Organization

The Brazilian education system is made up of public institutions (federal, state, and municipal) and private establishments. Education is obligatory for all children between the ages of 7 and 14.
Public education is free at all levels. The private schools with a non-lucrative goal can receive public funding in order to accept clever, financially underprivileged students. The Ministry of Education holds supreme authority for almost all higher education. The federal government looks after at least one university in each federal state. Due to the large demand for higher education and the lack of places, the Departments and Brazilian universities, public as well as private, require an entrance exam called vestibular. After completion of the academic study program (from 3 to 5 years) the university students receive their diploma of higher education.
Source : www.bresil.org

Higher education (public) in Brazil is dispensed by federal universities, present in Brasilia and in most of the regional capitals, by state universities, generally less important with the exception of the University of São Paolo (USP) and the State University of São Paolo (UNES).
The rural population is far behind due to the lack of equipment and teaching staff.

University calendar :
The dates can change from one university to another, for this it is advised to get information from each university.

For example :
Universidade Catolica de Brasilia : www.ucb.br/calendario/main.htm
Universidade do Amazonas : www.fua.br
Universidade Pontificia Catolica do Rio de Janeiro. : www.pucrio.br/info/calendario