Brazil’s reputation as a vibrant, culturally rich nation is well-known, but its growing status as a premier destination for international students, particularly those seeking tuition-free higher education, is a less-explored gem. Unlike many countries where international students face exorbitant fees, Brazil’s public universities offer a unique and highly affordable pathway to a world-class degree. This article is your guide to navigating the landscape of free universities in Brazil for international students, detailing how you can pursue your academic goals without the burden of hefty tuition costs.
The key to unlocking this opportunity lies in understanding Brazil’s dual higher education system. The country operates a network of both public and private institutions. While private universities charge tuition fees, public universities, which are largely funded by the federal and state governments, are free for all students, including international ones. Earning a degree from top-ranked universities like the University of São Paulo (USP) or the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) without any tuition fees can be an awesome opportunity for international students.
Free Universities in Brazil for International Students
1. University of São Paulo (USP)
University of São Paulo (USP) is Brazil’s largest and most prestigious public university, consistently at the top of Latin American rankings for teaching quality, research output, and employer reputation. With campuses and institutes spread across the State of São Paulo, USP offers breadth in engineering, health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, law, and the arts, supported by world‑class laboratories, museums, hospitals, and innovation hubs. The university hosts extensive partnerships with global institutions and industry, and an active international community across exchange, research, and full‑degree pathways. For cost‑conscious students, USP’s combination of academic depth and big‑city opportunities in São Paulo is hard to beat.
USP is tuition‑free for regular undergraduate and graduate degrees, even for international students. That means programs such as the Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Law, and Bachelor of Pharmacy cost BRL 0/year. Likewise, master’s and PhD tracks such as the MSc in Physics or PhD in Electrical Engineering are BRL 0/year. Short courses or professional/specialization tracks may charge separate fees; always check the individual program page.
2. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
Founded in 1920, UFRJ is one of Latin America’s most influential universities, with landmark schools in engineering (COPPE), business (COPPEAD), medicine, and the arts. Its main campus on Fundão Island anchors a dynamic research environment that integrates laboratories, incubators, and cultural institutions. International students benefit from a rich academic menu, a vibrant city, and access to renowned researchers across disciplines.
As a federal public university, UFRJ is a free university in Brazil for international students, charging BRL 0/year for regular undergraduate and graduate programs. Notably, the COPPEAD Full‑time MBA is also tuition‑free. Examples include Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Economics, MSc in Civil Engineering, and PhD in Chemistry. Executive/specialization offerings may have separate fees.
3. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre is a comprehensive public university with long‑standing strengths across computer science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and life sciences. The campus culture is research‑active and student‑friendly, with collaborative institutes and a strong tradition of international exchanges and double‑degree agreements in the Southern Cone.
UFRGS confirms that students in undergraduate and graduate programs pay no academic, enrollment, or tuition fees. For example, Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Architecture, MSc in Informatics, and PhD in Sociology are BRL 0/year. The university goes to state on its homepage that “Currently, more than 100 undergraduate courses, 82 academic master’s programs and 72 doctorate programs are offered free of charge, thus covering all areas of knowledge.”
4. Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
Located in a beautiful landscape, the UFSC offers free education to its students, and it is one of the top universities in Brazil and in Latin America. Having four campuses nationwide, the UFSC has around 40,000 people, out of whom 26,000 are undergraduate students. Because of its accredited teaching and friendly environment, UFSC has more than 300 partnerships with universities worldwide.
Most of their focus is on undergraduate students by offering more than 100 undergraduate programs. There are nearly 70 programs for master’s and about 50 programs for doctoral students. Even though they have so many international partnerships, they are constantly increasing their numbers to allow their students a wider selection when they are out for exchange programs.
5. University of Campinas (Unicamp)
Unicamp is a research‑intensive public university in Campinas, renowned for innovation, patents, and impact in technology, health, and the sciences. Its compact, green campus supports a vibrant ecosystem of labs, core facilities, and startups, while close links to São Paulo’s tech corridor create strong internship and employment pipelines. The university enrolls a diverse international community and offers English‑supported tracks and thesis supervision in many fields.
By law, Unicamp’s regular degrees are tuition‑free. Examples of free-tuition courses include Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, and Bachelor of International Relations; at graduate level, the MSc in Education for Health Professions, MSc/PhD in Pharmacology, and numerous STEM programs are also free. Professional and short courses may carry fees, so verify details per program.
6. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)
UFMG in Belo Horizonte is among Brazil’s best‑regarded public universities, offering 90+ graduate programs and a full spectrum of undergraduate degrees across STEM, health, humanities, law, and the arts. The university is known for culture and innovation, a lively campus scene, and supportive services for international students, often with lower living costs than São Paulo or Rio.
UFMG describes itself as a “free‑of‑charge public educational institution.” Accordingly, typical degrees such as Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Economics, MSc in Public Health, and PhD in Materials Engineering all free. Some professional/specialization courses may have fees; check your target program.
7. Federal University of ABC (UFABC)
Established in 2006, the Federal University of ABC is one of the youngest institutions in the country of Brazil. Still, partly under construction, the campuses of UFABC have established a reputation for good teaching and even better for research. UFABC uses a liberal arts approach, by teaching the student in a general way, and by narrowing in on the student’s major as years progress.
Since most of the popular universities are public universities, they offer free tuition even to international students. These same public universities are the top universities in Brazil offering great education free of charge, an awesome news for international students.
We hope this article on the free universities in Brazil for international students was helpful to you. To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
