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Scholarships for Brazil 2026: Full Guide
Finance May 22, 2026

Scholarships for Brazil 2026: Full Guide

Study free at public universities; win a PEC-G or PEC-PG place, a CAPES or CNPq research stipend, or a university award. How to fund a degree in Brazil in 2026.

Study Abroad Editorial Team
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May 22, 2026
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10 min read
| Finance
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Brazil's funding picture starts from an unusual baseline: public universities are already free. USP, UNICAMP, UFRJ, UFMG and every federal university charge zero tuition, including for international students admitted through the vestibular, ENEM, or an agreement. So in Brazil, scholarships mostly fund your living costs and research, not your tuition. The standout structured routes are PEC-G (for undergraduates from partner countries) and PEC-PG (for graduate students), often paired with a CAPES or CNPq stipend. At private universities — PUC, Insper, FGV — institutional scholarships and partial fee waivers exist for high-merit applicants. This guide maps every realistic funding route for 2026.

How Much You Need to Fund

Start by knowing the gap a scholarship has to close. Public university: tuition is US$0, so funding only covers living costs (US$600–1,000/month in São Paulo and Rio, US$500–800 elsewhere). Private university: tuition runs US$2,000–8,000/year on top of living costs — see our cost of studying in Brazil breakdown. For the student visa you also show proof of sufficient funds to support yourself. Most Brazilian scholarships are merit-based or agreement-based, so a strong academic record and the right partner-country status are your biggest assets.

PEC-G: The Undergraduate Programme

The Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G) is Brazil's flagship route for international undergraduates from developing partner countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Run jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, it places students in free undergraduate degrees at public and some private universities.

  • Covers: Free tuition at the host university; some participating students receive a living grant (the Promisaes grant) to help with costs.
  • For: Undergraduate applicants from countries with a cultural or educational cooperation agreement with Brazil.
  • Eligibility: Secondary-school completion, proof of funds for living costs, and Portuguese proficiency (the Celpe-Bras exam) — applicants can sit a preparatory Portuguese year (PEC-G provides a path).
  • How to apply: Through the Brazilian embassy or consulate in your home country, not directly to the university. Applications run on an annual cycle.

PEC-G is the single most accessible route to a free Brazilian undergraduate degree for students from partner countries.

PEC-PG: The Graduate Programme

The Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Pós-Graduação (PEC-PG) is the postgraduate counterpart, for master's and doctoral students from partner countries.

  • Covers: Free tuition at the public host university plus a monthly stipend from CAPES or CNPq, and often a travel allowance.
  • For: Master's and doctoral candidates from partner countries with a confirmed supervisor and place in a recognised graduate programme.
  • Eligibility: Strong academic record, acceptance into a Brazilian graduate programme, Celpe-Bras proficiency, and partner-country status.
  • How to apply: Coordinate with your prospective Brazilian supervisor and apply through the official PEC-PG cycle via the Brazilian mission and CAPES/CNPq.

PEC-PG effectively turns a Brazilian master's or PhD into a funded research position rather than a self-funded degree.

CAPES and CNPq Scholarships

The two federal agencies behind most Brazilian research funding are CAPES (the higher-education coordination agency) and CNPq (the national research council). They fund graduate study and research broadly:

  • Covers: Monthly stipends for master's and doctoral students at public universities, plus research and mobility grants.
  • For: Graduate and research students, including international students within programmes like PEC-PG and various bilateral schemes.
  • Eligibility: Enrolment in a recognised Brazilian graduate programme and a research project with a supervisor.
  • How to apply: Usually through your graduate programme and supervisor, who nominate students for available stipends — find the supervisor and project first.

University and Private Awards

Beyond the federal programmes, individual institutions offer support:

  • Private university scholarships: PUC, Insper, FGV, and Mackenzie offer merit and need-based partial fee waivers for strong applicants — apply directly to the institution.
  • Internal research assistantships: Many public-university research groups fund students through project grants, effectively a salaried research role.
  • Foundation and state funding: State research foundations like FAPESP (São Paulo) and FAPERJ (Rio) fund research students and projects, some open to international applicants.

Exchange and Bilateral Funding

If your home university has a partnership with a Brazilian institution, you can study in Brazil as an exchange student for a semester or year:

  • No host tuition at the Brazilian university (your home tuition continues if applicable)
  • Home-country mobility grants — many governments and programmes fund a semester abroad in Brazil
  • Apply through your home university's international office, not the Brazilian host
  • Bilateral exchanges exist with universities worldwide — check your home institution's partner list

Other Funding Routes

Beyond the main schemes, several targeted routes:

  • Your home government: Many countries fund their citizens to study abroad and list Brazil as an approved destination — check your national scholarship agency.
  • State research foundations (FAPs): FAPESP, FAPERJ, FAPEMIG and others fund research at state level, sometimes open to international students.
  • OAS and regional programmes: Organization of American States and Mercosur mobility schemes support students moving within the Americas.
  • Private foundations and companies: Some Brazilian companies and foundations fund students in specific fields, particularly STEM and agribusiness.

Funding Without a Scholarship

If you do not land a major award, here is the honest reality:

  • Public university students: No tuition means living costs are the only bill — US$500–1,000/month. The subsidised bandejão meal and cheap repúblicas keep this manageable, but you cannot rely on part-time work (the student visa restricts it).
  • Private university students: Tuition is real money. Budget US$2,000–8,000/year plus living costs, and apply for institutional fee waivers.
  • Internships (estágio): Study-related placements can pay a modest bolsa (US$200–500/month part-time), the main legitimate earning route on a student visa.
  • Instalment plans: Private universities bill tuition monthly (mensalidade), which spreads the cost.

Model your full budget with the cost-of-study calculator.

How to Write a Winning Application

Most Brazilian funding is awarded on academic merit and a clear research or study plan. The pattern that wins:

  1. Lead with your academic record. Make your GPA, prizes, and any publications easy to find. Show class rank if you can.
  2. Secure a supervisor early (graduate). For PEC-PG, CAPES, and CNPq, a confirmed Brazilian supervisor and research project is the foundation — contact departments before you apply.
  3. Be concrete about your plan. Name the field, the problem, and the specific Brazilian labs, methods, or datasets you want to engage with.
  4. Prove your Portuguese plan. Most programmes need Celpe-Bras — show how and when you will reach proficiency, or note the preparatory Portuguese year.
  5. Submit through the right channel and on time. PEC-G and PEC-PG run through Brazilian missions on annual cycles — miss the window and you wait a year.

Timeline for a 2026 Intake

  • Mid-2025: Shortlist universities and programmes; for graduate study, contact potential supervisors.
  • Second half of 2025: PEC-G and PEC-PG application cycles typically open through Brazilian missions — check exact dates with your embassy.
  • Late 2025 / early 2026: Submit your PEC-G/PEC-PG application, sit or schedule Celpe-Bras, prepare apostilled documents.
  • Early 2026: Selection results; confirm your place and any CAPES/CNPq stipend.
  • Before travel: Apply for the VITEM IV student visa with your acceptance and funding letters — see our how to apply to Brazilian universities guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best scholarship for studying in Brazil?

For undergraduates from partner countries, PEC-G is the standout — a free undergraduate degree at a public university, sometimes with a living grant. For graduate students, PEC-PG adds free tuition plus a CAPES or CNPq monthly stipend. Both are agreement-based and applied for through Brazilian missions abroad.

Do I need a scholarship if public universities are free?

Not for tuition — public universities (USP, UNICAMP, federal universities) charge nothing, including for international students. Scholarships mainly fund living costs and research. Many students cover living costs with PEC-G/PEC-PG grants, CAPES/CNPq stipends, savings, or family support, since the student visa restricts regular work.

Can I get a full scholarship as an international graduate student?

Yes. PEC-PG combines free tuition at a public university with a monthly CAPES or CNPq stipend for master's and doctoral students from partner countries. State foundations like FAPESP and internal research assistantships also fund graduate students, effectively turning the degree into a paid research role.

What is Celpe-Bras and do I need it for scholarships?

Celpe-Bras is Brazil's official Portuguese proficiency exam, required by most degree programmes and funding schemes including PEC-G and PEC-PG. Applicants who do not yet have it can often take a preparatory Portuguese year. A growing number of English-taught graduate programmes exist, but Portuguese is essential for most routes.

Do private universities offer scholarships?

Yes. PUC, Insper, FGV, Mackenzie and others offer merit and need-based partial fee waivers for strong applicants, applied for directly to the institution. They also bill tuition monthly (mensalidade), which spreads the cost across the year.

Are Brazilian scholarships merit-based or need-based?

Mostly merit-based and agreement-based. PEC-G/PEC-PG depend on academic record and partner-country status; CAPES and CNPq reward research potential. Some private-university and foundation awards consider need. Check each scheme's criteria, and lead with a strong academic record and a clear research plan.

How do I fund a PhD in Brazil?

Doctoral study at public universities is free. Most international PhD students are funded through PEC-PG plus a CAPES or CNPq monthly stipend, or through a state foundation (FAPESP, FAPERJ) or research-group grant — effectively a salaried research position. Secure a supervisor and project first, then apply for funding through that programme.

For the complete funding and cost picture, see Study in Brazil, our why study in Brazil guide, and the step-by-step how to apply to Brazilian universities walkthrough.

Tags: Scholarships Brazil Funding PEC-G CAPES

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