An English-language university website does not establish that a Brazilian degree is taught in English. Brazil’s PEC-G guidance explicitly includes Portuguese-proficiency and PEC-PLE preparation routes, while other admission routes require a course-specific language check. Verify the language of the actual course, assessments, placements and student services—not simply whether the university has an English website. Ask the department for a written answer for your intake.
For Portuguese-medium undergraduate study, the institution may require Portuguese proficiency or a particular route to demonstrate it. PEC-G applicants who need language preparation may be directed through PEC-PLE, which prepares eligible students to learn Portuguese and sit the Celpe-Bras proficiency examination. Applicants should check the current selection notice to see whether this applies to their route.
English evidence is programme-specific. An IELTS score is not automatically required nationwide, and an alternative is not automatically accepted. Some departments may accept TOEFL, another recognised test, prior English-medium study or an internal assessment; others may set minimum subscores or an expiry period. Confirm test name, minimum score, validity date, waiver policy and whether you need evidence at application or enrolment.
Consider your life outside class too. Portuguese can be important for housing, healthcare, local administration and internships even if some coursework is in English. A short language course and an honest assessment of your current level can make the move easier. Do not assume translation apps can replace language prerequisites or official translations of documents.
Match language ability to the whole course
Portuguese matters beyond the classroom. Students may need it to read academic materials, participate in seminars, complete assessments, communicate with lecturers, handle university administration and find housing or healthcare. The required level depends on the programme and admission route. Ask the department which language is used for every compulsory course, examination, lab, placement and student-service interaction. A page that mentions international applicants does not establish that a degree is taught in English.
PEC-G applicants should read the current call and language conditions carefully. The programme includes language-preparation arrangements for some candidates, and its matriculation guidance specifies evidence in some circumstances. Do not assume that finishing a Portuguese-language course automatically satisfies every later requirement; confirm which certificate and validity period the current rules accept. Applicants outside PEC-G should ask their university whether it requires a proficiency exam, a certificate or an interview, and whether a preparatory course is available.
Plan language development around academic tasks
A useful preparation plan has four parts: listening to lectures, reading academic texts, writing assignments and speaking in seminars or practical sessions. Take a placement assessment from a recognised language provider if available, then map your current ability to the course’s stated requirement. If the university does not publish a level, ask for a sample reading or writing task and the expected standard. For a technical degree, build a glossary of field-specific vocabulary; for a humanities or law course, practise close reading and argument writing in Portuguese.
A planning example: review one public course syllabus, identify ten recurring terms and write a short summary of a reading each week. This can help reveal gaps before arrival, but it is not a substitute for the institution’s language test or a formal course. Join a structured Portuguese class and seek opportunities for conversation with consent and respect. Students who have studied a related language should still test their academic comprehension rather than assume everyday fluency will transfer.
Consider language in the budget and timetable
Language preparation may involve tuition, books, transport or a longer period before degree entry. Determine whether it is part of your offer, whether it has a separate fee and whether a place is guaranteed. If you need a language course before your main programme, ask how it affects visa or residence documentation and funding. Do not budget on the assumption that the university will provide free classes unless it confirms this in writing.
English-taught options should be checked course by course. Confirm the language for electives and later years, not only the first semester. Ask whether group work or fieldwork involves Portuguese and what support is available to non-Portuguese speakers. Even in an English-taught course, practical Portuguese can make daily life easier and improve access to local academic activities.
Check language evidence before applying
Make a checklist of the accepted test or certificate, minimum result, test date validity and submission deadline. Verify whether the result must be sent directly by the provider or uploaded by you. If your schooling was in Portuguese, ask whether that satisfies the requirement and what proof is needed. If you are selected through PEC-G, follow the current programme notice and consular instructions exactly. Keep copies of certificates and receipts. The institution or official selection body decides whether your evidence meets the rule; an informal assurance from a third party is not enough.
Make a language plan that can be measured
Set a weekly routine before arrival and review it against real course tasks. For example, practise listening to a short academic lecture, summarising one reading in Portuguese, and explaining a technical concept aloud. Keep a list of words that recur in your field and ask a tutor to correct writing samples. This gives you evidence of progress and identifies gaps early. It does not replace any proficiency score required by the university or PEC-G; only the official programme can confirm whether the evidence is accepted.
Questions students often ask
Is IELTS mandatory everywhere in Brazil? No universal English test requirement exists across all programmes; each course sets accepted evidence.
Can an English-taught course remove the need for Portuguese? Not necessarily. Portuguese may be needed for daily life, administration, placements or other course components.
Check language in practical study situations
The useful question is not only whether a degree page says “English” or “Portuguese,” but what language students use throughout the programme. Ask about lectures, examinations, lab instructions, group work, thesis supervision, administrative forms and any internship. A course can offer some English content while requiring Portuguese in practical or later-stage work. Get the answer from the faculty for your intake and save the current curriculum.
If Portuguese is required, build a preparation plan around your starting level. Set regular time for listening to lectures, reading course material, writing summaries and speaking about technical topics. Use a recognised class or tutor to identify gaps, and ask whether the university offers Portuguese language preparation and whether it has a separate cost. Students applying through PEC-G should follow the current language provisions and certificate rules in the selection and enrolment guidance. Other applicants should check the target university’s own test requirements.
Even for an English-taught degree, functional Portuguese can make housing searches, health appointments, campus services and local projects easier. Look for language exchanges and student groups, but treat them as practice rather than formal certification. Confirm whether placements or professional pathways require a higher level. The institution decides what language evidence meets admission; daily fluency and academic proficiency are related but different skills.
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Editorial note
Requirements can change and may differ by institution, programme and applicant. Recheck current university and government guidance before paying or travelling.
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