Universidade Estadual Paulista

About

Located in São Paulo, Brazil, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) is one of the country's most prestigious public universities, renowned globally for its strong research output, particularly in agricultural sciences, dentistry, engineering, and veterinary medicine. While the vast majority of its degree programs are taught in Portuguese, the university offers a robust selection of graduate courses, research placements, and specific undergraduate modules suitable for incoming exchange students. The International Relations Office (Assessoria de Relações Externas) actively coordinates student mobility, providing dedicated support with visas, housing guidance, and Portuguese language courses to help foreign scholars integrate smoothly into campus life. A distinctive characteristic of UNESP is its unique multi-campus structure, with 34 faculties spread across 24 cities in São Paulo state, allowing international students to experience diverse regional cultures and specialized research facilities outside the bustling capital. Prospective international applicants should note that proficiency in Portuguese is generally required for full-degree enrollment, making early language preparation essential for academic success.

Background

São Paulo State University (Unesp, Portuguese: Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho") is a public university run by the state government of São Paulo, Brazil. Unesp has a combined student body of over 45,000 spread among its 23 campuses. The first of them is the Araraquara Pharmacy and Odontology Faculty, founded in 1923 and incorporated by the state of São Paulo in 1956. Before the university's official foundation in 1976, its original 12 campuses were public independent faculties. With a budget of R$2.6 billion in 2015, UNESP currently has 33 teaching, research, and extension units in 23 campuses spread across inland and coastal cities, as well as in the city of São Paulo. It also has 30 libraries, two hospitals, three animal hospitals, five farms, and seven complementary units. São Paulo State University is considered the sixth most important university in Brazil, according to the Ranking Universitário Folha, one of the most recognized local rankings. According to the QS World University Ranking, Unesp is the fifth most important university in Brazil, 11th in Latin America, 29th in BRICS, and 482nd in the world...

Location

Quick facts

Nearby universities