Brazilian PEC-PG Graduate Scholarship 2026

Overview

The Brazilian PEC-PG Graduate Scholarship 2026 — Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Pós-Graduação — is a cooperation program that brings citizens of developing partner countries to Brazil for graduate study. It is run jointly by Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), the Ministry of Education through CAPES, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation through CNPq.

The program funds full master's, full doctorate, and sandwich (split-site) doctorate study at Brazilian institutions in programs recognized and evaluated by CAPES. The aim is to strengthen scientific, technological, and cultural ties between Brazil and partner nations across Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, and to build research capacity back in the candidates' home countries.

After a multi-year pause, the program returned with updated rules. The most recent call (Edital CAPES nº 12/2025) offered up to 650 scholarships for studies beginning in 2026. This guide covers eligibility, benefits, the application process, documents, the typical timeline, and how to put together a strong application. Exact values and deadlines are set in each official edital, so confirm the current details on the CAPES portal before you apply.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Funding bodies: MRE, CAPES (MEC), and CNPq (MCTI), Brazilian government
• Host country: Brazil
• Eligible candidates: Citizens residing in participating developing partner countries
• Levels: Full master's, full doctorate, and sandwich doctorate
• Scholarships: Up to about 650 in the most recent call
• Master's stipend: Monthly stipend (around R$2,100 in the recent edital; confirm current value)
• Doctorate stipend: Monthly stipend (around R$3,100 in the recent edital; confirm current value)
• Health support: Monthly health insurance assistance (around R$400)
• Travel: International airfare financed by the MRE
• Application portal: inscricao.capes.gov.br

Eligibility Criteria

PEC-PG is for foreign nationals from participating developing countries who want to do graduate study in Brazil. The general requirements:

• Be a citizen of, and resident in, a participating partner country at the time of application.
• Not hold Brazilian nationality, dual Brazilian nationality, or a right to Brazilian nationality.
• Not hold permanent residence in Brazil.
• Have completed undergraduate studies equivalent to a Brazilian bachelor's degree (and, for doctorate, the relevant master's level where required).
• Have a pre-acceptance or admission link to a CAPES-recognized graduate program at a Brazilian institution.
• Meet Portuguese-language requirements where they apply (for example, the Celpe-Bras proficiency exam), per the specific call.
• Commit to returning home after the program, in keeping with the cooperation purpose.

Participating countries span Latin America and the Caribbean (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela), along with countries in Africa and parts of Asia. Check the official list in the current edital.

Scholarship Benefits

PEC-PG covers living costs during graduate study in Brazil. In the most recent call the package included:

• A monthly stipend for master's students (around R$2,100 in the recent edital).
• A higher monthly stipend for doctorate students (around R$3,100 in the recent edital).
• Monthly health-insurance assistance (around R$400) toward medical coverage in Brazil.
• International airfare from the home country to Brazil, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Enrollment in a tuition-free, CAPES-recognized public or eligible graduate program.
• Funding for up to 24 months for master's, up to 48 months for full doctorate, and roughly 6 to 10 months for sandwich doctorate.

Stipend values, allowances, and durations are defined in each official edital and can change between calls, so confirm the figures for your cycle.

How to Apply

You apply online through the CAPES system. The general process:

• Find a CAPES-recognized graduate program at a Brazilian institution and get a letter of acceptance or admission link.
• Confirm your country appears on the list of participating partner countries in the current edital.
• Read the official edital carefully for the rules that apply to your level (master's, full doctorate, or sandwich doctorate).
• Register and complete your application in the CAPES portal at inscricao.capes.gov.br.
• Upload all required documents in the requested formats.
• Submit before the deadline and keep the email confirmation.
• Wait for the published results. CAPES selects and pays doctorate scholarships (and master's for Timor-Leste), while CNPq handles master's selection and payment for other countries.

Required Documents

• Letter of acceptance or admission link from a CAPES-recognized Brazilian graduate program.
• Proof of citizenship and residence in a participating partner country (passport and residence document).
• Undergraduate diploma and transcripts (and master's documents for doctorate applicants, where required).
• Curriculum vitae, ideally on the Lattes platform where requested.
• Research plan or study plan approved by the host program or advisor.
• Proof of Portuguese proficiency (such as Celpe-Bras) where the call requires it.
• Letters of recommendation, where requested.
• Any additional documents specified in the official edital annexes.

Important Dates & Deadlines

PEC-PG runs on the calendar each edital sets. For the most recent 2026-entry call, the indicative schedule was:

• Institutions register vacancies: July 2025.
• Master's and full-doctorate applications: mid-August to early October 2025.
• Results for master's and full doctorate: around December 2025, for studies starting in the first semester of 2026.
• Sandwich-doctorate applications: October 2025 to January 2026.
• Sandwich-doctorate results: around April 2026, for studies starting later in 2026.

Dates vary by call, so always confirm the current schedule in the official CAPES edital.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Get in touch early with a Brazilian program and a potential advisor; a clear acceptance link strengthens your file.
• Confirm your country is on the participating list before you put time into the application.
• Prepare a focused, well-structured research or study plan that fits the host program's strengths.
• Sort out the Portuguese-language requirement early, including the Celpe-Bras exam if you need it.
• Keep diplomas, transcripts, and translations ready and properly certified.
• Read the edital line by line, since selection follows its rules strictly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can apply for PEC-PG?

Citizens of, and residents in, participating developing partner countries who do not hold Brazilian nationality or permanent residence and who have an admission link to a CAPES-recognized Brazilian graduate program.

Q: What levels of study are covered?

Full master's, full doctorate, and sandwich (split-site) doctorate at Brazilian institutions.

Q: Does PEC-PG cover tuition?

You study at CAPES-recognized programs that are tuition-free for selected students, and the scholarship adds a monthly stipend, health assistance, and travel on top.

Q: Do I need to speak Portuguese?

A Portuguese-proficiency requirement such as Celpe-Bras may apply, depending on the call and program. Check the edital and your host program.

Q: Where do I apply?

Through the official CAPES portal at inscricao.capes.gov.br, following the current edital instructions.

Related Scholarships

If you are looking at study in Brazil or the wider region, also worth a look: the OAS Academic Scholarship Program, university-specific international scholarships at Brazilian institutions, the PEC-G program for undergraduate study in Brazil, and graduate funding from agencies such as CAPES and CNPq within other bilateral cooperation programs. Comparing these against PEC-PG can help you find the best fit for your level and field.