FAQ – International students
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
STUDENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
1) My university does not have a cooperation agreement with UFSC (or the agreement has expired). Can I apply for an exchange?
No. Only students from partner universities or students from specific agreements or programs such as BRAFITEC, BRAFAGRI, BRACOL, BRAMEX, AUGM, among others can apply for an exchange at UFSC.
Check the procedures and criteria for submitting agreement proposals here: https://sinter.ufsc.br/solicitacao-de-convenios/
Also check the application procedures for undergraduate international student exchange here: https://sinter.ufsc.br/intercambio-para-alunos-internacionais/
2) Does UFSC accept free movers?
No. Only students that are nominated by partner universities can be admitted at UFSC.
3) I was awarded a scholarship from my home country to study at UFSC. Can I apply for the exchange program?
Yes. You may be accepted for the exchange program if your institution has a cooperation agreement with UFSC. Check the application procedures here: https://sinter.ufsc.br/incoming/procedimentos-de-inscricao
4) I was awarded a BRAFITEC[1] or BRAFAGRI [2] scholarship. How can I apply for this exchange program at UFSC?
You can apply in the UFSC online application system. For more information about the application procedures, click here https://sinter.ufsc.br/incoming/procedimentos-de-inscricao/
You must also inform the BRAFITEC or BRAFRAGRI Coordinator at UFSC about your application.
5) How do I know who is the BRAFITEC or BRAFAGRI coordinator at UFSC?
Check with the BRAFITEC or BRAFAGRI coordinator at your home institution.
6) What is the application period for the exchange program at UFSC?
Check the application period at our website in Application Calendar: https://sinter.ufsc.br/calendario-de-inscricoes/. There are two nomination periods each year: between October and November for students who wish to start their exchange in March of the following year; and between April and May for students who wish to start their exchange in August.
7) How do I know when the application period is open?
Visit SINTER website or contact the Office of International Relations at your institution. All partner institutions are informed in advance by email about the opening of the application period.
The application calendar is available here: https://sinter.ufsc.br/calendario-de-inscricoes/.
8) I did not receive my username and password to start my online application.
Check with your institution if you were nominated. If so, check if your email address is correct. In case the address is wrong, ask your institution for a new nomination.
9) Can I choose courses from any program?
Yes. You may freely choose any course from UFSC programs, except Medicine and Dentistry. It is important to know that your application will be reviewed by the academic departments and may be refused if they consider you are not eligible to attend a course (they will check seat availability and the prerequisites to attend the course).
10) Can I take courses from the Medicine Program?
The exchange to the Medicine Program at UFSC works independently and does not accept students taking theoretical courses, only students carrying out internships. The students interested in an internship at the Medicine Program should contact the Program coordinator directly through email at medicina.estagios@contato.ufsc.br. For more information access: https://medicina.ufsc.br/?page_id=987.
11) Can I take courses from the Dentistry Program?
Yes. The Dentistry Program offers theoretical and practical-theoretical courses in laboratories for the exchange students at UFSC. However, the practical courses at the clinics are temporarily unavailable due to delays caused by the pandemic.
12) How many courses can I choose?
The student can choose a maximum of 7 courses. There is no minimum requirement of courses to take, but a minimum number of weekly hours of studies that the student must be able to prove. It is mandatory to attend at least 15 hours per week in exchange activities (total of 270 hours in the semester), according to the Interministerial Ordinance No. 7 of 13 March 2018. Thus, attendance of at least 12 hours per week in undergraduate courses will be mandatory. The remaining hours may be complemented through other exchange activities such as language courses, extension projects, among others. It is important to mention that the Federal Police may require a document proving the student’s enrollment in 15 hours of study activities per week in order to issue the National Migrant Registration (document required for students who will stay at least 90 days in Brazil).
13) How do I enroll in courses? Can SINTER enroll students in courses?
SINTER will provide your enrollment in the courses in which you have been previously accepted on the online application system. If you wish to add or drop courses when you arrive at UFSC, you must go to the respective department on the enrollment dates scheduled in the academic calendar. It is important to emphasize that SINTER does not have the competence to enroll students in courses. This is a responsibility of the academic departments.
14) How do I prove my Portuguese proficiency?
See the information provided on the Required Documents for Application page: https://sinter.ufsc.br/documentos-exigidos/
15) I am taking a Portuguese course, but I still do not have a certificate to upload. What should I do?
Send us an email to incoming.sinter@contato.ufsc.br explaining your situation. Alternatively, you may fill out a self-declaration form and upload it to the online application system.
16) I am a Spanish speaker. Do I need to submit proof of Portuguese proficiency?
Students from Spanish-speaking countries may submit a Portuguese proficiency certificate issued by any education institution or by a Portuguese teacher, or, even, they may fill out a self-declaration form and upload it to the online application system.
17) Can I study Portuguese at UFSC?
Yes. The UFSC Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures (DLLE) offers Portuguese as a Foreign Language courses for international students. You can find more information about them here: https://sinter.ufsc.br/portugues-para-estrangeiros/
18) I would like to choose the courses, but I can’t find the course descriptions.
The curriculum and course descriptions are available on the website of each program. See the list of undergraduate programs and their respective websites here. You can also search for curricula and course descriptions here.
19) Does UFSC offer courses in languages other than Portuguese?
The vast majority of undergraduate and graduate courses offered at UFSC are taught in Portuguese. Each year, UFSC publishes a Catalogue of Courses offered in Foreign Language, which occasionally offers some courses in English, French and Spanish to undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, click here: https://sinter.ufsc.br/catalogo-de-disciplinas-ofertadas-em-lingua-estrangeira/
The English, German, Italian, Spanish and French Language and Literature programs also offer a few courses taught in the respective language of each course.
20) What documents are required for enrollment at UFSC?
To enroll at UFSC, you must present the following documents:
- Passport;
- Student Visa (VITEM IV) linked to UFSC;
- Travel insurance valid in Brazil for the entire exchange period, covering accidents, illness, disability, death and repatriation of remains.
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (complete cycle)
- students who have Brazilian citizenship can present a Brazilian ID or passport (a Student Visa is not required).
21) I arrived in Brazil with a visit visa. Will this visa allow me to study?
It is possible to study in Brazil while holding a visit visa as long as the total stay in Brazilian territory does not exceed 90 days. Stays beyond this period will require a residence permit for study purposes. For more information contact SINTER at incoming.sinter@contato.ufsc.br.
22) Does UFSC offer scholarships for international students coming from institutions with which it has a bilateral cooperation agreement?
No. UFSC does not offer scholarships for international student by means of bilateral agreements. The student can receive a scholarship from specific cooperation agreements, such as AUGM Program, or from their home institution.
23) Do I have to pay any type of fee to study at UFSC?
No. Exchange students will not pay any fees at UFSC, with exception of fees for extension activities, extracurricular courses or other non-regular activities. The fees of your home institution, if any, shall be paid according to its policies and regulations.
>> HOUSING
1) Does UFSC provide housing for international students?
No. UFSC does not offer housing for exchange students, so you must search for your own accommodation. However, SINTER provides a list of housing opportunities for international students which you may consult. UFSC also offers a classified ads website that can be helpful: Classificados UFSC.
>> STUDY BUDDY PROGRAM
1) I am an international student. What should I do to join the Study Buddy Program at UFSC?
If you are interested in joining the Program you should chose the option “Join in the Study Buddy Program” when filling out the online application form. In this case, we will inform you the name and contact details of your Buddy via email after your admission at UFSC.
>> INTERNSHIP
1) I would like to do an internship at UFSC, is it possible?
Yes. Below are the guidelines that international undergraduate students should follow in order to do an internship at UFSC:
- Check if your institution has a cooperation agreement with UFSC. We can only register students if there is an agreement. Click here to see the list of our current partner institutions.
- Check if the company in which you wish to do the internship is registered at the UFSC Academic and Professional Integration Department (DIP). Students can only do internship in companies that have been registered. This does not apply in case the internship takes place in an UFSC laboratory.
- You must have a supervisor at UFSC in charge of your internship.
- The supervisor shall send you a letter of acceptance, which will be required to obtain the student visa. If you register through our online application system, SINTER will be in charge of sending this letter to you.
- Upon arrival, SINTER will carry out your registration at the UFSC academic system (CAGR), and the Department will enroll you in the “internship” module, except if your application has been done through SINTER’s online application system. In this case, you must select the “internship” module at the moment of application.
- After enrollment, you must contact the Academic Professional Integration Department (DIP) of the Prorectorate for Undergraduate Studies and Basic Education (PROGRAD) to request the Internship Letter of Commitment (TCE) through the email: dip.prograd@contato.ufsc.br
- In case you wish to stay in Brazil for more than six months, you should apply for a visa extension at the Federal Police and request your enrollment for the next semester at SINTER. Exchange students can stay at UFSC for a maximum of 2 semesters.
- Except for internships carried out at UFSC or at other Brazilian Federal Higher Education Institution, we inform that foreign students are allowed to do internship in Brazil for up to 120 days without the need to be registered in a Brazilian education institution, in accordance with the Resolutions no. 111/2014 and no. 88/2014 of the National Council of Immigration (CNIg). In this case, the TCE will be signed by the student’s home institution and the Brazilian company in which the internship will take place (no relation to a Brazilian education institution is required).
2) I cannot access SIARE, what should I do?
International students do not have access to the SIARE, an internship registration system reserved for regular UFSC students. This way, all the procedures for registering your internship should be done directly in the DIP/PROGRAD (email dip.prograd@contato.ufsc.br), located at the second floor of the Rectorate Building I.
3) I want to do an internship in the Medicine Program. What are the procedures?
In order to take courses or carry out an internship in the Medicine Program, you should contact the Program Coordination Office directly at estagios.medicina@contato.ufsc.br.
The program coordinator is responsible for accepting the student or not. It is not necessary, therefore, to register on our online application system. For more information, visit the Medicine Program website: http://medicina.ufsc.br/?page_id=987
[1] Bilateral cooperation agreement between Brazil and France through university partnerships in the field of Engineering.
[2] Cooperation agreement between Brazil and France for the promotion of student exchange in the fields of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering and Veterinary Medicine.
