🇧🇷 Brazil · Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Brazil — government, university, and international programs.
Quick answer
Brazil's funding for incoming international students is more limited than for outgoing Brazilians. The main structured routes are the PEC-G (undergraduate) and PEC-PG (graduate) programs for students from partner developing countries, plus CAPES and CNPq research grants and individual university scholarships. Explore these programs and university sites and apply by the deadline.
Brazil scholarships for higher education and research are mainly administered by CAPES, CNPq, universities, state research foundations and international-cooperation programmes. Foreign-student calls change by programme and year.
- CAPES and CNPq are core federal agencies for graduate, research and international-cooperation scholarships.
- Recent CAPES foreign-student calls include PEC-PG and other cooperation programmes; eligibility is call-specific.
- Always verify the live edital, eligible countries, degree level, language and residence requirements before relying on funding.
Step-by-step
- 1
Map the funding landscape
Map Brazilian funding: the PEC-G (undergraduate) and PEC-PG (graduate) partner-country programs, CAPES/CNPq research grants and university awards.
- 2
Check eligibility and deadlines
Confirm eligibility (level, nationality, grades, language) and note that scholarship deadlines are often months before course start.
- 3
Prepare your documents
Prepare transcripts, a language-test score, reference letters, a strong personal statement and (for research) a proposal.
- 4
Apply to the scheme and university
Submit the scholarship application and, where required, a separate university/admission application by each deadline.
- 5
Interview, results and acceptance
Attend any interview or selection stage; if awarded, formally accept the scholarship and your study place.
- 6
Handle visa, funds and conditions
Apply for your student visa, arrange disbursement, and note any conditions such as progress requirements or a return/service obligation.
Checklist
- Funding sources identified (government / university / private)
- Eligibility + deadlines confirmed
- Transcripts + language test + references
- Personal statement / research proposal
- Scholarship + university applications submitted
- Interview / selection completed
- Offer accepted + funding terms understood
- Student visa + disbursement + any bond/return rules
Official authorities
- CAPES
Federal graduate education and scholarship agency.
- CNPq — scholarships
Official CNPq scholarship modalities.
- CAPES — PEC-PG foreign-student call
Official CAPES news on scholarships for foreign students.
Frequently asked questions
What are PEC-G and PEC-PG?
Brazilian government programs offering undergraduate (PEC-G) and graduate (PEC-PG) places to students from partner developing countries.
How is research funded in Brazil?
Mainly through CAPES and CNPq, the federal agencies that fund graduate studentships and research grants.
Do I need Portuguese to study in Brazil?
Usually yes — most programs are in Portuguese, and PEC-G students typically pass a Portuguese proficiency exam (Celpe-Bras).
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.