Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

About

The Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) stands as one of Brazil's largest and most prestigious federal universities, celebrated for its comprehensive academic excellence and significant contributions to research across diverse fields. It is particularly renowned for its strong programs in Engineering, Medicine, Law, and the Arts, consistently ranking among the top institutions in Latin America. International students benefit from a dynamic experience facilitated by the Diretoria de Relações Internacionais (DRI), which manages numerous exchange programs and offers essential support, including Portuguese language courses. While the primary language of instruction is Portuguese, opportunities for research and some graduate-level work in English are growing, especially for exchange students. Its distinctive characteristic is its sprawling main campus, the "Cidade Universitária" on Fundão Island, providing a unique academic environment set against the vibrant cultural backdrop of Rio de Janeiro.

Background

The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Portuguese: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ) is a public research university in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest federal university in the country and one of Brazil's centers of excellence in teaching and research. The university is located mainly in Rio de Janeiro, with satellites spreading to ten other cities. It is Brazil's first official higher education institution, and has operated continuously since 1792, when the "Real Academia de Artilharia, Fortificação e Desenho" (Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design, precursor to the university's current Polytechnic School) was founded, and served as basis for the country's college system since its officialization in 1920. Besides its 157 undergraduate and 580 postgraduate courses, UFRJ is responsible for seven museums – most notably the National Museum of Brazil –, nine hospitals, hundreds of laboratories and research facilities and forty-three libraries. Its history and identity are closely tied to the Brazilian ambitions of forging a modern, competitive and just society. Former alumni include renowned economists...

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