The Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Pós-Graduação (PEC-PG), officially created in 1981, offers scholarships to nationals of developing countries with which Brazil has a cultural and/or educational cooperation agreement, for training in graduate programs courses (master's and doctorate) in Higher Education Institutions (HEI).  

The following benefits are offered to the recipients:  

  • Places in Brazilian HEIs recommended by Capes, without registration costs;  
  • Monthly scholarship in the same amount as that offered to Brazilian students: R$1500,00 for a master's degree, with a maximum duration of 24 months, and R$2200,00 for a doctorate, with a maximum duration of 48 months; and  
  • return air ticket to the foreign student's country.  

  

Program Requirements 

PEC-PG applicants must  

  • Be a citizen of a developing country with which Brazil maintains an Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding in the area of Cultural, Educational or Science and Technology Cooperation. See which countries are participating in the PEC-PG 
  • Not be a Brazilian citizen, even if binational, nor have a Brazilian parent;  
  • Not have a permanent visa, diplomatic visa, MERCOSUR visa or visa that authorizes the exercise of remunerated activity in Brazil;  
  • Have a complete undergraduate or master's degree in one of the areas of scientific knowledge;  
  • Be accepted by a Brazilian HEI, public or private, in a master's or doctoral course evaluated by CAPES with a concept equal to or greater than 03 (three). See the list of recommended CAPES courses.  
  • Have Curriculum Vitae registered and/or updated on the CNPq Lattes Platform, in Portuguese. Access the CNPq Lattes page.  
  • Be financially responsible for the ticket coming to Brazil, for their maintenance costs until the receipt of the first monthly fee of the PEC-PG scholarship and for the maintenance of any family member who accompanies them during the entire stay in Brazil;  
  • Hold a Certificado de Proficiência em Língua Portuguesa (CELPE-Bras), including those from Portuguese-speaking countries. Learn more about CELPE-Bras 
  • Have stayed in their country for at least two years after obtaining the Brazilian diploma, in the case of former students who graduated in the Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Graduação – PEC-G.  

   

To apply for the PEC-PG Program scholarship at UnB, the candidate must follow the following steps:  

  1. Obtain the Certificado de Proficiência em Língua Portuguesa (CELPE-Bras) 
  2. Create/Update academic curriculum vitae on the Plataforma Lattes 
  3. Be selected, it is necessary to have been approved in one of the graduate programs at UnB (master's or doctorate). See the list of Master's and Doctoral programs at UnB. The rules, requirements and procedures to participate in the selection can be found on the page of our Decanato de Pós-Graduação - Editais 
  4. Register on the website of the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes), do Ministério da Educação (MEC), for doctoral candidates, or on the website of the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), do Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações e Comunicações (MCTIC), for Master's candidates;  
  5. Candidates from East Timor must always apply through the Capes website.

 

Common questions  

What type of visa is required for the PEC-PG student?  

A: The Temporary Visa IV (VITEM-IV) is the only visa accepted for the PEC-PG student. The holder of another type of visa will not be considered a student-agreement.  

Can the PEC-PG student work in Brazil?  

A: No. The temporary visa IV (VITEM IV) does not allow the exercise of remunerated activity.  

Can the PEC-PG student benefit from other forms of funding, in addition to the scholarship offered by the Program?  

A: No. The student is not allowed to accumulate a scholarship, or any supplement from a national or foreign agency, or even a salary in Brazil. If the accumulation of benefits is proven, the PEC-PG scholarship will be immediately canceled and the student will be notified to return all installments received from the accumulation, plus a fine of 10% on the total debt.  

Can the PEC-PG student postpone the start of the course, if selected?  

A: It is possible to postpone the beginning of your graduate studies in Brazil by one semester. For this, it is necessary to obtain, from the destination HEI, confirmation that the place will continue to be available in the following semester, and send it to the funding agency (CNPq or Capes).  

Can the PEC-PG student travel abroad during the course period?  

A: It is necessary to request the funding agency, at least 30 (thirty) days in advance, an authorization for any international trip, related or not to the Study Plan.  

If you are already studying graduate studies in Brazil, is it possible to apply for the PEC-PG?  

A: It is not possible to apply for a CNPq scholarship if the student is already in Brazil. For CAPES scholarships, it is possible. It is necessary, however, to wait for the call for applications 

Under what conditions can the PEC-PG student be removed from the Program?  

A: Students who, during the course of their studies, request a permanent visa or naturalization at the Ministry of Justice will be excluded from the PEC-PG. In this case, students must reimburse the funding agency of the PEC-PG for the total amount of financial resources paid to them until they leave the Program, with the necessary corrections. Anyone who, for whatever reason, lose their students statues from the HEI where they study will lose their status as an agreement student as well, and must immediately return to their country of origin.  

   

Detailed information about the program can be found on the Ministério das Relações Exteriores (MRE) website.  

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