Living arrangements
Juiz de Fora
Three types of student housing are available in Juiz de Fora, all of which are comfortable and offer opportunities to get to know Brazilians and to practice Portuguese:
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Host family stay – Students who opt for a family stay receive a questionnaire in which they can state their preferences (pets, diet, children, smoking, etc.). Staff at the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF) International Relations Office (known as the CRI) carefully chooses the families through a process that includes an interview. Students are matched with the family prior to arrival and encouraged to get in touch with their hosts through letters or e-mails to begin forging a meaningful relationship. The cost for a host family placement is typically R$400-600 per month (approximately $200-350 US dollars). This cost usually includes rent, water, electricity, and internet, and breakfast. Additional meals are typically arranged for an additional cost, and students will typically have access to the family's kitchen if they'd like to purchase and prepare their own meals.
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Apartment – Students may choose to live in an apartment with other local students. Apartments vary in size and location, and typically consist of 2-3 students sharing expenses. The cost for a room in a shared student aparment is typically R$350-550 per month (approximately $175-325 US dollars), with proximity to campus and the university bus route being a factor in the price. This cost usually includes rent, water, electricity, and internet.
- República – Students may also opt to rent a room in a “República,” which is a room in a shared group apartment or house in town. Living expenses and household responsibilities are shared with a small community of other students, who are primarily Brazilian, but may include international students. A list of recommended Repúblicas is available from the CRI upon arrival to those who chose this option. The cost for a room in a shared student aparment is typically R$350-550 per month (approximately $175-325 US dollars), with proximity to campus and the university bus route being a factor in the price. This cost usually includes rent, water, electricity, and internet. Meals are not included, though students typically have access to a kitchen and laundry facilities. In some cases, "Repúblicas" may contract with a maid to do cleaning and shopping and to cook a main meal six days a week.
Bus fare to the university campus costs R$1.70/ticket (approximately $1.00 US). The UFJF University Restaurant offers lunch and dinner at R$1.40/meal (less than $1.00 US), with one restaurant on-campus and another one in the city center (see their menu here).
Brasília
Students will stay in an apartment building on-campus that is reserved for international students, graduate students, and some faculty. There will typically be two students per room, with 3 or 4 bedrooms per apartment. The apartments include fresh bed linens and towels each week. The cost is R$600 per month (R$20 per day), which is approximately $300-$350 per month in US dollars. Placements will be made by the International Relations office at the Universidade de Brasília (UnB).
Purchasing lunch or dinner on-campus typically costs R$2.20 per meal (approximately $1.25 US), and the apartments are also furnished with kitchens. There are also other food options on and around the campus.