São Paolo, Brazil

at-a-glance:

The three main goals of this program are to improve students’ oral and written Portuguese language skills; to facilitate students’ knowledge of contemporary Brazil and the São Paulo region; and to provide students with the opportunity to take a broad range of courses at a Brazilian university.

academics

The Pontifícia Universidad Católica de São Paulo (PUC), established in 1946, is ranked among the top universities in Brazil and has 29,000 students (19,000 undergraduates) studying in 9 departments. In terms of research and development, PUC is ranked first in the state of São Paulo in obtaining external funding for research. PUC maintains a strong research tradition, a unique characteristic among private institutions of higher learning in Brazil. Among PUC's well-known intellectuals are Paulo Freire (a famous educational theorist) and Florestan Fernandes (sociologist who was instrumental in the creation of the Worker's Party).

The PUC International Office offers strong student services to all international students. The PUC campus is located in a residential area near downtown São Paulo's famous Avenida Paulista with good transportation access. The University neighborhood provides numerous services and facilities for students such as gyms, bookstores, and cafés. The CIEE office is located two blocks from the PUC campus.

Academic Links:

Online Course Catalogue

Vanderbilt Course Evaluation List

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Sao Paolo

CIEE

student life

While U.S. students are accustomed to a very structured academic system, Brazilian professors generally leave students on their own to determine the intensity of their work. This approach is geared towards the student who is motivated, self-sufficient, and deeply interested in the subject matter of the course. It is a more rigorous, autonomous academic system. While some U.S. students could misperceive that the workload is light and that there are very few assignments, students are given bibliographies for courses with the expectation that they read as many of the listings as possible, selecting those titles which most specifically meet their needs and interests. In some courses, the entire grade is based on a term paper or critical analysis of a particular article that is expected to be based upon a fairly extensive reading from the bibliography. This relative freedom places a great deal of responsibility on the student.

The city of São Paulo has an ethnically diverse metropolitan area, with Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Arab and Japanese influences. This has directly influenced the varied cuisine that can be found there; approximately 52 different types of cuisines exist in São Paulo, and there are more than 12,000 restaurants. São Paulo is also full of art museums, a symphonic orchestra, a Formula One Grand Prix racing circuit, and of course numerous venues for football.

housing

During orientation, students are housed together. During the remainder of the semester, students are placed in Brazilian home-stays. Housing and two meals per day are included in the program fee.

location

São Paulo is a multi-cultural city of more than 17 million people. It is the second largest urban area in the Americas and an important South American economic and cultural center. São Paulo has a modern subway system, well-designed shopping malls, beautiful parks, nightlife, and open air fruit and flower markets. São Paulo is often compared to New York City because of its distinct ethnic neighborhoods and excellent cultural venues. The city offers numerous entertainment opportunities (such as samba, tango shows, and Carnival) and is only two hours from Brazil’s beautiful beaches.

expenses

Program Costs: Semester Costs; Summer Costs

application

Sao Paolo Application