Study in São Paulo, Brazil

About São Paulo

São Paulo, capital of the state of the same name, is Brazil's largest city: the municipality had 11,451,999 inhabitants at the 2022 census, according to Brazil's statistics office (IBGE). For international students it offers private higher education in business, communication and the arts, exchange semesters, and language schools for both Portuguese and Spanish.

Degree teaching is in Portuguese, so most international students either come for an exchange semester, take a Portuguese course first, or study a language in the city.

Studying in São Paulo

Our directory lists one higher-education institution and two language schools in São Paulo:

• FAAP (Centro Universitário Armando Alvares Penteado) grew out of the foundation created in 1947 by Count Armando Alvares Penteado and is today a university centre (centro universitário) with courses in communication, the arts and business. It also runs the Museu de Arte Brasileira (MAB) and Teatro FAAP. Its programmes include a triple degree in business administration, economics and international relations. According to FAAP, more than 3,000 foreign students from over 45 nationalities have studied there. International students can join for one or two semesters as exchange or independent study-abroad students, and FAAP teaches Portuguese as a second language on site and online.
• Cultura Española is a language school that teaches Spanish to Brazilian learners, in class and online.
• Fast Forward Language Institute teaches Portuguese to foreigners.

Brazilian applicants enter FAAP's bachelor's programmes through its own entrance exam (vestibular); the exam for 2027 entry is on 29 November 2026, in person or online. Brazil's official certificate of Portuguese for foreigners is the Celpe-Bras, run by the education ministry's research institute (Inep).

Cost of living and transport

We found no official student budget for São Paulo. Public transport fares are published: a single metro or CPTM train ticket costs R$5.40 for one journey. With the Bilhete Único card, one rail trip can be combined with up to three municipal buses within three hours for a single integration fare, and there is a half-fare student version of the card (Bilhete Único de Estudante); check the eligibility rules with the operator.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do an exchange semester in São Paulo?

Yes. FAAP accepts international students for one or two semesters, either from partner universities (exchange) or as independent study-abroad students.

Where can I learn Portuguese in São Paulo?

FAAP offers Portuguese as a second language on site and online, and Fast Forward Language Institute teaches Portuguese to foreigners. The official proof of Portuguese is the Celpe-Bras certificate.

How much does public transport cost in São Paulo?

A single metro or CPTM ticket costs R$5.40. The Bilhete Único card allows transfers to city buses within three hours, and there is a half-fare student card.

Do I need a visa to study in São Paulo?

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