vestibulares

Vestibulares are the entrance exams used by Brazilian universities and higher education institutions to select students for undergraduate programs. The term encompasses both institution-specific exams and the various processes that institutions use to determine admission. While many universities still hold their own vestibular, an increasing number also accept the national Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM) scores through the Sisu system, blending traditional tests with nationwide assessments.

Historically, vestibulares emerged as the principal path to university access in Brazil and evolved through the 20th century. Some public and private universities maintain their own distinct examination formats, schedules, and curricula, while others have adopted or supplemented with ENEM-based admissions. The practice varies widely by institution and region.

Typical vestibular processes involve written exams that test Portuguese, mathematics, science subjects, and humanities, with some programs requiring essays, literature analysis, or foreign languages. The duration of exams generally spans several hours, and the scoring is determined by the administering institution. Admission often depends on a ranking by final scores, sometimes combined with interview, portfolio, or audition components for specific courses such as arts or design.

Within Brazil, several notable examples illustrate the diversity of vestibulares. Some universities, like the Universidade de São Paulo (via Fuvest), use a centralized system for their exams, while others, such as Unicamp or UNESP, conduct their own multi-stage assessments. Private institutions may rely exclusively on vestibulares, whereas many public universities increasingly use ENEM-based admission.

Critically, vestibulares remain a central route to higher education in Brazil, shaping preparation and competition patterns, while the ENEM/Sisu pathway has broadened access for many applicants.