Brazil Education and Training Snapshot
Last published date:

Capital:  Brasilia

Population:  217.2 million (2022 est.) 

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity):  $2.989 trillion (2020 est., in 2017 dollars)

Currency:  Reals (BRL)

Language:  Portuguese

 

UNESCO Student Mobility Number

Brazil has 89,151 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.


CIA World Factbook

37.17% of the Brazilian population is under 25 years old.

 

OVERVIEW

Despite the economic and political challenges, Brazil remains the largest higher education market in Latin America, with education expenditure for 2022 reaching approximately US$ 24 billion.  The Brazilian Ministry of Education’s budget for 2023 is projected to be $29 billion.

Brazil has 46.7 million students in its basic education system, with 8.3 million in preschool, 26.5 million in elementary school, and 7.7 million in high school.  The higher education sector includes 8.4 million enrolled students and there are 4.1 million students in other modalities, such as adult education.  Approximately 75 percent of higher education students go to private institutions.

The education sector is a high priority for the government of Brazil.  The internationalization of higher education is a subject that is gaining increasing relevance, both for public and private Brazilian higher education institutions.  Brazilian federal research agencies have a long history of supporting international research partnerships and bilateral agreements have existed for decades with various countries in Europe, North America, and Latin America.  Available English language courses at Brazilian universities are still limited but growing.

In contrast to primary education, higher education in Brazil is dominated by private institutions.  Public higher education institutions are directed to serve as centers of excellence and research, with extremely competitive admissions standards and a limited capacity for expansion.  Private higher education institutions are focused on meeting the professional requirements of the labor market and have developed flexible programs to meet the needs of the working population.

Industry specialists such as the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Maintainers (ABMES), expect that despite the challenging economic/political situation, the education sector in Brazil will continue to grow, particularly the distance-learning segment.  Lower monthly tuition fees for distance-learning are expected to increase higher education enrollment and the Brazilian Association of Distance Learning (ABED) estimates that there are approximately 355 institutions that currently offer distance=learning classes.  For the first time in 2023, the number of registrations for distance learning will surpass the presential courses.

SUB-SECTORS

Higher Education: Brazil ranks eighth as a country of origin for foreign students studying at U.S. universities.  During the 2021-2022 academic year, 14,897 students from Brazil were studying in the United States.  The breakdown was as follows: 49.3 percent undergraduate; 31.9 percent graduate students; 4.2 percent other (language, short-term non-degree programs, etc.); and 14.6 percent OPT (Optional Practical Training).

Non-automatic recognition of foreign university credits toward earning a degree in Brazil is a barrier to U.S. education service exports.  The Ministry of Education is in the initial stages of populating a system called “Plataforma Carolina Bori” which processes all validation requests for undergraduate and graduate degrees.  Although this portal aims to accelerate the validation process by establishing precedents, it is still in the early phases of development. 

Despite the bureaucratic challenges of having U.S. degrees recognized in Brazil, the number of Brazilian students choosing U.S. education is significant.  Brazilian students in U.S. colleges and universities contributed $620 million to the U.S. economy during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Approximately 80 percent of Brazilian students who study abroad come from Brazil’s southern and central eastern states (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná).  Among these states (each of which presents excellent opportunities for overseas recruitment), São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasilia represent the three best locations to recruit Brazilian students to study in the United States.  São Paulo has the largest applicant pool (36 percent) and attracts the most talented students to its own university campuses.  The capital city of Brasília (11.6 percent) located in Distrito Federal (Federal District) has the country’s highest GDP per capita at approximately USD $16,500, over twice that of São Paulo, the region with the second-highest GDP per capita.  The state of Rio de Janeiro (13.3 percent), the country’s hub for the oil and gas industry, attracts many engineering and science majors.

Community College: Community colleges are very popular amongst Brazilian students due to more affordable tuition rates and the possibility to transfer to a U.S. university.  

Graduate Education: Graduate education, especially in the areas of executive/business education has shown a slight increase in demand.

Secondary Education: Despite the higher cost, the demand for boarding schools in Brazil continues to increase among parents.  However, day schools with a family stay are also in demand among students with a lower budget.  Parents will send their children for a semester or up to a year. Summer camps are also very attractive as an alternative to a long-term program.

English as a Second Language Programs: Brazil recognizes the need to improve English language skills across the country.  Most of the population (including those employed in the tourism sector) lack basic English language skills, which is the main challenge for many Brazilian students applying for study abroad programs.  Institutions that can address this issue by providing conditional acceptance tied to English language training or other such “pathway programs” may have a competitive advantage in attracting Brazilian students.

Short-Term Programs: Although private English language schools are abundant, student exchange programs are a huge market in Brazil, especially for short-term and part-time programs.  Examples of exchange programs currently popular in Brazil include part-time study programs combined with tourism and outdoor sports, teen vacation (specifically for teenagers with a mix of classes and leisure activities), and English language programs designed for 50+ year-old students.

U.S. schools interested in recruiting in Brazil should provide creative financing options, including options to pay in installments, since cost (along with proficiency in English language skills) will continue to be a challenge for Brazilian students studying abroad.  Installment payments are widely popular throughout Brazil, from purchases of personal care products to larger purchases, such as computers.

Online Programs: During 2021, the demand for online programs significantly increased.  However, for a student’s first international experience, online programs are not as attractive because the student wants to experience the local culture and living abroad.  For more experienced students, perhaps those doing international study for a second time, it may be more attractive.  The hybrid option seems to have potential to be explored in the coming years.

Education Technology: EdTech is a growing market in Brazil.  According to the Brazilian Association of Startups (ABSTARTUPS), there are approximately 566 EdTech startups in Brazil.  Sao Paulo is the leading city for the Brazilian EdTech industry, with a focus on the domestic market.  A large portion of EdTech companies is in the Southwest region (58%) being 37.8% in the State of Sao Paulo.  The SaaS business model is utilized by half of the Brazilian Edtechs.  

OPPORTUNITIES

For the next decade, the fastest growing segment of the education market in Brazil will be short-term vocational and English language courses.  The government of Brazil is investing in technical schools to provide courses for high school students and adults.  

DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES

In Brazil, digital marketing is effective.  With a predominantly young population, social media is very popular.  The most popular platforms for online learning are Plurall, Samba Tech/Samba Play, Udemy, Hotmart, Coursera, UOL Educação, Cia Tech, Portal Educação, and Prime Cursos.  As far as social media, the most popular platforms for students are Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.  For research purposes, students use the Internet in general and Google, in particular.  LinkedIn is the most famous job search app.  For videos, Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube are the most used by students.  Schools’ outreach to students is done via Google ads, Instagram ads, Facebook ads, email, and LinkedIn ads.  U.S. institutions should find an education recruitment agent who can use their social media pages to showcase their partner schools and/or contract an education marketing agency to prepare a recruitment strategy for them.

EVENTS

Education fairs and the use of recruitment agents are the most efficient means to recruit individual Brazilian students, including the EducationUSA roadshows.  The Roadshow takes place during the first semester of the year and the EducationUSA Fair during the second semester. Universities interested in participating and exhibiting at the Fairs should contact the Brazil EducationUSA office.

  • Study Travel - ALPHE Conferences –March 15-17, 2023 – Sao Paulo – The Conference creates an environment for networking between international educators and student recruitment agents.
  • FAUBAI Conference – April 15-19, 2023 – Belo Horizonte – The Brazilian Association for International Education (FAUBAI) meets annually to promote the improvement of exchange programs and international cooperation to improve teaching, research, extension, and administration of affiliated institutions.
  • Bett Brasil Educar – May 9-12, 2023 – São Paulo – This show is the best annual opportunity to exhibit classroom technology and furniture in Brazil. 
  • ICEF - September 14-16, 2023 – São Paulo – This workshop provides an opportunity for international educators from all sectors to solidify existing partnerships as well as establish new ones with quality, screened student recruitment agents. 

RESOURCES

 U.S. Government

 Government of Brazil

Other

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT

Laura Reffatti, Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service – Brasilia, Brazil
Email:  Laura.Reffatti@trade.gov

Phone:  +55 61 3312-7481