ABOUT UFBA

Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA) is a Brazilian public higher education institution under the Ministry of Education. It is considered the largest and most important university in the state of Bahia, and it is among the best in Brazil. Its main campus is in Salvador, and there are two other campuses in Vitória da Conquista and Camaçari. The university offers 101 under-graduate and 143 graduate courses.

 

Universidade Federal da Bahia –The first university in Brazil

Universidade Federal da Bahia begins in February 18, 1808, when the Prince Regent Dom João VI established the School of Surgery of Bahia, the first university course in Brazil. Still in the 19th century, it incorporated courses in Pharmacy (1832) and Dentistry (1864), the Academy of Fine Arts (1877), Law (1891) and Polytechnic (1896). In the 20th century, Isaías Alves created the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters (1941).  

 

The founder of UFBA - The first rector of the University, Edgard Santos, was an outstanding figure in the history of higher education. He was born in Salvador in 1894, graduated in Medicine and specialized in surgery in São Paulo. Upon returning, he joined the Chair of Pathology and Surgery, and headed the Scool of Medicine. During his 15 years as Rector (1946-1961), he implemented the physical and personnel infrastructure of the institution, writing the first chapter of an integrated university: Arts, Letters, Humanities and Sciences. In the first year of his rectorate, the University of Bahia was formally constituted. In 1950, it became the Federal University of Bahia, integrating isolated schools and implementing other courses. In the fifteen years under the leadership of Edgard Santos, UFBA flourished in the areas of Arts, Humanities and Health.  For Bahia, Edgard Santos brought names from the international scene; built the University Hospital; created the Center for Afro-Oriental Studies, and three campuses – Canela, Federação and Ondina campuses. Due to his efforts, Bahia gained prominence, with emphasis on Dance, Music and Theater, the first university courses of its kind in the country. In the 1960s, UFBA was the foundation for two important phenomena of contemporary culture: Cinema Novo and Tropicalism. The Institution grew, modernized, maintaining the identity of the Edgard Santos days.

 

Organization Chart