Fies 2026: Santa Catarina offers 1,587 student loan spots; applications close Friday
The Brazilian Federal Government's student financing program, Fies, has opened applications for the second semester, offering 1,587 spots in Santa Catarina. Interested students can apply until 11:59 PM on Friday, July 17th, through the "Portal Acesso Único." To be eligible, candidates must have participated in the National High School Exam (Enem) since 2010, achieved an average score of at least 450 points, and scored above zero on the essay portion. The application process is free of charge.
Fies provides financing for tuition fees at private higher education institutions, functioning as a loan that must be repaid after graduation. Repayment terms are proportional to the graduate's income. Eligibility also requires a gross monthly family income per capita of up to three minimum wages. A special "Fies Social" modality, introduced in 2024, offers 100% financing for low-income students, with 50% of all Fies spots reserved for this category. Applicants for Fies Social must have a family income of up to half a minimum wage per person and be registered in the Cadastro Único (CadÚnico) social registry.
Selection prioritizes candidates who have not completed higher education and have no prior Fies affiliation. Subsequent priority is given to those who have not completed higher education but have previously benefited from Fies and settled their debts, followed by those who have completed higher education without prior Fies benefits, and finally, those who completed higher education through Fies and have paid off their debts. Individuals with outstanding Fies debts are ineligible to apply. The results for pre-selected candidates will be announced on July 30th, with subsequent steps for inscription completion and waiting list convocations extending into September.
The Fies program's structure, which relies on ENEM scores and income verification, aims to democratize access to private higher education. However, the system's reliance on future repayment introduces financial risk for both students and the government, particularly in a dynamic job market. The "Fies Social" initiative attempts to address equity concerns by prioritizing the most vulnerable, but careful monitoring of its long-term impact on student debt burdens and institutional quality is essential. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape employment landscapes, the government may need to adapt financing models to ensure graduates possess skills relevant to future economies and can sustainably manage their educational loans.
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