The Ministry of Education (MEC) officially announced the schedule and criteria for the 2025 Unified Selection System (Sisu) on Thursday, December 26. This announcement marks the beginning of the enrollment process for students aspiring to enter public universities across Brazil, making education more accessible to a wider audience.
The upcoming enrollment period is set from January 17 to January 21, 2025. All registrations will be conducted online at the Unified Access Portal for Higher Education, with no fees required. Results from the regular call will be published on January 26, 2025, providing candidates with timely feedback on their applications.
To be eligible to enroll, students must have completed their high school education and participated in the 2024 National High School Examination (Enem). Important stipulations include not having scored zero on the writing exam and not participating as a 'treineiro' (a term used for students who attempt the exam without graduation). This criterion ensures only qualified candidates enter the selection process, maintaining high standards for enrollment.
Similar to the previous year, Sisu 2025 will consist of only one enrollment phase, allowing candidates to compete for all available spots throughout the year with just one submission. This means students can register once for the chance to secure places available for courses starting either semester of the year, depending on institutional agreement. Candidates will not have the option to select which semester they will begin since this will depend on their ranking relative to other applicants.
All candidates will be classified according to their performance on the Enem 2024, with initial consideration for open competition spots. Following this, reserved vacancies will be allocated according to Brazil's affirmative action policies. This includes provisions for students from public schools, low-income families, individuals with disabilities, and underrepresented groups such as Black, Indigenous, and Quilombola peoples, ensuring equitable access to education.
All participating institutions will adhere to updates provided by the 2022 Census data, as reported by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), to inform their distribution of reserved spots. This method prioritizes candidates who genuinely require compensatory policies for access to higher education.
The waitlist mechanism will empower higher education institutions to utilize the list throughout the year to fill any unoccupied spots from the regular call. Candidates not chosen during the initial selection will have the opportunity to demonstrate their interest for the waitlist between January 26 and January 31, 2025, also via the Unified Access Portal.
Specific to the state of Paraíba, universities are preparing to offer 13,050 new spots through Sisu 2025, with the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) providing nearly 8,000 of these. The distribution of available slots is outlined as follows:
- UFPB - 7,845 spots
- UFCG (Federal University of Campina Grande) - 4,635 spots
- UEPB (State University of Paraíba) - 5,970 spots
- IFPB (Federal Institute of Paraíba) - number of vacancies yet to be disclosed
This strategic approach aims not only to expand access to higher education but also to align educational offerings with the demographics of the student population. MEC’s announcement encourages students to participate actively: "Mark your calendars and prepare for your applications. This is your opportunity to secure your place at university!" tweeted Education Minister Camilo Santana, rallying support for this year's applications.
With the Sisu 2025 selections opening soon, prospective students are urged to check all their eligibility and prepare the necessary documentation to facilitate the application process. This year's structure promises to maintain rigorous educational standards whilst supporting diversity and inclusion across Brazil's public universities.