One of Brazil’s top 5 universities just opened its doors to international students — and it is not charging a single penny in tuition or fees. The Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) has announced a brand-new simplified call for the 2026–2027 academic year, offering 33 Master’s openings and 22 PhD openings across nine graduate programs. The application process is entirely remote, requires no Portuguese proficiency for admission, and asks only for a CV, a reference letter, and an online interview. If you have been searching for an accessible, prestigious, and genuinely affordable way to earn a graduate degree in Brazil, this Gradualin guide covers everything you need to know — from eligible programs and required documents to the exact step-by-step application process and the deadline you must not miss.
📋 Quick Summary
| Detail | Information |
| University | Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) |
| Country | Brazil 🇧🇷 |
| City | Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Degree Levels | Master’s (24 months) & PhD (48 months) |
| Total Openings | 55 (33 Master’s + 22 PhD) |
| Tuition Fees | Zero — No tuition or fees charged |
| Scholarships | Limited; highly competitive (verify per program) |
| Portuguese Required? | Not for admission — mandatory for graduation |
| Application Deadline | June 1, 2026 |
| Program Start | March or August 2027 |
| Open To | All non-Brazilian international students |
| Official Page | ufsm.br/global |
🎓 University & Opportunity Overview
The Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) is one of Brazil’s most respected and research-intensive public universities, consistently ranked among the top 5 universities in Brazil. Founded in 1960, UFSM is located in Santa Maria, a dynamic university city in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The university operates across multiple campuses, hosts thousands of researchers, and maintains an active international collaboration network.
What makes this particular call from Gradualin’s perspective so exciting is the combination of prestige, accessibility, and simplicity. This is a simplified admissions call — meaning the entire process is remote, paperwork is minimal, and no standardized international language test is required at the point of application. UFSM joins the growing number of top Latin American universities that are actively seeking global talent by removing traditional barriers.
With 55 spots across 9 graduate programs — covering fields from Agricultural Engineering to International Relations, Architecture to Dental Sciences — this call reaches a remarkably wide range of academic backgrounds. For students from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond who want a tuition-free graduate education at a world-class institution, UFSM’s 2026 Call is one of the most accessible opportunities of the year.
🎓 Costs & Financial Support — The Honest Picture
Here is what you need to know clearly before applying:
✅ What UFSM covers:
- Full tuition fees — UFSM charges zero tuition and zero institutional fees for all enrolled students, including international students.
⚠️ What you must cover yourself:
- ✈️ Travel costs — International flights to and from Brazil
- 🏥 Health insurance — Mandatory for your visa and stay in Brazil
- 🏠 Living expenses — Accommodation, food, transport, and personal costs in Santa Maria
💰 Scholarships:
- A very limited number of stipends or scholarships may be available depending on the specific program.
- These are highly competitive — admission does not guarantee financial support.
- Students accepted to programs with scholarships listed (see program table below) can compete for those; all other students must be prepared to self-fund living costs.
Bottom line: The most significant financial benefit is the elimination of tuition. In Brazilian public universities, this is a genuine saving — graduate tuition at comparable private institutions can cost thousands of dollars per year. If you can arrange funding for living costs (estimated at roughly $400–$700 USD/month in Santa Maria, which is an affordable city), a UFSM graduate degree becomes highly accessible. (Verify current costs on official website)
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
The requirements for this call are refreshingly straightforward:
- 🌍 Nationality: Open to all non-Brazilian international candidates — no specific country restrictions listed.
- 🎓 Academic background: Must hold the relevant prior degree for your chosen program:
- Master’s applicants: A completed Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
- PhD applicants: A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field
- 📊 Academic performance: No specific minimum GPA is stated, but a strong academic record is expected given the competitive selection process.
- 🗣️ Portuguese proficiency:
- NOT required for admission — you can apply without knowing Portuguese.
- IS required for graduation — you will need to reach proficiency during your studies. UFSM offers Portuguese courses to support this.
- 📄 Documents: Must be in Portuguese, English, or Spanish — or accompanied by certified translations.
- 🏥 Health insurance: Not required at application stage but will be needed before arrival in Brazil.
🎓 Who Should Apply — And Who Should Not
✅ Apply if you:
- Hold a Bachelor’s (for Master’s) or Master’s (for PhD) degree in a relevant field
- Are a non-Brazilian citizen looking for a tuition-free graduate education
- Can self-fund your living expenses in Brazil (or compete for a limited scholarship)
- Are willing to learn Portuguese during your studies
- Want a simplified, fully remote application process with no IELTS or TOEFL required
❌ Don’t apply if you:
- Are a Brazilian national (this call is for non-Brazilian international candidates only)
- Are unwilling or unable to commit to learning Portuguese for graduation requirements
- Cannot cover your own travel, health insurance, and living costs and are counting on a guaranteed scholarship — these are very limited
- Do not hold the required prior degree for your chosen program
🎓 Available Programs — Master’s & PhD Openings
Master’s Degree Programs (33 Total Vacancies)
| Graduate Program | Vacancies | Scholarships | Degree Required |
| Agricultural Engineering | 7 | None* | Agricultural Eng., Agronomy, or Agricultural Sciences |
| Nursing | 1 | 1 available | Nursing or health-related field |
| Rural Extension | 4 | None | No specific degree requirement |
| Dental Sciences | 1 | 1 available | Dentistry degree (4,500+ hours, min. 4.5 years) |
| Veterinary Medicine | 2 | None | Veterinary Medicine |
| Chemical Engineering | 2 | None | Engineering, Chemistry, Food Tech, Maths, Physics |
| Network Educational Technologies | 2 | None | Education, Computer Science, Design, Arts, or related |
| Architecture, Urbanism & Landscaping | 3 | None | Architecture, Urban Planning, or Design |
| Civil & Environmental Engineering | 3 | None | Civil, Environmental, or Transportation Engineering |
| Performing Arts | 2 | None | Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, or related |
| Languages & Literature | 2 | None | Languages and/or Literature |
| Communication | 2 | None | Communication or Social Sciences |
| International Relations | 1 | None | International Relations or Global Studies |
| Economics & Development | 1 | 1 available | Economic Sciences |
PhD Programs (22 Total Vacancies)
| Graduate Program | Vacancies | Scholarships | Degree Required |
| Agricultural Engineering | 10 | None* | Master’s in Ag. Eng., Agronomy, or Ag. Sciences |
| Rural Extension | 6 | None | No specific Master’s degree title required |
| Dental Sciences | 1 | 1 available | Master’s in Dentistry or Dental Sciences |
| Chemical Engineering | 2 | None | Master’s in Chemical Engineering or related |
| Communication | 2 | None | Master’s in Communication or Social Sciences |
| Nursing | 1 | 1 available | Master’s in Nursing or health-related field |
*Agricultural Engineering students can apply for scholarships based on the program’s internal ranking after admission.
🎓 Required Documents
The application is refreshingly lean. Prepare the following:
- ✅ Passport — or Brazilian National Migratory Register (RNM) if applicable
- ✅ Proof of degree — Bachelor’s diploma (for Master’s applicants) or Master’s diploma (for PhD applicants)
- ✅ Curriculum Vitae (CV) — Comprehensive academic and professional CV
- ✅ Reference/Recommendation Letter — From a faculty member or academic supervisor who can vouch for your research capacity and academic character
Document rules:
- All documents must be in Portuguese, English, or Spanish
- Documents in any other language must include a certified translation
- Submit everything in digital format via email to the specific program’s application address
🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process
The UFSM 2026 international application is fully remote and follows these clear steps:
- Choose your program — Review the Master’s and PhD program list in Appendix A of the official call document. Visit each program’s webpage to understand research lines and supervisor interests.
- Prepare your documents — CV, diploma proof, passport copy, and reference letter. Ensure all documents are in English, Portuguese, or Spanish (or translated).
- Format your email subject line correctly:
- For Master’s: [YOUR FULL NAME_MASTER CANDIDATE]
- For PhD: [YOUR FULL NAME_PhD CANDIDATE]
- Send your application by email — Submit to the specific email address listed for your chosen program (see program table above or the official call PDF).
- Wait for interview scheduling — If shortlisted, UFSM will contact you by email to schedule your online interview.
- Attend your online interview — This is a key selection stage. Be prepared to discuss your academic background, research interests, and motivation.
- Check preliminary results — Published by July 8, 2026.
- Complete enrollment formalities — If selected, follow UFSM’s instructions for visa, arrival, and enrollment ahead of your March or August 2027 start date.
💡 Pro tip: Before applying, try to identify and reach out to a potential supervisor within your chosen program. Professors who are aware of your application are more likely to advocate for you during the selection process — and many Brazilian programs informally expect this prior contact.
🎓 Important Dates & Deadlines
| Activity | Date |
| Application Deadline | June 1, 2026 |
| Preliminary Results Published | July 8, 2026 |
| Program Start (Intake 1) | March 2027 |
| Program Start (Intake 2) | August 2027 |
⚠️ Bookmark this page and check back for any updates to deadlines or program vacancies.
🎓 Why Apply — Why UFSM and Brazil?
Brazil is the largest country in South America and one of the most culturally rich, scientifically productive, and academically respected nations in the Global South. Studying here gives you access to an academic tradition that takes research seriously and produces graduates ready to lead in their fields across Latin America and beyond.
Here is why UFSM specifically stands out:
- 🏆 Top 5 in Brazil — UFSM consistently ranks among Brazil’s leading public universities, recognized for research output, innovation, and academic quality.
- 💰 Zero tuition — Brazilian federal universities charge no tuition to any student — domestic or international. This is one of the most meaningful financial advantages available to international graduate students globally.
- 🔬 Research culture — UFSM has strong research groups across engineering, health sciences, agriculture, humanities, and social sciences — with active international partnerships.
- 🌆 Santa Maria — A true university city. Affordable, safe, vibrant, and entirely shaped around student life. Cost of living is considerably lower than São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.
- 🗣️ Portuguese as a career asset — Learning Portuguese during your degree opens professional pathways across Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and eight other countries where Portuguese is the official language.
- 🌍 Growing international community — UFSM’s dedicated Global office and international student support infrastructure make settling in genuinely manageable even for first-time arrivals.
This is one of the only opportunities where a truly simplified, no-fees, online application can lead to a Master’s or PhD degree at one of South America’s top-ranked universities.
🎓 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I need to speak Portuguese to apply or study at UFSM? A: No — Portuguese is NOT required for admission. However, it is mandatory for graduation. UFSM offers Portuguese language courses to help international students reach the required level during their studies.
Q: Is there an IELTS or TOEFL requirement for this call? A: No IELTS or TOEFL is required for this application. The selection is based on your CV, a reference letter, and an online interview. This is one of the most accessible entry pathways among top research universities worldwide.
Q: Will I receive a scholarship automatically if I am admitted? A: No. Admission does not guarantee financial support. Only a very limited number of scholarships are available in specific programs (Nursing, Dental Sciences, and Economics & Development each have 1 available). All other students must be prepared to self-fund their living expenses. (Verify current availability on the official program pages)
Q: How long are the programs? A: Master’s programs at UFSM typically last 24 months (2 years). PhD programs typically last 48 months (4 years). Program duration may vary slightly by department.
Q: How does the application work — is everything online? A: Yes, the entire process is remote. You submit your documents by email to the relevant program address, and your interview is scheduled online. There is no requirement to travel to Brazil for the application stage.
Q: When will I find out if I am admitted? A: Preliminary results will be published by July 8, 2026, giving you time to prepare for a March or August 2027 program start.
🎓 Official Sources and Contact
- 🌐 UFSM Global (International Office): ufsm.br/global
- 📄 Official Call Page: ufsm.br/pro-reitorias/prpgp/editais/019-2026
- 📥 Download Official Call PDF: Chamada-internacional-2026.pdf
- 📚 Graduate Programs Directory: ufsm.br/pos-graduacao
- 📍 Address: Av. Roraima nº 1000, Cidade Universitária, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria – RS, CEP: 97105-900, Brazil
- 📞 Phone: +55 (55) 3220-8000
For program-specific applications, email the address listed for your chosen program in the table above.
🎓 Complete Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
| University | Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) |
| Call Reference | Edital 019/2026 |
| Country | Brazil 🇧🇷 |
| City | Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Degree Levels | Master’s (24 months) & PhD (48 months) |
| Total Openings | 55 (33 Master’s + 22 PhD) |
| Participating Programs | 9 graduate programs |
| Tuition Fees | Zero — no fees charged |
| Scholarships | Very limited; highly competitive |
| Portuguese Required for Admission | No |
| Portuguese Required for Graduation | Yes |
| IELTS/TOEFL Required | No |
| Selection Method | CV + Reference Letter + Online Interview |
| Application Deadline | June 1, 2026 |
| Preliminary Results | July 8, 2026 |
| Program Start Dates | March 2027 or August 2027 |
| Open To | All non-Brazilian international students |
| Official Website | ufsm.br/global |
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