Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo
A Catholic community university in São Paulo with a long record in humanities, law and social sciences.
- Tuition
- R$18,324
- From · 2026 entrants (2027 prices published for only a few courses)
- Founded
- 1946
- QS World Ranking
- 1001-1200
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About PUC-SP
PUC-SP was founded in 1946 by the union of the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of São Bento (founded 1908) and the Paulista Faculty of Law; in 1947 Pope Pius XII gave it the title Pontifical. The university's own history says it developed a reputation in the late 1960s for academic quality tied to social concern: in 1969 it created what it calls the country's first organised postgraduate course, and in 1971 the Basic Cycle of Human Sciences.
For 2027 entry it offers 33 bachelor's and teaching degrees and 2,510 places through the Summer Vestibular, all in person across four campuses: Monte Alegre, Consolação (Marquês de Paranaguá), Ipiranga and Sorocaba. Its faculties include Exact Sciences and Technology, Human and Health Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Administration, Accounting and Actuarial Sciences, Education, Philosophy, Communication, Letters and Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies and Theology.
Humanities, law, psychology, communication and international relations are the core, with computing, data science, engineering and, at the Sorocaba campus, a six-year Medicine degree. The vestibular is an exam, not a portfolio: a Portuguese essay and 50 multiple-choice questions based on the ENEM matrix. It suits students who read and write confidently in Portuguese and want a city university in São Paulo with strong scholarship options.
Sapientia et augentur scientia
“Wisdom and knowledge will be increased” — university motto
Why students choose PUC-SP
The Summer Vestibular 2027 offers 33 courses and 2,510 places, from Law (510 places across day and night) to Computer Science, Data Science and AI, Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering and Medicine.
Scholarships: a full merit scholarship for the top-ranked candidate on each campus, 50 percent merit scholarships for public-school graduates who rank first in a course, FUNDASP philanthropic scholarships, Ser PUC and ProUni.
A tradition of academic freedom: the university's history records PUC-SP hosting the 1977 SBPC meeting when public universities were barred from doing so.
Campuses in central São Paulo (Perdizes, Consolação) and a health-sciences campus in Sorocaba.
Admissions
1st semester 2027 (Summer Vestibular 2027)
Selectivity
PUC-SP publishes a candidate-per-place ratio for each vestibular as a separate PDF, but no overall acceptance rate. Places are filled in order of classification across up to five calls.
Typical entry requirements
| Brazilian Ensino Médio (secondary school) completed or finishing in 2026 | Required for the vestibular; students who have not finished may sit as 'treineiro' for practice only |
|---|---|
| Foreign secondary qualifications | Not stated on the pages we retrieved; contact ARII (the international relations office) and check the notice |
Deadlines
- Summer Vestibular 2027: registration Non-binding Passed6 August to 2 October 2026, 23:59 (registration closes 2 October 2026)
Fee R$280, paid by boleto, card or Pix; registration is valid only after the fee is paid. Exam locations published 14 October 2026; exam 17 October 2026 (Saturday, 14:15 to 18:15).
- 1st call and results Non-binding Next deadline · In 35 days10 November 2026 (enrolment 10 to 23 November)
Online enrolment.
- Further calls Non-binding In ~4 months9 December 2026; 13 January, 3 February and 18 February 2027
Remaining places; PUC-SP may stop calling when more than 95 percent of a course is filled.
Dates are from the Summer Vestibular 2027 notice (Edital 01/2026): registration closes on 2 October 2026 at 23:59, two days after this page was verified (30 September 2026). A mid-year (winter) vestibular date for 2027 was not yet published.
How to apply
Register on the NucVest site (www.nucvest.com.br), fill in the registration form and pay the R$280 fee by bank slip (boleto), credit card or Pix. Registration closes on 2 October 2026 at 23:59 and only counts once the fee is paid: a boleto must be paid by its printed due date (no extensions), and payment confirmation can take 2 business days, so do not leave payment to the last hour. The exam is in person at PUC-SP Monte Alegre, Centro Universitario Assuncao (Vila Mariana) or PUC-SP Sorocaba. Enrolment of the first call is online between 10 and 23 November 2026, with the first monthly fee paid by boleto or Pix at enrolment.
What admissions looks for
- A strong result in the ENEM-style objective test across languages, human sciences, natural sciences and mathematics.
- A Portuguese-language essay written from a single prompt.
- Meeting the minimum score for disqualification purposes and ranking high enough for your chosen course and shift.
- Complete enrolment documents and on-time online enrolment in your call.
Tips for applying to PUC-SP
- 1 Registration closes on 2 October 2026 at 23:59 and is valid only once the R$280 fee is paid (boleto due date is not extended; Pix clears fastest). If you are reading this after that date, the next option is a later PUC-SP entry process.
- 2 Read the notice and the candidate manual: they are marked mandatory reading and list courses, shifts and places.
- 3 Choose your course and shift carefully: some courses run in the morning for early years and at night later, for example Administration and Social Sciences.
- 4 Ask about scholarships early: merit scholarships go to first-placed candidates, and FUNDASP and Ser PUC scholarships are applied for through public notices.
Costs & financial aid
2026 entrants (2027 prices published for only a few courses) · figures in BRL
Scholarships are described in the candidate manual: a full merit scholarship for the first-ranked candidate at each campus (except Theology); 50 percent merit scholarships for public-school graduates ranked first in any course; FUNDASP philanthropic scholarships (full or 50 percent, awarded via public notices); the Ser PUC scholarship (one year, funded by alumni, staff and donors); and ProUni, which uses ENEM scores. Scholarships cover tuition only, not administrative fees. Renewal requires passing at least 75 percent of subjects each term.
- First place at each campus in the Summer Vestibular 2027
- Merit scholarship (full)
- First-ranked public-school graduates in each course
- Merit scholarship (50%)
- Pass at least 75% of subjects each term
- Renewal rule
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters; entry in the first semester via the Summer Vestibular, in February 2027
Direito (Law)
Five years with 410 morning and 100 evening places at Monte Alegre; monthly fee R$5,372 for 2026 entrants.
Psicologia (Psychology)
Five years with 180 places across shifts.
Relações Internacionais (International Relations)
Four years, 50 morning and 50 evening places.
Ciência da Computação and Ciência de Dados e Inteligência Artificial
Computer Science has a lab focus on embedded systems, IoT, robotics and software; Data Science and AI is a four-year course at Monte Alegre.
Engenharia de Sistemas Ciber-Físicos
New five-year engineering degree recognised in 2026, combining computing, communication, automation and control.
Medicina (Medicine)
Six-year full-time degree at the Sorocaba campus with 100 places; practical training starts in the first year, per the university.
Research
- The university reports postgraduate programmes from the late 1960s, including the country's first organised postgraduate course (1969).
- Research is coordinated through the research office, scientific initiation programmes and certified research groups.
- Runs the Derdic speech and hearing centre and Hospital Santa Lucinda as applied units.
Schools & faculties
- Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia
- Ciências Humanas e da Saúde
- Ciências Médicas e da Saúde
- Ciências Sociais
- Direito
- Economia, Administração, Contábeis e Atuariais
- Educação
- Filosofia, Comunicação, Letras e Artes
- Estudos Interdisciplinares
- Teologia
Student life
PUC-SP is a city university: students commute to campuses in Perdizes, Consolação, Ipiranga and Sorocaba rather than living in campus halls. The Monte Alegre campus is the historic centre, with the Tuca theatre and the Cross Courtyard; the university lists a library, student services, a university pastoral service and internship support. International exchange is run by ARII, which also offers Portuguese for Foreigners and special programmes such as PEC-G.
- Tuca theatre on the Monte Alegre campus.
- Exchange and partner-university programmes through ARII.
- Portuguese for Foreigners courses.
- A history of student activism, including the 1977 student event at Tuca recorded on the university's timeline.
Housing. No campus residence halls were listed on the pages we retrieved; students generally rent in São Paulo.
Location
PUC-SP's Monte Alegre campus is at Rua Monte Alegre 984 in Perdizes, in the west zone of São Paulo. The Consolação (Marquês de Paranaguá) campus is on Rua Marquês de Paranaguá 111, the Ipiranga campus on Av. Nazaré 993, and the Sorocaba campus on Rua Joubert Wey 290.
Notable alumni
- MS Marta SuplicyPsychologist and politician; former mayor of Sao Paulo (2001-2004, per Wikipedia). Attended PUC-SP 1969-75 per Wikipedia
- RG Reynaldo GianecchiniBrazilian actor; law degree from PUC-SP in 1997 (per Wikipedia)
- MR Maria Rita KehlPsychoanalyst and writer; doctorate in psychoanalysis at PUC-SP in 1997 (per Wikipedia)
- AS Amir SlamaFashion designer and entrepreneur; studied business administration and history at PUC-SP (per Portuguese Wikipedia)
- SU Shigeaki UekiLawyer and politician, former president of Petrobras; law degree from PUC-SP in 1959 (per Portuguese Wikipedia)
Frequently asked questions
When are PUC-SP's vestibular dates for 2027 entry?
Registration closes on 2 October 2026 at 23:59 (and is valid only once the R$280 fee is paid). The exam is on 17 October 2026 and the first call is published on 10 November 2026.
How much does PUC-SP cost?
Monthly fees for 2026 entrants range from R$1,527 (Social Work) to R$12,749 (Medicine); Law is R$5,372 and Computer Science R$3,600. Fees fall due on the 5th of each month; PUC-SP does not state how many instalments make a year, so an annual total of 12 times the monthly fee is our estimate.
What is on the PUC-SP vestibular?
A Portuguese essay and 50 multiple-choice questions based on the ENEM matrix.
Does PUC-SP offer scholarships?
Yes: merit scholarships for first-ranked candidates, FUNDASP philanthropic scholarships, Ser PUC and ProUni.
What is PUC-SP's QS ranking?
PUC-SP is in the 1001-1200 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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