Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Founded in 1940, the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro was the first private higher education institution in Brazil. It moved to its current campus in 1951, where the bold new Modernist buildings were intended to reflect its innovative spirit.

Academic highlights

Regularly ranked in the top ten Latin American universities, PUC-Rio is a research institution that focuses primarily on science and innovation. It has Faculties of Law, Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology, Economics, Business and International Relations. In 2009 it opened the first digital media institute in Brazil.

Location

The main campus is located in Gávea, an affluent residential neighbourhood in the south of Rio de Janeiro adjacent to tropical forest and lively Leblon beach. Gávea is renowned for its "Baixo Gávea" area, a Bohemian quarter frequented by the city's youth.

Did you know?

Based on the philosophy of its institutional insignia “Alis Grave Nil” (“Nothing is heavy for those who have wings”) PUC-Rio promotes a strong international exchange program. It was the first Brazilian university to establish an international office.

Handbook/Catalogue

PUC-Rio's unit catalogue is found here. Relevant unit information is listed in the Horário das Disciplinas.

Refer to Academic Centers of PUC-Rio to view the disciplines offered by each PUC-Rio department. Additional information about credit requirements here.

You are required to take a Portuguese as a Second Language class during the regular academic term corresponding to your level.

Full-time Credit Load Equivalents

Updated conversion rate on 14/5/2025.

Mandatory Portuguese Language Learning

There is a Portuguese language unit which is mandatory for all exchange students who are not fluent or native speakers of the language.  All exchange students will be tested on their fluency, both for their written skills online and for their oral ability when they arrive, to determine the level in which they should be enrolled.

Beginners Portuguese

• Levels 1, 2 and 3 are 6 credits each

You enrol in 15 credits + Portuguese language.  If you are doing levels 1, 2 or 3, and can receive credit for Portuguese language, you can earn 24 Monash points from your exchange.  If you can’t receive credit for the Portuguese language study because you do not have suitable space available in your degree, the most you can receive from your exchange will be 18 Monash points.

Advanced Portuguese

• Levels 4 and 5 are 4 credits each

You enrol in 15 credits + Portuguese language.  If you are doing levels 4 or 5, you cannot earn any additional credit for Portuguese language as 4 credits equates to only 4.8 Monash points.  Students who feel confident of their ability, can ask for permission to enrol in 20 credits + 4 credits for Portuguese, making a total enrolment of 24 credits, the maximum allowed in a semester.  This will earn 24 Monash points but again with no credit for Portuguese.

Academic Calendar

PUC-Rio Regular term (first semester) (Monash semester 1): late February - mid-July
PUC-Rio Regular term (second semester) (Monash semester 2): mid-August – mid-December

International Cooperation - Calendar.

Note

• The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
• Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.

Important notes

If you want to study in Portuguese must take a placement test in order to confirm your knowledge of Portuguese. More information on PUC-Rio's language requirements can be found here.

To begin your application and study plan, click the button below.

Apply here

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