Study in Fortaleza, Brazil

About Fortaleza

Fortaleza is the capital of the state of Ceará, on the Atlantic coast of north-eastern Brazil. The municipality had 2,428,708 inhabitants at the 2022 census, according to Brazil's statistics office (IBGE). For students it combines a large public university with life in a large coastal city.

Teaching at Brazilian universities is in Portuguese, so international students usually need a good command of the language before they enrol in a degree.

Studying in Fortaleza

Our directory lists one university in Fortaleza, the Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC). It is a federal university linked to Brazil's Ministry of Education, created by law on 16 December 1954 and installed on 25 June 1955; it was the first university in the state. It offers free public teaching at bachelor's and postgraduate level.

In Fortaleza the UFC has three campuses, Benfica, Porangabuçu and Pici, and a new Campus Iracema is planned in the Praia de Iracema district. It also has campuses in Sobral, Quixadá, Crateús, Russas and Itapajé in the interior of Ceará. Students have access to services such as university buses and a university restaurant.

Admission for international students

Brazilian applicants enter UFC bachelor's programmes through the national selection system (SISU), which uses results from the national secondary-school exam (Enem); for the 2026 edition the last three Enem editions are considered. The UFC also admits foreign students from Latin America and Africa through a cultural exchange programme run under agreements with developing countries. Graduates and students of other federal universities from outside the Fortaleza metropolitan area can take up to five individual subjects as special students.

Brazil's official Portuguese proficiency certificate for foreigners is the Celpe-Bras, run by the education ministry's research institute (Inep).

Student visa

Foreigners who come to Brazil for a regular course, an internship, a study exchange or research must, as a general rule, apply for the temporary visa IV (VITEM IV) at a Brazilian consulate. A visit visa covers stays of up to 90 days and can be used for study, as long as the student is not paid in Brazil. Brazil has visa-waiver agreements with about 90 countries, based on reciprocity, so check the rules for your nationality first.

Cost of living and daily life

We found no official student cost-of-living figures or transport fares for Fortaleza that we could verify. Studying at a federal university such as the UFC is free, so the main costs are accommodation, food and transport; ask the university's international office about housing before you arrive.

Frequently asked questions

Which university is in Fortaleza?

The Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), founded in 1954, is a federal public university with three campuses in Fortaleza: Benfica, Porangabuçu and Pici.

Can foreigners study at the UFC?

Yes. Besides the SISU/Enem route, the UFC admits students from Latin America and Africa through a cultural exchange programme, and graduates can take individual subjects as special students.

Do I need a visa to study in Fortaleza?

For a regular course or a study exchange, Brazil generally requires the temporary visa IV (VITEM IV). Short study stays of up to 90 days can be made on a visit visa or, for some nationalities, without a visa.

Do I need to speak Portuguese?

Degree courses are taught in Portuguese. The official proof of Portuguese for foreigners is the Celpe-Bras certificate.