Brazil's Ministry of Education began accepting applications for the Student Financing Fund (FIES) for the second semester of 2026 on Tuesday [1, 2, 3].
This program provides critical financial access to private higher education for thousands of students who cannot afford tuition costs. By offering subsidized loans, the government aims to increase university enrollment and reduce the educational gap for lower-income populations.
Applications opened on July 14, 2026 [3], and will remain available until 11:59 p.m. on July 17, 2026 [4, 5]. Candidates must apply exclusively through the Portal Acesso Único [6, 7, 8].
There are approximately 44,900 available slots for the term [9]. To qualify for the program, applicants must have achieved a minimum score of 450 points on the National High School Exam (ENEM) [10].
A significant portion of the funding is dedicated to social equity. The government has reserved 50% of the available slots for Fies Social [11]. This specific quota is intended for students with a family income of up to half a minimum wage [11].
The Ministry of Education said it will announce the results of the application process on July 30, 2026 [10]. This timeline allows the government to process the high volume of applicants before the start of the academic semester.
“There are approximately 44,900 available slots for the term”
The heavy emphasis on the Fies Social quota reflects a strategic shift toward prioritizing the most economically vulnerable students in Brazil's private education sector. By dedicating half of the slots to those earning half a minimum wage or less, the government is attempting to use the FIES program as a tool for social mobility rather than just a general educational subsidy.
