Study in Brazil: Tuition Fees & Scholarships

Brazilian schools are free to set their own tuition fees. This means that they can vary greatly. Generally, programs will cost between $2000USD and $10,000USD per academic year. This is normally payable before the start of the next academic year each February. Officially, fees ought to be paid in Reals, but some schools do accept US Dollars.

Tuition fees remain broadly in the $2000USD to $10,000USD range regardless of the level of study. Remember, if you want to work part-time whilst studying a PhD, you’ll need to convert your study visa into a work permit. This can be done whilst still in Brazil.

As Brazil’s higher education reputation ascends, so do the scholarship options available to international students. The scholarships open to you depend on your level of study, the subject, your citizenship and whether you’ll study in Portuguese or English. 

One of the more popular scholarships is the Brazilian Government Exchange Program. It gives students with academic potential from developing countries and conflict zones a free ride. Applications open each August. The government doesn’t maintain a regular website, instead publishing a whole new one each year. You’ll need to search for the program in about July to begin preparing your application. 

Alternatively, the Organization of American States awards the PAEC OAS-GCUB Scholarship every year for Master’s and PhD students who want to study at specific top universities in Brazil. You must, however, be a citizen of a country that is a member of the Organization of American States.

These are just two of the multitude of scholarships that are available to international students who are looking to study in Brazil.