Technology, Design and Architecture in Brazil

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Course Discipline:

  • Architecture
  • Design
  • Art

Credits: 3

Program Type: RIT Faculty-Led Program

Term(s): Spring/Summer

Language of Instruction: English

Level:

Undergraduate, Graduate

Open To:

RIT Students only

Technology, Design and Architecture in Brazil (Faculty-Led Program)

Explore Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, two of Brazil’s most inspiring creative cities.

Highlights:

  • Tour innovative studios, universities, and design firms focused on sustainability, biodesign, and emerging technologies.
  • Participate in a hands-on workshop at PUC-Rio and visit its Biodesign Lab.
  • Discover the modern architecture of Brasília, a UNESCO World Heritage city.
  • Create an original art or design project inspired by your time in Brazil.

Discover how art, design, technology, and culture come together in one of the world's most vibrant creative destinations. The program starts with a spring 2027 semester course in Rochester that introduces Brazil's vibrant artistic and cultural landscape, giving you the context and inspiration you'll carry into your immersive experience in Brazil in May.

During your first week in Rio de Janeiro, you'll visit iconic landmarks like Christ the Redeemer, explore the creative energy of Copacabana Beach, and meet professionals using design and technology to address real-world social and sustainability challenges. Visits to creative studios, a leading design consultancy, and PUC-Rio's Biodesign Lab will showcase innovation across architecture, design, accessibility, and emerging technologies.

In Brasília, a UNESCO World Heritage city renowned for its visionary architecture and urban planning, you'll explore the work of Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa while experiencing Brazilian culture through a week-long homestay. You'll also collaborate in a makerspace to develop ideas for your final creative project.

Throughout the program, you'll document your experiences and transform them into an original physical or digital artifact inspired by Brazil's culture, architecture, landscapes, or people. Whether you're studying design, illustration, fine art, architecture, or another creative field, you'll create your final project using the medium that best reflects your own artistic practice.

Upcoming Student Info. Meetings

  • Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, 10-11 am, Booth 4621
  • Friday, Oct. 2nd, 11 am-Noon, Zoom

Course Term: Spring course at RIT, travel to Brazil in May
Travel Dates: May 15-30, 2027 (estimated)
Credits: 3

Course Details:

  • IDEA 590/690: Travel Seminar

Students will be enrolled in a spring 2027 course at RIT and travel to Brazil in early summer.

No pre-requisites. Open to undergraduate majors, 2nd year and above, and graduate students, 2.5 cumulative GPA or above (students with a 3.2 GPA or above will be given priority)

Housing
You will stay in shared hotel rooms while in Rio de Janeiro. When in Brasilia, you will stay with a host family in a homestay.

Application deadline: Sunday, October 18th, 2026, 11:59 PM (EST)

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: A student budget worksheet outlining all program costs will be available in early September.

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

  • Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
  • Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting so they have time to prepare) 
    • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

  • RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
    All students with pending applications in the RIT Study Abroad Compass for this program will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, as determined by financial aid and your FAFSA on file.

  • Additional Scholarships
    RIT scholarships and national scholarships for study abroad are good options to explore for scholarship funding. Ensure you check scholarship eligibility requirements and note the scholarship deadlines. 

To Apply

1) Start an application in the Compass (RIT's study abroad application system)
Once you login to the Compass you will need to complete some profile/registration questions, then use the “Search Programs” tab to search for “Technology Design Brazil” to complete an application.

2) Watch this video, which goes over all important application steps for RIT Faculty-Led Programs

Contact

Lara Cardoso Goulart
Lecturer, School of Design
College of Art & Design
lcfaa@rit.edu