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Best universities in Brazil 2024

Find the best universities in Brazil using Times Higher Education’s World University Ranking 2024 data

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October 13 2023
Best universities in Brazil

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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

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
=10 1001–1200 1201–1500 Federal University of São Carlos São Paulo
=10 1001–1200 801–1000 Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Rio Grande do Sul
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 University of Brasília Brasília, Federal District
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) Rio de Janeiro
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC) São Paulo
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Universidade Federal da Bahia Bahia
=12 1201–1500 1501+ Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC) Ceará
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Federal University of Espírito Santo Espírito Santo
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Federal University of Goiás Goiás
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Federal University of Lavras Minas Gerais
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) Paraná
=12 1201–1500 1501+ Federal University of Pernambuco Pernambuco
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) Rio Grande do Norte
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Federal University of Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Federal University of Uberlândia Minas Gerais
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Federal University of Viçosa Minas Gerais
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná Paraná
=12 1201–1500 1201–1500 Unisinos University Rio Grande do Sul
=28 1501+ 1501+ Catholic University of Brasília Federal District
=28 1501+ 1501+ University of Caxias do Sul Rio Grande do Sul
=28 1501+ 1501+ Ceará State University Ceará
=28 1501+ NR Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca (CEFET-RJ) Rio de Janeiro
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina Santa Catarina
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro Rio de Janeiro
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Estadual de Maringá Paraná
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (Unioeste) Paraná
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA) Rio Grande do Sul
=28 1501+ 1501+ Federal University of Itajubá Minas Gerais
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora Minas Gerais
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA) Maranhão
=28 1501+ 1501+ Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul Mato Grosso do Sul
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP) Minas Gerais
=28 1501+ 1501+ Federal University of Pará Pará
=28 1501+ 1501+ Federal Rural University of Pernambuco Pernambuco
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Arido Rio Grande do Norte
=28 1501+ 801–1000 Universidade Federal de Sergipe Sergipe
=28 1501+ 1501+ Fluminense Federal University Rio de Janeiro
=28 1501+ 1001–1200 University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR) Ceará
=28 1501+ 1201–1500 Londrina State University Paraná
=28 1501+ 1501+ Mackenzie Presbyterian University São Paulo
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Nove de Julho (Uninove) São Paulo
=28 1501+ 1501+ University of Pernambuco Pernambuco
=28 1501+ 1501+ Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais Minas Gerais
=28 1501+ NR State University of Bahia Bahia
=28 1501+ 1501+ State University of Ponta Grossa Paraná
=28 1501+ 1501+ State University of Santa Cruz Bahia
=28 1501+ 1501+ Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR) Paraná

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