Hey Lucho,
I guess I was right with my advise to go to Mexico? Solves the language and (to an extend) the money problem, and you have a big choice.
But if you really fancy going to Brazil to study, which I can understand :), try to learn Portuguese, it will not take so long for you, you´ll see.
denise

Thanks for your help and motivation Denise!
Lucho

Guys, before you give up on Brazil or any country you want to study in. Don't make a decision based on this forum. Do a little research, call or go to the country's consulate or embassy, look at the education offering etc. I don't speak portugeese or spanish. BUT i am a great admirer of foreign people from all over the world, who come to study in English based countries, and they have to learn the language too.
It would be admirable if we started doing the same. Can you imagine being able to think in Chinese, portugeese, spanish etc. AND, at an intellectual level too! That would be awesome.
Brazil, is more advanced than people think! Infact there is more automation in Brazilian cities than there is in the USA, things like cellphones, automated grocery shopping, electronic tax filing, big industry etc. I love Brazil. If i could study there I would. But i am just stone broke.
Aah the beauty of the contry and the people (women) is breath taking. Ofcourse there are universal third world problems, just like you find in any third world country country like South side of Chicago, East Orange New Jersey, West Cincinnati Ohio, Hyde Park London, etc.

Hello Mindmaker, I have already been to Brazil so I know what to expect, and I must say it is in many aspects similar to Columbia where I come from. So that is neither an argument in favor nor against studying there.
I actually considered Brazil because what's going on there in my field of business looks really interesting compared to Columbia. But then the language - I would prefer in English even though Portuguese and Spanish are quite close, as Denise pointed out as well. I am a bit lazy there...

Anyways, one more thing I want to say: Sure I do my research to take the right decision, but on the contrary of what you think, this forum was a big help for me to direct my research! Besides Denise IS brazilian so she's in a perfect position to advise, but as well she came up with a lot of detailed information.
Now I have to chose between lazy (Mexico) and some more effort (Brazil, needs Portuguese), and you are right: Brazil is worth some effort!

Hi Lucho,
so if we push you from two sides, you will make the little effort? ;) good news! Good luck.
Denise

Lucho, you are not that Lazy, else we would be pushing you towards the Ukraine or Shangai.
Don't kid yourself Mexico is pretty hard too. Too many distratction, and if you like golf, you will be here in the USA following Ms. Choi the new golf wonder Good luck, go to Mexico and take a summer course in Brazil offered in English or Spanish.

I get mixed up - where you want me to go now?? ;)
You know what, I will just where I really WANT to go, which is Brazil.
Maybe take a summer course in Mexico how is that? The problem is Mexico doesn't attract me, maybe it's some intra Latin stuff.
Anyways, in my business Brazil is a good experience!
Thanks for all the comments,
Lucho

Good luck, whatever you decide please come to New York for one more summer course (I should say NY area) NYU, Colombia, Rutgers, Seton Hall, NJIT, the list goes on.
If you notice Brazilians speak/write better English and Spanish than Mexican Speak English and Portugese. Meaning that Brazilians realize they have to reach out to the world. As`the worls will not reach out to them. Therefore do not be suprised if a red carpet is laid out for you upon touchdown.
Good luck again and i know you will be a great student. How do I know that? Instincts my friend instincts.
After thought, you know Brazil also offers an EMBA offered in English or Portugeese!! Maybe you do the EMBA and it is supported by great international Universities. Just ask them to print your diploman without the "E" - If you don't like to be confused with people seeking to go directly into the board room.

Hi,
Good idea to print the diploma without an E... I am not sure if it works though :)
But you are right, in the Brazilian business world people speak well English, and Spanish too in a sense, or how we call it here, "Portugnol".
Spanish speakers don't need to make that effort because they get around with their language in so many countries. Even in some parts of the US now, look! And Lucho, you kind of confirmed this clichè about lazyness in languages, not true ;) ? But as I said, Brazil is worth it...
Denise

Hello!!

I am an engineering student at bachelors level here in India and I am keenly interested in doing my MBA(2 years full time) from Brazil preferably in Sao Paulo.
I need some information regarding the admission procedures like

whether I am eligible to study there or not?
Is there any entrance exam that I'll have to clear, and if so can I give it from India or not?
and also if all the classes are in Portuguese then does the university provide any preparatory course for it?
What is the fees structure and all sort of other information is also welcome

here's my brief resume
* 3 years full time diploma in computer engineering from from Asia's 3rd top polytechnic .
* Bachelor's degree in computer engineering (not finished yet).
* Few industrial trainings.
* Some experience in software development.

I will be highly obliged if anyone of you can provide me any kind of information.
regards

Hi Ispahir,
I would strongly advise you to do an English speaking program. Portuguese is not so difficult, but if you have to learn it from the scratch, you will need quite some time to be able to use it for study purposes - especially for such a demanding, high level program as an MBA.
Plus, if you do a Portuguese MBA you might be the only foreigners in the class, or at least the only non Latin American. The English speaking courses tend to be more international in their orientation.

The only 2-year programs I found are the ones at Universidade de Sao Paulo (a long list of different MBAs you can do there), and at Ipmec, which are all held in Portuguese.
Even if its a one-year MBA, you should check out the English speaking progr. by Business School São Paulo.

Why you prefer Sao Paulo?

as far as i know sao paulo is the business city of brazil.....so i am interested in it....

and also......do university of sao paulo provides MBA courses in english??

yes, you are perfectly right, sao paulo is the business capital of Brazil, so it's a good choice to go there.

As far as I know, only the EMBA of University of Sao Paulo is taught in English as well, but all the regular MBA programs are only on Portuguese.

Here is a link with the MBA programs you can do in Brazil:
http://www.find-mba.com/brazil/1
You will always find there a link to the website of each program, so can do a research, as well looking for the information on instruction language.

The University of Sao Paulo has a wide choice of different MBA courses, as I said, maybe you'll find something in English? If not, may I ask you if you speak Spanish? Because in that case it will be quite easy for you to learn Portuguese and study in Portuguese.

first of all thanks for your concern and interest ....
and i am learning some basic portuguese here........
but i dont think it would be sufficient for professional study.....
therefore i need some preparatory course and can you tell me whether does the university provide any??

I have never been to Brazil myself, you know, all the infos I found on the internet while doing my own research about MBA in Latin American countries.
But it's quite likely that a public University offers such a preparatory course, there are always students from abroad in the need of better language skills. You should look at the webpage of the university.

So you are determined to go for the adventure, being the only Indian in the class? I think it can be a great experience, all the Brazilians I've met so far, were nice and open. I'm sure they'll warmly welcome you.

u know i have an option to go to US also but i want to be in latin america only from core of my heart......i dont know why i am so much attracted to latin america,,,,,whenever i see some documentary or something about it....i always feel to be there....i also am learning portuguese by myself.....
anyway thanks a lot for the information.....that was very kind of you ...
regards

That sounds good, Ispahir, it's the best thing to follow your intuition in such existential questions as where you want to live. And you seem to have quite strong feelings about it!

One last thing I wanted to share with you:
From the Brazilians I know, I've heard that Sao Paulo is a quite particular place to live, maybe you are aware of it. In the sense, that it really is a city of business, there is a lot more wealth than in the rest of the country, and than in most other Latin American countries. You can feel the strive for economical success everywhere. It seems to be somewhat more American, whereas other places, like Rio have more the tropical athmosphere we expect from Brazil. I think it's good to know before.

good luck, and please, whenever you get new interesting information about Brazil, share on this board!
Juan

thanks for the information and i'll always be in touch......
enjoy
regards....

Hello,

There is a new one year Full Time MBA offered by FIA (Fundação Instituto de Administração), totally spoken in English. This International MBA Full Time is specially designed for a multicultural group of students from Europe, Asia and Latin America.

FIA is an internationally accredited institution and this course offers an immersion in a business-oriented environment in Brazil (São Paulo), providing an excellent qualification for an international career.

Take a look on the website http://www.fia.com.br/portalfia/Default.aspx?idPagina=11784 .


Regards
Daniel

I am from India and am interested in the Coppead institute.
I am already pursuing an MBA and would like to explore the possibility of student exchange with COPPEAD.
Does the institute offer certain courses in English for exchange students?
What is the general level of English penetration in the student and the business community in Brazil?