University of São Paulo & Universidade Federal Fluminense

The University of Maryland is offering a unique opportunity for students to participate in a cross-cultural student exchange with two universities in Brazil. Undergraduate or graduate students who are interested in Health, Special Education or Disability Policy in Latin America are invited to apply for these awards to study at the University of São Paulo (USP), or Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) in Rio de Janeiro.

Financial support is made available to participating students through the U.S. Department of Education in the form of a $3,500 scholarship. An additional $1,000 is offered to support the study of Portuguese language. Both scholarships are intended to offset program costs including: UM tuition, health insurance and fees, room and board, airfare, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Exchange students are enrolled at the Universidade São Paolo or the Universidade Federal Fluminense. As a result, 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 handle their academic and personal lives quite independently. As a result, exchange students have a unique opportunity to truly assimilate into the Brazilian culture.

In order to qualify for the program, applicants must demonstrate fluency in Spanish and, preferably, some background in Portuguese. They must also maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.