Brazil is experiencing incredible economic growth and many people are looking to study abroad there. If you’re interested, here’s why you should consider studying in Brazil.
The Brazilian System of Education
The Brazilian system of education is quite similar to the European system since it used to be a Portuguese colony. Although not absolutely the same, you will find bits of the European educational system in the Brazilian system of education.
Undergraduate degrees usually last for about three to five years depending on the institution or program. Post-graduate degrees such as master’s degrees last for about one to two years in Brazil. You can also decide to complete an internship as part of your program which can earn you credits.
The Brazilian educational system also allows you to gain practical knowledge by working with some of their partner institutions which are often businesses, research institutes, or studios. This is why they also have technical or vocational schools where students can learn a vocation if they don’t want to go into academic learning or education.
Even though Brazil used to be a Portuguese colony, they don’t use the same credit transfer system as Europe. Infact, Brazil has no standardized system of credit transfer across higher institutions.
Learning in Brazilian higher institutions is often interactive and you get to share your ideas. Don’t expect to only sit in class and listen to what your instructor teaches throughout your study. You may be required to have group discussions and work on mini-projects with your coursemates. There may also be seminars and tutorials so you should prepare your mind for this.
You will most likely be assessed on some of these activities such as presentations, projects, assignments, group work, practicals, and of course your thesis.
Many international students have studied abroad in Brazil and they were able to work with the educational system so you too can.
Schools you can study abroad in Brazil
Now that you know how the educational system in Brazil works, you may also want to know the specific schools you can apply to study in the Netherlands. Here are some notable schools that you want to check out and include in your plans of studying abroad in Brazil.
- University of Campinas: this is one of the notable schools in Brazil that are open to international students. There are over 40,000 students including students from countries outside of Brazil so you will have lots of people to relate with. Luckily, you may find someone from your home country with whom you can build meaningful relationships.
There are over 140 graduate programs at the University of Campinas. There are also other programs that you can check out and apply for. The university has been constantly ranked as one of the top universities in the world by global rankings.
You can find programs in English, Portuguese, Spanish or French so you should find out which one is required for your course. You will need to show proof of proficiency in any of the languages as required by your program. If your program requires that you show proficiency in more than one language.
- Federal University of São Paulo: this is another top university that you can enroll in as an international student looking to enroll in Brazilian schools. It is a federal university located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The school has about six campuses in Vila Clementino, in São Paulo, Guarulhos, Diadema, Santos, São José dos Campos and Osasco. There are more than 70,000 students including foreign students at the university so you can be sure that you will meet other people like you who are foreigners in the school.
There are over 200 bachelor’s and master’s programs at the Federal University of São Paulo. From law, communications, behavioral and social sciences, management, philosophy, and economics, You can choose to learn in English or Portuguese.
You can find programs in English, Portuguese, Spanish or French so you should find out which one is required for your course. You will need to show proof of proficiency in any of the languages as required by your program. If your program requires that you show proficiency in more than one language.
- University of Brasilia: this is a public university with notable alumni such as Debora Diniz and Adolfo Sachsida. The university is located in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. And it is well known for being among the top 100 on the most reliable global rankings.
There are over 45,000 students including foreign students from other countries of the world at the University of Brasilia. You can enroll in the school and get the chance of meeting people of diverse cultures and nationalities.
There are over 60 bachelor’s degrees and 45 master’s degrees available at the University of Brasilia. There are also other programs that you can check out and apply for. The university has been constantly ranked as one of the top universities in the world by global rankings.
You can find programs in English, Portuguese, Spanish or French so you should find out which one is required for your course. You will need to show proof of proficiency in any of the languages as required by your program. If your program requires that you show proficiency in more than one language.
- Federal University of Paraná: this is a public research university in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, and one of the oldest universities in the country. It has had over 25,000 enrollments including international students from different countries of the world. The notable alumni in the school are Jaime Lerner and Edison Fachin
The school offers over 120 undergraduate degrees, and over 40 master’s and doctorate programs. 12 English-taught bachelor’s degree programs that you can choose from if you are looking to enroll in an English-taught program.
You can find programs in English, Portuguese, Spanish or French so you should find out which one is required for your course. You will need to show proof of proficiency in any of the languages as required by your program. If your program requires that you show proficiency in more than one language.
- Federal University of Sao Carlos: this is also a public research university with over 15,000 students including foreign students from different parts of the world. You can enroll in the school and get the chance of meeting people of diverse cultures and nationalities
The school has over 50 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. You can also enroll in any of their doctorate programs if that’s what you are looking for.
You can find programs in English, Portuguese, Spanish or French so you should find out which one is required for your course. You will need to show proof of proficiency in any of the languages as required by your program. If your program requires that you show proficiency in more than one language.
Opportunities Available for International Students in Brazil
While some people have been able to benefit from opportunities available for international students in Brazil, others are yet to find amazing opportunities for students there. Here are some of the opportunities you can get as a foreign student in a foreign country such as Brazil;
- You can work for up to 20 hours per week as an international student in Brazil while you can work full-time during summer or holiday periods if you don’t have classwork scheduled.
- You get internship opportunities that can go towards your credits accumulation and also build relevant connections that can help you in the future. You can do an internship as long as it is relevant to your program. Your school or program will have connections or partnerships with renowned institutions or organizations where you can have a credible internship especially if you are in a vocational school.
- You can get both off-campus and on-campus jobs as an international student. Off-campus jobs that are available to you as an international student include caring, housekeeping, store attendants, substitute teaching, PR and communications, tech jobs, marketing, and many others. You can also work as a research assistant or substitute teacher on campus.
- If you decide you want to stay back in Brazil, you have the opportunity of building a new life or career there as long as you follow the due process. You can extend your stay in Brazil after your studies as long as you update yourself and get a resident permit and a work visa.
- There are numerous scholarship opportunities available for international students to study in Brazil either for master’s, bachelor’s or doctorate programs. Both the Brazilian government and other international organizations have schemes and scholarship opportunities sponsored by them for both domestic and foreign students.
