How Timorese Students Study in Brazil Through the PEC-G Program
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 18, 2026 • Study in Southeast Asia
PEC-G lets Timorese students study for free at Brazilian public universities as part of a government exchange agreement, applying through Timor-Leste's own ministry channel rather than directly to Brazil.
🎓 PEC-G places students from partner countries, including Portuguese-speaking Timor-Leste, into undergraduate degrees at Brazilian public universities.
💵 Brazilian public universities charge no tuition, so PEC-G students pay the same zero tuition as Brazilian nationals.
📩 Portuguese proficiency and completed secondary education are core requirements.
🏠 Students cover their own living costs in Brazil unless a separate scholarship or family support covers them.
What PEC-G is
The Programa de Estudante-Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G) is a Brazilian government initiative that lets students from countries with an education cooperation agreement with Brazil study for an undergraduate degree at a Brazilian public university. Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education run the programme jointly, working alongside partner countries' own education ministries.
Timor-Leste's status as a Portuguese-speaking country and CPLP member gives it access to this kind of Brazil-partner education cooperation, following the same general pattern as other Portuguese-speaking nations that send students to Brazil through PEC-G.
Why tuition-free matters
Brazilian public universities, both federal and state-run, do not charge tuition for undergraduate degrees, for Brazilian citizens and PEC-G students alike. This is the core financial advantage of the programme: a Timorese student accepted through PEC-G studies a full degree without paying tuition for the whole course.
Tuition-free does not mean cost-free. Students still cover their own living costs, including housing, food and study materials, for the length of the degree, typically four to six years depending on the field. Some PEC-G students access separate scholarships from Brazilian research agencies or their home government to help with living expenses, but this support is not automatic or guaranteed with every placement.
Eligibility basics
PEC-G generally requires applicants to have completed secondary education, not already hold a university degree, and demonstrate Portuguese language proficiency, since coursework runs in Portuguese. Brazil assesses Portuguese proficiency through the Celpe-Bras exam or an equivalent process specified in the current call for applications.
Age limits, grade requirements and the list of eligible fields shift between application cycles. Confirm current eligibility criteria directly with Timor-Leste's Ministry of Education or the Brazilian Embassy in Dili before preparing an application, rather than relying on a previous cycle's rules.
How the application process works
PEC-G runs government-to-government rather than as an open application straight to a Brazilian university. Timorese students typically apply through a channel coordinated by Timor-Leste's Ministry of Education or the Brazilian Embassy, which manages the local side of the partner agreement with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Check whether the current PEC-G cycle is open for Timor-Leste applicants through the Ministry of Education or the Brazilian Embassy in Dili.
Prepare secondary school transcripts and any required Portuguese proficiency documentation.
Submit your application through the designated local channel, following the current cycle's listed deadline.
If selected, confirm your assigned Brazilian public university and course, then arrange your student visa and travel.
Life as a PEC-G student in Brazil
PEC-G students attend classes alongside Brazilian undergraduates, in Portuguese, at their assigned public university. Course structure, workload and academic calendar follow the same rules that apply to Brazilian students on the same programme, so PEC-G students are not on a separate, lighter track.
Living costs vary widely between Brazilian cities and states. Research the cost of living in your assigned university's location before you commit, and plan a budget that covers the full length of your degree, not just the first year.
After you graduate
Brazil's PEC-G rules have historically required graduates to leave the country or regularise their status through a separate visa process rather than staying on to work immediately after finishing the degree, since the student visa tied to PEC-G status is course-specific. Confirm current post-graduation rules with the Brazilian Embassy before you commit, since immigration terms tied to PEC-G change independently of the academic side of the programme.
Before you apply
Confirm the current status of the PEC-G agreement between Brazil and Timor-Leste with the Ministry of Education, since programme participation and terms are set out in the current call for applications rather than fixed permanently. Talk to any past or current PEC-G students from Timor-Leste if you find them, since firsthand detail on university placement, living costs and day-to-day academic life fills gaps that official programme pages do not always cover.
Brazil-Timor-Leste cooperation beyond PEC-G
Brazil has run wider development cooperation with Timor-Leste since independence, including support for the justice sector and Portuguese-language education, coordinated through Brazil's development cooperation agency. PEC-G sits within that broader relationship rather than standing alone, which is part of why Timor-Leste has continued access to the programme as a Portuguese-speaking partner country.
Choosing a field and university
Brazilian federal and state universities vary widely in strength by field and region, so research a specific institution's reputation in your intended subject rather than assuming all public universities offer the same quality. PEC-G placement generally depends on your application and available spots at participating universities, so keep a shortlist of fields and cities you are willing to study in, rather than fixing on a single university from the start.
Visa and travel logistics
Once accepted, PEC-G students apply for a Brazilian student visa through the nearest Brazilian embassy or consulate, a process separate from the academic placement itself. Start this process as soon as you receive confirmation of your university placement, since visa processing and travel arrangements take time, and missing the start of the academic year can delay your enrolment by a full term.