Fast Facts
- Semester: Fall
- Housing: No student housing
- Language of Instruction: English (or Portuguese)
About the Program
New fields and conceptions of law continue to emerge in Brazil as a result of its legal system restructuring in the past decade. This makes it an exciting time to study at Direito FGV Rio. Brazil’s international laws are being shaped in response to the country’s increasing participation in the global market place. Direito FGV Rio prides itself on innovative teaching and research methods in law to reflect this continued engagement, with special emphasis placed on Business Law and Public Defense.
Up to two NYU Law students may participate in the exchange program during the fall semester only. Students must be second or third-year and have spent at least one full year at the NYU School of Law. Law courses at FGV Rio are conducted in English. Portuguese language ability is not required.
Rio de Janeiro is a seaside city in Brazil, famed for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mt. Corcovado, and Sugarloaf, a granite monolith with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its Carnival festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes and samba, a worldwide attraction considered the world’s largest festival.
Part of the city has been designated as a World Heritage Site, named "Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea", by UNESCO on 1 July 2012 as a Cultural Landscape. Rio de Janeiro has the second largest municipal GDP in the country. It is headquarters to Brazilian oil, mining, and telecommunications companies, including two of the country's major corporations—Petrobras and Vale—and Latin America's largest telemedia conglomerate, Grupo Globo. The home of many universities and institutes, it is the second-largest center of research and development in Brazil, accounting for 17% of national scientific output. More information regarding the university and Rio de Janeiro can be found on the university webpage.
Semester Calendar
Direito FGV Rio’s academic year starts in mid-February and ends in early December. NYU’s fall semester is Direito FGV Rio’s second semester, running from August to December (including final exams).
Each semester consists of two periods of six to eight weeks of teaching followed by one to two weeks of exams. Courses are taught weekly, from Monday through Friday. Classes are 1 hour and 40 minutes in length and, in most cases, occur twice weekly. Each semester has two exam weeks. Fall semester terms are August-September and October-December.
Courses and Credit
FGV Rio’s courses are planned according to classroom hours, and might be either 60 hours or 30 hours. Students are graded in a scale from 0 (minimum) to 10 (maximum), and the passing grade is 7.
Five courses at FGV Rio Law School are typically offered in English. Students may also partake in a Portuguese for Foreigners class. Classes start two weeks prior to the official semester date in August. The language course is 30 hours in total, but FGV Rio does not award credits nor a certificate for the completion of the course.
FGV students usually take four classes per term. NYU students are required to take a minimum of four classes (each worth three credits). Prior to finalizing their courses for the semester, students must submit a list of courses to the Office of Global Programs for approval. Students are expected to take post-graduate level courses while at FGV Rio. With permission, students can take classes in the final two years of the LLB curriculum.
NYU Law exchange students will receive credit for courses taken at FGV Rio. However, these courses will not count toward the student's GPA. They will only appear on NYU transcripts as credits earned through the exchange program, rather than as individual courses at FGV.
Tuition and Living Expenses
Because this is a revenue-neutral exchange program, participating NYU Law students will pay regular tuition and fees for a semester at NYU Law.
Below is a table that gives you some idea of how much you might spend personally and on everyday items in Rio.
- Housing single room at student’s apartment: R $1650
- Food: R $900 (market); R $1,500 (restaurants)
- Transportation: R $120
- Books and Supplies: R $160
- Personal Expenses: R $450
- Federal Police Registration (paid only once): R $189
- Total Monthly Expenses: R $3,469
Living Costs can also be broken down per semester (6 months):
- Rent: R $9,000
- Transportation: R $600 (bus) R $744 (subway)
- Leisure: R $2,700
- Food: R $5,400 (market) R $9,000 (restaurants)
We estimate that you should budget at least US $1,500 per month for rent and living expenses, taking into account the fact that you are abroad and will therefore potentially spend more money than during a typical semester at NYU. If you are planning to travel around the country and South America, you will need to budget more for additional expenses.
Housing Information
Direito FGV Rio does not offer on campus housing. Students should contact the school in advance for assistance in finding accommodation. Direito FGV Rio recommends looking at apartments in these neighborhoods, as they are popular among local students:
- Popular Neighborhoods:
- Ipanema
- Botafogo
- Flamengo
- Copacabana
- Lagoa
- Leblon
Note: Students renting apartments usually share costs with two or three people. It is also common to stay with friends or to find accommodation and tips with FGV students, which can lower costs once in Rio.
Passport and Visa Requirements
All exchange students require a student visa for their stay in Brazil. A tourist visa is not valid for studying. Without the temporary student visa, it is impossible to enroll in any course. In addition, it is impossible to change a visa after arrival in the country, so students must obtain their visa prior to arrival in Brazil. Information about getting a student visa can be found here.
Students will need to apply for the student visa and purchase and/or demonstrate proof of health insurance with the minimum cover of USD $42,000 for the length of their stay in Brazil.
Foreigner Registration
Students with a student visa must register with the “Polícia Federal” at Rio within 30 days of arrival in Brazil. Documents needed:
- Original visa (issued by a Brazilian Consulate or Embassy in foreigner’s country of origin)
- Passport and Certified photocopies of your passport from a Brazilian notary public
- Original of the Student Visa Application Form (signed by Brazilian Consulate or Embassy)
- Two sets of forms called “GRU-Guia de Recolhimento,” which can be downloaded here.
- Two 3x4 photographs with a white background
- “Registration Form” from the Polícia Federal
- All Visa Documents received from the Brazilian Consulate in your country
- Proof of student health insurance in the name of the student and showing coverage for the period expected to stay in Brazil
Once the student arrives at Direito FGV Rio, the International Affairs Office will provide more information regarding the registration process.
Information about getting your criminal record certificate legalized with The Hague Convention “Apostille” is available here.
The Brazilian Consulate is closed on Brazilian and American holidays. For further information or to contact them, please visit their website.
IMPORTANT: Requirements may vary according to the applicant’s citizenship, length of studies and nature of the course. It is the responsibility of the Brazilian host school to provide prospective students with detailed information regarding the visa requirements of their specific situation. To avoid inconveniences, you are strongly advised to contact Direito FGV Rio well before making any travel plans.
Access for Persons with Disabilities
Direito FGV Rio facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you are interested in the program and will need some special assistance due to a disability, please contact the Office of Global Programs, which will reach out to Direito FGV Rio to obtain information about the availability of needed services.