UNC Charlotte FIPSE Brazil Exchange Information

Study in brazil!

You’ve heard about it—the legendary Amazon, the rainforests, the beautiful beaches, the huge urban centers of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and of course, Carnaval...but nothing compares to seeing it with your own eyes and making your own unique connections to this fascinating, multicultural society. Here’s your chance to see—and learn—that the world’s fifth largest country is all that and so much more. Studying in Brazil can offer you the most rewarding challenge of your life—are you ready? Get more general information from the Center for Global Education's Safety Handbook on Brazil.

Frequently Asked Questions and tips about being in Brazil are provided by the country's official tourism office.

The Program

This very special program is sponsored by a Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) grant awarded to UNC Charlotte, USC Columbia, and Winston-Salem State University by the US Department of Education.

As a student on this exchange, you will have the opportunity to examine the African Diaspora in a comparative context and explore the complex connections between notions of identity (especially racial identity) and access to education, jobs, and political power. Possible topics of study will include Brazilian history, literature and cultural studies, public policy and comparative race relations.

You will engage in an ongoing discussion of the comparative roles of African-descended peoples in Brazil and the United States, and come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the historical and social constructions of race as well as the many challenges it poses to the creation of a democratic society. These questions and other areas of study will be explored through interdisciplinary coursework and participation in a capstone conference with students and faculty from other universities involved in the exchange program. Unpaid internship opportunities in Brazil may be available depending on your area of interest.

Studying for the Academic Year will allow you to get the most out of the program: more time to work on your language skills, adjust to the Brazilian university system, see the country, and develop deeper relationships with students and faculty at your host institution. However, a semester-long study is also available in the Spring, from February to July. To enhance your previous preparation in Portuguese, you will participate in an intensive language course in Brazil for four-six weeks before regular university classes begin. With the semester-long program, you will also have an opportunity to meet and study with Brazilian exchange students at your home institution during the fall semester before you go.

Locations

As a FIPSE exchange student you can choose from one of three urban locations in which to study: Curitiba, Florianópolis, and Salvador. All three cities are located on or close to the Brazilian coast. If you stay for the Academic Year, you may also study in one location during the first semester and change cities for the second semester. Please look at the links above for information and photos about each location and their respective universities.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

This is a competitive scholarship program. It is open to advanced sophomores, juniors and seniors in good academic standing, ideally with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above. Acceptance will be based upon overall academic performance, references, a written statement, and an interview. For UNC Charlotte students, you must also have completed at least 2, preferably 4, semesters of Portuguese on campus.

OPEN TO UNC CHARLOTTE, USC COLUMBIA, AND WINSTON SALEM STATE STUDENTS ONLY

COST OF PROGRAM

Tuition rates for this program are the same as those for in-state or out-of-state students enrolled on campus at UNC Charlotte for the year, plus a modest study abroad fee and the cost of international health insurance (mandatory on all UNC Charlotte study abroad programs). Final cost may vary depending on international exchange rate fluctuations and the value of the U.S. dollar overseas.

The FIPSE grant will award up to $4500 for each student to help defray the costs of studying abroad.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To receive an application and more information about the application process, please sign up for an advising session or contact:

Office of Education Abroad
Office of International Programs
UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte NC 28223-0001
or stop by the Office of Education Abroad in CHHS Suite 256.

Financial Aid

Financial aid can be applied to meet your education abroad expenses. Contact your Study Abroad or Financial Aid office at your home institution to explore the different available options. UNC Charlotte students may also apply to the UNC Charlotte Office of Education Abroad for additional scholarships and grants to offset some of the international travel expenses. In addition, there may be other scholarship and grant opportunities through various organizations and programs. Check in the Office of Education Abroad for details on researching additional programs.

The contents of this webpage were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.


	(c) 2001 UNC Charlotte Office of Education Abroad, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223-0001 Phone: 704-687-7747 Fax: 704-687-3168