Universities in Brazil

Brazil has a large and varied university sector. According to the 2022 higher-education census of the education research institute INEP, as cited by Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), the country has 2,595 higher-education institutions (instituições de ensino superior, IES): 312 public and 2,283 private. Public institutions do not charge tuition fees. Teaching is mostly in Portuguese.

The 14 universities listed on SpainExchange include federal universities such as the Universidade de Brasília (UnB), the Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA) and the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV); state universities such as the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), created in 1934, and the Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM); and private institutions such as the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), PUC-Campinas and FAAP in São Paulo.

How the university system works

Public IES are run by the federal government, a state or a municipality. Private IES charge fees and may be non-profit or for-profit. By academic organisation, Itamaraty distinguishes:

• universidades: multidisciplinary institutions that teach, research and run outreach (extensão), with autonomy to create courses and issue diplomas
• centros universitários: similar in structure to universities, but not required to carry out institutional research (FAAP is one)
• institutos federais: focused on technical and technological education
• faculdades: institutions without autonomy to issue diplomas, usually focused on one field

Undergraduate study (graduação) leads to one of three degrees. A bacharelado usually lasts four to five years, sometimes six, and is required for regulated professions such as Architecture, Nursing and Psychology. A licenciatura, which trains schoolteachers, lasts about four years. A graduação tecnológica, with a narrow professional focus, lasts two to three years and leads to the title of Tecnólogo.

Postgraduate study is either lato sensu (specialisation courses and MBAs of at least 360 hours, which lead to a certificate rather than a diploma) or stricto sensu: the mestrado, which takes about two years, and the doutorado, which takes about four. A master's degree is not compulsory for entering a doctorate. The academic year runs from February or March to November or December.

Admission for international students

To start an undergraduate course you must have completed secondary education. Itamaraty describes two main routes for foreigners:

• the PEC-G programme (Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Graduação), which offers free places for a full undergraduate degree to students from participating countries
• the Enem (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio), the national secondary-school exam, which has four multiple-choice tests with 180 questions and an essay in Portuguese

Universities also have their own exchange agreements. PUC-Rio, for example, has an international cooperation office, exchange programmes and courses in Portuguese as a second language, and lists courses available in English.

Portuguese is the main language of instruction, so many programmes ask for proof of proficiency. The official certificate is the Celpe-Bras, which Inep describes as the official Brazilian exam for proficiency in Portuguese as a foreign language; it is held twice a year in Brazil and abroad. Students who need it for PEC-G can take a free Portuguese course through the PEC-PLE programme.

For a regular course, internship or study exchange, foreigners should as a rule apply for a temporary student visa, VITEM IV, at the Brazilian consulate for their place of residence; requirements depend on the country (checked October 2026).

Costs and funding

Public universities, whether federal, state or municipal, do not charge tuition fees. Private institutions do, and fees vary by institution and course, so check them with each university. For funding, the PEC-PG programme offers free places and scholarships for full postgraduate programmes to students from participating countries.

Recognition of degrees

If you already hold a foreign degree and want to use it in Brazil, note that Brazil has no agreement for automatic recognition of diplomas. Undergraduate degrees can only be revalidated by a Brazilian public university that offers the same or a similar course, and applications are made through the Plataforma Carolina Bori. Doctors trained abroad go through the Revalida exam.

How to choose a university

• Public or private: public universities charge no tuition fees; private institutions do.
• Type of institution: a universidade offers research and a wide range of courses; a centro universitário or faculdade is often more focused.
• Degree type: choose between bacharelado, licenciatura and graduação tecnológica according to your career plans.
• Language: most courses are taught in Portuguese; check what level the university requires and whether some courses are in English.
• Location: the listed universities are spread across the country, from Belém in the north to Maringá and Londrina in the south.

Frequently asked questions

Are Brazilian public universities free for international students?

Itamaraty states that public higher-education institutions do not charge fees. Private institutions charge fees, which vary by institution and course.

Do I need to speak Portuguese to study at a Brazilian university?

In most cases, yes: teaching is mainly in Portuguese, and the Celpe-Bras is the official proficiency certificate. Some universities, such as PUC-Rio, also list courses taught in English.

How long does a bachelor's degree take in Brazil?

A bacharelado usually takes four to five years, sometimes six. A licenciatura takes about four years and a graduação tecnológica two to three years.

Is a foreign university degree recognised in Brazil?

Not automatically. Foreign undergraduate degrees are revalidated by Brazilian public universities, and applications go through the Plataforma Carolina Bori.