Launched in 2011, the Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program (formerly known as “Brazil Science without Borders”) is a scholarship program funded primarily by the Brazilian government.  It is a joint effort of the Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

The program goals are:

1. to increase the presence of students, scientists and industry personnel from Brazil in international institutions of excellence;
2. to encourage young talent and highly qualified researchers from abroad to work with Brazilian investigators in joint projects;
3. to induce the internationalization of universities and research centers in Brazil by encouraging the establishment of international partnerships.

Brazil’s Scientific Mobility program will provide 100,000 scholarships to Brazilian students to study abroad (70% expected to study in the U.S.).  Georgia Tech is hoping to host some of these students.

Programs that are part of this initiative and that might provide funding for Brazilian students to attend Georgia Tech are:

1. Undergraduate program – Brazilian students who are pursuing a degree in Brazil will attend a university abroad for one academic year and then complete a 3-5 month internship (which is often research in labs of the university where they have just completed the year of study abroad).  If these students do not have adequate English language skills, they also complete intensive English study prior to their year of study abroad.

Brazilian students apply for this funding through the Institute of International Education (IIE), which is based in New York.  In Fall 2012, Georgia Tech began working with IIE to host undergraduates as part of this program.  Interested undergraduate students apply through IIE:

http://www.iie.org/Programs/Brazil-Scientific-Mobility/Apply-Now

2. Graduate, non-degree-seeking program - CNPq awards scholarships for graduate level, non-degree-seeking study abroad directly to Brazilian graduate students through a peer review process.  These students take classes and participate in research. 

Brazilian graduate students who have been awarded this scholarship and wish to attend Georgia Tech must submit an application to be a Special Student (non-degree) to Graduate Admissions and complete all requirements outlined by Graduate Admissions and the prospective hosting academic unit. Once admitted, the student submits the admission letter to CNPq to finalize the scholarship award.

Brazilian students applying for this scholarship will be in direct contact with faculty and graduate coordinators to request support for their non-degree admission and to request a faculty advisor for their stay in the U.S.

Because the Brazilian scholarship requires both enrollment in classes and research, this group cannot come to Georgia Tech as J-1 scholars.  Instead, they come as J-1 students.  The academic unit should notify Graduate Admissions that the student will not require an I-20, and should instead request a DS-2019 (document needed to obtain J-1 visa) from the Office of International Education.

Additional information (in Portuguese): http://www.cienciasemfronteiras.gov.br/web/csf/doutorado-sanduiche 

3. Graduate, PhD program – Brazilian students can apply for funding to pursue a PhD as part of the Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program.  Students apply through LASPAU, an organization based in the northeastern U.S. Additional information can be found at the LASPAU website: http://www.laspau.harvard.edu/current-programs/science-without-borders

Programs for non-Brazilians interested in working/studying in Brazil:

There are two programs, the Young Talent program and the Special Visiting Researcher program.  More information is available online: http://www.cienciasemfronteiras.gov.br/web/csf-eng/opportunities-for-individuals-from-abroad.