Quick Summary
Situated in Recife, Brazil, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) is a public established in 1946. Ranked #1001-1200 globally by QS World University Rankings 2026, it enrolls 43500 students including 1.1% from outside Brazil. Known for strengths in Computer Science, Medicine, Physics, it maintains an acceptance rate of 12%.
01
Institutional Profile
Who they are
It is the premier research hub in Northeast Brazil, offering tuition-free world-class education and hosting one of the top-ranked Computer Science departments in Latin America.
Subject Strengths
Computer ScienceMedicinePhysicsCivil EngineeringArchaeology
Founded1946
TypePublic
Total Students43500
Intl Students1.1%
Faculty Ratio16.2
CampusUrban
Campus Size150 hectares (Main Recife Campus)
Affiliated HospitalsHospital das Clínicas da UFPE (HC-UFPE)
AccreditationMinistry of Education (MEC), Brazil
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Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#1001-1200
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
#1201-1500
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
#701-800
Academic Ranking
03
Academics & Research
What you can study
Undergraduate, Masters, Doctorate, Specializations, Residencies
Programs
78
PhD Programs
Education through the Distance Education Coordination (EAD/UFPE)
Online Programs
Centro de Informática (CIn), Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), ITEP
Research Centers
Very High
Research Output
Ministry of Education (MEC), Brazil
Accreditation
04
Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance Rate12%
IELTSNot Available
TOEFLNot Available
Min GPANot Available
GRENot Available
GMATNot Available
SATNot Available
ACTNot Available
Key Dates
FALLApplication Deadline · January (via SISU)
SPRINGApplication Deadline · June (via SISU)
MAR-APRDecisions Released
Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
Focus on high performance in the ENEM (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio), specifically in math and science for technology courses, as competition for the Informatics Center is among the highest in Brazil.
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Cost Ledger
Amounts in Brazilian Real
Living Cost
R$36,000/yr
per year · BRL
Total Estimated Annual Cost
R$36,000/yr
tuition + living + essentials · BRL
Scholarships AvailablePNAES, PIBIC, PIBITI, FACEPE, CAPES, CNPq
Avg Scholarship$1,400
Financial AidStudent Assistance Program (PROAES) covering meals, transportation, and housing grants.
Work-StudyAcademic monitoring, administrative internships, and research grants.
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Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Undergraduate, Masters, Doctorate, Specializations, Residencies programs total
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Computer Science | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Law | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Mechanical Engineering | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| Psychology | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
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Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
$13,500
Average Salary After Graduation
84%
Employment Rate
Internship PlacementStrong integration with Porto Digital tech hub and regional medical centers.
Industry Connections
Porto DigitalStellantisSamsungApple (Developer Academy)Petrobras
Notable Alumni
Ariano Suassuna, Cristovam Buarque, João Cabral de Melo Neto, Paulo Freire (former faculty)
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Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
University Residence (Casa do Estudante) for low-income students.
Sports Facilities
Athletics track, Olympic swimming pool, multi-sport gymnasium, soccer fields.
Student Clubs
DCE UFPE, Junior Companies, Academic Directories, Robotics Club.
Library Resources
Sistema de Bibliotecas (BC-UFPE) with over 15 sectoral libraries and large digital database access.
Exchange Programs
Erasmus+, Brafitec, Santander Universidades, and several bilateral agreements with European universities.
Summer Programs
Extensão Summer/Winter courses in Arts, Languages, and Data Science.