Brazil has greatly increased its academic cooperation with Africa since 2026 through “Full-Ride” programmes that pay for tuition and provide students a monthly salary (stipend). The goal of these scholarships is to encourage cooperation between countries in the South, especially in the areas of agriculture, public health, and technology.
1. PEC-G and PEC-PG Scholarships (the “Gold Standard”)
The Postgraduate Student Covenant Programme (PEC-PG) is the main government-funded scholarship for African professionals who want to get their master’s or PhD in Brazil.
- The Prize:
- Full Tuition Waiver: No academic fees at any Brazilian federal university that takes part.
- Monthly payment: about R$ 2,100 for a master’s degree and R$ 3,100 for a PhD.
- Travel: The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs often pays for round-trip airfare.
- Health: The Unified Health System (SUS) is free to use.
- 2026/2027 Time frame:
- The application window for the 2027 intake usually opens in August 2026 and closes in September 2026.
- Requirement: Applicants must be from a country that has a cooperation agreement with Brazil. Most African countries are included in this category category. You also have to promise to go back to your home country when you graduate.
2. GCUB-Mob’s International Mobility Programme
The International Cooperation Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB) runs this program, which gives more than 800 scholarships each year to students from other countries.
- The award covers all tuition costs and gives students monthly living stipends for the duration of the program (up to 24 months for master’s students and 48 months for PhD students).
- Cycle of Intake in 2027:
- Portal Opens: May 2026 is the date.
- Due date: July 13, 2026 (based on past cycles).
- One of the best things about this process is that you can apply to up to five different universities in Brazil with just one application. These include USP, UNICAMP, and UFRJ.
3. Scholarships from PAEC OAS-GCUB
This framework is mostly for OAS member states, but some partnerships also include African students, especially those from Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) countries like Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
- The Award: Covers full tuition and provides about $10,000 USD a year for living expenses.
- 2026 Status: The deadline for a lot of these programmes is April 20, 2026 (current).
4. How to Get Around the Portuguese Requirement in 2026
Brazil used to require the Celpe-Bras certificate. But in 2026, there will be ways for people who don’t speak Portuguese to get there:
- Tracks Taught in English: Many top research universities, like USP and UFRJ, now offer graduate programmes that are only in English. If you apply, you don’t have to speak Portuguese to get into these programs.
- The “Pre-Sessional” Language Year: If you want to apply for PEC-G (Undergraduate) and don’t speak Portuguese, the scholarship often includes a fully funded one-year Portuguese language course in Brazil before you start your degree.
- MOI Waiver: For postgraduate programmes taught in English, you can often get around taking a language test by sending an official letter saying that your previous degree was in English (for example, from Nigeria or Ghana).
5. Important Timeline for 2026 and 2027
- The last day to apply for some OAS-GCUB partner scholarships is April 20, 2026.
- The GCUB-Mob application portal opens in May 2026 for the 2027 school year.
- The PEC-PG (Postgraduate) portal will open to professionals in Africa on August 14, 2026.
- The deadline for the PEC-G/PEC-PG government scholarship is September 29, 2026.
Final Thoughts
The GCUB-Mob Program is the most flexible for African students because it lets them apply to more than one university at a time. The PEC-PG provides professionals and professors the best government support. Brazilian committees give more weight to research that can be used to improve infrastructure or health in your home country, so make sure your application focuses on sustainable development.
