Top nine universities in Brazil
Scroll down for the full list of universities in Brazil
| Brazil Rank 2024 | World University Ranking 2024 | World University Ranking 2023 | University | City/State |
| 1 | 201–250 | 201–250 | University of São Paulo | São Paulo |
| 2 | 351–400 | 401–500 | University of Campinas | São Paulo |
| =3 | 601–800 | 1001–1200 | Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) | São Paulo |
| =3 | 601–800 | 1001–1200 | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro | Rio de Janeiro |
| =3 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul | Rio Grande do Sul |
| =6 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Federal University of Minas Gerais | Minas Gerais |
| =6 | 801–1000 | 1001–1200 | Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina | Santa Catarina |
| =6 | 801–1000 | 601–800 | Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) | São Paulo |
| =6 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) | Rio de Janeiro |
Brazil is the largest country in Latin America and the fifth largest country in the world, with a population of more than 211 million people. Its official language is Portuguese, which is spoken by 98 per cent of the population.
It has more than 7,200km of coastline, 2,000 beaches and the world’s largest rainforest (and a quarter of the world’s total rainforest area). Anthropologists estimate that there are 60 undiscovered tribes in these dense jungles.
Its cities are similarly world renowned – from São Paulo, the largest city in the world, to Rio de Janeiro, home of the 2016 Olympic Games, to Brasilia, the utopian-esque capital designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
It is among the world’s fastest growing major economies, with economic reforms that are constantly pushing it forward on the international stage.
Below are some of the best universities to study at in Brazil based on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.
Top five universities in Brazil
=3. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
The Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul originates from the Escola de Farmácia e Química in 1895 and consolidating into the Universidade de Porto Alegre in 1934. It was renamed Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in 1947 and became a federal university in 1950. It is one of Brazil's largest federal universities, with over 27,000 undergraduate students, 9,300 graduate students, and more than 2,500 professors.
Located primarily in Porto Alegre, the university has four campuses and numerous buildings, including 29 colleges divided into 94 departments. The university offers an extensive array of facilities, including 500 laboratories, 33 libraries, 37 lecture halls, museums, botanical gardens, and a prominent national hospital, the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre.
=3. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is one of Brazil's largest universities. It was established in 1792 with laboratories, libraries, and hospitals among its many facilities. The university operates across multiple campuses in Rio de Janeiro, with its primary focus on Ilha do Fundão, offering a wide range of services for students.
The university offers a diverse range of undergraduate courses, exceeding 170 options, along with opportunities for postgraduate and research students. UFRJ actively engages in international cooperation, welcoming international students to study in Rio.
The university has a notable list of successful alumni, including writer Jorge Amado, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Osvaldo Aranha, and physician Oswaldo Cruz.
=3. Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) founded in 1976, is one of Brazil's largest public universities with 24 campuses across the state. It excels in research, particularly in health, engineering, humanities, and social sciences.
It is one of three public universities in Brazil which offers a free education to its students.
The university is made up of a number of colleges, institutes and technical colleges.
Unesp's campuses host various contemporary artworks, historical artifacts, museums, farms, hospitals, and libraries.
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2. University of Campinas
Opened in 1966, the University of Campinas is based in the São Paulo state region, although it has affiliate campuses in Limeira and Paulínia.
It has established itself as a primary medical and scientific research centre and produces a large amount of patented material.
International undergraduates will need to sit an exam to gain admission, which will require a strong understanding of Portuguese.
Alumni of UniCamp include the actor Petrônio Gontijo, historian and gay rights activist Luiz Mott, and economist Paulo Renato Souza.
1. University of São Paulo
Founded in 1934, the University of São Paulo was the result of the collaboration of the Faculdade de Direito do Largo de São Francisco (Law), the Polytechnic School (Engineering) and the Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (Agriculture).
It is Brazil’s largest public university and one of the biggest higher education institutions in Latin America. The city of São Paulo is home to four of its 11 campuses; the others are in Bauru, Lorena, Piracicaba, Pirassununga, Ribeirão Preto and two in São Carlos.
The university campuses include 70 libraries, five affiliated hospitals, 24 museums and galleries, two theatres, a cinema and its own student-run TV channel. A large proportion of Brazilian scientific papers are produced at the university, too.
Notable alumni include the former president of Brazil Michel Miguel Elias Temer Lulia, the writer, professor, sociologist and literary critic Antonio Candido de Mello e Souza, and Guido Mantega, Brazil’s former finance minister.
Top universities in Brazil 2024
Click each institution to view its World University Rankings 2024 profile
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