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Brazil

Study Master in Brazil 2025

Study in Brazil

Brazil covers nearly half of South America and is the continent's largest nation. It extends 2,965 mi (4,772 km) north-south, 2,691 mi (4,331 km) east-west, and borders every nation on the continent except Chile and Ecuador. Brazil may be divided into the Brazilian Highlands, or plateau, in the south and the Amazon River Basin in the north.

The Federative Republic of Brazil is the biggest country in South America, home to nearly 200 million people who enjoy one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Brazil's coastline is contiguous to the Atlantic Ocean, with its remaining borders edging the countries of Guyana, Venezuela, Suriname, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, and French Guiana. A founding member of the Latin Union, the G20, the Union of South American Nations, and the United Nations, Brazil is considered a "megadiverse" country, one of only 17 in the world. It is home to many varieties of natural environments and wildlife as well as protected habitats containing a vast amount of natural resources.

Politically, Brazil is a democratic republic governed by a president who is the head of government. This country has also been recently identified as a significant emerging power among other developed nations.

Essential Facts about Brazil

Brazil has a complex and compact system of rivers that include the Amazon, Negro, and Parana Rivers. The Amazon River has the largest volume of water contained in any river in the world and is the second-longest river on Earth. Nearly one-quarter of the world's rainforests are found in Brazil, mostly consisting of the Amazon jungle. The Amazon rainforest is also home to more species of monkeys than any other place on Earth.

Soccer (futebol) is Brazil's most popular sport. Students will find that any medium to large city they visit while studying in Brazil has one or more soccer stadiums.

One-third of Brazil's two million inhabitants work in the agricultural industry. Coffee beans, corn, wheat, sugar cane, rice, and soybeans are Brazil's primary crops

One of the seven wonders of the world, the Christ Redeemer statue, is found in Rio De Janeiro.

The capital of Brazil is Brasilia, where major higher education institutions such as the University of Brasilia, the Cental University of Brasilia (UniCEUB), and the Catholic University of Brasilia (UCB) are located>>Anthropologists have estimated that as many as 60 tribes exist in the Amazon rainforest that has yet to make contact with civilization.

Brazil's Climate
Although mostly tropical, Brazil's climate does encompass several other different subtypes such as semiarid, temperate, equatorial and subtropical.The northern section of Brazil exhibits hot and humid equatorial temperatures conducive to the growth of vast rainforests while central Brazil offers tropical savannas.Semiarid deserts greet visitors traveling in northeastern Brazil and people living in southern Brazil are surrounded by temperate forests thick

with coniferous trees.Northern and central Brazil experience large amounts of rainfall and

do not have a so-called"dry"season. Average temperatures over the entire country range from 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius) to a low of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 Celsius), with the lowest temperatures occurring around the Sao Paulo area.

Languages in Brazil
The Constitution of Brazil affirms the official language as Portuguese, which is spoken by 98 percent of the population. In addition, Portuguese is the only language used on television, the radio, in newspapers and for the purpose of all business transactions. Recently, the government enacted a law that mandates using Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) in government and education-related services. The only country in the Americas to speak Portuguese, Brazil considers the language a vital part of its culture and national identity that distinguishes them from neighboring countries that speak mostly Spanish.

Religion in Brazil
Brazil is home to more practicing Roman Catholics than any other country, with 75 percent of the population claiming to practice Catholicism. Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Protestantism and Afro-Brazilian religions comprise the remaining 25 percent. Currently, Brazil's Ministry of Education reports that nearly 35 Catholic universities have been established in the country.

Brazil's Currency
The"real" is the name of Brazil's currency, which is indicated by an "R$" sign or the code"BRL". Each real equals 100 centavos. Students desiring to earn a degree in Brazil should be aware that the cost of living in Brazil is relatively high, especially expenses related to accommodations, manufactured items (appliances, clothing, electronics), and transportation. Moreover, having some kind of health insurance is highly recommended because the average cost of visiting a doctor is approximately 250 reals, or over $100 in U.S. dollars. Monthly utility charges vary widely, with electricity and water usually included in the monthly rental fee for an apartment.

Change currency

Basic monthly living cost

  • Rent in a shared flat

    185
  • Share of utilities

    23
  • Internet subscription

    19
  • Local transportation

    41

Sample lifestyle cost

  • Fast food combo

    7
  • Cinema ticket

    7
  • Pint of local beer

    2

About Brazil

Higher Education in Brazil

Three different types of higher education institutions exist in Brazil: the universities, which conduct research and employ faculty that possess PhDs; university centers that offer a variety of courses but are not research-oriented; and integrated faculties that are smaller, higher education institutions needing approval from Brazil's Ministry of Education before offering new degrees, certifications, and courses. While the majority of state and federally-operated universities do not charge tuition, smaller schools run by municipal governments may charge fees to attend their school.

Because Brazilian degrees do not follow the traditional educational degree hierarchy found in most other countries, students should take note that undergraduate degrees (associate's and bachelor's) are referred to as"graduate"(graduação) degrees in Brazil. Earning a bachelor's (bacharelado) degree takes between four to six years and allows the student to work as a doctor or lawyer in Brazil

A licentiate (licenciatura) degree takes about four years to complete and permits the degree holder to work in such professional jobs as secondary or elementary school instructors. Earning a technology degree takes the shortest amount of time--about two years-- and provides individuals with skills to work in highly specialized career fields, such as a tourist manager or agricultural business manager.

Postgraduate degrees called"Lato sensu" are also available that indicate a student has specialized in a particular academic subject. However, this degree will not allow a student to pursue a PhD. Instead, the student interested in a doctorate degree will need to earn a strictu sensu master's degree rather than a"Lato sensu". Masters of Business Administration degree programs in Brazil are considered to be lato sensu programs.

Brazil's Ministry of Education does not recognize the use of credits in its higher education system but relies on how many hours a student has accumulated during his or her academic career. For example, students earning between 850 and 1200 hours of university instruction in Brazil (one full-time year in a university) would have accumulated about 30 U.S. credits or 60 ECTS if they attended college in the United States or a European Union country.

The Vestibular

The Vestibular is Brazil's university entrance exam that can only be taken once a year. Similar to the ACT or SAT exams given in the U.S., the Vestibular may take between one to five days to complete and tests students in their knowledge of math, literature, biology, physics, history, and the Portuguese language. Because public university tuition in Brazil is free and open slots are limited, there is intense competition among students taking the Vestibular. Alternately, students attending a private university where tuition is required are not subjected to the competitiveness afforded to public universities and usually gain entrance with less-than-perfect Vestibular scores.

Requirements for Obtaining a Student Visa

Students wishing to attend a Brazilian university will need to take the Vestibular if they do not already possess scores from a similar entrance exam (such as the U.S. SAT or ACT) that may be used in place of Vestibular scores. A completed visa application form must then be submitted online to the Brazilian Consulate, along with a notarized copy of the student's driver's license or identification card. Two passport photos, a copy of the student's flight itinerary or airline tickets (proof of departure), a copy of the student's birth certificate, proof that the student has sufficient funds to pay for living expenses while studying in Brazil and a letter of invitation by the university the student is attending is also needed before Brazil's Ministry of Education will issue a student visa.

Why Study in Brazil?

Brazilian universities offer thousands of different degree programs ranging from fields like social justice and hydroengineering to biodiversity resource management and electrical engineering. Technological research is generously funded by government agencies that place great emphasis on aeronautics, agriculture, and the utilization of renewable resources. Brazil's most highly regarded technology centers include the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, and the Brazilian Space Agency, which boasts of having the most advanced space and astronomy program among all other Latin countries.

Visa Requirements

All student visas in Brazil are called Temporary Visa IV, or VITEM-IV.

What type of Visa do you need?

Visa name

Student Visa (VITEM-IV)

Price and currency

The prices for student visas to Brazil vary depending on the nationality of the applicant. The following cost can be subject to change:

  • For United Arab Emirates citizens: USD 95
  • For France citizens: USD 140
  • For United Kingdom citizens whose visa validity is up to 180 days: USD 40
  • For United Kingdom citizens whose visa validity exceeds 180 days: USD 195
  • For United States citizens: USD 160
  • For citizens from any other country: USD 40

Who can apply for the visa?

All foreigners that want to study in Brazil - without any immigration goals or intent to perform paid activities that are not internships - need to apply for a student visa. The main requirement to get a student visa is that you are enrolled at a Brazilian university that is registered with the Ministry of Education in Brazil.

Where can you make the application?

At the nearest General Consulate or Brazilian Embassy

You can apply for a student visa to Brazil at the nearest General Consulate or Brazilian Embassy.

Website:

How to make the application?

You should consult your Consulate General's website to obtain a student visa application, a list of requirements, and to verify the application process and timetable. Definitely make the appointment with your consulate or embassy as soon as possible.

In order to apply for a VITEM-IV, it is necessary to prepare the following documentation:

  • Applicants passport which cannot expire within 6 months and must have at least two blank pages
  • One Visa Application Form per applicant, generated online
  • Two 3cm x 4cm sized photos
  • Proof of residence within the jurisdiction of the Consular Section of the Embassy for the past 12 months
  • Non-criminal record certificate issued by the applicant's local Police Department for applicants over the age of 18, issued less than 90 days before the application
  • Proof of scholarship, if not, proof of financial capability to pay for the whole duration of the course
  • Proof of enrollment in the institution certifying that the applicant will be attending a course of study, clearly stating the amount of class hours per week
  • Notarized birth certificate or declaration
  • Certificate issued by the previous education institution stating the level of schooling of the applicant
  • Should the applicant be under the age of 18 and not travel with their parents or guardians, a notarized copy of birth certificate sworn translated into Portuguese or English and an Authorization for Brazilian Visa Issuance for Minors signed by both parents or legal guardians at a public notary
  • Health insurance valid in Brazil offering coverage for treatment and hospitalization, or PB4 in case of students from Portugal

When should you apply?

The processing time can be quick and only take a couple of days, but this depends on the country.

The VITEM-IV are valid for up to one year at a time, depending on which course the student is enrolled in, and can be renewed as many times as necessary in order for the student to finish the course. The request for extending the visa must be done at a Federal Police Department or at the Ministry of Justice within 30 days before the current visa expires. In order to renew the visa after one year, you will need to show documentation from the university which proves you have reasonable attendance and performance to continue the course.

For interns, the student visa is valid for one year and cannot be renewed.

After the student visa is granted to the applicant, the student has three months to enter Brazil. After entering Brazil, the student has up to 30 days to register with the Federal Police Department of the city in which they will live.

Processing time

Work opportunities

Those who come to Brazil with a VITEM-IV are not allowed to engage in paid activities that are not internships. However, foreign students that are willing to be interns in Brazil are allowed to perform paid activities. For internships of up to four months, there is no need for a formal link with a Brazilian educational institution. For internships lasting longer than four months, a formal link with a Brazilian education institution is mandatory.

Hours per week

0

Why do you need this type of visa?

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