Study Abroad from Brazil — Complete Guide 2026
Brazil has strong outbound student mobility, driven by government funding programmes. Yet English-language resources for Brazilian students are virtually nonexistent. This guide covers the best destinations, scholarships, and pathways for Brazilians in 2026.
Best destinations for Brazilian students
| Country | Why it works | Tuition/yr | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Same language, CPLP agreements | €950–7,000 | Cultural proximity, EU access |
| Germany | Free tuition, CAPES-DAAD bilateral | €0–350 | 10K+ Brazilians enrolled |
| France | €243 tuition, CAPES-COFECUB | €243 | Bilateral research agreements |
| Canada | PGWP, Mitacs internships | CAD 15,000–35,000 | Growing Brazilian community |
| Spain | Language proximity, affordable | €2,000–5,000 | Carolina Foundation scholarships |
| Argentina | Free tuition, Mercosur mobility | €0 | No tuition, simplified residency |
Brazilian government scholarships
- CAPES — Funds master's, PhD, and post-doc abroad. Bilateral programmes include CAPES-DAAD (Germany), CAPES-COFECUB (France), CAPES-Print (various).
- CNPq — Research scholarships for PhD and post-doctoral studies abroad, primarily STEM.
- Fulbright Brazil — Master's and PhD in the USA. Covers tuition, stipend, health insurance, travel.
- Erasmus Mundus — EU-funded joint programmes with full scholarships for Latin American students.
- Carolina Foundation (Spain) — Scholarships for Latin American students in Spanish master's programmes.
The Portugal advantage
Portugal is the most natural destination — same language, CPLP preferential treatment, streamlined visa process. Universities charge €950–7,000/year with living costs of €600–900/month in Lisbon or Porto. After graduating, a 1-year job seeker visa is available.
Free tuition options
Germany charges no tuition regardless of nationality. With CAPES-DAAD bilateral funding, Brazilians have a strong pipeline — over 10,000 currently study there.
Argentina offers free education constitutionally. As a Mercosur member, Brazilians have simplified residency.
France charges just €243/year at public universities with CAPES-COFECUB providing additional funding.
Visa advantages
Brazilian passport holders have visa-free Schengen access for 90 days — useful for university visits and apartment hunting. Student visa processing is generally straightforward through the well-developed consular network.
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Start Free AssessmentCountry-by-Country Breakdown for Brazilian Students
Portugal
The obvious first choice for most Brazilians — no language barrier, similar culture, and Brazilian degrees are more easily recognised. Public university tuition ranges from €700–1,500/year. The D4 student visa is straightforward. After graduation, you can apply for a job search visa and eventually permanent residency. Porto and Coimbra offer excellent quality of life at lower costs than Lisbon. The PEC-G and PEC-PG programmes specifically support Brazilian students.
Germany
Public universities charge €0–350/semester. Brazilian students can study in English at the master's level at universities like TU Munich, LMU, and Humboldt. The DAAD offers specific scholarships for Brazilian researchers. The blocked account requirement (€11,904) is the main financial hurdle. Germany's 18-month post-study work visa and clear path to permanent residency make it excellent for those planning to stay long-term. Brazilian engineering graduates are particularly well-positioned for Germany's industrial job market.
Spain
A unique advantage: Brazilian citizens can obtain Spanish nationality after just 2 years of legal residence (vs 10 years for most other nationalities). Public university tuition is €2,000–5,000/year. Living costs in cities like Valencia, Seville, and Granada are very manageable. Spanish is close enough to Portuguese that most Brazilians achieve fluency quickly. Business schools like IE, ESADE, and IESE are globally ranked and actively recruit from Latin America.
France
Public university tuition is just €243/year for master's programmes. The Campus France Brazil office provides dedicated support. The Eiffel Scholarship specifically targets students from strategic partner countries including Brazil. The 2-year post-study APS visa (extended in 2025) gives time to find employment. Paris is expensive, but Lyon, Toulouse, and Bordeaux offer excellent education at much lower living costs. Many French business and engineering schools offer programmes in English.
Canada
The 3-year PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit) leads to permanent residency through Express Entry. Brazilian students benefit from the Brazilian community already established in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Tuition is higher than Europe (CAD 20,000–45,000/year) but the PR pathway offsets this. Quebec offers a unique option: French-speaking Brazilian students can leverage the PEQ programme for faster immigration.
Financial Planning for Brazilian Students
With the Real's volatility against the Euro and Dollar, financial planning is critical. Start converting currency in installments rather than all at once. Some strategies that work: applying to countries with low or no tuition (Germany, France, Turkey), targeting fully funded scholarships (Erasmus Mundus, DAAD, Eiffel), considering Portugal for the lowest total cost in a Portuguese-speaking environment, and choosing Spain if long-term EU residency is the goal (2-year fast-track to nationality). Many Brazilian students also look at dual-degree programmes through university partnerships, which can reduce overall costs significantly.
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