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Exchange program with UFBA - Universidade Federal da Bahia

Up to four students of Goethe University with majors that are available at Universidade Federal da Bahia may spend one or two semesters at the partner institution (fall and/or spring semester (Aug-Dec/March-July) n der Universidade Federal da Bahia zu studieren. The language of instruction is Portuguese!   

When to apply? 
 deadline: Tuesday, 3 February 2026 
(for a stay abroad during the acadamic year 2026/27)

Please read the application manual!

Universidade Federal da Bahia is a public university in Salvador da Bahia. It was founded in 1946 and is the biggest university in the state of Bahia and the fifth biggest in all of Brazil. 40.000 students are taught by 2.300 lecturers at UFBA. Salvador da Bahia is the third city of Brazil and has 2.9 million inhabitants. It is the capital of the north-eastern state of Bahia and is situated on the east coast of Brazil.

  • Portuguese required! 
    A2 at time of application, B2 before the semester at UFBA
  • all courses at UFBA (except medicine) may be taken by exchange students

general application requirements (for all our Direktaustauschprogramme):

  • applicants must be enrolled at Goethe University
  • applicants must be at least in their 2nd semester (BA), MA students may apply during their 1st semester
  • All majors may apply, there may be some restrictions regarding the available courses: students of medicine and law may apply but will not be able to take classes from their major at the host institution; restrictions regarding courses see first tab "host institution(s)"
  • Good academic standing 
  • Good language proficiency (at least B1, if not stated otherwise) - language certificates are valid for 2 years only!
  • good knowledge of  current and historic political and cultural affairs of host country and Germany
  • good knowledge of the host institution, available classes and a detailed study plan specific to the respective host institution(s)
  • It is expected of exchange students to return to Goethe-University after their study abroad period and continue and finish their studies here. 
  • Students who do not have a German Abitur or other German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung and who are enrolled in an English degree have to submit proof of German proficiency (preferably at least B1)
  • Applicants are expected to be able to take on an ambassador role for Goethe University and Frankfurt

additional application requirements for UFBA:

  • Good proficiency of Portuguese (at least B1); language proficiency certificate or proof of participation in a language class; at time of application in February proof of A2 is sufficient, proof of B1 has to be submitted before May (for exchange during the fall semester) and before December (for exchange during the spring semester) 
  • UFBA requires two letters of reference - one is required at the time of application, the second one may be submitted at a later time
Application documents:
  • Application form - will be generated from online application (will open approx. 4 weeks prior to application deadline)
  • additional application documents
    please see     application manual
  • You will need a letter of reference and a language proficiency certificate. Please see about these well in advance (the sooner the better): talk to a professor/lecturer about the letter of reference and make an appointment for the language test. No late submissions!
Interviews:
  • approx. 2-3 weeks after deadline
  • there might be a preselection based on written applications so that not all applicants will be invited
Program benefits
  • Tuition fee waiver (other fees may apply)
  • Administrative support with application at host institution
    Costs before and during the stay abroad
    Tuition fees get waived for exchange students. However, costs of studying abroad should not be underestimated. All other costs will have to be paid by the exchange students themselves:
    • room and board 
    • travel costs
    • insurances 
    • other fees at the host institution may apply, e.g. administrative fees     
    Selection of exchange students: 
    • Depending on the number of applicants there may be a preselection based on the application documents.
    • all applicants will receive an email:
      • invitation to an interview OR  
      • rejection on the basis of submitted application    
    • interview will:
      • be in English (and, if different, language of host country; only expected of applicants who stated in their application that they have knowledge of that language) 
      • be about personal and academic motivation of applicant 
      • include possible other subjects such current and historic political and cultural affairs of host country as well as Germany 
    • final selection of exchange students by Goethe University's selection committee
    • final approval of the participation in the program is given by host institutions after applications have been submitted to them

    How to finance your stay abroad: 
    Students participating in our exchange programs may apply for financial aid and/or scholarships at other institutions:

    • DAAD-PROMOS (in April/Mai for fall; in November/December for spring)
    • DAAD-Jahresstipendium (for studying abroad for two semesters; please check the deadlines which are different for different countries and may be several months before the stay abroad) 
    • Auslands-BAföG (apply 6 months before studying abroad)
    • Bildungskredit
    • other scholarships 

    More information on our website: Finanzierung und Stipendien. 

    Please check carefully whether you are eligible to apply: Some financial aid programs and scholarships might only be for German citizens or students who have graduated from German high school and/or have their permant residency in Germany. 

    You will find a data base of testimonials of former exchange students here (in German).

    Universidade Federal da Bahia is a public university in Salvador da Bahia. It was founded in 1946 and is the biggest university in the state of Bahia and the fifth biggest in all of Brazil. 40.000 students are taught by 2.300 lecturers at UFBA. Salvador da Bahia is the third city of Brazil and has 2.9 million inhabitants. It is the capital of the north-eastern state of Bahia and is situated on the east coast of Brazil.

    • Portuguese required! 
      A2 at time of application, B2 before the semester at UFBA
    • all courses at UFBA (except medicine) may be taken by exchange students

    general application requirements (for all our Direktaustauschprogramme):

    • applicants must be enrolled at Goethe University
    • applicants must be at least in their 2nd semester (BA), MA students may apply during their 1st semester
    • All majors may apply, there may be some restrictions regarding the available courses: students of medicine and law may apply but will not be able to take classes from their major at the host institution; restrictions regarding courses see first tab "host institution(s)"
    • Good academic standing 
    • Good language proficiency (at least B1, if not stated otherwise) - language certificates are valid for 2 years only!
    • good knowledge of  current and historic political and cultural affairs of host country and Germany
    • good knowledge of the host institution, available classes and a detailed study plan specific to the respective host institution(s)
    • It is expected of exchange students to return to Goethe-University after their study abroad period and continue and finish their studies here. 
    • Students who do not have a German Abitur or other German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung and who are enrolled in an English degree have to submit proof of German proficiency (preferably at least B1)
    • Applicants are expected to be able to take on an ambassador role for Goethe University and Frankfurt

    additional application requirements for UFBA:

    • Good proficiency of Portuguese (at least B1); language proficiency certificate or proof of participation in a language class; at time of application in February proof of A2 is sufficient, proof of B1 has to be submitted before May (for exchange during the fall semester) and before December (for exchange during the spring semester) 
    • UFBA requires two letters of reference - one is required at the time of application, the second one may be submitted at a later time
    Application documents:
    • Application form - will be generated from online application (will open approx. 4 weeks prior to application deadline)
    • additional application documents
      please see       application manual
    • You will need a letter of reference and a language proficiency certificate. Please see about these well in advance (the sooner the better): talk to a professor/lecturer about the letter of reference and make an appointment for the language test. No late submissions!
    Interviews:
    • approx. 2-3 weeks after deadline
    • there might be a preselection based on written applications so that not all applicants will be invited
    Program benefits
    • Tuition fee waiver (other fees may apply)
    • Administrative support with application at host institution
      Costs before and during the stay abroad
      Tuition fees get waived for exchange students. However, costs of studying abroad should not be underestimated. All other costs will have to be paid by the exchange students themselves:
      • room and board 
      • travel costs
      • insurances 
      • other fees at the host institution may apply, e.g. administrative fees     
      Selection of exchange students: 
      • Depending on the number of applicants there may be a preselection based on the application documents.
      • all applicants will receive an email:
        • invitation to an interview OR  
        • rejection on the basis of submitted application    
      • interview will:
        • be in English (and, if different, language of host country; only expected of applicants who stated in their application that they have knowledge of that language) 
        • be about personal and academic motivation of applicant 
        • include possible other subjects such current and historic political and cultural affairs of host country as well as Germany 
      • final selection of exchange students by Goethe University's selection committee
      • final approval of the participation in the program is given by host institutions after applications have been submitted to them

      How to finance your stay abroad: 
      Students participating in our exchange programs may apply for financial aid and/or scholarships at other institutions:

      • DAAD-PROMOS (in April/Mai for fall; in November/December for spring)
      • DAAD-Jahresstipendium (for studying abroad for two semesters; please check the deadlines which are different for different countries and may be several months before the stay abroad) 
      • Auslands-BAföG (apply 6 months before studying abroad)
      • Bildungskredit
      • other scholarships 

      More information on our website: Finanzierung und Stipendien. 

      Please check carefully whether you are eligible to apply: Some financial aid programs and scholarships might only be for German citizens or students who have graduated from German high school and/or have their permant residency in Germany. 

      You will find a data base of testimonials of former exchange students here (in German).