History
The history of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul begins with the arrival of the Marist Brothers in Brazil. This religious congregation was founded by St. Marcelino Champagnat in La Vallá, near Lyon, France in 1817.
Education
The university has 22 faculties. The educational system is organized in courses and programs, which are responsible for undergraduate and graduate studies, continuing education, outreach activities and research.
Research
The Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) is one of the most important research universities in Latin America. Located in Porto Alegre, the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Southern region of Brazil, PUCRS is a reference center for excellence in research and innovation in South America.
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Key Statistics & Highlights
- #1001 Ranking
- 44 Scholarships
- 685 Academic Staff
- 15,149 Students
- 151 Students (int'l)
- 6,363 Students (female)
- Private Institution Type
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Overview
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Scholarships
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Read more about eligibility
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Student Reviews & Awards
Based on 18 reviews
- 5 Star 15 Reviews
- 4 Star 2 Reviews
- 3 Star 0 Reviews
- 2 Star 1 Review
- 1 Star 0 Reviews
My Academic Experience
My academic experience has been strongly shaped by my commitment to legal studies, international academic exposure, and a clear focus on academic excellence. I am currently completing my Bachelor’s degree in Law (Bachelor of Laws equivalent) at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) and will graduate this year. During my undergraduate studies, I spent one full academic year in Germany as part of an academic mobility program, an experience that played a fundamental role in my academic and intellectual development. Throughout my Bachelor’s degree in Law, I developed a solid theoretical foundation in legal studies, with particular emphasis on legal reasoning, doctrinal analysis, and academic research. In parallel with my academic training, I was approved in the Brazilian Bar Examination (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil – OAB), which is equivalent to the bar exam. Upon completion of my Bachelor’s degree, I will be formally admitted to the Brazilian Bar and will hold my professional lawyer identification, enabling me to practice law in Brazil. My academic exchange year in Germany significantly broadened my academic perspective. I was exposed to a different legal system and to teaching methodologies that emphasize academic autonomy, critical discussion, and in-depth theoretical analysis. I especially valued the strong focus on independent study, structured argumentation, and comparative legal approaches, which reinforced my interest in research-oriented legal studies. Although my overall academic experience has been extremely positive, I believe that legal education can be further improved through increased opportunities for research seminars, methodological training, and early integration between undergraduate and postgraduate studies. These elements are particularly important for students who intend to pursue advanced academic degrees. In summary, my academic journey has been intellectually enriching and transformative. Completing my Bachelor’s degree in Law, combined with one year of academic study in Germany and my approval in the Brazilian bar exam, has confirmed my desire to pursue a master’s degree in Germany. I am highly motivated to continue my academic path within the German higher education system, where I aim to deepen my legal knowledge, engage in advanced research, and contribute to a rigorous and internationally oriented academic environment.
Just as expected
I thin the overall experience has been great. It's what I expected to be.
Online learning experience
Being one of the first students of this course had its ups and downs. At first, I struggled with tight deadlines for projects, but the deadlines were loosened at the next quarters making it easier to keep up. Great recorded classes and coordinators
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
Best Global Universities Rankings
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 16 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1032 | 1141 | 1125 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
QS World University Rankings
By TopUniversities
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1201 | 1201 | 1201 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
By Times Higher Education
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1001 | - | 1001 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Library services
Considered one of the most technologically advanced libraries in South America, the Irmão José Otão Main Library covers every area of knowledge, offering books, journals, databases and all kinds of educational support materials, thus contributing to the personal, scientific, technical and professional development of students and the community.
ICT services
Labelo – Specialized Electric-Electronic Laboratories carries out the calibration of measuring instruments and compliance testing for product certification.
Medical services
The Main Campus comprises the São Lucas Hospital (HSL) and the Clinical Center. PUCRS’ São Lucas Hospital is engaged in patient care, and teaching and research activities, based on human values, interdisciplinary approaches, and commitment to community health. It is a non-profit general hospital that provides care for adults, young adults and children, covering virtually every medical specialty.
Campus life
The Campus of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) is located on Ipiranga Avenue, one of the busiest roads in Porto Alegre, in the Partenon area. It is located 20 minutes away from Salgado Filho Airport and 15 minutes away from downtown Porto Alegre.