What is the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)?
UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian federal university based in Rio de Janeiro State. It describes itself as "an institution of excellence in teaching, research, and extension," with a history dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. If you are trying to understand what kind of institution ufrj.br represents — for study, research, or partnership purposes — the short answer is: a large, multi-campus public university with a strong research profile and an exchange program that runs only through formal institutional agreements.
Institutional profile
- Type: Federal university (public), based in Rio de Janeiro State.
- Stated mission pillars: teaching, research, and extension — the university defines extension as reaching the findings of knowledge, research, and new skills out to millions of people.
- Rankings cited on its own site: 3rd best university in Brazil and 7th best in Latin America (QS Rankings – 2018). Note these figures are from 2018 and may not reflect current standings.
- History: Traces back to the early 19th century, with what the university describes as notable scientific, cultural, and artistic accomplishments.
Scale and facilities
UFRJ is spread across many campuses and faculties around Rio de Janeiro State. Its structure includes institutes, schools, and other facilities such as:
- Museums
- Hospitals
- An ocean basin described as the third largest in the world for research on offshore oil exploitation
This spread matters practically: the campus relevant to you depends on your field, and "UFRJ" is not a single contiguous site.
Partnerships
The university states it maintains cooperative relationships with institutions on every continent, with partnerships at over 200 international institutions. It also reports partnerships with several national and multinational enterprises, some of which have facilities on campus.
Exchange and visiting students
If you are considering UFRJ as an exchange destination, the key conditions are:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application route | Through agreements and partnerships with international higher education institutions |
| "Free movers" | Not accepted |
| How to apply | Contact the international office of your home institution |
| Language of instruction | All courses offered in Portuguese |
| Proficiency | Most schools and institutes accept exchange students at A1 level; this may vary by chosen courses |
| Support | Free Portuguese conversation classes offered to all incoming students (per the page excerpt) |
Academic calendar
- 1st semester (Fall): March – July
- 2nd semester (Spring): August – December
- Summer break: about two months (Jan/Feb)
- Winter break: about two weeks (July), depending on the program
Courses
The course list covers undergraduate (graduação), master's (mestrado), and PhD (doutorado) programs.
What this means for you
- If you want to study at UFRJ as an exchange student: you cannot apply independently. Start with your home institution's international office, and confirm the Portuguese level required for your specific course choices with UFRJ's incoming students officer.
- If you are researching UFRJ's profile: treat the ranking figures as dated (2018) and verify current numbers from the ranking source itself.
- If you are exploring research or industry collaboration: the university's stated partnership base (200+ international institutions, plus on-campus corporate facilities) is the relevant starting point.
The university's own site is the authoritative source for current program details, deadlines, and contact points, since calendar and language requirements can vary by school and program.