Brazil's Prouni Offers Over 9,600 Scholarships for Maranhão in Second Half of 2026
The Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC) is making over 9,600 scholarships available through the University for All Program (Prouni) for the second semester of 2026. Specifically for the state of Maranhão, there are 9,669 scholarships, including 4,269 full scholarships covering 100% of tuition and 5,400 partial scholarships offering a 50% discount. Free online registration opened on Tuesday, July 7th, and will close on Friday, July 10th, at 11:59 PM. Eligibility requires participation in the National High School Exam (Enem) in 2024 or 2025, with a minimum average score of 450 points and a non-zero score on the essay. Additionally, candidates must meet specific socioeconomic criteria, such as having completed high school in public schools, as a full scholarship recipient in private schools, or demonstrating specific financial needs. Teachers in public education are eligible for scholarships in pedagogy and licenciatura courses. The application process allows candidates to select up to two course preferences and choose between general competition or quota enrollment, with the ability to monitor and change preferences daily until the deadline. The first call for results is scheduled for July 15th, with the second call on August 5th. The portal also lists the top five courses with the most scholarship offerings in Maranhão, including Administration, Systems Analysis and Development, Accounting Sciences, Software Engineering, and Computer Science.
This initiative by the Brazilian Ministry of Education aims to democratize access to higher education by leveraging federal funding for private institutions. The Prouni program, by requiring ENEM scores and specific socioeconomic criteria, attempts to create a meritocratic yet equitable pathway for students. The program's structure, offering both full and partial scholarships, addresses varying financial capacities, while the inclusion of quotas and specific provisions for public school teachers and individuals with disabilities reflects a commitment to social inclusion. Future evaluations could assess the long-term impact on graduate employment rates and the overall contribution of Prouni graduates to the national economy, particularly in fields like technology and administration which show high scholarship demand.
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