Mobility specification

Country:Brazil

Institution:University of São Paulo

City:São Paulo

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?manageable

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?1 Brazilian credit = 2 Czech

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The teaching was very theoretical, in Portuguese, I was in the Faculty of Architecture and there were no courses in English.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, it offers sports clubs and lots of extracurricular activities.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:25000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?Facebook groups "Repúblicas USP" or various Colivings (best price).

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Accommodation and food is quite expensive, similar to prices in the Czech Republic or even more expensive.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The food at the school is cheap, they have lunches and dinners.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Public transport in SP works well, compared to other cities in Brazil. The metro works great, buses are okay but take a long time, best to search for connections via Google maps. Tickets are bought on the spot at the ticket window, or you have a bus card.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Sao Paulo is huge, there are so many things there, it's impossible to describe.
Avenida Paulista
MASP (Museu de Arte de São Paulo)
Parque Ibirapuera
Beco do Batman
Pinacoteca de São Paulo
Mercado Municipal
Liberdade
Edifício Itália (viewpoint)
Centro Histórico (Sé, Pátio do Colégio)
Monumento às Bandeiras
Vila Madalena

Share your best experience:A visit to Rio de Janeiro is absolutely worth it.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?The embassy.

What is needed?a) a valid passport (+min. 2 blank pages);b) fill in the online form at https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br and bring the printed confirmation with barcode (RER); c) 1x passport size photo (CURRENT); d) proof of studies from the Brazilian side ("Comprovante de Matricula", etc.); e) proof of financial support for the stay (letter from the sending school/university, scholarship certificate, bank statement, etc. - amount corresponding to min.000 CZK/month of stay); f) confirmation of studies at a university in the Czech Republic (certified by an Apostille); g) a statement from the criminal record (if the applicant is studying abroad, a statement from the country of residence); h) travel health insurance for the period of stay in Brazil; i) return air ticket (booking is not sufficient); j) birth certificate (a plain copy is sufficient)*; k) consular fee of USD 100 (or equivalent in CZK, to be paid in cash at the bank into the consular department's account, the account number will be communicated at the time of application)

How long does it take approximately?The Week

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The airport is far from the centre, the best way is to take Uber (so it gets more expensive).

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Adaptér. In Brazil they have a different socket than in the Czech Republic, but our small ones fit and work there (they just have lower power), our big ones, like the old ones from the ntb or the hairdryer don't fit anymore and you need to have an adapter.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Brazil is a wonderful country where their hospitality makes everyone feel at home.