Brazilian Student-Agreement Undergraduate Program (PEC-G)

Eligible countries span roughly 70 partner nations across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and parts of Europe, each with a bilateral cooperation agreement with Brazil. Because the program was designed for young people who have recently finished or are finishing secondary education, applicants must generally be between 18 and 25 years old and not yet hold a university degree, distinguishing it clearly from postgraduate scholarship routes.

The core benefit is admission to a free undergraduate program at a Brazilian public university (federal or state) or, in some cases, a participating private institution, covering the full duration of the degree, which typically runs four to six years depending on the field. Students are responsible for their own living expenses, accommodation, and travel, although some universities and municipal or state governments offer supplementary housing or meal support to PEC-G students.

The application route is distinctive: candidates do not apply directly to a Brazilian university or portal from abroad. Instead, pre-registration is completed online, after which the candidate must present themselves in person at the Brazilian embassy or consulate in their home country to submit documents and complete the formal selection process, which includes a Portuguese-language proficiency assessment (Celpe-Bras) for those who have not already reached the required level.

Because programs are delivered in Portuguese, most successful applicants either arrive already proficient or first complete PEC-PLE (Programa de Estudante-Convenio de Lingua Portuguesa), a companion Portuguese-language preparation track, before beginning their bachelor's studies. This combination makes PEC-G particularly well suited to students willing to invest a year in language preparation in exchange for a fully tuition-free Brazilian degree.