Curiosity about Brazil, employment and study opportunities, as well as the quality of education stimulated the arrival of a greater number of foreign students in the country in 2012. Colombians, Portuguese, French and Angolans lead the list of those who seek most Brazilian cities to study, according to Foreign Relations Ministry – responsible for visa issuing. Just last year, 1,333 Colombian’ students, 944 Portuguese, 934 French and 745 Angolans came to Brazil.

In comparison with 2011, the number of Colombians interested in studying in Brazil increased almost 50 per cent. In that year, 972 Colombian’ students requested the visa, 441 Portuguese, 798 French and 608 Angolans.

These numbers are part of a study about the student visas requested on Brazilian representations in 156 countries, made by Foreign Relations Ministry. On the document, there are situations similar to Zimbabwe (Africa) - a country that suffers with hyperinflation and economic difficulties - that, since 2005, doesn’t send students to Brazil.

Countries facing internal crises sent few or no students to Brazil. Last year, the country did not receive visa requests from Libya and Mali students, while Palestinians requested just one authorization, Syrians asked three, Tunisians eight and Egyptians nine.

Students who land in Brazil arrive in the country with many dreams. The Peruvian Melissa Aragon, 25, architecture student in UnB (University of Brasilia), is in the capital for four years and a half. According to her, the choice for Brazil was stimulated by the belief that the country can offer many employment opportunities.

“As I wanted to know other languages, I studied Portuguese for four months, when the opportunity to study in Brazil came: I took the test and passed“, said the student. “Brazil has a lot of things to offer, from the cultural aspect - that is such diversified, with cultural influences of different countries, it has theatre and music, and the food is great – until the job options, because it is a developing country in comparison with the other countries of Latin America.“

Also student of architecture in UnB, Demarbique Carlos Sanca, 22, from Guinea Bissau, said he had the opportunity to come to Brazil when he won a scholarship. “I never imagined myself studying here in Brazil. I thought that any opportunity that appears for me to study in another country I would go“, he emphasised.

“I think that here there are more employment opportunities than in Guinea Bissau. If a good chance appears here when I finish the course, I can work a little bit in Brazil, go back to my country of origin and give my contribution as an architect.“ Reported Universo On Line