Did you know that your grade in the ENEM (the National High School Exam in Brazil) can also be used for universities in other countries? Yes, way beyond public and private universities in Brazil, your qualification in the exam can lead to an exchange program. This is the case of the University of Algarve (UAlg), in Faro, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.
According to the Report on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum elaborated by Portugal’s Foreigners and Frontiers Service, nowadays Brazilians form the largest immigrant community in Portugal, with over 85 thousand people – 20.3% of the foreigners that live in Portugal. A truly impressive number, since Portugal is home to 421,711 people who weren’t born there. Even more than their shared culture and language, Brazil and Portugal have a good relationship, and this reflects on the opportunities offered for migration, such as work and studies. Proof of this is that no fewer than 29 educational institutions in Portugal accept the ENEM qualification for their selection process.
One of the most important is the University of Algarve that, to attract more Brazilians, offers free short courses. The university – located in Faro, a small town with a population of 47 thousand inhabitants – has launched a Summer Campus project with courses during the month of July, with 40 vacancies for high school students from 16 to 18 years of age, with classes in the morning and sports and leisure activities in the afternoon. There are 37 options for courses in various areas, ranging from health and economics, engineering, technology, to languages, humanities, art, and design.
Currently, the University of Algarve has around 600 Brazilians enrolled. According to the summer project, the goal is to offer the student – beyond an academic life – a sample of Portuguese culture, with free room and board. The students need only to pay for the trip to and from the country. It must be noted that the diplomas for the courses are accepted in all the European Union countries, allowing the students to go on to post-graduate courses in other educational institutions on the continent. Enrollment for 2018 is closed, but those who are interested in a course next year should keep an eye on the enrollment site: https://www.ualg.pt/en
