Address: Cidade Universitária, 21941-901 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Engineering, Marine Science, Physics
One of the oldest and largest federal universities in Brazil, UFRJ was established in 1920 focusing on comprehensive higher education across multiple fields.
The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro has about 40,000 students and 12,000 staff, and it is one of the largest federal universities in Brazil. Its main site, the Cidade Universitária, occupies Ilha do Fundão in Guanabara Bay, joined to the mainland by roads and bridges. The Polytechnic School traces its origin to the Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design of 1792, which is regarded as the start of engineering teaching in Brazil.
Engineering is led by COPPE, the graduate engineering institute created in 1963, which has become one of the biggest centres for postgraduate engineering in Latin America. It works closely with the oil sector, and Petrobras runs its main research centre, CENPES, on the same island. COPPE operates an ocean basin laboratory where ship and platform models are tested under simulated waves, and its work in offshore engineering is cited well beyond Brazil.
Research is strongest in oceanography, energy, physics, chemistry and engineering. Partnerships with Petrobras, international universities and research centres bring funding for laboratories, and graduate exchange is active with Portugal, France and the United States. The university also includes the former National School of Fine Arts, where the architect Oscar Niemeyer studied.
Tuition is free. Undergraduate admission is through the national SiSU system based on ENEM results, with places reserved for public school graduates and quota groups. Teaching is in Portuguese. Student housing on the island is limited, and many students commute from other parts of the city, a trip that can take over an hour at rush hour.
Rio de Janeiro offers beaches, mountains and a large cultural scene, but the cost of living in the south zone is high. About 200,000 people have graduated from UFRJ, and its alumni hold senior positions in energy, engineering and public administration across Brazil.
Domains taught:
Engineering, Marine Science, Physics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Partnerships with Petrobras, international universities, research centers
Research:
Research in oceanography, energy, and physics
Famous Alumnis:
Sérgio Buarque de Holanda
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
12000
Current students***:
40000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
200000
Pros
Diverse research groups, strong humanities and sciences
Among national alternatives, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul stands out for its focus on physics and engineering, and it is slightly smaller, at about 30,000 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
On content, Rio de Janeiro State University and this institution are close, as both teach engineering; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers project management and life sciences as well.
Federal University of Minas Gerais sits close to this university on engineering; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers computer vision and life sciences as well.
University of Brasília overlaps with this institution on engineering, so the two are easy to compare, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers project management and ecology and sustainability as well.
Federal University of Santa Catarina works in much the same fields, chiefly engineering, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
On content, University of California, Santa Barbara in the United States and this university are close, as both teach marine science, physics and engineering; it is smaller, enrolling about 26,100 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
If this university is on your list for physics and engineering, National University of Cuyo in Argentina deserves a comparison, because it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers agriculture and food science as well.
University of Tehran, in Iran, takes a similar route through physics and engineering; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
On content, Ural Federal University in Russia and this institution are close, as both teach physics and engineering; it covers chemistry and mechanical engineering as well, and has almost the same size, at about 36,000 students.
University of the Basque Country in Spain shares the physics and engineering orientation of this university, and it is slightly larger, at about 44,921 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is UFRJ?
The main Cidade Universitária is on Ilha do Fundão in Rio de Janeiro. Other buildings are in the city centre and in other districts.
How large is UFRJ?
About 40,000 students and 12,000 staff.
Is it free?
Yes. UFRJ is a federal university, and undergraduate study is free of tuition.
How do you apply?
Through the national SiSU system based on ENEM exam results, with places reserved for public school graduates and quota groups.
What language is used for teaching?
Portuguese.
What is COPPE?
COPPE is the graduate engineering institute of UFRJ, created in 1963. It is one of the largest postgraduate engineering centres in Latin America and works closely with the energy sector.
What is the link to Petrobras?
Petrobras runs its main research centre, CENPES, on Ilha do Fundão next to the university and collaborates with UFRJ groups.
What are the main research areas?
Oceanography, offshore engineering, energy, physics, chemistry and engineering.
How old is engineering education at UFRJ?
The Polytechnic School traces its origin to the Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design of 1792.
Is there student housing?
On-campus housing is limited. Many students live elsewhere in Rio and commute, which can take a long time at peak hours.
Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Physics, Renewable Energy, Research and Development, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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