Scholarships Available for Studying in Brazil

Program Description

Partners: Central Connecticut State University, CT (USA); Bridgewater State College, MA (USA); Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (Brazil); Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)

The United States and Brazil have been becoming steadily more urbanized.  How that urbanization has taken place and how the two countries have responded to it have been quite different.  Students will have a chance to immerse themselves in a new language and culture while learning about urban development. CCSU students (along with students from Bridgewater State College) will have the opportunity to study abroad in Brazil at either the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina or the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.  The Brazilian universities are both located along the populous southeastern coast of Brazil.  This gives students an opportunity to experience Brazilian urbanism and culture first hand.  Our partner universities are also well located for student travel and recreation.  Students attending the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina will be living in Florianopolis, a city well-known in Brazil as a center for water sports. Students attending the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul will be based in Porto Alegre which is also close to the beaches.  These cities are near to Brazil's major urban centers (Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo), to the cultural diversity of the interior hill country, and are not far from Brazil's southern neighbors Argentina and Uruguay. 

As part of this program, students from our Brazilian partner universities will be attending CCSU.  They will be funded by CAPES, part of the Brazilian Ministry of Education.  The Brazilian students will take courses at CCSU, learning about U.S. urbanism and culture.  Students, both in the U.S. and Brazil, will also take part in exchange activities meant to broaden their experiences and to prepare the next group of program participants.

Courses that CCSU students take in Brazil will transfer back to CCSU.  To streamline this process, course selection must be approved prior to departure. Students selected to participate will either be required to take part in a Portuguese language program (paid for by the grant) prior to departure or to demonstrate fluency in Portuguese. Upon arrival some additional language training will be provided by the host institution. This exchange will begin in Spring 2008 and be repeated in Spring 2009 and Spring 2010.  The Brazilian students will begin their exchanges starting in Fall 2007 and repeating in Fall 2008 and Fall 2009.

Benefits of Participation

• Improve your Portuguese language skills
• Pay tuition/fees to CCSU (Most travel and housing costs are paid for through a FIPSE grant) but study in Brazil
• Explore new academic literature with students and faculty members at the host university
• Prepare for possible careers related to urban growth in other developing countries
• Build your resume

Highlights

• Language training upon arrival at host university
• Study at the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina or the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul for a semester
• Have the opportunity to participate in internships and other practical learning experiences in Brazil
• Learn about Geography and Urban Development in another country

Academic Requirements

• Good Academic Status at CCSU
• A commitment to learn Portuguese prior to traveling to Brazil
• Ability to take upper-level courses in Geography
• Interest in Geography, Urban Development and/or GIS
• Pay CCSU tuition/fees and maintain health insurance coverage.  The FIPSE grant covers most of your travel and housing costs.

HOW CAN I APPLY?

All applications for Spring 2009 should be submitted to the Center for International Education.

Download Brazil Program Application Here!!!

HOW CAN I HELP?

If you would like to help the program we would love to hear from you.  We would like to be the best possible hosts for the visiting Brazilian students.  As such, we are looking for families who might be willing to host the visiting students for occasional family dinners or for special events.  If you or your business would like to provide financial support for future student exchanges or for hosting the Brazilian students, there are mechanisms for that as well.  If you are interested in helping out, please let us know.

For more information about the program please contact: