Brazil is widely known for the Amazon and its yearly Carnival celebrations. In recent years, it has also become a notable option for international students interested in Portuguese-language study, research, and lower-cost public higher education.
The latest Brazilian Higher Education Census recorded more than 10 million undergraduate enrollments in 2024. Foreign undergraduate students represent a much smaller group than that total, and most of them come from the Americas.
Public higher education in Brazil is generally tuition-free, although admission is competitive and places for international applicants depend on each program or government exchange route. Private universities charge tuition that varies by institution and program.
Although studying in Brazil is cheap, international students may also find funded study routes through government programs, university scholarships, and research fellowships. Here are Brazil scholarship programs and opportunities that international students can review:
Top Scholarships in Brazil for International Students
1. Brazil Scholarships Partnership Program for Education and Training – OAS/GCUB PAEC
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Academic fee exemption and monthly stipend for up to 24 months for master’s students or up to 48 months for doctoral students
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D.
The most current call offers 539 master’s scholarships and 350 doctoral scholarships at 62 Brazilian universities.
The scholarship covers academic fee exemption and a monthly stipend. The maximum duration is 24 months for master’s programs and 48 months for doctoral programs. Applicants should also budget for costs not covered by the scholarship, such as airfare, visa processing, international health insurance, and other personal expenses.
Applications for the 2026 call are free and must be submitted electronically by July 6, 2026. Applicants may apply for up to four master’s or doctoral programs at different Brazilian higher education institutions.
Required documents include an identification document, curriculum vitae, undergraduate diploma or certificate of completion, master’s documents when required for the chosen doctoral program, and the written application texts requested in the call. Students may also need to provide proof of a professor’s affiliation with the Brazilian institution, depending on the program.
Awardees are selected through a multi-phase process. Selection criteria include academic merit, geographic distribution, professors affiliated with Brazilian higher education institutions, the applicant’s program preference order, the Human Development Index of the applicant’s country, and gender balance.
Once selected, the student must accept the scholarship contract within ten days. Failure to do so will be treated as declining the offer.
2. Experimental Medicine Research Cluster Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Salary equivalent to a FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship
- Eligible Degree/s: Postdoctoral research
UNICAMP, a public university in Brazil, hosts the Experimental Medicine Research Cluster. One postdoctoral opportunity is connected with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative-funded project “High-Resolution Profiling of Body Fat Immune Cells in Brazilian Populations.”
The expected qualifications include a completed doctoral degree in a relevant field, an excellent academic record, and strong written and spoken English skills.
Applicants should have experience with high-throughput data analysis, including bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, genetic and protein interaction networks, and machine learning. Programming skills in R, Python, Java, or Bash are also relevant.
The selected fellow will receive a salary equivalent to a FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship and will be part of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Human Cell Atlas networks.
Application documents include a single PDF containing a cover letter, research experience, and two reference letters. Applications are accepted until the position is filled.
We hope that this article on the best scholarships in Brazil for international students was helpful! Make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!
