Scholarships: How do I get a scholarship for university?

Do you dream of getting a scholarship? The search for a university education and the construction of a professional future are goals that lead many young people to dedicate countless hours studying hard.

The objective is to achieve a good score on the entrance exam or Enem, essential milestones on the path to higher education. 

The good news is that there are viable solutions for those looking for financial support in college. So, keep reading and discover how to turn your academic goals into reality through a scholarship.

5 ways to get a scholarship in 2024

Today, students find a more affordable path to achieving their dream of studying at university, thanks to the wide range of scholarship programs available. 

These scholarship programs are offered both by government agencies and by educational institutions themselves, facilitating access to higher education.

Discover now the most relevant scholarship programs and identify which one could be your passport to graduation:

1. ProUni (University for All Program)

O ProUni stands out as one of the main routes to access scholarships at private colleges. 

This program, created by the Federal Government, has the mission of providing study opportunities in private institutions for low-income students seeking their first degree.

Eligible candidates for ProUni include:

• Students who completed their entire secondary education in public schools;
• Students who completed their entire secondary education in private schools, but on full scholarships;
• Those who divided their secondary education between public and private schools, receiving full scholarships in the private part;
• Disabled people;
• Public school teachers, who can compete for scholarships in undergraduate, higher education or pedagogy courses, without the need to meet the income criteria (they can have an income of more than 3 minimum wages).

2. State Programs

In addition to the federal program, several Brazilian states have their own initiatives to help students pursue a degree without paying all the expenses. 

For example, the São Paulo State Department of Education offers the Bolsa Universidade program, where the student has half of the monthly fee financed by the government and the other half by the private educational institution.

In this program, the income of the candidate and his family is considered, but the difference is that the scholarship recipients commit to carrying out activities in state or municipal schools in São Paulo during the weekends.

3. Full and partial scholarships

One of the fundamental criteria for obtaining these scholarships is performance in the Enem. 

Therefore, the student must have achieved more than 450 points on the average of the five exam tests and not have obtained a grade of zero in the essay. However, it is worth mentioning that this score varies from course to course.

Furthermore, it is important to highlight that these scholarships are aimed exclusively at people who do not yet have a higher education diploma, with the exception of public school teachers who seek improvement in their area of expertise.

4. Fies

O Fies It presents itself as a different alternative, not exactly a scholarship, but rather student financing. 

This Federal Government program offers financing for tuition fees for undergraduate courses at private institutions for students facing financial difficulties. 

With Fies, the government assumes the costs of tuition fees until the course is completed, and the student starts paying after graduating, benefiting from interest rates significantly lower than those usual in the market.

To access Fies financing, the criteria are similar to those of ProUni, with the need to use the score from the And either and meet certain socioeconomic requirements. 

Therefore, it is an option worth exploring for those who wish to pursue higher education at a private institution, but face financial constraints.

5. Scholarship Programs at Private Universities

Several private colleges in Brazil use the Prouni program to determine the beneficiaries of their scholarships. 

However, it is not uncommon to find institutions that have developed their own selection criteria and methods for awarding these educational aids. 

These criteria normally consider the student's financial condition and academic performance, especially in entrance exams.

For those interested in winning a scholarship offered directly by private universities, it is crucial to start a detailed search on the institutions' websites. 

This step allows you to learn about the specificities of each scholarship program, which often vary according to the different courses offered. 

Also find out about the Permanence Grant: here! Questions about how to get a scholarship for college? Leave it below in the comments!