Scholarships for Brazilian students include university tuition awards, undergraduate research stipends, graduate research funding and overseas study awards. The right option depends on your citizenship, current enrollment, degree level and intended destination. Start with those four checks before comparing award values or filling out an application.
Official sources checked: October 3, 2026. Independent guide by Excelsior Scholarships; applications go to the official sponsor.
Which funding route fits your goal?
| Your goal | Route to investigate | First contact |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce private undergraduate tuition | University social or merit scholarship | Institutional admissions and financial aid |
| Start research during college | PIBIC, PIBITI or another institutional research award | Research office and potential supervisor |
| Fund a graduate research degree in Brazil | CAPES, CNPq or a state research foundation | Graduate program or research supervisor |
| Study for a master’s abroad | Country awards and university scholarships | Official sponsor and chosen university |
This comparison is a starting point, rather than a promise of eligibility. A Brazilian student studying overseas may face different residency rules from an applicant living in Brazil. A university award may also apply only to a particular campus, course or admission round. Write your intended degree and location at the top of your shortlist so you can remove unsuitable results quickly.
Undergraduate tuition and research scholarships
For an example of institution-specific tuition support, review ESPM’s official scholarships and benefits page. Its social scholarship routes distinguish household income bands and selection methods. Read the regulation for the route you will actually use; an ENEM application and a vestibular application can have different dates.
Research funding has a different purpose. The CNPq institutional research programs support scientific or technological training through participating institutions. An undergraduate research stipend is not automatically a tuition waiver. Ask whether you need a supervisor, an approved project and current enrollment before preparing a proposal.
Graduate funding in Brazil and abroad
For study outside Brazil, Chevening’s Brazil award page is one official route for a UK master’s. The 2027–28 application deadline is October 6, 2027 at 11:00 UTC. This is a graduate award with separate experience and course requirements, so it should not appear on an undergraduate-only application list.
For domestic research degrees, begin with the graduate program. Ask whether admission and scholarship selection are separate, whether there is a waiting list, and when funding can start. A successful admission decision may arrive before the program allocates its scholarship quota. Keep enough flexibility in your budget to understand that timing.
Build a shortlist you can use
- Record citizenship, residence, degree level and intended start date.
- Open the sponsor’s current notice and record its publication year.
- Separate tuition support, living support, travel and repayable financing.
- Record both admission and scholarship deadlines, including time zones.
- List the documents you already have and the ones you must request.
For example, a bachelor’s student seeking a research placement should prioritize institutional research calls. A graduate with professional experience seeking a UK master’s should examine overseas award eligibility and course admissions together. Applying the same generic checklist to both applicants wastes time and can hide a missing qualification.
Compare the cost after the award
Make a simple budget with columns for tuition, housing, meals, transport, insurance and one-time arrival expenses. Mark each item as covered, partly covered or your responsibility. For any benefit described as a discount, calculate the remaining tuition in currency rather than focusing only on the percentage. For an overseas stipend, investigate the actual city where you will live.
Use our college application checklist to organize documents, our study in Brazil guide to compare destination requirements, and the Harvard Lemann fellowship guide for a specific graduate funding route.
Frequently asked questions
Can Brazilian students apply for international scholarships?
Yes, when the sponsor accepts their citizenship and residence and they meet the award’s academic requirements. Check the country page rather than assuming a worldwide announcement includes every applicant.
Does a research stipend pay my tuition?
Only if the award explicitly includes that benefit. A stipend for research work and a tuition scholarship serve different expenses.
Is there one deadline for Brazil scholarships?
No. Universities, sponsors and individual graduate programs publish separate calendars. Keep each deadline attached to its own call.
What should I prepare first?
Start with a current transcript, proof of enrollment or graduation, and a shortlist of suitable courses. Then request the documents required by your chosen sponsor.