Brazil is one of the boldest destination choices an Australian or New Zealand student can make – and one of the most transformative. The country’s sheer scale, cultural energy, and warmth are unlike anywhere else in the world. From the Amazon basin to the southern highlands, from Carnival to football, Brazil immerses you in a way that quieter destinations simply don’t.
YFU Brazil has one of the longest-established national exchange networks in South America, with a deep volunteer and host family infrastructure across multiple states. For students who want to genuinely challenge themselves linguistically and culturally, Brazil delivers that in abundance.
Brazilian family life is central to the exchange experience. Families are typically warm, social, and deeply community-oriented – mealtimes are important, weekends often involve extended family, and your host family will treat you as one of their own from day one. Most Brazilian families are proud to host an international student and will go out of their way to include you in every aspect of their life.
Portuguese is the language of exchange in Brazil. Most students arrive with little to no Portuguese and find that full immersion – combined with YFU’s pre-departure preparation – accelerates language acquisition faster than any classroom could. Within two to three months, most students are conversational. By the end of the year, many are dreaming in Portuguese.
Brazilian school culture is social and expressive. Expect a school environment that feels more relaxed in structure than back home, with strong emphasis on relationships between students and teachers.
There is no language requirement for Brazil, however you will be expected to learn Portuguese after arrival.
Attending school in Brazil means you will go to school either in the morning or the afternoon, depending on what grade or school you are in. There are only 3 years of high school and students generally study a lot in their last year to sit the entrance exams held at the end of the school year from November to February. Some schools won’t require you to sit tests and exams though others schools may.
When you attend school you will be in 1 classroom with the same students but you will receive a different teacher for different subjects, giving you a diverse and interesting school experience. If you don’t have the opportunity to participate in extra curricular activities at school there are a number of institutes that allow you to do languages, sports, music, arts and more. You will have the opportunity to work hard at learning the Portuguese language and interact with Brazilians and gain a life time experience.
Brazilian high schools (Ensino Médio) cover students aged 15–17 and run from February to December, aligned with the southern hemisphere calendar. The core curriculum covers Portuguese, Mathematics, Sciences, History, Geography, Arts, and Physical Education. Class sizes can be large, and school culture tends to be social and relationship-focused. Most schools operate in morning or afternoon shifts.
Brazilian families are known to usually be very warm and show affection by kissing and hugging, which is a common practice in Brazil. If you are a teenager in Brazil you will find that girls greet their friends by kissing on the cheeks, though the boys generally shake hands.
Brazilian families can also be very protective towards their children which is just a way of showing they care about you. You will have the opportunity to spend time with your host family and share experiences and everyday activities with them. Generally, Brazilian families have a maid and she will be considered part of the family.
No prior Portuguese is required. YFU provides pre-departure language preparation, and full immersion in a host family and school environment accelerates learning rapidly. Most students become conversational within 2–3 months.
YFU has operated student exchanges in Brazil for decades and places students with carefully screened host families in established communities. Like any country, safety varies by region and context – YFU’s local volunteer network provides ongoing support throughout your exchange.
Brazil follows a southern hemisphere school calendar, running approximately February to December. This means a year program aligns more naturally with the Australian academic year than most European or North American destinations.
Expect warm, social, and extended family-oriented life. Mealtimes are important, weekends often involve family gatherings, and your host family will actively include you in their community. Brazilian hospitality is genuine and generous.
Yes – and faster than you’d expect. Full immersion is the most effective way to acquire a language, and most YFU students in Brazil are conversational within 2–3 months. By year’s end, many are fluent.
Yes. YFU provides all required documentation and step-by-step guidance through the Brazilian student visa process as part of your program enrolment.
Enrolment in a public or private school for the first semester and placement in an NGO project for the second semester
Placement in an NGO project (Typically related to childcare, women's care, environmental NGOs)
Our standard all-inclusive program price with no hidden fees.
Host a student and enjoy up to 20% off the program fee, plus receive up to $4000AUD / $4800NZD reimbursement for hosting a student*
Host a student and enjoy up to 20% off the program fee, receive up to $4000AUD / $4800NZD reimbursement for hosting* plus a further $2500 discount when you book your own flights**
*The host a student reimbursement is a payment of $100AUD/$120NZD per week
**When you book your own flights, you will be required to adhere to specific travel dates and arrival times in the destination country. This offer does not include exchange programs to Thailand, Korea, or China.
The first weeks of an exchange student experience in Australia are often filled with excitement, curiosity, and unforgettable firsts. Known as the honeymoon phase of cultural exchange, this is the time when everything feels new—from landscapes and wildlife to food, school, and daily life.
As everybody is speaking about the FIFA World Cup, millions of people around the globe are gathering to cheer for their favourite teams, celebrate different cultures, and experience the excitement that only a global event can create. But while the World Cup lasts only a few weeks, there’s another international experience that can change your life forever: going on a youth exchange.
The Youth Empowerment Seminar is one of YFU’s largest international youth events, bringing together exchange students, volunteers, facilitators and educators from across the globe for an unforgettable week of learning, leadership and intercultural dialogue.
Enquire today about this program. We’ve got experts ready to assist with any enquiry about the countries, programs and the process.
Simply register and attend one of our in-person Information Evenings and you will automatically get $100 off your program fee.
