Federal University of São Paulo

Federal University of São Paulo is a public higher education institution located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

The Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) was founded in 1933 as the Paulista School of Medicine. The school was founded by a group of physicians and educators led by Dr. Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho. The school was originally located in the city of São Paulo, and offered a four-year program leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1956, the school was nationalized as a federal institution and renamed the Federal University of São Paulo. The university expanded rapidly in the following decades, and by the 1970s it had become a major center for medical education and research. In the 1990s, the university began to expand its offerings beyond the health sciences. New campuses were established in Guarulhos, Diadema, Santos, São José dos Campos and Osasco. These campuses offered programs in a variety of fields, including humanities, science, engineering, business and related. Today, Unifesp is a leading public university in Brazil. It is ranked among the top universities in the country, and is a major center for research and innovation.

Federal University of São Paulo is ranked as the #7 top university in Brazil during 2025. The rank is improved by 1 point from last year.