Details

• Brazil
• MAWiPäd-15
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

- Brazilian Student Visa (VITEM IV, 110€) and CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registry/tax number). - Yellow Fever Vaccination: Recommended (100€ in Austria, or free in Brazil). - Insurance: The travel insurance included with the VISA Gold credit card can be extended for exchange students for a fee of 40€. - Accommodation - Revolut/Wise Credit Card: I recommend a prepaid credit card with a favorable exchange rate. - Exchange Student Fee: 80€ payable to FGV.

2. Accommodation

I found my accommodation on a platform called WebQuarto. About half of the students decided to live in a student house called ULiving in Flamengo (which is very social, but expensive for what you get). The other half rented an apartment on Airbnb with other students, choosing between Copacabana (my preference), Ipanema (more expensive), or Flamengo (which is close to FGV). A few months before the semester starts, the university usually creates a WhatsApp group, which is helpful for finding new roommates.

3. Academic life at host university

FGV EBAPE is a small private university with a high number of international students in its Master's programs and mostly Brazilian students in its Bachelor's classes. The atmosphere is very family-like, and the International Office is really helpful. Classes typically consist of about 20 to 30 students. While the quality of the lectures varies, the workload and academic level are generally comparable to the WU. The university's canteen offers a buffet and a daily menu—usually consisting of rice, beans, and meat—for around €4.5. There are libraries and study rooms available. On the big Welcome Day during the first week, all student clubs and facilities were introduced. I really enjoyed the FGV sports teams (volleyball, handball, basketball, and football for both men and women) and ended up having a great time with the basketball team. Practice is only held once a week, and at the end of the semester, we participated in a four-day university sports event called "Supercopa.

5. Every day life in the host country

There is so much to do in Rio de Janeiro; you will truly never get bored. My typical week - apart from going to uni - involved going to the beach, hiking, visiting the markets for a pastel on Sunday, samba, riding a bike or going for a run along Copacabana & Ipanema, watching sunsets from Arpoador rock, eating açaí and tapioca, and traveling around on the weekends. There was also a 2-weeks break between the terms which can be used for travelling. When you arrive in Rio, you'll need to remember a few key safety rules. We all found it helpful when a police officer gave us a great safety talk on our Welcome Day. The main thing is to stay alert and be cautious of what is happening around you. It’s best not to take out your phone while walking on the street. Also, avoid wearing expensive jewelry and visiting favelas. The most common problem among our group was sadly stolen phones - but apart from that we were never in an uncomfortable/unsafe situation. Transport is easy and safe: the Metro is secure, and Uber is reliable and very cheap, so definitely use it instead of walking late at night. But here’s the good news: Rio is an absolutely amazing city, and if you follow these basic rules, you will be fine! I personally found it helpful to always use a "burner phone" and only carry a prepaid credit card with me. That way, in the unfortunate case of a robbery, I didn't have much to lose, which gave me great peace of mind.

6. Testimonial

My exchange in Rio was an incredible experience—a perfect mix of pure joie de vivre, sports, and fascinating cultural insights. The culture here is truly unique. You immediately dive into the world of samba and parties. Brazilians are incredibly open and warm people, which makes it super easy to make new friends quickly. The only thing you have to get used to is the slower pace; things often move a bit slower here, but that’s definitely part of the charm! The city itself is so sporty and offers an insane amount to do. You can literally never get bored because you constantly have the choice between the beach, hiking, running, or cycling. All of this comes with tons of warm weather and sunshine. Also the academic side was exciting. The classes provided deep insights into the Brazilian economy, the challenges facing the Amazon region, and offered interesting perspectives on how sustainability works in Brazil. It was the perfect combination of learning and embracing the pure local way of life.