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USP Offers 234 Places in 2026 for Knowledge Olympiad Medalists, Distributed Across More Than 100 Courses in 7 Campuses, with Selection Based on Individual Medal Scores, Reinforcing Criteria and Expanding Academic Entry Opportunities.
USP opened free registrations from January 5 to 16 for 234 places destined for knowledge Olympiad medalists, distributed across more than 100 courses and seven campuses, with enrollment expected for the first semester of 2026.
Places, Criteria, and Distribution
The selection includes students awarded in the last two years in national or international Olympiads accepted by the University, provided they have completed high school in Brazilian schools or have recognized equivalent education. The places cover courses in São Paulo, Bauru, Lorena, Piracicaba, Pirassununga, Ribeirão Preto, and São Carlos.
Applications must be made through the Fuvest website and allow candidates to choose up to three courses, setting the order of priority. Classifications will be based on a score that exclusively considers individual medals. Bronze medals guarantee 1 point in national competitions and 4 in international ones, while silver medals are worth 2 points in national awards and 5 internationally. Gold medals earn 3 points in national events and 6 in international ones.
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Evaluation of Competitions and Interdisciplinary Nature
The Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Marcos Garcia Neira, states that USP’s experience with these places has been positive and motivated the expansion of the offer, demonstrating the academic units’ confidence in the initiative. He explains that the University created a committee linked to the Undergraduate Council to thoroughly evaluate the credibility and organization of each competition considered.
Neira emphasizes that the proposal allows medalists to compete for any course, regardless of the area of the Olympiad in which they were awarded. For him, the rule seeks to value merit, reasoning, and intellectual effort of the participants, avoiding mandatory linkage between the medal and the field of study.
Available Courses and Other Entry Options
The opportunities encompass areas of exact sciences, humanities, and biological sciences. Among the options are Production Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, Administration, Social Sciences, Architecture, Design, Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences.
Entry through knowledge Olympiads integrates the four forms of access to undergraduate studies at USP, alongside the Fuvest entrance exam, Enem-USP, and the Prova Paulista Seriada. For 2026, in addition to the 234 places reserved for medalists, USP will provide another 11,147 places through other selection processes.
Approved candidates must follow the registration guidelines, upcoming calls, and the complete announcement directly on the Fuvest website, which gathers information about accepted competitions, minimum scores, and the distribution of places by courses and campuses.
Accounts of Students Who Have Already Enrolled
Alexandre Andrade de Almeida enrolled in Medicine this year after accumulating about 100 medals throughout his schooling. He assesses that the Olympiads helped develop skills such as teamwork, experimental practice, and efficient studying.
The student won 17 gold and silver medals between 2023 and 2024 in Olympiads such as the International Biology Olympiad and Brazilian competitions in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Science, Mathematics, and Robotics. Alexandre reports that his interest in sciences started early and that encouragement from teachers and family motivated him to intensify his participation after learning about the announcement of the Olympic places.
Rafaela Silva Duarte’s Journey
Rafaela Silva Duarte enrolled in the Chemistry course in 2025 with gold and bronze medals in the National Science Olympiad and participation in Brazilian Olympiads in Physics and Biology. She states that she participated in competitions for personal satisfaction and the opportunity to study in different ways.
Rafaela started her journey in elementary school with challenges such as Kangaroo, OBA, OBMEP, and OBR, expanding her participation in high school with school support. For her, the interaction and interdisciplinary nature of the tests were decisive, reinforcing that dedication and curiosity make possible entry through these places.
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