Brazil: UnB Business Summer Program

The University of Brasília welcomes students from any university in the world to participate in our Strategic Planning For Social Causes (SPSC) course in 2025.

This 14 day program offers an opportunity for candidates to explore the business and policy environment of an emerging economy like Brazil.

There are four distinct parts to this program including: (1) on campus, learning about the target country's business, politics, technological advancements and social policy; (2) organizational immersion and direct engagement with business leaders to gather insights on the Brazilian social context; (3) cultural experience in the Federal District and in the State of Goiás; (4) analysis and synthesis of your findings pertaining to the case studies in the form of group projects. The program shall involve keynotes, workshops, readings, classroom discussions, technical and cultural visits and research on Brazil.

The focus of the program is to help students understand social and humanitarian issues from a problem-solving perspective. The cultural experience in Brazil is rich in beauty and challenges like in other emerging countries. However, Brazil is unique in its ability to captivate hearts towards human issues.

Discover a different Brazil "up close" through this hands-on highly enjoyable experience!

Dates & Deadlines

Term: Summer 2025
App Deadline: Sunday, December 15, 2025
Program Dates: Monday, May 19 to Friday, June 1, 2025

To start the application process for the Summer 2025 program, schedule a meeting with an advisor using the link below.

Schedule First Steps Meeting

Interested in studying abroad for Summer 2026 or later? Please fill out the waitlist form below and the study abroad center will notify you when applications for future terms open. You can also schedule an informational meeting with our office to learn more about the programs we offer and find one that works best for you!

Study Abroad Waitlist Schedule Info Meeting

Unsure where to begin? Visit our Study Abroad Process page to learn more!

Location

Brasília is considered a very safe city and offers a wide range of high-quality restaurants, as well as typical Brazilian cultural events. The city planned by the great Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer brings together cultures from all corners of the country, from the Northern to the Southern states. Northeastern Forró is a classic Brazilian musical genre which you can hear on certain nights in the capital, as well as Choro and Brazilian Popular Music that can be heard throughout the city. Music and food are one of the most special parts about Brazil, connecting people together from all over! Visits to cultural places like the TV Tower of Brasília, National Park and Guará Market are also notable places to visit. Brasília features the largest Brazilian center for government organizations. Organizations such as Banco do Brasil, APEX, IBAMA and the United States Embassy are on the list of possible destinations.

Academics

This program runs for 2 weeks. During these weeks students will explore Brazil and all the food, cultural experiences and sightseeing that the city has to offer while also learning about the four methodological topics. These topics are accompanied by group work, technical visits and cultural experiences. Each student or, if possible, groups of students will choose one social problem listed by the professors on the first day of class. These problems pose a concern to emerging economies of Latin America. An informational packet on the emerging economies and the methodology will be provided. A PowerPoint presentation explaining the foundation and main points of the methodology will be developed. Discussions will follow with the class participants. The course will satisfy 3 US college credits.

Participation: Group participants are expected to actively be involved in activities, discussions, and attend all sessions.
Exams: A test will be given at the end of the course to evaluate the groups presentation.

Participant Info

Meet your Advisor:

Stephanie is a full time study abroad advisor who will help you throughout the application process to Brazil, including documentation, finances, scholarships, and more. From the application process to financial assistance to preparing for your journey abroad, Stephanie will be with you every step of the way providing guidance and reassurance.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

Review and follow the travel recommendations of the U.S. State Department for travel to Brazil.

Note: Summer students who are US citizens will need a Brazilian visa.

Housing & Meals

Housing & Meals

Participants will stay in a hotel close the University with a personal bedroom and breakfast included. Meals will be provided in restaurants.

Itinerary

Itinerary

Tentative Program Dates: May 18th, 2025 (depart) - June 1st, 2025 (return)

Sample itinerary is subject to change.

Day 1: Arrive in Brasilia

Day 2: Orientation, campus tour, meeting colleagues, and conference

Day 3: Class and Federal Capital tour

Day 4: Class, visit to organizations, and cultural event (Clube do Choro)

Day 5: Museum of Indigenous People, visit to Senate, and cultural presentations (groups)

Day 6: Travel day to Pirenópolis - Goiás

Day 7: Travel day to Pirenópolis - Goiás

Day 8: Visit to organizations, visit to national museum, congress, and ministries

Day 9: Class work in groups, social work with communities, and special dinner (Banana Pizza)

Day 10: Visit to organizations, class work in groups, and cultural event (Forró Experience)

Day 11: Free time for shopping in city, project presentations, and cultural event (Tango no Carninito)

Day 12: Free time for shopping in city, project presentations, and free time

Day 13: Feijoada at Clube do Choro and free time at City Park

Day 14: Depart from Brasilia

Program Costs

Estimated Program Cost: $4,576*

*estimated total cost of participation, actual amount depends on type of housing accommodation selected, actual airfare purchase price, personal spending habits, and other factors

Estimated Total Program Cost	$4,576
Estimated U-bill Charges	$2,329
Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs	$2,246

UnB Cost Estimate Summer 2025

Cost of Studying On Campus at UNI

Tuition & Fees	$4,864
Room & Board	$4,993
Books	$400
Personal Expenses	$902
Transportation	$395
Total	$11,544

Source: https://admissions.uni.edu/cost-aid

‌Eligibility Requirements to Study Abroad

The Study Abroad Center reserves the right to determine participants' eligibility to study abroad. Students must have a completed study abroad application, including supportive recommendation form(s). Additionally, students must meet all of the following in order to be eligible to study abroad:

Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher at the time of application and maintain this cumulative GPA prior to departure and throughout the study abroad process
If your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, submit the following to the Study Abroad Center (103 East Bartlett):
- Letters of reference from two academic contacts (e.g. academic advisor and former or current professor) supporting your pursuit of study abroad. If you are attending a faculty-led study abroad program, one of the letters must be from a course leader. However, if the program has two course leaders, only one of the letters can be from one of the course leaders.

Must be over the age of 18 years old
Must meet the course prerequisites (participation in the program is dependent upon meeting these)
Must be in good standing with the university
UNI's partner institutions may require additional eligibility requirements to be met, these vary from institution to institution. Please consult with the Study Abroad Center staff to discuss these additional requirements, if applicable.
Applicants traveling to a region of a country or a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel) will not be eligible