Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)

The Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte was founded in 1960 as the main public institution of higher education in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte. Formed from a merger of a number of other institutions specialising in medicine, law and pharmacy (among other things), the university is primarily based in the state’s capital, the coastal city of Natal, with a 123 hectare main campus being constructed inside the city limits during the 1970s. The campus is home to an extensive sports park, with gymnasiums, Olympic sized swimming pools, football pitches and even a running track. Aside from sports facilities, the university also has a multitude of dining areas, a dedicated post office and bank, and its own art gallery. As well as this, the campus also plays host to an outdoor amphitheatre, as well as transport links to the city of Natal proper. Natal, as a coastal city, has an array of beaches and seaside areas in which students can entertain themselves. Also, as one of Brazil’s most popular tourist destinations, the city also has a number of retail parks and other activities available. In terms of academic offerings, the university currently has over 80 different undergraduate degree programs available, across a number of disciplines. UFRN also makes distance learning available for a limited number of courses, and postgraduate study is available for most degrees.