Brazil offers a rich cultural heritage, diverse cities, and an extensive public higher education system. Several of its public universities have established dentistry schools offering undergraduate and graduate training.
For international applicants, tuition can be a major advantage at some public institutions. However, admission routes, language requirements, program structures, and non-tuition costs differ by university and degree level.
Read on to learn about five public universities in Brazil with current dentistry programs.
Top Schools Offering Dentistry Programs in Brazil
1. University of Sao Paulo
The University of São Paulo (USP) is a public state university. Its School of Dentistry offers an undergraduate Dentistry program in daytime and evening formats. For a broader overview of institutions in the country, see this guide to the best universities in Brazil.
USP states that its regular undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs are tuition-free, including for international students. Students must still budget for living expenses and course-related costs. For additional cost information, see this guide to affordable universities in Brazil.
The School of Dentistry currently lists three postgraduate programs offering master’s and/or doctoral study in multiple concentration areas. Admission is competitive, and these postgraduate programs do not charge tuition. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships offered by the Brazilian government, but funding is not guaranteed. Applicants should consult the current program notices for eligibility and language requirements.
2. University of Campinas
The State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) was legally established in 1962 and formally inaugurated in 1966. Its Piracicaba Dental School offers an undergraduate Dentistry program and several graduate programs.
UNICAMP’s international office states that its undergraduate courses, including Dentistry, do not charge tuition. The dental school’s current graduate directory lists programs in Oral Biology, Clinical Dentistry, Oral Pathology, Dental Materials, Dentistry, and Dental Radiology, as well as a professional master’s program in Management and Collective Health. International candidates must follow the admissions rules for their chosen program. Undergraduate classes and most postgraduate classes are conducted in Portuguese.
3. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) was organized as a university in 1920, although one of its predecessor schools dates to 1792. It is a federal public university offering programs in health sciences, law, technology, business, the arts, and other fields.
UFRJ’s Faculty of Dentistry currently offers a bachelor’s degree in Dentistry, extension and specialization courses, academic master’s and doctoral study, and a professional master’s program. The faculty is organized into five departments rather than ten. Its current academic graduate concentrations include Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, Pathology and Oral Diagnosis, and Periodontics. Applicants should consult the latest admissions notice and confirm any fees and language requirements for their chosen program.
4. University of Minas Gerais
The Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) is a federal public university in Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais. Its Faculty of Dentistry offers an undergraduate Dentistry course. For a broader overview of institutions in the country, see this guide to the best universities in Brazil.
At the graduate level, the faculty offers academic master’s and doctoral study in Dentistry and a professional master’s program in Dentistry in Public Health. Its teaching, research, and clinical activities prepare dentists, educators, and researchers. Applicants should check the relevant admissions notice for current requirements, fees, and scholarship information.
5. University of Pernambuco
The University of Pernambuco (UPE) is a public state university in Pernambuco. Its Faculty of Dentistry offers an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Dentistry and stricto sensu graduate study.
The faculty’s Dentistry graduate program offers master’s and doctoral study. According to the faculty, its master’s and doctoral programs began in 1972 and 1986, respectively. Admission procedures, research areas, program length, language requirements, and any applicable fees are determined by the current selection notice, so international applicants should verify these details directly before applying.
Students have many reasons to consider studying dentistry in Brazil, but the best choice depends on their preferred degree level, academic interests, Portuguese-language ability, and available admissions route. Because program structures and selection notices can change, applicants should verify all details on the universities’ official websites before applying.
We hope this article has been informative. If you are interested, check out the available courses for international students!
