Brazil adopts a mixed system of public and private funded universities. Higher education is taught at isolated schools or universities. Brazilian higher education is composed of public and private universities and colleges. Public institutions are considered to provide a higher quality education although private schools have been improving their quality and narrowing the gap.
Public universities are fully funded by the federal and state governments, as required by the Brazilian constitution.
Admission to public universities is very competitive since undergraduate education is free and the quality is higher.
University level studies
Higher education in Brazil can be divided into both undergraduate and graduate work. In addition to providing education, universities promote research and provide stand-alone classes to the community.
University levels
Undergraduate degrees – in Brazil called “graduate” degrees (graduação):
- Bachelor’s (Bacharelado): varying between 3 to 6 years of full time studies for completion. Enables individuals to act as professionals in a certain area (e.g., lawyer, economist, physician)
- Licentiate (Licenciatura): varying between 3 to 4 years of full time studies for completion. Enables individuals to act as elementary or secondary school teachers in a certain area (e.g., licensed teacher of Math, of English, of Biology)
- Technology (Tecnologia): varying between 2 to 3 years of full time studies for completion. Shorter, more specific professional courses aimed at providing highly specialized knowledge in a shorter amount of time (e.g., technologist on agribusiness, technologist on tourism management)
University levels
Graduate degrees – in Brazil called “postgraduate” degrees (Pós-graduação):
- “Lato sensu postgraduate” degrees: it represents a specialization in a certain area, and takes from 1 to 2 years until completion. If the person is interested in a PhD, a strictu sensu master’s degree should be taken instead. MBA programs in Brazil are classified as lato sensu programs.
- “Stricto sensu postgraduate” degrees: enable the individual to pursue an academic career. In a chronological order:
- Master’s degree (Mestrado): 1 to 2 years of full time studies for completion. Often serves as additional qualification for those seeking a differential on the job market, or for those who want to pursue a PhD.
- Doctoral degree / PhD (Doutorado): 3-4 years for completion. Usually used as a stepstone for an academic life.
- Postdoctoral degree (Pós-doutorado): usually denotes excellency on a field of knowledge.
