Study for a Semester or Year in Brazil!
Institution
The Universidad Catolica de Pernambuco (UNICAP) is a private Catholic University founded in 1951. UNICAP offers exchange students the ability to intensively study Portuguese for a semester. For students with advanced Portuguese language skills there is an option to take courses taught in Portuguese.
Location
Recife is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 3,743,854 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the sixth largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. Recife stands out as a major tourist attraction of the Northeast, both for its beaches and for its historic sites, dating back to both the Portuguese and the Dutch colonization of the region.
Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester: Early August to Early December (Semester 2 in Brazil)
- Spring Semester: Late January to Late June (Semester 1 in Brazil)
Housing
Students will normally be placed in homestays arranged by the UNICAP international office.
As UNICAP is a full exchange program students will pay the Full Exchange Program Fee to Appalachian. UNICAP will cover the housing costs and provide a meal stipend to students during the program.
Financial
Program Costs
Paid to Appalachian State
1The OIED Program Development Fee will be placed on students’ accounts upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Estimated Additional Costs
| |
Semester |
Academic Year |
| Airfare |
$1400 - $2000 |
$1400 - $2000 |
| Additional Meals |
$100 - $200 |
$200 - $400 |
| 1Personal Expenses |
$800 - $1500 |
$1600 - $3000 |
| Books and Materials |
$150 - $300 |
$300 - $600 |
| Local Transportation |
$200 - $400 |
$400 - $800 |
| Visa (for US Citizens) |
$160 |
$160 |
| Potential Travel Costs to Consulate |
$0 - $300 |
$0 - $300 |
| Passport |
$150 |
$150 |
| US Based Health Insurance |
Varies |
Varies |
| 2Personal Travel and Spending |
$800 - $1500 |
$1600 - $3000 |
1Personal expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, clothing, utilities, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
2Personal Travel and Spending amounts will vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.
Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. Please use the Student Financial Planning Worksheet to help estimate your anticipated expenses and your anticipated financial resources. When planning for estimated additional costs students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates. To see a total of the estimated costs for this program please visit the program budget sheets: Fall, Spring, Academic Year.
Financial Aid
The majority of financial aid and scholarships can apply to semester and year-long study abroad programs. For more information please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid web page.
Scholarships
OIED Scholarships
Each semester OIED offers a variety of different scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $250 to $2000.
Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program application is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Fund for Education Abroad
Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad and those destined for non-traditional locations are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population.
For information about additional scholarships please visit our External Scholarships web page.
Academics
The majority of UNICAP courses are taught in Portuguese. To find course offerings please visit the UNICAP website.
All students are expected to maintain at least the equivalent of a full time course load according to Appalachian State and the host university while abroad (whichever is greater). Students participating on the UNICAP program will be required to enroll in 12-18 credits per semester. For more information about study abroad enrollment policies, credit approval, and credit and grade conversions please visit the Academics section of our website.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline. Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st. Once open the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. Most applications will have a 2 part application process so students are encouraged to complete their OIED application well before the listed deadline.
For more information about deadlines and how to apply please visit our
Guide Me web page.