The Undergraduate Students-Agreement Program (PEC-G) is a partnership between federal, state, and private universities and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education, which selects foreign students to pursue a degree in Brazil. The universities offer higher education opportunities to citizens of developing countries with which Brazil has educational and cultural agreements.
Decree No. 7,948, of March 12, 2013, ensures the training and qualification of foreign students by offering free places in undergraduate courses at Brazilian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The program was officially created in 1965 in response to the increase in the number of foreign students in Brazil during the 1960s, the need to standardize the conditions of student exchange in the country, and the demand to ensure equal treatment for students by universities.
Currently, the PEC-G program is governed by the Department of Scientific and Technological Issues, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Secretariat of Higher Education (SESu), representing the Ministry of Education. Africa is the continent of origin for most students, with a special emphasis on Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Angola. In Latin America, the largest participation comes from Paraguay, Ecuador, and Peru.
To be selected, foreign students must meet certain criteria, such as being able to cover their expenses in Brazil, having a certificate of completion of high school or an equivalent course, and demonstrating proficiency in the Portuguese language. Preference is given to individuals aged between 18 and 23, who are selected for socioeconomic development programs agreed upon between Brazil and their countries of origin.
a Promisaes Grant
The Milton Santos Project for Access to Higher Education (Promisaes) aims to foster technical, scientific, and cultural cooperation between Brazil and countries with which it has agreements, especially in Africa, in the areas of education and culture. The program offers financial support to foreign students participating in PEC-G. To be eligible for the Promisaes, students must be enrolled in a federal higher education institution and demonstrate good academic performance, in accordance with the requirements of the university where they are studying. (https://www.prograd.ufop.br/sites/default/files/portaria_745_2012_promisaes.pdf)
Merit Grant
The Merit Grant aims to encourage excellent student performance by offering financial support to foreign students enrolled in PEC-G who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements. Additional information about the selection process can be found in the convocations issued by the Guimarães Rosa Institute (IGR), published each semester by the General Secretariat for Foreign Affairs, Consular Affairs, Cooperation and Culture, and the Guimarães Rosa Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE).
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