Brazil Universities and Colleges

Overview

Overview of Higher Education in Brazil

Brazilian higher education is composed of public and private universities and colleges. Public institutions are considered to provide a higher quality education although private schools have been improving their quality and narrowing the gap. Public universities are fully funded by the federal and state governments, as required by the Brazilian constitution.

Admission to public universities is very competitive since undergraduate education is free and the quality is higher. Traditionally, most universities have used a process known as vestibular, which is a week-long exam, to evaluate students for admission. The Ministry of Education is now encouraging schools to put less emphasis on this exam and more emphasis on other evaluation methods such as the National Secondary Education Examination. Many private universities already administer a shorter version of the vestibular.

The Ministry of Education oversees the higher education system and is responsible for accreditation of higher education institutions. This ministry also administers financial aid programs for graduate school students and for needy students attending private institutions.

Types of Schools and Degrees

There are over 900 higher education institutions in Brazil which include public and private universities, colleges and polytechnics. Degrees awarded in Brazilian universities do not easily equate to European or US degrees. A bachelor's degree in Brazil takes four to six years and usually requires a written thesis, whereas bachelor's degrees elsewhere typically take between three and four years and do not require a thesis. Bachelor degree programs have more rigorous basic study requirements than in most countries, hence the longer time to complete.

Graduate degrees that focus on a specialized area take one to two years to complete but do not qualify a student to continue on to a doctoral degree. For those considering a doctoral degree, a two-year master's program which includes a thesis must be completed first.

International Students

Few foreigners attend school in Brazil, and those that do usually do so through an exchange program at their own school. There are about ten countries that have exchange programs with Brazilian public universities. Students attending a school without an exchange program with a Brazilian school can also study at some schools for a semester or two. Knowledge of the Portuguese language is essential as all courses are taught in Portuguese and many Brazilians only speak Portuguese.

Another option for students who speak little or no Portuguese is to enroll in a language and culture program through a Brazilian school or an international study-abroad program. Students should not expect to earn transferable credits through these programs.

About Brazil

Brazil is a South American country with a population of approximately 192 million, making it the fifth largest country in the world. Its economy is the largest in South America and 10th largest in the world. There has been a lot of recent attention on Brazil as being one of the four biggest and fastest growing emerging markets, with potential to become one of the world's dominant economies by 2050.

Unlike all of its South American neighbors, the citizens of Brazil speak Portuguese, rather than Spanish, due to its history as a Portuguese colony. Brazil is known for its coffee and sugar exports and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. More recently, the discovery of large oil deposits has led to expectations that it will become a major oil producer.

Resources

Brazilian Ministry of Education (Portuguese language)

Brazilian Ministry of Tourism