The Amazon, the Rio Carnival, the football, food, and friendly people – what’s not to love about Brazil? With a population of 207 million, Brazil is the largest country in South America. It’s famous for its sandy beaches, stunning rainforests, diverse wildlife, and vibrant cities. Studying in Brazil is an amazing opportunity to learn Portuguese and soak up South American culture.
My exchange to Goiania, Brazil was nothing less of amazing. I learnt so much about Brazil, myself and different ways of living and seeing things.
Jessica, Auckland
You can choose to study in Brazil for one trimester, one semester or one academic year. Gap year students are welcome to apply but must be no older than 19 years upon departure. If you arrive in January or July, you can opt to participate in a Belo Tour, where you might get the chance to visit iconic destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, the Northeast Coast, the Amazon, Pantanal, and Buenos Aires (Argentina).
You will be placed in either Goias state, Mato Grosso du Sul state, Southern Brazil, Fortaleza, Palmas or Salvador. Students will most likely be placed in lowly-populated suburbs or rural areas, although they may be placed in cities. You can let us know your preferred area but placement there is not guaranteed. All of our host families are carefully vetted for safety and suitability. We conduct home interviews, inspections, and police checks to ensure our students are placed in a secure and supportive living environment.
The map below indicates the set regions where you can be placed in Brazil.
Students must be:
Students who plan on being in Brazil for longer than 90 days must apply for a student visa via the Brazilian Embassy in Wellington. A student visa to Brazil is estimated to cost approximately $500 NZD in visa, notarisation, ID, and translation expenses.
Brazil is a Portuguese-speaking country. Students are required to study Portuguese prior to departure and speak the language throughout the programme. On arrival, you will also receive 10 hours of Portuguese language lessons in your host community.
We know that financing your exchange might be a bit of a challenge, but don’t let that hold you back from pursuing the experience of a lifetime! NZIIU offers a select number of scholarships each year to exceptional students who require some financial assistance, as well as fundraising kits.
Explore now »Meet our NZIIU Student Ambassadors at one of our information day events! These students who have recently been on exchange have done it all, and are here to share their knowledge, experiences, and stories from exchange.
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