Details

• Brazil
• MACEMS-25
• Graduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

Ahead of the exchange, aside from the mandatory visa procedure, I would prepare by reaching out to previous exchange alumni, which you can often find through word of mouth or via LinkedIn. Also, look into vaccination recommendations for Brazil, especially if you plan to travel to the Amazon region. For health insurance, I would recommend Hanse Merkur. I unfortunately cannot comment on the travel choice from Europe, as I flew to Brazil from the United States. Either way, I would recommend booking a one way flight or a flexible return flight, because your plans may change throughout the semester.

2. Accommodation

My accommodation search experience was fairly straightforward, as previous exchange students at FGV had heavily recommended Uliving Paulista to me. Based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews, I chose this option ahead of time via the Uliving website (https://lp.uliving.com.br/english/). Therefore, I went with a student residence accommodation, and I found booking, payment, and the like to be very straightforward. The location was quite safe, and about a 20-30 minute walk from the university, or about a 10 minute car ride if traffic was favorable. The accommodation was very welcoming and the other students living there were great. Aside from this area, I have also heard that Oscarfeire, Pinheros, and Jardins are nice neighborhoods to live in. Beforehand, I wish I had known that the grocery store in the mall next to Uliving Paulista is incredibly overpriced.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus facilities at the FGV EAESP building are nice. There is a basketball court, garden, and dining hall area. Additionally, there is a library connected to the 2nd floor of the main building, which has private study rooms on its 3rd floor. The academic culture is more relaxed than one may expect in Europe. Regardless, the professors are passionate and hands-on experiences (e.g., company visits, talks, case studies) are highly encouraged. At the master's level, many classes occur in 3-hour blocks, often in either the mornings or evenings (think 9h-12h; 19h-22h), but breaks are given to divide up the long blocks. For master's students, I would recommend taking the "GLOBAL SHIFTS AND GEO-ECONOMICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY" and "THE NEW INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY: THE RISE OF CHINA AND A WESTLESS WORLD" elective courses. Additionally, if you are a master's student who plans to take the Global Leadership course, be aware that the professor caps the participation grade (worth 20% of the final course grade) at 9/10, although this is not formally specified in the syllabus or course material. Therefore, if you perform well, attend every class, and receive full marks for participation, the maximum mark you can receive is 9/10, resulting in an automatic 2% deduction from your final course grade.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Brazil was quite good. Perhaps not as good as in Vienna, but that is a high standard to live up to. The metro system in São Paulo was clean and efficient, and quite affordable as well. Ubers (or the local option, 99) were quite cheap, as was food delivery on the 99 app. Intercity buses, however, were the absolute highlight of transport in Brazil. I have never seen such a good intercity bus system, both due to the affordable price and the incredible facilities. Even the base ticket for closer trips such as to Rio de Janeiro often had free waters in the bus, 165 degree reclining chairs, leather seats, and plenty of legroom (think airplane emergency exit row). Brazil is generally safer than people paint it to be, but it is still wise to be aware of your surroundings in public, keep your hands on your belongings, and go out with friends instead of solo. MOST importantly, do not speak loudly on the street in foreign languages!! Anyone can 'look' Brazilian regardless of appearance, but speaking loudly in foreign languages (especially English) on the street can attract unwanted attention from thieves. There are plenty of sporting events to attend generally in São Paulo and FGV, both as a spectator and player, as well as social events like music concerts.

6. Testimonial

My exchange was made special by the people I met. The other exchange students were a pleasure to be around, but getting to know the local Brazilians made the semester even better. Be friendly, talk to others, and it will make your semester just as good!