Brazil Government Scholarship for International Students

I've heard that Brazil offers government scholarships for international students, but I'm unsure about the details. How does one apply for these scholarships, and what are the eligibility criteria and benefits?

You're correct that Brazil offers government scholarships for international students. They're provided through a program called Programa de Estudante-Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G).

To apply for the PEC-G scholarship, the process usually begins in your home country. You apply through the Brazilian embassy or consulate there. The complete list of documents to be delivered to the diplomatic representation usually includes an application form, a statement of purpose, high school transcripts, and other supporting documents. Now, coming to the eligibility criteria, typically you need to:

1. Be between 18 and 25 years old (this may vary slightly depending on the program),

2. Have completed high school.

3. Have proficiency in Portuguese or be willing to take Portuguese courses before starting your studies,

4. Have the financial means to support your living expenses in Brazil. Even though the PEC-G scholarship covers the tuition fee, it does not offer any financial aid for living costs.

Regarding the benefits, as a PEC-G scholar, your tuition fees in the public universities are waived, and you also do not need to pay for the application fee for the entrance exams (called "Vestibular"). Once you're enrolled, you're also eligible to apply for scholarships from the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). But these are competitive and primarily aimed at encouraging research.

It's important to note that besides the PEC-G, Brazil also has other scholarship programs funded by universities or private institutions, which offer different benefits and have different application processes and criteria. So, I'd also suggest looking into those. Lastly, do check the latest updates on the scholarship parameters since they may change every year.