Federal University of Minas Gerais

Federal University of Minas Gerais is a public research university located in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. It is the largest and oldest university in the state of Minas Gerais, and is consistently ranked among the top universities in Brazil and Latin America.

The history of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) can be traced back to the 19th century, when the first institutions of higher education were founded in the state of Minas Gerais. In 1839, the School of Pharmacy was established in Ouro Preto, the state capital at the time. In 1875, the School of Mining was created, and in 1892, the School of Law was established. In 1927, these three schools were merged to form the University of Minas Gerais (UMG). The UMG was initially funded by the state government, but in 1949, funding was delegated to the Brazilian government. The name UFMG (including Federal) was not adopted until 1965.

In the 1940s, a large area in the Pampulha region of Belo Horizonte was selected as the site for the construction of University City. The first buildings in University City were inaugurated in 1951, and the campus has continued to grow and develop ever since. UFMG has played an important role in the development of the state of Minas Gerais and Brazil as a whole. Its graduates have gone on to become leaders in business, government, and academia. UFMG is also a major cultural and economic force in Belo Horizonte and the surrounding region.

Federal University of Minas Gerais is ranked as the #6 top university in Brazil during 2025. This is the same rank as last year.

University Profile

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2025 Ranking	#6
University Name	Federal University of Minas Gerais
Name in Local Language	Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Acronym	UFMG
Year Established	1927
Motto	Incipit Vita Nova
Motto in English	A new life begins
Governing Type	Public
Student Body	Co-education
Highest Degree	Doctorate
Campus Type	Urban

Location

The university is located in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Find the address and map of the university below.

Address	Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Pampulha, Belo Horizonte - MG, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Contact

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Phone	+55 (31) 3409 5000
Fax	+55 (31) 3409 4188
Website
Email	Click here to send email
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Admission Info

Admission to UFMG is highly competitive, with the main avenue being the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM), a national entrance exam. International students can apply through the university's international office, and they may need to provide proof of equivalent secondary school qualifications and proficiency in Portuguese or English, depending on the program. Postgraduate programs have their own entrance exams or selection processes, including interviews and academic evaluations.

Accepts International Students	Yes
Student Body	Men and Women

Scholarship and Financial Aids

UFMG offers various scholarships and financial assistance to support students, including merit-based and need-based options. For international students, there are specific scholarships offered through Brazilian government programs like the Science without Borders initiative. Additionally, UFMG provides opportunities for graduate research funding and fellowships to support students in their academic and research pursuits.

Programs and Courses

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	Bachelor's Degrees	Master's Degrees	Doctorate Degrees	Diplomas
Arts & Humanities		n/a	n/a	n/a
Business & Social Sciences		n/a	n/a	n/a
Engineering		n/a	n/a	n/a
Language & Cultural Studies	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Medicine & Health		n/a	n/a	n/a
Science & Technology		n/a	n/a	n/a

Click on the following button to explore a detailed list of programs and courses of this institute.

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Ranking History

The following chart shows how the ranking of this university in Brazil has changed over the last 3 years.

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