The Brazilian government has launched the enrollment process for the Fies (Fundo de Financiamento Estudantil) 2025 program, aimed at assisting students seeking financing for higher education. Beginning February 4, 2025, students can register for the first semester of the year via the Portal Único de Acesso ao Ensino Superior (Single Portal for Access to Higher Education), with applications open until February 7. The resounding interest reflects the opportunity for thousands to pursue their academic goals through financial support.
According to the Ministry of Education (MEC), over 112,000 vacancies are being offered, highlighting the expansive nature of this year's enrollment efforts. These positions are divided between two selection processes—one for the first semester and the other for the second semester of 2025. "The result of the pre-selection will be announced on February 18, and students will be expected to complement their enrollment from February 19 to 21," MEC stated.
Students interested in the program must meet specific eligibility criteria. To qualify, they need to have taken the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM) at any time since its inception. Applicants must obtain at least 450 points as their average score across the five sections of the exam and must achieve more than zero on the writing component. Notably, candidates who registered as ‘treineiros’ (practice exam takers) for ENEM are not permitted to apply.
A key component of the Fies program is the Fies Social, geared toward students from lower-income backgrounds. Documented evidence shows 50% of the vacancies are reserved for this category, benefiting students with family incomes of up to half the minimum wage. MEC clearly articulated, "Fies Social reserves 50% of the vacancies for students with family income per person of up to half the minimum wage," ensuring financial accessibility for the most vulnerable populations.
To apply for the Fies program, prospective students must follow several straightforward steps. Logging on to the Acesso Único portal with their Gov.br account, candidates need to fill out personal information and submit their ethnic-racial declaration to compete for dedicated slots for minority groups. They can then select three preferred courses based on their chosen state, municipality, and institution of higher learning.
The classification process is set to commence based on the descending order of candidates’ ENEM scores, aligning with available vacancies across various groups and modalities. This systematic approach is aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency throughout the selection process.
For those not pre-selected during the main enrollment period, there's no need to panic. Automatic participation on the waitlist will occur, enabling these candidates to fill any vacant positions as they become available. This secondary selection phase is framed by the same competitive structure and will be active from February 25 to April 9.
Finally, the enrollment process for Fies 2025 not only serves to facilitate education for aspiring students but also reflects the government's commitment to promoting inclusivity and equal opportunity within higher education. With the initial registration period just around the corner, students are encouraged to prepare the necessary documentation and be ready to seize this opportunity for financial support as they march toward their academic futures.