Federal University of Santa Catarina

The Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) was founded in 1962 as a unison of pre-existing colleges in Santa Catarina, a state in southern Brazil. The oldest of these is the Centre of Juridic Sciences which was opened in 1932.  There are now 11 campuses at UFSC, in Centres of Education from Health Sciences to Physics and Mathematics. The university is focused in the state capital, Florianópolis. This is an island city, with 42 beaches and an internationally reputed surfing location. The city was named by Newsweek as one of its 10 most dynamic cities in the world. There are also campuses in the Brazilian cities of Araranguá, Curitibanos and Joinville, all in Santa Catarina.  The majority of courses offered at UFSC are in undergraduate degrees, though the university also has established research and doctoral facilities. The undergraduate courses requiring the highest entry grades are medicine, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering.  In its role as a premier research facility in Brazil UFSC is a part of EURAXESS, working with the European Commission to allow doctoral students to study overseas. Those participating in study abroad and exchange programmes at UFSC can find administrative and academic assistance at the university’s International Office. UFSC offers Portuguese as a foreign language teaching to all international students, with a separate admissions process for Brazilian indigenous students.  Brazilian universities pride themselves on their work with the community around them. One aspect of UFSC’s outreach is known as SPEX week, when the university’s demonstrates to local residents the work being done in Teaching, Research and Education.  Esteemed persons to graduate from UFSC are civil engineer Daniella Abru and lawyer Clèmerson Merlin Clève.