Established in 1948, the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul – PUCRS is one of the largest and most distinguished higher education institutions in Brazil. Recognized as the best private university in the South of Brazil, PUCRS’s mission was founded on human rights, the principles of Christianity and traditional Marist education. PUCRS is used to produce and disseminate knowledge and promote human and professional development, guided by quality and relevance, with the objective of developing a just and fraternal society.

With around 30,000 students, its campus is located in Rio Grande do Sul. PUCRS offers 55 undergraduate programs, 24 Master’s degree and 22 Doctoral programs in the following areas of study: Humanities, Applied Social Sciences, Health Sciences, and Science and Technology. The Central Campus has many buildings for the academic community such as the Main Auditorium, University Hospital, Museum of Science and Technology, Distance Education Unit, Continuing Education Unit, Technology Park, Events Center, Sports Center and Soccer Stadium, among others.

The internationalization of PUCRS is an important goal of the Institutional Strategic Plan 2015-2022, focusing on integrated theoretical and practical procedures as bases for programs developed with partners abroad, aiming to strengthen worldwide relations. In 2017, the university implemented the movement PUCRS 360° – University in transformation, in an effort to earn students more autonomy in their academic career, new directions for a different academic experience and more recreational areas and areas to study around Campus, such as the Rua da Cultura (Cultura Square) and Living 360 builging.