing Fund (FIES) provide scholarships and financial assistance to students from low-income backgrounds, increasing access to higher education for disadvantaged students. FIES has been financing tuition fees since 1999 and allows students to start paying their loans after graduation, facilitating access to private institutions.
Brazilian initiatives to promote access to education for socioeconomically disadvantaged students mean that many universities in Brazil have racial quotas and quotas for students whose secondary education was spent entirely in a publicly-funded school. As such, some students may be given extra points in their admissions test if they agree to receive this advantage based on either of the two factors. The law that emerged in 2012 to help public high school graduates and low-income students guarantees that a percentage of federal universities' admission spots go to those of African descent and indigenous people. This percentage varies according to their number in each state.
There are also international scholarship opportunities for Brazilian students at all study levels. For example, the Orange Tulip Scholarship Program offers study abroad scholarships to Brazilian students of all degree levels to study in the Netherlands. The Santander Scholarships are international student scholarships for developing countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the US, allowing students to study at the master's level at the London School of Economics (LSE) and select universities in the UK.
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Student exchange programs
Brazilian universities offer various student exchange programs that provide a unique educational experience. These programs aim to increase participants' understanding and tolerance of Brazilian culture while improving their language skills and broadening their social horizons. Exchange students typically stay in the host country for 6 to 10 months, while international students on study abroad programs may stay for several years.
One notable program is the Brazilian Program for Exchange Students (PEC), which offers free undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities for international students. At the undergraduate level (PEC-G), students can pursue a complete degree in Brazil at no cost. The postgraduate level (PEC-PG) provides free master's and doctorate studies, along with scholarships, allowing students to conduct research and contribute to their chosen field of study.
Additionally, international students can access undergraduate courses through the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem), a Brazilian government exam. This exam assesses high school students' knowledge in various areas, including languages, human sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics. Successful candidates can enrol in undergraduate programs without paying tuition fees, as public higher education institutions in Brazil are government-funded and free for students.
Brazil also offers cultural exchange programs, such as those listed on the Brazilian Exchange Bureau's website "Study in Brazil." This program promotes the country's educational initiatives to foreign students, showcasing Brazil as a top educational destination. Other programs, such as those offered by organisations like BrazilianExperience.com.br and FAUBAI, provide opportunities for high school, internship, language, sports, and volunteer work exchanges, allowing participants to tailor their experience according to their interests.
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Academic calendar
The academic year in Brazilian universities is split into two semesters. The first semester usually starts in March and ends in early July, and the second semester starts in August and ends in mid-December. There are two major holidays during the year in December/January and July/August, and a holiday week during each semester.
All students pursuing higher education in Brazil must pass an entrance exam, the 'vestibular', which takes place in December and January and is conducted in Portuguese. Foreign students must submit their foreign baccalaureate certificate to the Conselho Estadual de Educação, the educational institution in each Brazilian state responsible for recognizing foreign education certificates.
Brazilian universities offer a range of courses, from science and technology to literature and the arts. They are either public or private. The former is maintained and managed by the government and does not charge fees, while the latter often uses the vestibular as a formality to select the best students from a large number of applicants.
International students can enter Brazilian universities for free through the Brazilian Program for Exchange Students (PEC), which offers free places at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
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Frequently asked questions
Public universities in Brazil offer free education to both domestic and international students. However, private universities do charge tuition, which can range from $2,000 to $10,000 per year, depending on the course and institution.
Brazil’s higher education reputation has been ascending, and so have the scholarship options available to international students. The scholarships open to you depend on your level of study, the subject, your citizenship and whether you’ll study in Portuguese or English. One of the more popular scholarships is the Brazilian Government Exchange Program.
Compared with studying in the UK, the US or Australia, the living costs in Brazil are affordable, but due to inflation, local prices are rising slightly.
Admission to Brazilian universities is competitive, often requiring students to pass entrance exams such as the Vestibular. Students will also have to prove their proficiency in Portuguese, the language in which most courses are conducted.
