The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) of Brazil has officially announced the opening of the Postgraduate Student Agreement Programme (PEC-PG) for admission in 2026. This exciting opportunity is designed for foreign students from countries that have signed Educational Cooperation Agreements with Brazil, giving them access to fully funded postgraduate studies in some of the country’s top public universities.
What is PEC-PG?
The PEC-PG programme is one of Brazil’s most prestigious initiatives for strengthening international academic cooperation. It allows students from partner nations to pursue:
- Full Master’s Degrees
- Full Doctorates
- Sandwich Doctorates (newly introduced for 2026)
All courses are conducted in Portuguese, making language preparation a crucial part of the program. Students must demonstrate Portuguese proficiency, most commonly through the Celpe-Bras exam. To support this, candidates will spend their first year in Brazil completing a free Portuguese language and culture course, preparing them to meet academic requirements.
Brazil Scholarship Benefits
Selected students will receive a generous financial package that ensures academic support throughout their stay in Brazil:
- Monthly Stipend:
- R$ 2,100.00 for full Master’s degree students (up to 24 months)
- R$ 3,100.00 for Doctorate and Sandwich Doctorate students (up to 48 months for Doctorate; 6–10 months for Sandwich)
- Health Insurance Assistance: R$ 400.00 per month to cover mandatory health insurance.
- Return Assistance: Provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (subject to budget), covering travel back to the home country.
Additionally, PEC-PG students gain equal access to Brazil’s public health system (SUS), ensuring high-quality healthcare during their academic journey.
Eligibility Highlights
To be considered for PEC-PG 2026, applicants must:
- Be citizens of a country that has an Educational Cooperation Agreement with Brazil.
- Demonstrate proficiency in Portuguese (Celpe-Bras certification).
- Not have previously resided in Brazil for academic purposes unless they have returned to their home country for at least two years after their last Brazilian-funded degree.
- Meet the specific academic requirements of their chosen Brazilian Higher Education Institution (HEI).
Application Timeline
For Full Master’s and Doctoral Degrees
-
- Vacancy List Published by CAPES: August 13, 2025
- Applications Open: August 14, 2025
- Deadline to Apply: September 29, 2025 (5 p.m. Brasília time)
- HEIs Selection Round: October 23–30, 2025
- Preliminary CAPES Review: By November 13, 2025
- Final Results Announced: By November 14, 2025
- Start of Studies: First semester of 2026.
For Sandwich Doctorates
-
- Vacancy List Published by CAPES: September 30, 2025
- Applications Open: October 1, 2025
- Deadline to Apply: December 30, 2025 (5 p.m. Brasília time)
- HEIs Selection Round: March 30 – April 3, 2026
- Preliminary CAPES Review: By April 24, 2026
- Final Results Announced: April 30, 2026
- Start of Studies: August 2026.
How to Apply?
Interested candidates must register through the CAPES online system: https://inscricao.capes.gov.br/
Call of Invitation: https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-bridgetown/postgraduate-student-agreement-programme-pec-pg-for-admission-in-2026.
