CET Brazil: At-A-Glance

Three academic tracks to customize your term

Electives in a variety of fields

Direct-enroll opportunities to learn alongside local undergraduates

Courses taught in English or Portuguese

Live with a Brazilian roommate

Traveling Seminar to Salvador da Bahia

Portuguese language classes for all levels

SOCIAL Justice

BUSINESS AT FGV

DIRECT-ENROLL AT USP

**Please note: These program dates are tentative and may shift to align with host university academic calendars. Learn more.

SOCIAL Justice

BUSINESS AT FGV

DIRECT-ENROLL AT USP

SOCIAL Justice

BUSINESS AT FGV

DIRECT-ENROLL AT USP

Spend a semester living in São Paulo—one of the world’s biggest and most multicultural cities. From here, take on one of three academic tracks to shape your Brazil experience according to your interests and academic needs. And to top it all off, you live with Brazilian roommates that give you an access point into local life, and even travel to Salvador da Bahia to take on learning by experiencing.

Academics in Brazil

Choose one of three academic tracks to explore Brazil exactly how you want to. Focus on social justice, explore pathways to sustainability for the business world, or challenge your language skills with direct-enroll coursework in Portuguese at one of the best universities in country. And no matter which track you take on, you and your peers take learning on the road with a week-long Traveling Seminar to Salvador da Bahia.

Choose your academic track

Social Justice & Inequality

CURRICULUM & SYLLABI

Socially Sustainable Business at FGV

CURRICULUM & SYLLABI

Direct-Enroll at USP

CURRICULUM & SYLLABI

Traveling Seminar to Salvador da Bahia

Spend a week learning beyond the big city to explore the African roots of Brazilian culture. During your week-long seminar to Salvador da Bahia, you might:

• Travel to the countryside and visit Kaonge Quilombo, a Brazilian hinterland settlement founded by the descendants of enslaved Africans.
• Spend time at São Joaquim Market, then attend an ethno-gastronomy workshop to recreate African dishes and explore food as a tool of resistance.
• Attend a capoiera workshop and understand its philosophy and Angolan roots from one of the most respected capoeira masters in Bahia.
• Appreciate one of the many forms that Afro-Brazilian expression can take with a moving performance from the Folkloric Ballet of Salvador.
• Enjoy some relaxation time as you board a schooner to island hop while while enjoying live Brazilian music.

Housing and Meals

Apartment
Off-campus housing
Live with CET peers & local roommates
5-6 people/apartment
2 people/room
Fully equipped kitchen, living room, shared bathroom per 2-3 students, in-unit washer
Internet access, linens, towels, basic furnishing, kitchenware, TV, drying rack

Living Like a Local

Local Roommates. Living alongside a local student can teach you everything you need to know about Brazilian college life. Which beach makes for the best road trip? What student groups to join on campus? The best coffee/study spots in Pinheiros? Having a local roommate is more than just an opportunity for cultural exchange, it’s a built-in community. It’s no wonder students often tell us that their roommate is “one of the best parts of the program.” Learn more about living with a local roommate.

Eating in São Paulo. For meals, take advantage of the city’s expansive food scene and try everything from local specialties to international cuisines. Feeling like a home-cooked meal? Grab ingredients at the farmers’ market and have a night in with your roommates. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Brazil.

Life in São Paulo

São Paulo is a diverse and vibrant city, with a busy calendar of events that can satisfy any interest. Go to a weekend festival. Find your favorite café in Perdizes, the tree-lined neighborhood you call home. Spend an afternoon in Ibirapuera Park and enjoy nature as if you were miles outside the city. Explore the robust food scene or find your favorite rooftop view in São Paulo. Walk up and down a car-free Avenida Paulista on Sundays and listen to live music as you shop with local vendors. Attend a soccer match at the stadium. And if you’re studying abroad in the spring, get ready for Carnaval…

Experience São Paulo with CET

Around the city. Each term, the program offers different extra-curricular activities that allow you to explore São Paulo and Brazilian culture. Break a sweat at a samba class or experience local futebol culture at a match. Spend an afternoon hiking the Pedra Grande trail or blow off steam at a karaoke night in the Liberdade neighorhood.

A Weekend Away. Spend the weekend in Paraty, a colonial city in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Take a small boat to Ilha do Araújo and learn about traditional and sustainable fishing from a community of caiçaras—local fishermen of indigenous descent. Then learn about traditional medicine before enjoying a homemade meal. Trek along the beach, then enjoy plenty of free time to explore the area.

Give back to the community. If you opt to volunteer in São Paulo, you might spend the term helping repair damaged tech for women in need, assist local teachers by designing games for socially vulnerable students, or support political transformation with research or advocacy.

Student Resources

"One of the greatest ways to learn a language is to understand some of the common expressions used. While 'bom dia' and 'legal' are definitely the most commonly used, everyday phrases in Brazil, I want to highlight some longer sayings that, when they were pulled out, stuck with me."

— Ashton Brown,
Howard University | Spring student

READ ASHTON'S BLOG

"One of my main goals in coming to Brazil was to learn about a new culture and language while gaining new perspectives on life outside the United States. A lot of the things I learned here couldn't be taught in any classroom. Much of what I will take away from Brazil came from my relationships with others including the Brazilian roommates, professors, and the incredible people we met during the CET activities."

— Emily Kersten,
University of Minnesota | Spring student

"CET incorporates trips and other activities that coordinate with lessons being taught in the classroom. In my opinion, this not only helps me grasp the courses but it gives us a chance to experience what we are learning. Because of CET, I have upcoming trips to an indigenous village to see the Guarani People, visit Bahia, and Paraty."

— Reign Williams,
Syracuse University | Fall student

READ REIGN'S BLOG

"Even though São Paulo doesn’t play much of a role in the American popular imagination (yet), it’s a city with unending places to explore and a great environment for learning Portuguese. While it’s not a perfect analogy, I once heard São Paulo referred to as the New York of Brazil and Rio as Miami."

— Martha Denton,
University of Minnesota | Fall student

READ MARTHA'S BLOG

"My greatest success of my term abroad has been going from literally zero Portuguese knowledge to being able to give an oral presentation fully in Portuguese without needing any assistance from my professor and having few gaps."

— Kayla Bey,
Harvard University | Spring student

"There were many moments during this program that checked me and challenged me to approach things differently. Some things affirmed me and supported me, but I don't think I would have been able to be checked/proven wrong in such a way had I not physically come to Brazil and experienced the dynamics. I am extremely grateful for these challenges."

— Hannah Ginsberg,
Kalamazoo College | Fall student

"Being part of a CET cohort means experiencing the ups and downs of being abroad together. Looking back on this semester, I cannot imagine it without the friends I made along the way. This weekend in Paraty was especially lovely as we spent it with our Brazilian roommates, who finally got a break from juggling school and work."

— Anna Hobbins,
Tulane University | Spring student

READ ANNA'S BLOG

Explore more resources

On-the-ground support

Navigating a new city, country, and culture is a big challenge worth taking—and we’re here to help you along on this adventure. Our on-site team is bilingual, thoughtful about guidance and support, and is passionate about sharing their love of São Paulo (and Brazil!) with you.

Program Fees

$19,790

Of the total program fee, $13,853 goes to tuition and fees, and $5,937 goes to housing and other student life fees.

$20,390

Of the total program fee, $14,273 goes to tuition and fees, and $6,117 goes to housing and other student life fees.

$20,390

Of the total program fee, $14,273 goes to tuition and fees, and $6,117 goes to housing and other student life fees.

What's Included

Tuition

All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.

Housing

We arrange your housing in a fully-furnished apartment about a 10-minute walk from campus. Your program fees go toward rent, utilities, furnishing, and other management costs.

You also receive a transportation stipend for commute costs between your apartment and FGV/USP.

Traveling Seminar

We take you to Salvador da Bahia for a Traveling Seminar. Just bring a camera and your intellectual curiosity.

Activities & Excursions

The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee.

Staff Support

From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way.

Insurance

You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.

Visa Support

We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You do the legwork, but we’ll make sure you have the documents & information you need, when you need it.

Course Materials

Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.

Transcript

At the end of your term, you’ll receive academic documentation as proof of all you’ve accomplished abroad. Depending on your home institution, you will either get a CET grade report or a School of Record transcript from the University of Minnesota.

More on finances

Local Cost of Living. The cost of living in São Paulo is generally lower than that of bigger US cities but higher than most of South America. Produce is cheap (particularly if purchased at farmers’ markets), and you can find lunch for as little as 7 to 11 USD. As with any major city, your spending can vary widely depending on your own habits and lifestyle.

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses:

View the CET Brazil budget sheets for a more detailed estimate of costs.

additional resources

How to Apply

Timeline for Final Program Dates

Due to the nature of higher education calendars in Latin America, the program dates listed on this page are estimates. Confirmed program dates will be available around the time of the CET application deadline for each term. We expect final arrival and departure dates to be similar to what we’ve listed, but they may shift up to two weeks. Students are advised not to purchase plane tickets prior to the release of finalized program dates.

Eligibility

• Pre-requisites: None for Social Justice and Business at FGV tracks. For Direct-Enroll at USP, students must have at least 3 semesters of Portuguese.
• Must be 18 or older at the time of program participation.
• Open to students from any US college or university
• GPA: 3.0 or higher is recommended, students with lower GPAs will be asked for a faculty recommendation to supplement their application

Online Application Form

This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.

Passport Information

Upload a scan of your passport to your CET Compass account. This should be a single scan that includes the signed signature page and the photo/personal details page. Don’t have a passport yet? Let us know and we can help advise you.

Study Abroad Office Recommendation

This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request, simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your CET Compass account.

Official Transcript

Your CET Compass account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.

APPLICATION Deadlines

Fall Semester:

April 1

Spring Semester:

October 1

Have a question? Get in touch!

Gabrielle Jackson

Manager, Student Services
202.315.0238
[email protected]

Price Subject to Change:

CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.

CET Brazil: At-A-Glance

SOCIAL Justice

BUSINESS AT FGV

DIRECT-ENROLL AT USP

SOCIAL Justice

BUSINESS AT FGV

DIRECT-ENROLL AT USP

SOCIAL Justice

BUSINESS AT FGV

DIRECT-ENROLL AT USP

Academics in Brazil

Choose your academic track

Social Justice & Inequality

Socially Sustainable Business at FGV

Direct-Enroll at USP

Traveling Seminar to Salvador da Bahia

Housing and Meals

Living Like a Local

Life in São Paulo

Experience São Paulo with CET

Student Resources

Explore more resources

On-the-ground support

Program Fees

$19,790

$20,390

$20,390

What's Included

More on finances

additional resources

How to Apply

APPLICATION Deadlines

Fall Semester:

April 1

Spring Semester:

October 1

Have a question? Get in touch!

Gabrielle Jackson

Price Subject to Change:

CET Jordan: Academic Consultation Board

Academic Consultation Board Members

Learn more about studying abroad with CET

Learn more about studying abroad with CET