São Paulo offers several ways to study abroad, from an exchange semester to a full degree or a research placement. Its public universities and private schools cover subjects as varied as medicine, engineering, the arts, and business, with some courses available in English. Where you enroll will shape both your academic options and everyday life, including tuition, housing, and the trip to class.
You can come to São Paulo for a semester of business courses, a full humanities degree, or a research project in a university laboratory. Public universities, private universities, and specialist schools offer different ways to study, with options across engineering, health, the arts, economics, and management. Some exchange programs include classes in English, while Portuguese is central to many degree courses.
Where you study makes a difference to daily life. A course at USP's Cidade Universitária in Butantã puts you in a different part of the city from a school near Avenida Paulista or in Vila Olímpia. Your accommodation and commute will shape the week alongside classes, reading, and assignments. Libraries, student organizations, sports, and cultural activities give you ways to meet people both on campus and around the city.
Universities and other higher education institutions in São Paulo
Public universities
The University of São Paulo (USP) has a broad range of subjects, from the humanities and arts to engineering and laboratory research. Many of its schools are based at Cidade Universitária in Butantã, but others are elsewhere in the city. Each faculty has its own international office, which handles questions about admission and course enrollment. The university's undergraduate study information explains its degree options and entry routes.
For health-related study, consider the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). Its São Paulo campus includes medicine, nursing, and speech-language pathology. Unifesp also has campuses in other municipalities, so the campus-specific course catalog matters when choosing a program: studying at Unifesp does not always mean living in São Paulo itself.
Private universities and specialist schools
PUC-SP, the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, offers subjects including law, psychology, and the humanities. Psychology is taught at the Monte Alegre campus in Perdizes and takes at least 10 semesters. Students who want a shorter stay can apply through a partner-university exchange or, outside a partnership, through the special-student route.
If you're interested in business, economics, or management, the choices include FGV and Insper. FGV EAESP, the São Paulo School of Business Administration at Fundação Getulio Vargas, offers undergraduate and graduate study in areas including business administration, public administration, and international management. Its study options also include programs for working professionals. Some programs and courses are available in English.
Insper, in Vila Olímpia, combines business and economics with law, computing, and engineering. Exchange students can choose from courses taught in English, with the selection changing each semester. The course content and prerequisites must still fit the study plan agreed with your home university.
When browsing programs, graduação means undergraduate degree study. A mestrado is a master's program, and a doutorado is a doctorate. Specialization courses and MBAs have their own aims, length, and fees, so they need to be considered separately from research degrees.
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Admissions and fees in São Paulo
Applying for an exchange or a full degree
An exchange starts with the university where you're already enrolled. Your home institution selects and nominates you, then you complete the host university's application. The two institutions approve a learning agreement covering the courses you'll take and how they will count toward your studies when you return.
At USP, nominated students apply through the Mundus system. If your university has no partnership, acceptance depends on the faculty you want to join. PUC-SP also accepts applications outside exchange agreements through its estudante especial category. In that case, you contact the international office directly rather than assuming the partner-exchange procedure applies.
For a full degree, you apply through the program's own admissions process. One route into an undergraduate degree at USP is the FUVEST entrance examination, which has several stages and is taken in Portuguese. The application period usually runs from August to early October for entry the following year. Master's and doctoral programs publish their own calls for applications, with requirements tied to the subject and research project.
The PUC-SP exchange application illustrates the paperwork involved: a passport copy, proof of enrollment at your home institution, academic transcripts, a CV, application forms, and a motivation letter written in Portuguese. A full degree may involve additional requirements for qualifications earned abroad. Those requirements belong to the admissions process for the particular program.
Language requirements
Most courses at USP are taught in Portuguese, so you'll need to be comfortable reading, discussing, and writing in the language. The university recommends at least B1 Portuguese for exchange students, although a formal language-test certificate is not required across all faculties. Individual schools may set different requirements. Course availability in English is also decided at the faculty or school level, so it must match the courses you intend to take.
Tuition and exchange waivers
USP's regular undergraduate degrees are tuition-free. Short courses and specializations can have different arrangements. At a private institution, a partnership can remove the host university's tuition charge for an exchange: PUC-SP waives tuition for students covered by its exchange agreements. Special students outside those agreements pay according to their study plan.
A full private degree can be a substantial additional expense. For example, new students in PUC-SP's psychology program pay BRL 6,151 a month, approximately USD 1,100. That is the price for this program, not a typical private-university fee. Even with an exchange tuition waiver, you still need to pay for housing, food, insurance, international travel, and administrative expenses.
Scholarships and financial aid
The PEC-G program offers tuition-free undergraduate places to eligible applicants from partner countries living outside Brazil. Applications involve evidence of secondary education, financial support, and Portuguese proficiency, along with the program's other conditions.
For graduate study, PEC-PG provides funding for international master's and doctoral students, subject to participating countries, available places, and the relevant call for applications. FAPESP, the São Paulo state research foundation, also accepts foreign applicants for master's scholarships. A research project, a supervisor, and an assessment of the application are part of that route. A place on a degree program and a scholarship are separate decisions.
FGV EAESP has merit-based scholarships and need-based assistance. Its Fundo de Bolsas also offers funding that must be repaid, alongside aid without a repayment requirement. Eligibility depends on the program and the rules of the particular scheme.
Support for international students in São Paulo
Getting help on campus
Your university's international office is the first contact for academic arrangements. At PUC-SP, the Assessoria de Relações Internacionais e Interinstitucionais (ARII) handles international applications and issues acceptance letters. At USP, your faculty office handles courses and enrollment. Some questions are also easier to work through with a student who already knows the city: in participating units, USP Connections pairs international students with local students who can help with housing searches, public transport, immigration procedures, and Portuguese practice.
Insper runs a welcome week and a buddy program with local students. Its student-life, well-being, and academic support is available in English. FGV EAESP holds an orientation day before classes start. These are also opportunities to get to know other students early in your stay.
Portuguese courses are available alongside regular study, with separate charges where applicable. FGV EAESP offers an optional paid intensive course before classes. PUC-SP offers a live online Brazilian Portuguese course at several levels. For USP's language center, the options presented to FEA-USP exchange students include a one-week beginner intensive for BRL 132 and a three-month intermediate or advanced course for BRL 156.
Visas, registration, and insurance
The VITEM IV temporary study visa covers regular studies, exchanges, and internships that qualify for this category. The e-consular portal directs you to the Brazilian consular office responsible for your area. The application includes your passport, evidence of acceptance or enrollment, proof of funds or a scholarship, and the documents requested by that office. For regular courses and study exchanges, the general minimum is 15 class hours a week, with exceptions possible in justified cases.
If you enter Brazil on a temporary visa, you must register with the Federal Police within 90 days of arrival. This involves an online form and an appointment for identification and biometric data, leading to the resident identity card known as the CRNM, or Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório.
Applying for study residence from within Brazilis a separate procedure from registering a visa that has already been granted. The application includes proof of enrollment and funds, criminal-record documents, and relevant documents such as birth or marriage records. Documents issued abroad must meet the applicable legalization and translation rules.
Insurance requirements also come from the institution receiving you. For example, USP's veterinary medicine school requires health insurance for the entire exchange, including medical expenses and repatriation. Another useful document is the CPF, Brazil's individual tax identification number, which is needed for some everyday services and the student transport card. The international office can help identify the procedures that apply to your stay.
Where to live as an international student in São Paulo
Student neighborhoods
Start with the address where your classes will take place. For USP's Cidade Universitária, Butantã offers the option to live near campus. Pinheiros and Vila Madalena are other areas identified by USP's Institute of Physics. They offer access to shops and places to go out, but you still need to account for the journey to your faculty. Butantã station on Line 4 and Cidade Universitária station on Line 9 serve the university area, with a further journey to some campus buildings.
Elsewhere, PUC-SP's Monte Alegre campus is in Perdizes, FGV EAESP is in Bela Vista, and Insper is in Vila Olímpia. A room near a station may still require a bus ride to class. Living within walking distance avoids that daily fare. For evening classes, look at the actual walk home, including sidewalks and lighting, rather than judging the journey only by the neighborhood name.
Student accommodation
You can look for a room in a private home, a shared apartment, a private student residence, or a studio. USP exchange students generally need to find off-campus accommodation. FEA-USP sends private-residence contacts to nominated students, while student welcome programs can help you understand listings and choose an area.
A furnished room is practical for a semester because you won't have to buy furniture. Before agreeing to a price, establish whether it includes water, electricity, internet, building charges, cleaning, and access to shared facilities. Booking somewhere temporary for your arrival gives you time to visit longer-term options before signing.
For a residential tenancy covered by Brazil's rental law, the landlord may use a guarantor or another permitted form of security. A cash deposit cannot exceed 3 months' rent and must be held in a savings account. Multiple forms of rental guarantee cannot be required in the same contract. A serviced student residence has its own terms to read, particularly the length of the stay, cancellation, and refunds.
Cost of living for students in São Paulo
Housing will take up the largest part of your budget. For the residences proposed to FEA-USP exchange students, allow around BRL 2,150 a month for shared accommodation (about USD 380), or BRL 2,750 for an individual option (about USD 490). The residence must confirm what is included in the charge.
A broader planning example is FGV EAESP's indicative monthly budget of BRL 3,840, about USD 690. It covers a room in a shared apartment, food, transport, and study supplies. Within that total, food accounts for about BRL 800 (USD 140), and materials and supplies for BRL 180. Tuition, where payable, insurance, international travel, and the costs of getting settled are separate expenses.
Access to university dining makes a big difference to food spending. At USP's central university restaurant, eligible students pay BRL 2 for lunch or dinner. For a meal outside the university, FEA-USP's budgeting guidance allows around BRL 30-50. Having somewhere to cook and eating on campus will affect how far your food budget goes.
The metro and trains cost BRL 5.40 for a single journey, while a municipal bus trip costs BRL 5.30. With SPTrans student credit, the bus fare is BRL 2.65, and the integrated bus-and-rail fare is BRL 5.35, subject to the relevant usage conditions. To apply for or renew a Bilhete Único student card, your institution first sends your enrollment details to SPTrans. Free travel has additional eligibility criteria.
Students can also qualify for half-price admission to covered cinema screenings, shows, and sporting events. You need the student identification required by the rules, and the statutory allocation of discounted tickets is limited. A university card does not necessarily serve the same purpose as the ID required for this discount.
Student jobs in São Paulo
If you hold residence status in Brazil for study, you can take paid work that fits around your course, exchange, or internship. Study-residence rules do not set a general weekly work limit for students. Your actual immigration status and any scholarship conditions must also allow the work you intend to do.
Internships in Brazil have their own rules. Under the internship law, the usual limit for higher-education students is 6 hours a day and 30 hours a week, with exceptions for particular educational arrangements. Enrollment at a university abroad can qualify. An agreement between you, the host organization, and the educational institution must outline the internship activities, including required supervision and insurance. If the internship isn't required for the course, the host must provide a stipend and transport assistance.
For opportunities linked to your studies, the careers office is a useful place to start. FGV EAESP's careers service works with exchange students as well as other students, advertises jobs and internships, holds recruitment events, and handles internship agreements and related paperwork. Whether a role works for you also depends on the language used at work and your class schedule.
The internship offer specifies the stipend. Plan your stay around funds you already have, then include employment income once the recruitment and contract terms are confirmed. Permission to work doesn't determine how much you'll earn or whether that income will cover rent and study costs.
Classmates, group projects, student organizations, and buddy programs give you different ways to meet people. The student bodies known as centros acadêmicos represent students in individual programs, while sports associations and university projects offer activities beyond class. Much of your social life can grow from the people you see regularly during the week.
At USP, students can use CEPEUSP, the university's sports center, with the required university documentation. There are also libraries, cultural projects, and other campus activities. CINUSP, USP's cinema, offers free screenings, film series, and discussions.
Beyond campus, cafés, cinemas, museums, and outings with classmates provide other ways to spend your free time. Getting home adds to the cost: several transfers or a car journey can make an evening out more expensive. Academic commitments still set the pace of the week, with reading, presentations, and exams. At FGV EAESP, attendance and participation in class are expected of students.
Frequently asked questions
São Paulo has public and private universities, as well as specialist schools offering exchanges, full degrees, and research opportunities. Portuguese is important for many programs, although some exchange courses are taught in English. Your campus location, accommodation, and budget will shape the experience as much as your subject choice.
USP covers a broad range of subjects, while Unifesp’s São Paulo campus focuses on health-related studies. PUC-SP offers options including law, psychology, and the humanities. FGV EAESP and Insper also offer business, economics, and related fields. The right choice depends on your program, language skills, and budget, not a single overall ranking.
Regular undergraduate degrees at USP are tuition-free. Private tuition depends on the program and your status: PUC-SP waives host tuition for partner-exchange students but charges special students according to their study plan. Its full psychology degree costs new students BRL 6,151 a month, approximately USD 1,100, before living expenses.
For an exchange, your home university usually nominates you before you complete the host application. Full-degree applicants follow the program’s admissions process; FUVEST is one undergraduate entry route at USP. Master’s and doctoral programs publish their own calls for applications.
For USP’s Cidade Universitária, Butantã is an option near campus, with Pinheiros and Vila Madalena among the other areas identified by the university. Monte Alegre at PUC-SP is in Perdizes, FGV EAESP is in Bela Vista, and Insper is in Vila Olímpia. Use the actual teaching address when working out the commute.
FGV EAESP’s indicative budget is about BRL 3,840 a month (about USD 690) for a room in a shared apartment, food, transport, and study supplies. It is an institutional planning example, not a citywide average. Tuition, insurance, international travel, and getting-settled expenses are separate.
Residents in Brazil for study can do paid work compatible with their academic schedule, subject to their immigration status and scholarship terms. The study-residence rule sets no general student-specific weekly cap. Higher-education internships ordinarily have a limit of 6 hours a day and 30 hours a week, with exceptions for educational purposes.
International offices help with applications, enrollment, and academic arrangements. Some schools also have orientation and buddy programs. USP Connections operates in participating units, while Insper provides student-life, well-being, and academic support in English. Portuguese courses are also available, with fees depending on the course.
You can meet people through classes, group projects, student organizations, sports associations, and buddy programs. Cultural and sporting activities are available on campus, alongside cafés, museums, and other outings in the city. At USP, CINUSP holds free film screenings, and CEPEUSP provides sports facilities under its access rules.
Metro lines, trains, and buses connect the city’s campuses and neighborhoods. A single metro or train trip costs BRL 5.40, and a municipal bus journey costs BRL 5.30. The Bilhete Único student card provides discounts under its eligibility and usage rules after the institution submits enrollment details. Some campuses require a further bus ride or walk from the station.
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