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Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Ufrgs.svg
Other names
UFRGS
Former names
Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul (URGS)
Type Public
Established First school 1895, creation 1934, federalization 1950
Endowment US$500 million (2012)
Rector Carlos Alexandre Netto
Academic staff
2,867 (2014)
Administrative staff
2,731 (2014)
Undergraduates 30,785 (2014)
Postgraduates 27,216 (2014)
5,575 (2014)
Other students
855 (2014)
Location Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Campus Urban and suburban, 371,742 m² of constructed area (2008) and 2,185 ha of total area (2008)
Website www.ufrgs.br

The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Portuguese: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS; known as Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, URGS, between 1947 and 1950) is one of the largest federal universities in Brazil. It is almost completely located in Porto Alegre, with four campuses (Campus Centro, Campus Saúde, Campus Olímpico and Campus do Vale), a few off-campus buildings (e.g. the Business School and the Institute of Arts) and some units in other cities. UFRGS is among the most highly rated Brazilian universities, and has one of the highest numbers of scientific publications. UFRGS has over 27,000 undergraduate students, over 9,300 graduate students, and more than 2,500 professors. As a public federal institution, students do not have to pay tuition fees to enroll in the courses offered by the university. To be admitted to one of the courses offered by UFRGS, a candidate must be approved in a yearly competitive exam, called vestibular.

The institute also has a profound political history. Between 1964 and 1969, during the worst years of the military dictatorship, 33 professors were eliminated, as well as a good number of students. Many high-ranking officials, including three presidents - Getúlio Vargas, João Goulart, and Dilma Rousseff - as well as the majority of the history, philosophy and social sciences teachers in smaller universities throughout the state were educated in the institution. The climate of intellectual debate and analysis of public issues has also been important in training students (often with scholarships and/or student apprenticeships) to work for non-governmental and governmental organisations which contribute to the critical reflection and planning of development programs.

The university originated from the Escola de Farmácia e Química (School of Pharmacy and Chemistry) in 1895, It was expanded in 1896, when the Engineering College was created. This was the beginning of higher education in Rio Grande do Sul. In the end of the 19th century, the Medicine and Law schools were founded, the latter being the first school of humanities tertiary education in the state.


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