Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Students at the University of Maryland are eligible to apply to study for six months at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Students enroll in a summer session in July before beginning the fall semester at PUC. Exchange students are enrolled as full-time students at PUC, so applicants are expected to be self-sufficient and highly motivated. As the University of Maryland does not maintain a permanent faculty presence in Brazil, students will negotiate their academic and personal lives largely independently. As a result of this expected autonomy, exchange students have a unique opportunity to truly assimilate into the Brazilian culture.

In order to qualify for the program, applicants must demonstrate an intermediate to advanced background in Portuguese. They must also maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.

Rio de Janeiro is one of South America's great cities, known for its thriving arts scene and its magnificent scenic beauty. Known as Brazil's cidade maravilhosa, Rio offers a rich cultural heritage, legendary beaches and spectacular views.