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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 2024World University Ranking 2024World University Ranking 2023UniversityCity/State
1201–250201–250University of São PauloSão Paulo
2351–400401–500University of CampinasSão Paulo
=3601–8001001–1200Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)São Paulo
=3601–8001001–1200Federal University of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
=3601–800601–800Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulRio Grande do Sul
=6801–1000801–1000Federal University of Minas GeraisMinas Gerais
=6801–10001001–1200Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaSanta Catarina
=6801–1000601–800Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)São Paulo
=6801–1000801–1000Pontifical 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.

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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 2024World University Ranking 2024World University Ranking 2023UniversityCity/State
1201–250201–250University of São PauloSão Paulo
2351–400401–500University of CampinasSão Paulo
=3601–8001001–1200Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)São Paulo
=3601–8001001–1200Federal University of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
=3601–800601–800Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulRio Grande do Sul
=6801–1000801–1000Federal University of Minas GeraisMinas Gerais
=6801–10001001–1200Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaSanta Catarina
=6801–1000601–800Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)São Paulo
=6801–1000801–1000Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)Rio de Janeiro
=101001–12001201–1500Federal University of São CarlosSão Paulo
=101001–1200801–1000Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS)Rio Grande do Sul
=121201–15001201–1500University of BrasíliaBrasília, Federal District
=121201–15001201–1500Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ)Rio de Janeiro
=121201–15001201–1500Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC)São Paulo
=121201–15001201–1500Universidade Federal da BahiaBahia
=121201–15001501+Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC)Ceará
=121201–15001201–1500Federal University of Espírito SantoEspírito Santo
=121201–15001201–1500Federal University of GoiásGoiás
=121201–15001201–1500Federal University of LavrasMinas Gerais
=121201–15001201–1500Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR)Paraná
=121201–15001501+Federal University of PernambucoPernambuco
=121201–15001201–1500Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)Rio Grande do Norte
=121201–15001201–1500Federal University of Santa MariaRio Grande do Sul
=121201–15001201–1500Federal University of UberlândiaMinas Gerais
=121201–15001201–1500Federal University of ViçosaMinas Gerais
=121201–15001201–1500Pontifícia Universidade Católica do ParanáParaná
=121201–15001201–1500Unisinos UniversityRio Grande do Sul
=281501+1501+Catholic University of BrasíliaFederal District
=281501+1501+University of Caxias do SulRio Grande do Sul
=281501+1501+Ceará State UniversityCeará
=281501+NRCentro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca (CEFET-RJ)Rio de Janeiro
=281501+1501+Universidade do Estado de Santa CatarinaSanta Catarina
=281501+1501+Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy RibeiroRio de Janeiro
=281501+1501+Universidade Estadual de MaringáParaná
=281501+1501+Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (Unioeste)Paraná
=281501+1501+Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA)Rio Grande do Sul
=281501+1501+Federal University of ItajubáMinas Gerais
=281501+1501+Universidade Federal de Juiz de ForaMinas Gerais
=281501+1501+Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA)Maranhão
=281501+1501+Federal University of Mato Grosso do SulMato Grosso do Sul
=281501+1501+Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)Minas Gerais
=281501+1501+Federal University of ParáPará
=281501+1501+Federal Rural University of PernambucoPernambuco
=281501+1501+Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-AridoRio Grande do Norte
=281501+801–1000Universidade Federal de SergipeSergipe
=281501+1501+Fluminense Federal UniversityRio de Janeiro
=281501+1001–1200University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR)Ceará
=281501+1201–1500Londrina State UniversityParaná
=281501+1501+Mackenzie Presbyterian UniversitySão Paulo
=281501+1501+Universidade Nove de Julho (Uninove)São Paulo
=281501+1501+University of PernambucoPernambuco
=281501+1501+Pontifical Catholic University of Minas GeraisMinas Gerais
=281501+NRState University of BahiaBahia
=281501+1501+State University of Ponta GrossaParaná
=281501+1501+State University of Santa CruzBahia
=281501+1501+Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR)Paraná

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