PEC-G (Programa de Estudante-Convenio de Graduacao) is Brazil's main route for students from partner developing countries to earn a full bachelor's degree at a Brazilian public university without paying tuition. It is run jointly by Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) and Ministry of Education (MEC), and it has been running for decades. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide is about whether PEC-G makes sense for you and how the process actually works.
Two things define this program. First, it pays for tuition only. Rent, food and flights are your problem. Second, almost everything is taught in Portuguese. If you are a Pakistani student who wants a free degree and is willing to spend a year learning a new language, it can be a smart move. If you need a monthly stipend or want to study in English, it is the wrong program.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Partial funding (free tuition, no living costs) |
| Level | Bachelor's, all fields |
| Age | Generally 18 to 25 |
| Deadline | Pre-registration typically opens in July, with in-person embassy submission shortly after. Exact dates vary by year. |
| Country | Brazil |
| Provider | Ministerio das Relacoes Exteriores (Itamaraty) and Ministerio da Educacao (MEC) |
| Official site | PEC-G page on gov.br |
Free tuition, but you pay to live
The core benefit is admission to a tuition-free undergraduate program at a Brazilian public university, either federal or state. In some cases a participating private institution takes PEC-G students on the same tuition-free terms. The free tuition runs for the full length of the degree, which is typically four to six years depending on the field.
Here is the part many applicants skim past. PEC-G does not cover accommodation, daily expenses or travel by default. It is classified as partial funding for exactly that reason. Some host universities, and some state or municipal governments, offer supplementary housing, meal or transport support to PEC-G students. That support depends on where you are placed, so you cannot plan around it before you know your university.
In practice this means your family needs a realistic budget for four to six years of living in a Brazilian city, plus the year of language preparation if you need it. If that is not possible, think hard before applying. A free degree you cannot afford to finish is not free.
What you get at the end is a recognized Brazilian bachelor's degree, valid for further postgraduate study or professional licensing in many fields. Brazil's university system is large, with strong programs in engineering, health sciences, agronomy and social sciences.
The Portuguese question decides most applications
Programs are delivered in Portuguese almost everywhere in Brazil. Applicants who have not already reached the required level take the Celpe-Bras, Brazil's Portuguese proficiency exam, as part of the selection process. Proficiency at Celpe-Bras level significantly widens your university options.
Most Pakistani applicants will not arrive speaking Portuguese, and that is fine. The program has a companion track called PEC-PLE (Programa de Estudante-Convenio de Lingua Portuguesa), a Portuguese-language preparation course you complete before starting the bachelor's degree. Plan on roughly a year of language preparation in exchange for a tuition-free degree.
My honest view: if your Portuguese is not at Celpe-Bras level, register for PEC-PLE rather than hoping to scrape through the assessment. Being rejected on language grounds wastes a whole cycle. And start learning Portuguese well before pre-registration opens in July, even if it is only a few months of basic study. It shows commitment and makes the PEC-PLE year far less painful.
There is an upside here too. Portuguese is a less common language skill, useful for graduates aiming at Lusophone markets in South America and Africa.
Eligibility, and the partner country catch for Pakistanis
PEC-G is open only to citizens of partner countries, roughly 70 nations across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and parts of Europe. Each has a bilateral cooperation agreement with Brazil, and the list can change from one cycle to the next. The exact list is published with each annual call.
Asia being on the list does not automatically mean Pakistan is. Before you spend any time on documents, check the current call on the official PEC-G page or ask the Brazilian embassy whether Pakistan is a partner country for that year. This is the first thing to confirm, not the last.
Beyond nationality, you need to meet these conditions:
- You live outside Brazil at the time of application.
- You have completed, or are about to complete, secondary education.
- You are generally between 18 and 25 years old.
- You do not already hold a bachelor's degree. PEC-G is for first-time undergraduates only.
- You have Portuguese at the level your target university requires, or are willing to complete PEC-PLE first.
- You pass the selection process run through the Brazilian embassy or consulate.
If you already have a degree, this is not your program. Graduates should look at the postgraduate counterpart, PEC-PG, instead.
The paperwork you take to the embassy
The document list is short compared with most international scholarships. You will need:
- The online pre-registration form
- A valid passport
- Secondary school completion certificate or equivalent
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of Portuguese proficiency (Celpe-Bras), or your intent to enroll in PEC-PLE
- Passport-sized photographs
- Any further documents the specific Brazilian embassy or consulate asks for at in-person registration
That last item is where people get caught. Each embassy can ask for its own extras, so contact the Brazilian mission in Pakistan early and ask exactly what they want. If your certificates need attestation before submission, our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains how that works. Have everything ready before the embassy appointment window opens, because slots can fill quickly.
Why you apply through an embassy, not a university
PEC-G works differently from most scholarships. You do not apply directly to a Brazilian university, and you do not need a university offer before applying. That makes it one of the very few undergraduate routes of its kind. The process runs like this:
- Complete the free online pre-registration form during the annual call window.
- Confirm your country is listed among the current PEC-G partner nations for that cycle.
- Go in person to the Brazilian embassy or consulate in your country with all required documents.
- Sit any required Portuguese-language assessment, or register for PEC-PLE if you are not yet proficient.
- Wait for the joint MRE-MEC selection results, which decide your placement at a partner university.
- Complete visa formalities and travel arrangements once you are formally selected and placed.
Note that you do not pick your university in the way you would with a direct application. The ministries confirm placements. Go in prepared to accept wherever you are sent, because living costs and local support schemes can differ a lot between cities.
How the year usually unfolds
The typical cycle looks like this, though exact dates vary by year and you should confirm them on the official portal each time:
- July: online pre-registration opens for the upcoming academic cycle.
- July to August: in-person document submission and assessments at the embassy or consulate.
- Late in the year: MRE and MEC jointly confirm university placements.
- February to March of the following year: most Brazilian universities start their academic year.
The window between pre-registration and embassy submission is short. If you only find out about PEC-G in July, you will be rushing. Students finishing school should start preparing in the months before.
Where applicants usually go wrong
The most common mistake is treating PEC-G as a full scholarship. It is not, and arriving in Brazil without a funding plan is a hard way to learn that. Work out living costs before you apply, and ask your host university early about housing or meal support once you are placed.
The second mistake is assuming partner status. Pakistan's eligibility must be checked for each cycle, since the list can change.
The third is underestimating Portuguese. A degree taught entirely in a language you learned a year ago is hard work for four to six years, not just for the first semester.
Finally, keep an eye on visa preparation once you are selected. Our guide to student visa rejection reasons covers the general mistakes Pakistani students make at that stage. You can also compare PEC-G with other options in our list of all Brazil scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is PEC-G fully funded?
No. It covers free tuition at Brazilian public (and some private) universities, but you pay your own living expenses, accommodation and travel. That is why it is classed as partial funding.
Do I need to speak Portuguese before applying?
Not necessarily. Most programs are taught in Portuguese, but applicants without Celpe-Bras proficiency typically complete the PEC-PLE language program first.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Only if Pakistan is on the partner country list for that year's call. The list covers roughly 70 countries and can change, so check the current call or ask the Brazilian embassy.
Can I apply if I already have a bachelor's degree?
No. PEC-G is for first-time undergraduates. Graduates should look at PEC-PG, the postgraduate program.
Do I need a university admission letter first?
No. You complete online pre-registration and then attend the Brazilian embassy or consulate in person for document submission and any language assessment. Placement at a university comes from the joint MRE-MEC selection.
Where are official notices published?
The program page is on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs PEC-G portal, and PEC-G and PEC-PLE notices also appear on the Ministry of Education site.
Check the official PEC-G website for this year's call and dates, and keep our PEC-G scholarship page handy for the key details.