The University of Brasília

The University of Brasilia Foundation was created by the law 3,988 on December 15, 1961. Professor Darcy Ribeiro, who became the first Rector, was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of its creation. The architect Oscar Niemeyer designed its main building , the Central Institute of Science (ICC). From its very beginning, the University of Brasília (UnB) strived for excellence in teaching, research and extension courses, placing it in the ranks of one of the most respected universities in Brazil.
UnB is located in the heart of Brasília, on the banks of Paranoá Lake, and is composed by architecturally modern buildings housing 22 institutes and faculties; 62 departments; 14 scientific, technological, cultural, artistic and general service centers; residences for students, professors and staff; the University Hospital; the Sports Center (with swimming pools , sports courts and running track); the Seismological Observatory ( able to register earthquakes that occour in the whole planet); the Animal Research Laboratory and the Biological Experimental Station. UnB is now about to build its own technological park.
UnB`s Central Library, open night and day, has the largest archives of the Center- West region of the country and caters for the needs of the Federal District and of researches from all of Brazil. UnB has also a modern university restaurant, as well as the Fazenda Água Limpa, a farm located outside the city, where ecological research and agricultural and forest activities are conducted.

Teaching

Each semester, the University of Brasília offers 1,980 places for 63 daytime or evening undergraduate degree programs, attracting around 25,000 students. For graduate studies, the UnB offers 49 MSc degree courses and 27 PhD degree courses, as well as many other advanced specialization courses. These same specialized courses are also offered today in other Brazilian States, such as Bahia, Amazonas, Rondônia, Goiás, Rio Grande do Norte. The Technological and Scientific Development National Council (CNPq) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) support most of these courses, offering scholarships and research grants.
Education-at-a-distance is one of the activities in greatest expansion at UnB and is administrated by the Center for Open, Continuous and Long Distance Education (CEAD), and the Faculty of Education (UNESCO sponsors the Long Distance Education's chair at UnB).

Extension Courses

UnB`s relationship with the community is not limited solely to preparing efficient instructors and divulging knowledge. There is also the direct relationship of stimulating decision-making skills and good citizenship.
There exist University Extension Courses with 79 ongoing projects. There are 375 courses and events carried out with the participation of 240 professors and 65,132 students, involving about 185,000 persons in the Federal District of Brasília and surrounding region.
The Extension Courses include, for example: the Future with Art, Culture and Sport (FACE); the Community Initiatives Advisory Program (PRATICOM); consulting and assistance to the Community Health Training Program (PAC`s); the Model Office for Legal Assistance; the Program for Workers and Trade Union and Leadership Training (PROSINT), and the Rural Development Program.
The Extension Courses Deanery has recently formalized its Extension School, which will multiply the offer of extension courses, opening wider the doors of the University to the community.

Research

Scientific research has always been one of the first priorities and the very essence of the University of Brasília, since its creation. More than 260 formally existing research groups of work in the 421 UnB laboratories, researching in more than 890 different areas. This research is supported by such programs as the Technological and Scientific Initiation Program (PIBIC) and the Special Training Program (PET), which can also offer scholarships to students. Several programs are supported by CNPq, CAPES, the Research and Projects Funding Program (FINEP), the Technological and Scientific Development Support Program (PADCT), the Federal District Research Support Foundation (FAPDF) and other agencies.
The Technological Development Center (CDT) works on the integration between the University and the business world, maintaining a small business start-up program and other types of consulting assistance to the small entrepreneur. Other key players in the research area are the International Center for Condensed Matter Physics (CIFMC), the Brazilian Center for Protein Sequencing (CBSP), the UnB Herbarium and the Center for Maintenance of Equipment (CME).

PAS: An Evolution in Entrance Examinations

UnB had to innovate. At the moment, the Continuous Evaluation Program (PAS) represents an evolution in entrance examinations, especially because of the new dynamic aspect it has given to increase motivation, interactivity and better results in the preparation of high school students.
With PAS, the student who wants to study in the University is given the opportunity to be evaluated on a yearly basis, at each one of three years of high school. This way, the University can get to know the student better, stimulating the individual to study more and continuously since his/her first year in high school. All this is more reasonable and profitable than the old system of one single entrance examination.

A University Ahead of its Time

´´ A university has to know all about the past and the present, but it must be ahead of its time``. Under this strategic plan, UnB is accomplishing its mission; looking for new horizons. Through the internet address: http//www.unb.br, its already possible to follow many of the UnB activities. Through this address, one can discover each day more of what is being done at UnB. One of the latest news is that the UnB Press is the first virtual university bookstore in Brazil.
The University has also inaugurated its High Speed Multimedia UnB Net (REDUnB), putting on circuit the electronic UnB Central Library offering more than 3,000 references for scientific, cultural and artistic contacts.
Through the International Affairs Office (http://www.unb.br/int) it is possible to access all the information needed to establish contact with the University of Brasília for a wide variety of cooperation and exchange programs.

Undergraduate Courses

Humanities (Daytime): Administration, Architecture and Urbanism, Bachelor Degree in Arts, Bachelor degree in Theater, Bachelor Degree in Industrial Design, Library Science, Accounting Studies, Economics, Political Science, Social Science, Communication (Journalism, Advertising and Radio), Law, Philosophy, Geography, History, Language and Literature (English, French, Portuguese and Spanish), Portuguese for foreigners, Translation (English and French), Teaching Degree in Artistic Education, Bachelor Degree in Music, Pedagogy, International Relations, Social Service.

Humanities (Evening): Administration, Archive Studies, Accounting Studies, Teaching Degree in Language and Literature (Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese), Teaching Degree in Artistic Education, Pedagogy (teachers training), Law.

Sciences (Daytime): Agronomy, Bachelor Degree in Computer Science, Biology, Physical Education, Nursing and Obstetrics, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Forest Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Statistics, Geology, Mathematics, Medicine, Nutrition, Dentistry, Psychology, Chemistry, Engineering of Computing Networks, Veterinary Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Mecathronics, Data Processing, Physics.

Sciences (Evening): Teaching Degree in Mathematics, in Physics, in Chemistry, in Biology, Computer Science.

Graduate Courses

Masters Degree: Architecture and Urbanism, Health Sciences, Tropical Medicine, Molecular Pathology, Communication, Law, Education, Administration, Library Science, Agronomy, Structures and Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geotechnics, Environmental Technology and Hydraulic Resources, Urban Transports, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Sciences and Forestry, Arts, Political Science, International Relations Studies, Molecular Biology, Botany, Ecology, Animal Biology, Phytopathology, Computer Science, Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Social Politics, Sociology, Geology, English, Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Literature, Psychology, Environmental Studies and Planning, Philosophy, Nutrition, Accounting Studies, General Practice.

PhD Degree: Health Science, Tropical Medicine, Immunology and Applied Genetics, Information Science, Geotechnics, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Phytopathology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, History, Anthropology, Sociology, Comparative Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Geology, Literature, Psychology, Environmental Studies and Planning, Molecular Pathology, Structures and Civil Engineering, Urban Transports, Electrical Engineering.