Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is a public research university located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest and most prestigious university in Brazil.

The history of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) dates back to 1792, when it was founded as the Royal School of Medicine of Rio de Janeiro. It was the first medical school in Brazil, and was founded by the Portuguese crown. The school was later renamed the Imperial University of Brazil in 1808, and then the University of Brazil in 1920.

The university underwent a period of expansion in the 20th century. In 1950, the university's main campus was moved to Ilha do Fundão, a newly created island in the Guanabara Bay. The campus is home to a number of state-of-the-art facilities, including libraries, laboratories, and research institutes.

Today, UFRJ is a leading research university with a strong global reputation. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs in a variety of disciplines. UFRJ is also home to a number of world-renowned research institutes.

UFRJ has played a major role in the development of Brazil and continues to be a leading institution of higher education in the country.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is positioned as the #304 top university in the world, which makes it the #3 top university in Brazil. The university's global rank is improved by 67 points from last year.