Brazil is known for its vibrant culture, and its public universities can offer an affordable route to higher education for international students. Brazil’s Constitution establishes free public education in official institutions. In practice, regular degree programs at public universities generally do not charge tuition, including for international students, although admissions procedures and possible program-specific charges vary.
Brazil has both public and private higher education institutions. Private institutions may charge tuition. Public institutions are generally tuition-free for regular degree study, but students should still budget for living expenses, visas, travel, insurance, materials, and any applicable selection, extension, extracurricular, or specialization fees. The universities below provide official information for prospective students.
Free Universities in Brazil for International Students
1. University of São Paulo (USP)
The University of São Paulo (USP) is a public university with undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral study opportunities. USP’s International Office states that students can pursue these degrees free of charge. Graduate admissions are handled by individual programs.
USP does not charge enrollment fees or monthly tuition fees to Brazilian or international students. However, a graduate program may charge a selection-processing fee of up to BRL 200, so applicants should check the relevant program page.
2. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
Founded in 1920, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is a public university that welcomes international participants in undergraduate and graduate programs. Its international office states that undergraduate admission is available through Enem and SiSU, while each graduate program publishes its own selection notice.
Regular public degree programs do not charge tuition. COPPEAD’s Full-Time MBA is specifically described by the school as 100% tuition-free. Applicants should check individual notices because specialization and executive offerings may have separate fees.
3. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
- Tuition Fees
- Regular tuition: BRL 0/year for the undergraduate, academic master’s, and doctoral programs described by UFRGS.
The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), in Porto Alegre, is a public university offering undergraduate and graduate study across a broad range of fields.
UFRGS states that more than 100 undergraduate courses, 82 academic master’s programs, and 72 doctoral programs are offered free of charge across all areas of knowledge. Applicants should confirm the current admission procedure for their chosen course.
4. Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
- Tuition Fees
- Regular tuition: BRL 0/year; exchange students may still have extracurricular and home-institution fees.
UFSC’s main campus is in Florianópolis, with four additional campuses in Araranguá, Blumenau, Curitibanos, and Joinville. Its official English-language page states that UFSC provides free public education and has a community of around 46,000 people, including nearly 26,500 undergraduate students.
UFSC offers more than 100 on-campus undergraduate programs and six distance-learning programs, as well as more than 90 master’s programs and 63 doctoral programs. It also reports more than 450 partnerships with institutions worldwide. Exchange students do not pay UFSC fees except for extracurricular activities, although home-institution fees may still apply.
5. University of Campinas (Unicamp)
- Tuition Fees
- Undergraduate tuition: BRL 0/year; graduate applicants should confirm program-specific requirements and any separate charges.
Unicamp is a public university in Campinas. Its official page for foreign students states that undergraduate courses are free, with no fees or monthly payments, and lists 69 undergraduate courses.
Graduate admissions are handled by the relevant faculty or institute. Requirements vary by program, and prospective master’s or doctoral students should confirm selection procedures, deadlines, and any separate charges with the specific program.
6. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)
- Tuition Fees
- Regular tuition: BRL 0/year; confirm whether any specialization or continuing-education offering has separate charges.
UFMG is a public university based in Belo Horizonte. Its official page for international visitors describes it as a free-of-charge public educational institution and provides information about undergraduate and graduate programs and international cooperation.
Regular degree study is tuition-free. Applicants should check their target program because specialization, continuing-education, and other non-regular offerings may have separate charges.
7. Federal University of ABC (UFABC)
- Tuition Fees
- Registration fee and regular tuition: BRL 0/year for regular and international students.
Founded in 2006, the Federal University of ABC (UFABC) has two campuses. Its official facts-and-figures page states that regular and international students pay no registration fee or tuition.
UFABC’s academic model is interdisciplinary and designed to give students flexibility as they progress through their studies.
Brazilian public universities can offer international students tuition-free regular degree study, but admission pathways and any separate charges differ by university and program. Always review the official page for your chosen course before applying.
We hope this article on free universities in Brazil for international students was helpful. For more information about studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
