The University of Blumenau can trace its roots back to the 1950s and began life as the Faculty of Economic Sciences of Blumenau. After steady expansion it was recognised as a university in 1987 and a higher education institution in 1994, achieving institutional autonomy in 2010.
FURB enrols more than 8,000 students across a comprehensive range of disciplines. All courses are taught in Portuguese with a few, mostly in business, also offered in English.
There is a strong emphasis on social inclusion, with the Santa Catarina state government’s Free University programme providing assistance with tuition fees since 2023. Recently-established social programmes include the offer of free care to fibromyalgia patients by physiotherapy students.
