Language Tests for Brazil University Admissions
A comprehensive guide to language proficiency requirements, accepted tests, and preparation resources for applying to universities in Brazil.
Most routes into Brazilian universities need Portuguese. The official test is Celpe-Bras, Brazil's Certificate of Proficiency in Portuguese for Foreigners.
- PEC-G students who did not study Portuguese at school need the Celpe-Bras test, a middle-level Portuguese certificate from the Instituto Guimarães Rosa (IGR), or the PEC-PLE year.
- Master's and PhD students: each programme sets its own language rules.
- PEC-G: students who studied Portuguese as an official language through secondary school may show a 65% average in the Portuguese subject instead of taking a test.
Important Considerations
Celpe-Bras is held twice a year, in Brazil and abroad. The second test of 2026 abroad is from 24 to 27 November 2026.
Each test centre sets its fee. In Brazil it is at most BRL 259 (Brazilian real). Abroad, the suggested fee is about USD 190 (US dollars).
For the second test of 2026 abroad, results come on 15 January 2027.
Each university or office that asks for Celpe-Bras decides how long it will accept your certificate.
Test Acceptance by University Type
Language Skills Assessed
Written part
Four writing tasks based on video, audio and texts, 3 hours in total.
Spoken part
A 20-minute face-to-face conversation with an examiner.
Brazilian programmes set their own language rules. Check your programme's notice (edital), the official list of dates, papers and rules.
Test Resources
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