Exchange for International Students

Each year UFSC receives hundreds of reciprocal exchange students from our partner universities around the world. Exchange students are first selected and nominated to study at UFSC by their home universities. Once nominated, the student will receive an email with instructions to complete his/her application. Students whose home institutions do not have an exchange agreement with UFSC are not eligible to apply as exchange students.

Partner international institutions wishing to send students to UFSC must access the online system with their existing username and password in order to nominate their students. If your institution does not have a username and password yet, please send us a message at [email protected]. International institutions that do not have a cooperation agreement with UFSC should consult the procedures and criteria for submitting agreement proposals. Note: We inform that exchange in the Medicine Program at UFSC runs independently from SINTER. Thus, students interested in taking courses or doing internship in Medicine should contact the Program Coordinator directly ([email protected]). For further information, visit the program’s website. Information for incoming students:

Application procedures

To the home institution Access the online application system with your existing username and password in order to nominate students for the exchange program (to study at UFSC in the following semester).

– If the login or password is lost or forgotten, click “I forgot my password”. 1 – If the person responsible for nominations or the contact email has changed please inform us at [email protected]. – Please make sure the student’s email is correct. We do not take responsibility for students not receiving the nomination email. – Nominations via email or regular mail will not be considered. – It is not necessary to send any documents by regular mail.

Approve the student’s application through the online application system after receiving the automatic email, observing the deadline. 2 – Applications not confirmed by the home institution until the deadline are automatically cancelled by the system.

To the Student

1 Check if your institution has an agreement with UFSC here.

Access the online application system after receiving the email containing the access link, username and password. – If you did not receive the nomination email, check with your home institution if they have your correct address or if the email went to the spam folder. Then, request a new nomination. 2 – Please not that exchange in the Medicine Program at UFSC runs independently from SINTER. Thus, students interested in taking courses or doing internship in Medicine should contact the Program Coordinator directly ([email protected]). For further information, visit the program’s website.

3 Fill out the entire application form.

4 Choose the courses for the Learning Agreement.

After printing the Learning Agreement and collecting all the required signatures, upload it 5 to the online application system.

6 Upload all the required documents to the application system.

After filling out the form and uploading the documents, save the application and 7 click ENVIAR [SEND], otherwise SINTER will not be able to view your application.

Your application will be sent again to your home institution for approval through the 8 online system.

After approval, the application will be sent for analysis by the relevant academic 9 departments at UFSC.

Once you are accepted in at least one course, you will receive a letter of acceptance from 10 UFSC. Then, you must apply for the Student Visa (Temporary Visa IV, connected to UFSC) at the Brazilian Consulate or Embassy in your home country. The Student Visa is mandatory for enrollment at UFSC.

Exchange students may study at any of UFSC campuses. During regular application procedures, applicants must choose the undergraduate program and select the campus where they would like to study. Programs offered at each campus are different from the others. Click here for more information on the UFSC campuses.

Important information • A student’s nomination does not mean acceptance in the exchange program. Admission will only be confirmed after the application is accepted by the relevant Heads of Department. Students are able to keep track of their application status through the online application system. • If accepted, the student will receive the Letter of Acceptance by email. The Letter will also be available for download in the application system. Please note that Brazilian consulates have been instructed to receive electronic letters of acceptance issued by Brazilian public universities. For this reason, acceptance letters will not be sent by regular post. • We recommend that students do not book flights or make other travel plans before receiving the Letter of Acceptance.

Documents required for application

Complete Academic Transcript of Records and a Portuguese or English translation of it 1 (translation can be done by the student).

2 Certificate of Enrollment at the Home Institution.

Proof of Portuguese language proficiency at intermediate level (for non-native Portuguese speakers) – Students must have at least an intermediate level of Portuguese in order to attend 3 undergraduate courses at UFSC. Therefore, a proof of proficiency is required. Certificates issued by any educational institution or Portuguese teacher are accepted. Students may also fill out a self-declaration form

Learning Agreement (printed from our online registration system with all the required 4 signatures)

Important information ▪ Documents submitted after the application deadline will not be accepted. ▪ All documents must be uploaded to the online application system. ▪ Applications that do not contain all documents will be discarded. ▪ The vast majority of undergraduate courses at UFSC are taught in Portuguese. ▪ For information about the Portuguese for Foreigners Intensive Course, click here.

Documents required for registration

• Original with a student visa (VITEM IV, linked to UFSC)* • Travel insurance valid for the entire period of the mobility with repatriation coverage in case of medical necessities or death. *For students with Brazilian citizenship, the Brazilian identity card or will be accepted in place of the Student Visa.

General information for incoming students Language Requirements • Undergraduate students must have at least an intermediate level of Portuguese in order to attend courses at UFSC. Hence, a proof of proficiency (B1 level or above) will be required. Certificates issued by any educational institution or Portuguese teacher are accepted. Students may also fill out a self-declaration form available here.

Student Visa • The Student Visa (Temporary Visa IV) is valid for a period of up to one year and may be extended for the same period, several times, for the duration of the program. • The request for visa extension must be filed at the Federal Police or at the Ministry of Justice, upon evidence of academic achievement and a statement of visa extension issued by SINTER. It is important to be mindful of the visa expiration date, as once the date is expired you will not be able to apply for a visa extension in . In this case, a new visa will have to be obtained at a Brazilian consulate abroad. • Warning: It is not possible to change visa type in Brazil. Therefore, students should only leave their home countries with a Student Visa (Temporary Visa IV) or a Temporary Resident Visa ( Agreement). You will not be able to register at UFSC, not even in the Portuguese as a Foreign Language course, without a Student Visa. • Students from the member countries of MERCOSUR are allowed to register at UFSC holding a Temporary Residence Permit based on a MERCOSUR Residence Agreement or Treaty, in compliance with the Decree no. 6.975/09.

Housing • UFSC does not offer housing for exchange students. Thus, students must search for their own accommodation. SINTER provides a list of external accommodations for international students, who shall contact the owners directly in order to get more information.

Transcript of Records • Before leaving the university, all exchange students must hand in at SINTER their “Certidão Negativa de Débito” [Library Clearance Certificate], requested at the University Library. This document is a proof that the student has no debts to UFSC. Only after handing in the certificate will the students be able to receive their Transcript of Records.

Additional Information • Exchange students may enroll in courses from any Department at UFSC as long as they fulfill all the course requirements and there is seat available in the chosen course. • All costs related to the exchange program, including visa, passport, tickets, accommodation, transportation and living expenses, are students’ sole responsibility, whether they receive scholarships/financial aid or not. • Exchange students will not pay any fees at UFSC, except for extracurricular activities. The only fees students will pay are those from their home institution, according to its policies and regulations, if applicable.

UFSC grading and attendance system

Academic performance is assessed by the student’s attendance and grades in each course.

Undergraduate programs: Grades are expressed in values ranging from 0.0 (zero) to 10.0 (ten). In order to pass a course, students must obtain a final average grade equal to or greater than 6.0 (six) and minimum attendance of 75%. For further information read Chapter’s IV the Section I of Normative Resolution 017/CUn/97.