Are you looking for scholarships to study Portuguese in Brazil? I know how hard it is to find reliable info without drowning in everything that’s out there online. That’s why I put together this guide with the real opportunities to study in Brazil, starting with the official programs from the Brazilian government (which include scholarships to learn Portuguese) and then the best sites to find a scholarship that fits you.
I’ll also walk you through how education works in Brazil and what to keep in mind with the requirements and the student visa. As always, I recommend checking the Brazilian consulate page in your country too, because the dates and requirements change every year, and it’s worth confirming everything directly at the official sources before you apply.
Official Brazilian government programs (PEC)
The most direct and reliable way to study in Brazil with a scholarship is through the Programa de Estudantes-Convênio (PEC), an official program run by the Brazilian government and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) and the Ministry of Education (MEC). It has three tracks, and one of them is specifically for learning Portuguese:
PEC-G: undergraduate scholarships (full degree)
The PEC-G offers international students tuition-free spots to complete a full undergraduate degree in Brazil, in every field of study, with no tuition fees and no entrance exam. To apply, you need to have finished high school, be a national of a participating country, live outside Brazil, not hold Brazilian nationality, and prove you have the financial means to support yourself during your studies. Keep in mind that PEC-G covers tuition but does not include a monthly living stipend, which is why you’re asked to show your own funds.
PEC-PLE: scholarship to study Portuguese in Brazil
This is the option a lot of people who land on this page are after: the PEC-PLE (Portuguese as a Foreign Language) is the track for people who don’t speak Portuguese yet. If you didn’t take Portuguese as an official language in high school and don’t have the required proficiency certificate, you enroll in PEC-PLE along with PEC-G. With this scholarship, you spend your first year in Brazil taking a free course in Portuguese language and Brazilian culture, working toward the Celpe-Bras certificate. Once you pass it, you can start your undergraduate degree within PEC-G. In practice, it’s a scholarship to learn Portuguese in Brazil that doubles as your gateway into the university.
PEC-PG: graduate scholarships (master’s and doctorate)
The PEC-PG is aimed at academic graduate studies (stricto sensu): a full master’s, a full doctorate, and the sandwich doctorate. Unlike PEC-G, this one does include a monthly living stipend (through CAPES and CNPq), plus support for health insurance and a return ticket home once you finish. It’s the best option if you already have an undergraduate degree and want to continue your studies in Brazil.
Important: the dates, amounts, and requirements for these programs change with every call for applications. Always check the up-to-date official info on the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs page and with the consulate or scholarship agency in your country (for example, your national education or student aid agency).
Celpe-Bras: the Portuguese exam you’re going to need
Almost every path to studying in Brazil runs through the Celpe-Bras, the only official Portuguese proficiency certificate for foreigners recognized by the Brazilian government (issued by MEC and INEP). Brazilian universities require it for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs, and it’s exactly the certificate you earn at the end of the PEC-PLE Portuguese year. The exam is offered twice a year in Brazil and in several countries, and it certifies the intermediate, upper-intermediate, advanced, and upper-advanced levels.
If you want to really understand what it involves and how to prepare, here’s my complete guide: Celpe-Bras Certificate: a complete guide for foreigners.
Best sites to find scholarships in Brazil
Beyond the official programs, there are several portals that gather and update scholarship calls for Latin America. These are the sites I recommend most for finding your study scholarship in Brazil:
1. MÁS OPORTUNIDADES
Masoportunidades.org is a very complete site with different categories where they list every mobility opportunity you can think of, including study scholarships, internships, volunteer work, and more.
It also offers online courses, and in its calls section they include everything from internships and languages to TOEFL/IELTS and gender-related topics.
In their services section, they offer different guides. Some are free and others have a (reasonable) cost. Some include consultations, others essay reviews, and they all promise to help scholarship applicants feel a little less lost.
You can take a look at their Facebook page (“Quiero salir del país”) where they also post scholarships, and on their YouTube channel (both are called “Quiero salir del país”) you’ll find videos on motivation letters, how to win a study scholarship, requirements, and more interesting videos.
2. BECAS DE ESTUDIO Y CONVOCATORIAS
This site was created in 2010 by a guy from Bogotá, Marco Bermúdez, who has traveled the world on scholarships himself. Since he had to search exhaustively for his own scholarships, he decided to build a site that lets young people find scholarships in a simpler, more centralized way.
The site has a super simple search tool: you can search by category, by country, and by keyword.
It also has a section listing a range of services for anyone who needs more personalized support: from reviewing and editing motivation letters, to vocational tests to pinpoint areas of study, document review, and several more services.
Aside from the site, you can check out their Facebook and Twitter communities, which also post available offers.
3. CAMPUS IBERO-AMÉRICA (OEI)
This is an academic and professional network built around the experience of studying and working in the countries that make up Ibero-America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Uruguay, and Venezuela).
4. UNIVERSIA
Universia launched in 2000 as Universia España to bring universities together in one place, backed by Banco Santander and the Ibero-American university community. Over the years it kept growing and adding more and more countries to its network.
Universia is a cooperation network of many universities, offering a complete platform with options to study or work abroad, plus several projects.
You can find opportunities in its jobs and internships section, with a handy search tool where you can filter by country and field, among other things.
Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Linkedin
5. BECAS PARA TODOS
This site focuses on scholarships for Ibero-Americans, and you can search by nationality, by degree, and there are even options for professional internships and volunteer work. To find the scholarships available for Brazil, use their search tool in the top right corner, type in the country, and all the options will pop up.
The really interesting stuff on this site sits along the top, where you’ll find a student blog, tips, quizzes, online courses, a video channel, and, in the resources section, free books that can come in really handy.
On top of that, the study abroad section has several articles on documents to keep in mind for scholarships, tips for living abroad, and countries to live in as a student, for example. You can also follow them on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn communities.
Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Linkedin – Youtube
6. NO SÉ QUÉ ESTUDIAR
This is a guide that publishes info about careers and professions, so young people can find the right information about their career options and places to study.
They have blog articles in the guidance section that can help you nail down what you actually want to study (in case you’re unsure), tips for exams, and so on.
That’s where you’ll find the scholarships for Brazil; in that article, they go into more detail about the types of scholarships and the requirements each one has.
7. OEA – ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
The Organization of American States is the oldest regional body in the world. The OAS Academic Scholarship Program (Regular Program), established in 1958, awards scholarships every year for master’s, doctoral, or graduate research leading to a university degree.
Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Youtube
What is higher education like in Brazil?
Before you apply, it helps to understand how higher education is organized in Brazil, because the way degrees are structured is a little different from other countries.
In Brazil there are three types of higher education institutions: universities (which also do research), university centers (which offer courses without being research-focused), and smaller integrated colleges (which need Ministry of Education approval before offering degree programs). Many universities are public and free, while at some municipal or private institutions tuition is paid.
About the degrees: the “Bacharelado” (bachelor’s) takes four to six years and qualifies you for professions like medicine or law. The “Licenciatura” takes around four years and trains you to teach in primary or secondary school. The “Tecnólogo” is the shortest, about two years, focused on highly specialized professions. The “lato sensu” graduate programs (specializations and MBAs) take one to two years. And for a doctorate, the “stricto sensu” path starts with the master’s (mestrado, one to two years) and continues with the doctorate (three to four years).
One practical detail: Brazil’s Ministry of Education bases its system on hours completed rather than credits, so for credit equivalence you’ll need to do the conversion with your own university.
Studying in another country is a great chance to learn another language and get to know the local culture. I hope this guide on scholarships and options for studying Portuguese in Brazil has been useful. Do you know other sites or programs for finding study scholarships in Brazil? Let me know in the comments.
Main media outlets in Brazil
If you’re looking for news from Brazil, here are the main media outlets in Brazil.
Frequently asked questions about scholarships to study Portuguese in Brazil
Yes. The official PEC-PLE program (Portuguese as a Foreign Language), run by the Brazilian government, lets you spend your first year taking a free course in Portuguese language and Brazilian culture to earn the Celpe-Bras certificate, as your gateway into an undergraduate degree within PEC-G.
In general, for PEC-G you need to have finished high school, be a national of a participating country, live outside Brazil, not hold Brazilian nationality, and prove financial means. You also have to meet the Portuguese requirement (the Celpe-Bras certificate or enrolling in PEC-PLE). The exact requirements change with each call, so confirm them at the official source.
Yes, to study in Brazil you normally need a student visa. The requirements and documents are handled at the Brazilian consulate in your country, and it’s worth checking the up-to-date dates and conditions directly with them before you apply.
More resources to Learn Portuguese Faster
- [PDF] Learn Brazilian Portuguese – Complete Guide and Study Path
- How to Learn Brazilian Portuguese Faster (Practical Tips)
- How to Understand Spoken Portuguese More Easily
- How to Speak Portuguese with Confidence
- How to Read in Portuguese and Improve Comprehension
- How to Write in Portuguese Step by Step
- How Long Does It Take to Learn Portuguese?
