INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education institutions:
Universidades (University)
Universidades Especializadas
Centros Universitários
CEFETs/CETs
Faculdades Integradas
Faculdades Isoladas
Institutos Superiores de Educação
School leaving and higher education credentials:
Certificado de Auxiliar Técnico
Certificado de Ensino Médio
Diploma de Técnico de Nivel Medio
Diploma de Técnico de Segundo Grau
Vestibular
Tecnólogo
Bacharelado
Licenciatura
Título Profissional
Especialização/Aperfeiçoamento
Mestrado
Doutorado
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 7
Age of exit: 14
Structure of school system:
Pre-Primary
Type of school providing this education: Day-care centres/pre-elementary schools
Age level from: 2 to: 6
Basic
Type of school providing this education: Ensiño Fundamental (Primary and lower secondary)
Length of program in years: 8
Age level from: 7 to: 14
Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Conclusão de Ensiño Fundamental
Upper Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Ensiño Médio
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Ensiño Médio
Vocational
Type of school providing this education: Educação Profissional
Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma de Técnico de Nivel Médio; Diploma de Técnico de Segundo Grau; Certificado de Auxiliar Técnico
School education:
Primary education lasts for eight years, is compulsory and leads to the Certificado de Conclusão de Ensiño Fundamental (a programme to extend primary education from 8 to nine years is at present underway in Brazil). Secondary education covers from grades 9 to 11. Pupils may also take a course ranging from three to five years in a variety of technical and vocational fields leading to the qualification of Certificado de Auxiliar Técnico (Assistant Technician), Diploma de Técnico de Nivel Médio (Technician) or Diploma de Técnico de Segundo Grau (second level Technician). Holders of these qualifications may take the university entrance examination. Training programmes have also been established in basic vocational training (Habilitação Básica) leading to a Certificado de Habilitação Básica.
Higher education:
Higher education is provided in public federal, state, municipal or confessional and private universities and other higher education institutions, foundations, federations and independent establishments. It is organized at two levels: undergraduate programmes which take usually from 4 to 6 years of study and graduate programmes lasting 2 to 6 years. The Ministry is conducting a consultation on a possible reform of the higher education system in Brazil.
Main laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: Federal Law 10172 (Plan Nacional de Educação) Year: 2001
Decree: Federal Law No 9394 (Lei de Diretrizes e Bases de Educação) Year: 1996
Languages of instruction: Portuguese
Stages of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):
Non-university level:
Vocational higher education is provided by public and private institutions. Institutions such as the Centros Federais de Educação Técnologica (CEFET-Federal Centres for Technological Education), the Centros de Educação Técnologica (CET), the Escolas técnicas, the SENAI (in industrial fields), the SENAC (in trade fields) and the SENAC (in agricultural fields) offer vocational courses.
University level studies:
University level first stage: Bacharelado, Licenciatura:
The first stage of higher education leads to the award of a Bacharelado which is usually obtained after four to six years of study, depending on the institution and the field of study (Odontology and Agriculture, four years; Architecture and Law, five years; Medicine, six years). The Licenciatura is generally awarded after four years' study to students who wish to become school teachers.
University level second stage: Mestrado:
The second stage, which is the first stage of postgraduate study, leads to the Mestrado, awarded upon completion of a minimum of one year's study following the Bacharelado or Licenciatura to students who have followed a certain number of courses, passed examinations and submitted a thesis.
University level third stage: Doutorado:
The third stage of higher education leads to the award of the Doutorado, the highest degree. The requirements for this degree are identical to those for the Mestrado. The Doutorado normally requires three to four years' further study.
Teacher education:
Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
Primary school teachers for grades 1 to 4 are trained in three- year secondary level training institutions. To teach up to the eighth grade, they must complete a three-year course at university level leading to the Licenciatura.
Training of secondary school teachers
The training of secondary school teachers takes place in the universities. The degree needed is the Licenciatura.
Training of higher education teachers
Higher education teachers are trained at the Bacharel (Auxiliar de Ensiño), Mestrado (Professor Assistente) and Doutorado ( Professor Adjunto) levels.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration & co-ordination:
Responsible authorities:
Ministério da Educação (Ministry of Education)
Head: Tarso Genro, Minister
Esplanada
dos Ministérios
Bloco L, Ed. Sede e Anexos
Brasília
DF 70.047-900, Brazil
Tel: +55(61) 2104 8484
Fax: +55(61) 2104 9198
WWW: http://portal.mec.gov.br/
Role of governing body: Administration of Higher Education in the country
SESU - Secretaria de Educação Superior
Head: Nelson Maculan, Secretário de Educação Superior
Esplanada
dos Ministérios -Bloco L
Brasilia
DF 70-047-903, Brazil
Tel: +55(61) 2104 8012
Fax: +55(61) 2104 9222
EMail: sesu@mec.gov.br
WWW: http://portal.mec.gov.br/sesu/
CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Head: Jorge Almeida Guimarães, President
Caixa
Postal 365
Brasilia
DF 70359-970, Brazil
Tel: +61 2104 8873/ 2104 8801
Fax: +61 321 3463
EMail: pr@capes.gov.brpr@capes.gov.br
WWW: http://www.capes.gov.br
CRUB - Conselho de Reitores das Universidades Brasileiras (Council of Brazilian University Rectors)
Head: Manassés Claudino Fonteles, President
Administrative officer: Maria Helena Alves Garcia, Secretary-General
SEP/NORTE
Q. 516 conj. D
Brasília
DF 70.770-545, Brazil
Tel: +55(61) 349 9010
Fax: +55(61) 274 4621
EMail: crub@crub.org.br
WWW: http://www.crub.org.br
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission to non university higher education studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Diploma de Técnico de Segundo Grau
Name of secondary school credential required: Certificado de Auxiliar Técnico
Name of secondary school credential required: Diploma de Técnico de Nivel Medio
Entrance exams required:
Prova de Suficiencia for SENAI and SENAC.
Admission to university-level studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Certificado de Auxiliar Técnico
Name of secondary school credential required: Diploma de Técnico de Segundo Grau
Name of secondary school credential required: Certificado de Ensino Médio
Minimum score/requirement: 3 in Portuguese, 3 in another discipline and above 1 in all the others
For entry to: All courses
Name of secondary school credential required: Diploma de Técnico de Nivel Medio
Entrance exams required: Concurso Vestibular with 3 as minimum mark in Portuguese, 3 in another discipline and over 1 in all the others .
Numerus clausus/restrictions: Yes.
Other admission requirements: Good knowledge of Portuguese.
Foreign students admission
Admission requirements: Foreign students must hold a secondary-school-leaving certificate that is recognized by the Ministry of Education and pass an examination (Concurso Vestibular) comprising papers in Portuguese language and Brazilian History and Geography. Students from Latin American and African countries which have signed cultural agreements with Brazil are exempted from this examination and from paying tuition fees.
Language requirements: Foreign students must have a good command of Portuguese.
Application procedures:
Apply to individual institution for entry to: Postgraduate Studies: Pro-Rectorships for Graduate Studies and Research.
Apply to national body for entry to: Undergraduate Studies
Apply to:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and/or Ministry Education
MEC - Esplanada dos
Ministerios
Brasilia-DF
Brasilia 70047-903, Brazil
Tel: +55(61) 225 6515
Fax: +55(61) 224 3618
WWW: http://www.mec.gov.br
Recognition of studies & qualifications:
Studies pursued in home country (System of recognition/accreditation): Quality assessment for undergraduate courses is carried out regularly by the institutions and annually by the Ministry of Education. For graduate courses, the evaluation is carried out by the CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior).
Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
Office of Recognition of Foreign Studies, Ministry of Education (Ministério de Educação (MEC))
Esplanada dos
Ministérios, Bloco L
Brasília
DF 70047-903, Brazil
Tel: +55(61) 225 6032
Fax: +55(61) 224 8920
WWW: http://www.mec.gov.br
Services provided & students dealt with: Foreign students are entitled to all the facilities available to Brazilian students: scholarships, loans (for accommodation, transport, meals, books and documentation) and assistance with the payment of study fees
Special provisions for recognition:
For access to non-university post-secondary studies: Access to a higher technical/vocational institution is based on secondary school certification and the passing of examinations in each institution.
For access to university level studies: Access to university-level studies is based on secondary school certification and the passing of examination in each unity of institution.
For access to advanced studies and research: Graduate study diploma.
For the exercise of a profession: Professional diploma.
Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies
Name of agreement: Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Year of signature: 1974
Name of agreement: Prot. de Integ. Educ. sobre Reconhecimento de Titulos Univers. para o Prosseguimento de Estudos de Pos Grad. entre Universidad. dos Paises da Am.Latina e Caribe
Year of signature: 1991
STUDENT LIFE
National student associations and unions
União Nacional de Estudantes (UNE)
Rua do Catete, 243
Rio de Janeiro
RJ, Brazil
Tel: +55(21) 205 2305
WWW: http://www.une.org.br/home/
Health/social provisions
Social security for home students: No
Social security for foreign students: No
Foreign student social security provisions: There is a national system for all citizens, which is therefore available to home students. There are also several paying private systems.
Special student travel fares:
By road: No
By rail: No
By air: No
Available to foreign students: No
Student expenses and financial aid
Type of financial aid available:
Scholarships/grants/fellowships:
Higher vocational/technical studies:
Home: Yes
Foreign: Yes
First Degree studies:
Home: No
Foreign: No
Advanced/doctoral studies:
Home: Yes
Foreign: Yes
Loans:
Higher vocational/technical studies:
Home: No
Foreign: No
First degree studies:
Home: No
Foreign: No
Advanced/doctoral studies:
Home: No
Foreign: No
Bodies providing information on student financial aid:
MEC
Esplanada dos
Ministerios
Brasilia DF
70047-903, Brazil
Tel: +55(61) 225 6032
Fax: +55(61) 224 8920
WWW: http://www.mec.gov.br
Deals with: Grants
Publications on student services and financial aid:
Title: Study Abroad 2004-2005, 32nd Edition
Publisher: UNESCO
Year of publication: 2003
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES
Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:
International Relations, Ministry of Education
Esplanada dos
Ministerios - Bloco L
Brasilia DF
70047-900, Brazil
Tel: +55(61) 410 8444
Fax: +55(61) 410 9233
WWW: http://www.mec.gov.br
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading system in secondary school
Full Description: 10-0: 9-10: superior superior; 7-8: media superior; 5-6: media media; 364: media inferior; 1-2: inferior inferior; 0: sin rendimento.
Highest on scale: 10
Pass/fail level: 5
Lowest on scale: 0
Main grading system used by higher education institutions
Full Description: Different grading systems are used. Generally, a 10-0 grading system is used for course and research work. Some degrees require a final exam, such as in Medicine, Engineering and Law.
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for academic year: 2004-2005
Source: University of São Paulo, 2001, updated from International Comparisons CD-ROM and the Ministry of Education website, 2004