About
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) is a prominent federal institution in southern Brazil, renowned for its strong research output and significant contributions to regional development, particularly in agricultural sciences, engineering, and health. Its most acclaimed programs include Agronomy, Veterinary Medicine, various Engineering disciplines, Computer Science, and Health Sciences, reflecting its comprehensive academic profile. For international students, UFSM offers support through its International Relations Office (AAUIN), which facilitates exchange programs, provides guidance, and organizes Portuguese language courses for foreigners. While most instruction is in Portuguese, UFSM actively participates in international mobility programs and fosters a welcoming environment, distinguished as the first federal university established outside a state capital in Brazil, emphasizing its unique role in regional academic decentralization.
Background
The Federal University of Santa Maria (Portuguese: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM) is a Brazilian public university located in Santa Maria, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, funded by the federal government of Brazil. It was founded in 1960, by Professor José Mariano da Rocha Filho. Its campuses span over 1,837.72 ha, with a total of 386,968 m2 of buildings and 28,307 students. UFSM's presence in the municipality of Santa Maria is one of the reasons why the city is sometimes called "university city" or "culture city". It is located in western Rio Grande do Sul, approximately 290 km far from the capital city of the state, Porto Alegre, thus being set in the heart of the pampas of Brazil. As a public university, students do not pay tuition fees. It is the oldest federal university not located in a Brazilian state capital city, and the largest in number of undergraduate courses offered in Rio Grande do Sul state. As for 2015, the university was ranked at position 15 at national ranking from MEC.
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Nearby universities
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Elsewhere in Brazil
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos · São Carlos
- Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei · São João del-Rei
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo · São Paulo
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe · São Cristóvão
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia · Uberlândia
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa · Viçosa
- Universidade Federal do ABC · Santo André
- Universidade Federal do Acre · Rio Branco
- Universidade Federal do Amapá · Macapá
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Wondering if Universidade Federal de Santa Maria is the right fit for you?
SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.