Law School of Ribeirão Preto

Students enrolled in foreign institutions who wish to study at FDRP can do so in the following ways:

Through the FDRP International Office. The student’s original university must have an academic agreement with FDRP and must name the student. We do not accept individual exchange applications. A list with our partner universities can be found here.
Through the University of São Paulo International Office. This may be the case if the student’s original university has an agreement directly with USP. More information can be found on the USP International Office website.

Exchange in undergraduate, graduate and research programs

Students enrolled in foreign institutions (FDRP or USP partners or not) can study at FDRP in the undergraduate or graduate program for a period of one semester. Portuguese is Brazil’s official language and foreign students are encouraged to take classes in Portuguese, despite some of FDRP’s classes being offered in English.

The FDRP International Office does not take exchange applications directly from students. It is strictly necessary for the person responsible for the foreign institution’s international relations to contact us and send the student’s required documents.

Requirements for students interested in taking an exchange semester at FDRP:

To be enrolled in a bachelor course of Law or in similar fields of knowledge;
It is recommended (but not mandatory) that the student know some Portuguese;
For those interested in classes in the graduate program, it is necessary to have an undergraduate degree.

Application and registration – UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

Application

The students’ university of origin must send an email to international.lawrp@usp.br with the following information for each of the applicants:

Full name
Gender
Study field in the home institution
Desired level of education at FDRP (Undergraduate or Graduate)
Semester for the exchange (first semester (February to June), second semester (August to December) or the full academic year)
Email
Address to which the acceptance letter must be sent

Registration – Undergraduate Program

Students will receive an email with a link explaining how to proceed with registration for their exchange at USP, through the Mundus System. Students must fill out their information, mail the mandatory documents and send out their registration.

Mandatory documents:

3×4 cm picture of the student (.JPEG format)
Main page of the passport
Updated school history at the home university
Proof of a minimum of R$6.000,00 per semester financial guarantee
A copy of an international health insurance valid for the student’s entire stay at FDRP/USP.

Calendar for student applications for exchange at FDRP/USP

USP exchange program for the 1^st semester:

Up to October 31^st: Application and registration (by the home institution)
From November 1^st to November 30^th: Evaluation
From December 1^st to December 15^th: Issuing of acceptance letters
From February to June: Exchange period

USP exchange program for the 2^nd semester:

Up to April 30^th: Application and registration (by the home institution)
From May 1^st to May 30^th: Evaluation
From June 1^st to June 15^th: Issuing of acceptance letters
August: Orientation week
From August to December: Exchange period

Equivalence

The regular undergraduate student can request equivalence for classes in higher education institutions different from USP in only two situations: when enrolling after being admitted through the Fuvest entrance examination at the stipulated date or when enrolling after being admitted through the External Transfer Process.

Apart from these two situations, students are not authorized to request equivalence for classes taken in other higher education institutions.

Orientation

At the beginning of each semester, usually a few days before the beginning of classes, the International Office holds a welcome reception with important information for all FDRP international students. This is a free and mandatory event. The event program and details will always be sent to students.

Housing

FDRP does not offer student housing in the campus. However, we do have a housing program with our Brazilian students, in which they offer a spot in their houses/apartments to receive international students. Brazilian students usually share a place, forming what are called “repúblicas”, similar to fraternity houses. This accommodation is paid for by the exchange student.

The International Office will send every necessary information to the accepted students. iTeam is a group of students at the Ribeirão Preto campus which helps USP in international matters. Through their housing program, iTeam helps foreign students find somewhere to live in Ribeirão Preto. All exchange students will benefit from this program. After being accepted by FDRP, exchange students will be put into contact with iTeam, that will guide them in this process.

Classes in English and Portuguese Courses

Portuguese is Brazil’s official language and according to our Constitution all public institutions must give lessons in Portuguese. However, we are able to offer some classes in English; these classes are published every semester. In order to help foreign students, the School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting at Ribeirão Preto offers a Portuguese course, that is kindly open to foreign students from other USP Schools.

This course focuses on speaking, listening, reading and writing in Portuguese, promoting fluency in the Brazilian environment for foreign students. Classes are held twice a week and the student is charged monthly. Fees and scheduling depend on students’ demand and teacher availability.

Extension of the exchange semester

If you are already an exchange student at FDRP and wish to prolong your stay for one additional semester, you must first contact your home university. If the home university approves your request, they must name you to the FDRP International Office so you can be enrolled in another semester.

After receiver the application from the home university, we will analyze your request. If it is accepted, we will contact you with instructions on how to extend your visa and on other administrative matters.

Double Diploma for students of Università degli Studi di Camerino

Based on the cooperation agreement between Scuola di Giurisprudenza da Università degli Studi di Camerino (UNICAM) and the Law School of Ribeirão Preto (FDRP), the Double Diploma program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to graduate from both universities simultaneously.

At the end of their studies, each student will receive two undergraduate diplomas, from UNICAM and USP.

For more information, UNICAM students must contact those responsible for the agreement at the Università degli Studi di Camerino, Prof. Maria Cristina de Cicco and Prof. Dra. Carlotta Latini.

Application – GRADUATE PROGRAM

The student’s home institution’s International Office must sent an email nominating the students until April 30^th for the Fall Semester and October 15^th for the Spring Semester, providing information on the nominated students (name, gender, field of studies at the home university, current semester on the program).

Students must fill out the Application Form and email it to international.lawrp@usp.br, along with their scanned documents.

Required documents:

A picture of the student (after acceptance at FDRP)
Proof of financial support of at least R$6000 (US$3000; €2500 or equivalent) per semester (after acceptance at FDRP)
Copy of international health insurance valid throughout the student’s entire stay at FDRP (after acceptance at FDRP)
Copy of the Undergraduate program Diploma
Copy of the Undergraduate program Transcript
Copy of current Graduate program Transcript
Two letters of recommendation from professors at the home institution to FDRP
A letter from the home institution proving the student is enrolled (enrollment certificate or equivalent)
Research Plan (to be carried out at FDRP), stating the start and finish dates of the research project and a schedule for activities at FDRP within the specified period

Procedure:

The Graduate Committee will review the request and decide whether to accept the student or not. Once the student is accepted, they must bring their original documentation to the FDRP Graduate Registrar’s Office in order to enroll.

University of São Paulo Law School, Ribeirão Preto

Academic Exchange