A guide to the Brazilian education system and how your credentials compare to US standards for immigration, university admissions, and employment.
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Apply Now →Brazil operates a 12-year system of basic education, with children starting school at age 6. The National Education Council (Conselho Nacional de Educação), an agency of the Ministry of Education (MEC), is responsible for implementing education policy and regulations. Elementary and secondary education is largely the responsibility of state governments, while early childhood education falls under local government oversight.
The academic year begins in February and runs through November, lasting approximately 38 weeks across two semesters. Schools operate five days a week for a minimum of 200 days per year. Portuguese is the language of instruction throughout all levels.
Compulsory. Divided into two stages: Years 1–5 (Fundamental I, ages 6–10) and Years 6–9 (Fundamental II, ages 11–14). Upon completion of Grade 9, students are awarded the Certificado de Conclusão do Ensino Fundamental. There are no national graduation examinations at this stage.
Corresponds to US Grades 10–12. General academic curriculum preparing students for university entrance. Upon completion, students are awarded the Certificado de Conclusão do Ensino Médio, which grants access to higher education. This credential is equivalent to US high school graduation. The curriculum guidelines outline a 35-hour school week at this level.
Bachelor's degrees (Bacharelado or Licenciatura) typically take 4–6 years depending on the field. Medicine and law take 6 years. Technology degrees (Tecnólogo) take 2–3 years. Master's degrees (Mestrado) are 2 years and Doctoral degrees (Doutorado) are 4 years. University admission is primarily through the ENEM (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio) national examination and the SISU national selection system.
| Grade Scale (0–10) | Description | US Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 9.0 – 10.0 | Excellent (Excelente) | A |
| 7.0 – 8.9 | Good (Bom) | B |
| 5.0 – 6.9 | Satisfactory (Satisfatório) | C |
| 0.0 – 4.9 | Fail (Reprovado) | F |
If you hold a Brazilian degree or diploma and plan to study, work, or immigrate to the United States, a formal credential evaluation is required.
H-1B, EB-1A, EB2-NIW, O-1, and L-1 visa petitions require a credential evaluation verifying your Brazilian education meets US standards.
US universities require a course-by-course evaluation converting your Brazilian grades into US credit hours and a 4.0 GPA.
All Brazilian documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. Evaluation World offers Portuguese-to-English translation services combined with your evaluation order.