São Paulo – African students attending graduation courses in federal universities in Brazil may apply for a scholarship from the Milton Santos Project for Access to Higher Education (Promisaes). For such, the teaching institutions that they attend must be enrolled in the Student Program-Graduation Agreement (PEC-G). Students from Latin American countries who are studying in Brazil are also eligible.
The deadline for universities to submit students’ names is January 24 next year. The project allows foreign students from the two regions to apply for financial aid worth one minimum wage, currently at 465 Brazilian reals (US$ 261). The minimum wage, however, should increase starting in January 2010.
In order to be eligible, foreigners must meet certain requirements. They must be enrolled in a graduation course in a federal Brazilian university and meet attendance and grade requirements at the institution in order to receive the scholarship. The scholarship is valid for one year. On the following year, students must apply again, according to information supplied by the Ministry of Education.
The Promisaes exists since 2003 and aims to foster technical, scientific and cultural cooperation with countries with which Brazil has education- and culture-oriented agreements. Last year, the program benefited 625 students. In 2009, 649 students benefited.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
