Higher education in Brazil
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General information
Brazilian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
Types of Brazilian HEIs
By administrative category
By academic organization
Types of higher education courses
Undergraduate (in Portuguese, Graduação)
Postgraduate (in Portuguese, Pós-graduação)
How to enter higher education in Brazil
Brazilian Program for Exchange Students (PEC)
Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM)
Please read this page if you are an international student interested in pursuing higher education in Brazil.
Then, click here to find out how to pursue your undergraduate studies in Brazil for free.
Or, click here to learn how to get a scholarship to study a master's or doctorate degree in Brazil.
General information
The school year in Brazil begins at the beginning of the year (February/March) and ends at the end of the year (November/December).
Courses are usually divided into semester or year terms.
Courses can take place at the following times:
Morning: when most classes are in the morning, until 12 noon.
Afternoon: when most classes are in the afternoon, between 12 and 6 p.m.
Night: when most classes are at night, after 6 p.m.
Full-time: when the student has classes in more than one period of the day. Classes usually take place in the morning and afternoon, but there may also be some classes in the evening.
Brazilian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
Brazil has 2,595 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) spread throughout the country.*
Brazilian HEIs can be public or private, depending on the entity that manages them. They also have different types, such as university, federal institute, university center, and college. Read more below.
Source: Higher Education Census 2022 - Anísio Teixeira National Institute of Studies and Research (INEP). To see more statistics on Higher Education in Brazil (in Portuguese), click here.
Types of Brazilian HEIs
By administrative category
Public HEIs
These are HEIs that are maintained and managed by the government. They do not charge fees to students. These HEIs contribute greatly to democratising access to higher education. There are 312 public HEIs in Brazil.
Public HEIs can be federal, state or municipal institutions.
Federal public HEIs: these are HEIs funded by the federal government. Federal HEIs include universities and federal institutes. Examples of federal public HEIs: University of Brasilia (UnB), Federal University of the South of Bahia (UFSB), Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão (IFMA).
State public HEIs: These are HEIs maintained by state governments. State HEIs can be universities, university centers and colleges. Examples of state public HEIs: State University of Goiás (UEG), State University of Tocantins (Unitins), State University of Bahia (UNEB).
Municipal public HEIs: these are HEIs maintained by municipal governments, with a more restricted focus on local needs. They can also be universities, university centres and colleges. Examples of municipal public HEIs: Regional University of Blumenau (FURB), Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), Franca Law School (FDF).
Private HEIs
These are HEIs managed by individuals or private legal entities, such as companies, private foundations or associations. Private HEIs charge fees to students. They may or may not be for-profit. There are 2,283 private HEIs in Brazil.
Examples of private non-profit HEIs: Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), UNIVATES University Center.
Examples of private for-profit HEIs: University Center of the Federal District (UDF), University of the Amazon (Unama), Atitus Educação.
By academic organization
University (in Portuguese, Universidade)
Universities are multidisciplinary HEIs, which offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various areas of knowledge. They carry out teaching, research and extension activities. Extension activities are those aimed at strengthening the link between the university and society. They seek to disseminate the knowledge developed by the HEI and to understand local needs, so that the university can contribute to the community.
Universities have the autonomy to create courses, issue diplomas, set study plans and number of places, sign contracts, agreements and conventions, among other actions.
Universities must respect certain conditions, such as: a minimum number of teachers with master's and doctorate degrees, extension and scientific initiation programs supervised by master or doctoral professors, among others.
Examples of universities: State University of Maringá (UEM), Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), University of Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI).
University center (in Portuguese, Centro Universitário)
They are also multidisciplinary institutions that offer courses in various areas of knowledge. They have a structure similar to that of universities, but do not need to carry out institutionalized research.
A university center can become a university if it meets the requirements of Brazilian legislation.
Examples of university centers: Federal District University Center (UDF), Barão de Mauá University Center (CBM), São Camilo University Center.
Federal Institute (in Portuguese, Instituto Federal)
Federal institutes, or IFs, are a type of HEI focused on technical and technological training (for more information on technological graduation, click here). IFs offer secondary education, technical education and higher education. In addition to technological undergraduate courses, they may offer licenciatura, bacharelado and postgraduate degrees.
The federal institutes are part of the Federal Network of Professional, Scientific and Technological Education, together with the Federal Centers for Technological Education (CEFET) and the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR).
For more information about the Federal Network (in Portuguese), click here.
Examples of federal institutes: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Bahia (IFBA), Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Paraíba (IFPB), Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of the Triângulo Mineiro (IFTM).
College (in Portuguese, Faculdade)
Colleges are higher education institutions that do not have the autonomy to issue diplomas. The diplomas of a college must be issued by a university. Colleges usually offer training in a specific area. They do not have as much autonomy as universities and university centers.
Examples of colleges: Independent College of the Northeast (FAINOR), Atitus Educação, Insper Teaching and Research Institute.
Faculdade can also mean a unit within a university, such as the Faculty of Law of the University of Brasilia.
Types of higher education courses
Higher education courses can be of two levels: undergraduate and graduate.
Undergraduate (in Portuguese, Graduação)
The undergraduate degree is the first level of higher education. You must have completed high school to enter an undergraduate program.
In Brazil, there are three types of undergraduate studies: tecnológica, licenciatura or bacharelado (in Portuguese). All of them grant higher education diplomas to graduates. Learn the differences between them below.
Technological Graduation (in Portuguese, Graduação Tecnológica)
It is a course aimed at professional practice and rapid insertion into the labour market. A technological graduation offers training with a very specific focus. For example, some technology courses in the area of Computing and Information Technology are: Systems Analysis and Development, Digital Games, Telecommunications Computing.
Federal institutes and other HEIs that make up the Federal Network of Brazil focus on technological graduation courses.
Technology courses last an average of two to three years. Graduates receive the title of Technologist.
Examples of technology courses: Environmental Management; Tourism Management; Building Construction; Food Technology; Toxicology.
Licenciatura
This is a type of course that forms teachers to work in basic education schools (kindergarten, primary and secondary). The course includes subjects related to teaching and preparation for classes.
A licenciatura degree lasts an average of four years. Graduates receive the title of Licenciado.
Some courses allow you to obtain a double degree (licenciatura and bacharelado).
Examples of courses: Literature; Physical Education; Pedagogy; Mathematics; Geography.
Bacharelado
This is a generalist type of degree that trains professionals to work in different activities. A bacharelado allows you to practice a specific profession, carry out studies and research, follow an academic career, among other possibilities.
Some professions are exclusively taught in bacharelado courses, especially those that have a regulated professional practice, such as Architecture, Nursing and Psychology.
A bacharelado lasts an average of four to five years, sometimes six. The graduate receives the title of Bacharel.
Examples of bacharelado: Engineering; Agronomy; Biomedicine; Geography.
Postgraduate (in Portuguese, Pós-graduação)
Postgraduate studies are an advanced stage of higher education. One must have a university degree to enter a postgraduate course.
Learn about the types of postgraduate studies in Brazil.
Postgraduate studies "Lato sensu": specialization, medical residency, MBA
"Lato sensu" postgraduate courses are specialization courses that have a minimum duration of 360 hours. At the end of the course, the student obtains a certificate and not a diploma.
MBA ("Master Business Administration") courses are "lato sensu" postgraduate courses.
Another example of a "lato sensu" postgraduate degree is the medical residency, a specialization for physicians. It focuses on practical and theoretical training in medical specialties. Medical residency takes place in hospitals and health institutions, under the supervision of experienced physicians. It can last from two to five years, depending on the specialty. For more information on medical residency (in Portuguese), click here.
Postgraduate studies "stricto senso": master's and doctorate degrees
Postgraduate courses "stricto sensu" are master's and doctoral courses. At the end of the course, the student obtains a diploma. More information below.
Master's degree (in Portuguese, Mestrado): aimed at developing research skills in a specific area of knowledge. A master's degree lasts an average of two years.
There are two types of master's degrees in Brazil: academic and professional.
The academic master's degree trains researchers and university professors. Its main goal is the production of scientific knowledge. The student must write a dissertation based on original research.
The professional master's degree is aimed at professionals who seek technical and scientific qualifications for the labour market. The course focuses on the practical application of knowledge. The final work must be related to real issues in the professional's area of specialization.
Doctorate (in Portuguese, Doutorado): aimed at training high-level university researchers and professors. It has an average duration of four years.
A doctorate student must develop an original and unpublished thesis, which brings a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge in his or her area of study.
A doctorate degree can also be academic or professional. Like the professional master's degree, the professional doctorate is aimed at training professionals in different areas of knowledge. Its focus is on the study of topics related to market demands.
It is not mandatory to have a master's degree to enter a doctorate.
How to enter higher education in Brazil
Brazilian Program for Exchange Students (PEC)
International students can enter higher education in Brazil for free through the Brazilian Program for Exchange Students (PEC).
The PEC has three modalities:
Brazilian Program for Exchange Students - Undergraduate Level (PEC-G): offers free places for a complete undergraduate degree in Brazil.
Brazilian Program for Exchange Students - Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PEC-PLE): offers free places for a Portuguese language and Brazilian culture course to students who need to obtain the Celpe-Bras certificate to enter the PEC-G.
Brazilian Program for Exchange Students - Postgraduate Level (PEC-PG): offers free places and scholarships for master's and doctorate studies in Brazil.
Click here to see the list of countries participating in the PEC (in Portuguese).
Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem)
International students can also access undergraduate courses in Brazil through the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem). Enem is a Brazilian government exam that assesses high school students. You must have completed or be completing high school to get into an undergraduate degree through Enem.
The Enem consists of four objective tests with 180 questions in total, plus an essay in Portuguese. The tests cover the following areas of knowledge: languages, codes and their technologies; human sciences and their technologies; natural sciences and their technologies; and mathematics and its technologies.
For more information about Enem (in Portuguese), click here.