Industrial and Systems Engineering Abroad

Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), Brazil

Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) is a private, not-for-profit university with a high percentage of students from different countries and a strong support infrastructure for international students. The main campus is located in Curitiba, capital city of the State of Parana, Brazil. The low cost of living, excellent public transportation, exquisite beaches and a vibrant metropolitan atmosphere in Curitiba - all while studying engineering - make PUCPR an outstanding university to earn academic credits toward the ISE degree while abroad!

Location: Curitiba, State of Parana, Brazil. 

Program Term: Academic Year, Spring, Fall

Application Deadlines: 

• Academic Year: September 15, 2025
• Spring: February 15, 2026
• Fall: February 15, 2026

Language of Instruction: Portuguese

Language Requirement Good Portuguese language skills are necessary since classes are taught in Portuguese. Completion of PORT 1106 at VT or equivalent before departure is recommended. In addition to VT academic courses, students can learn Portuguese using VT Library resources, including Rosetta Stone. Free tutoring can also be arranged. Exchange students learn the language basics fairly quickly using these resources, particularly if they had studied Spanish before. Students may choose to participate in a language immersion program approximately one month before the start of the semester to spend that time studying Portuguese and acclimating to the university and local community. All students participate in an international student orientation, and based on their level of Portuguese proficiency, will be placed into a mandatory Portuguese language course.

Program Cost: Virginia Tech tuition, travel, housing and food. The cost of living in Brazil is low compared to the U.S. and many European countries. Students can apply for scholarships through University Financial Aid and Scholarships (Scholarship Central), Global Education Office , and submitting an ISE Study Abroad Scholarship Application.

Transfer Credit: Courses that have been approved to transfer to VT from PUCPR include:

• ISE 2024 Probability Foundations for ISE
• ISE 3214 Facilities Planning & Material Handling
• ISE 3424 Discrete-Event Comp. Simulation
• ISE 3624 Human Factors Eng. & Ergonomics
• ISE 4204 Production Planning & Inventory Control
• ISE 4404 Statistical Quality Control
• ISE 4424 Logistics Engineering
• STAT 4706 Probability & Statistics for Engine.

Note: The ISE Department participates in student exchange agreements with the Pontifical Catholic University in Brazil. ISE students take pre-approved industrial engineering courses that will transfer back to VT to meet BSISE degree requirements.

Contact: Tess Waldrop Dunn, tessadunn@vt.edu

VT Partner Program: The GREEN Program

THE GREEN PROGRAM (TGP) is a VT partner that offers short-term, sustainability-focused study abroad experiences connected with the Green Engineering Minor at VT.  However, you do not need to pursue a Green Engineering Minor to enroll in this program! Participation in this program allows you to enroll in a Special Study course to earn academic credit at Virginia Tech, which is approved for a Technical Elective requirement in the ISE major. Please watch this video to learn about TGP.

Credits toward Minors for Business, Finance, or International Business

Note: ISE Students pursuing a Pamplin College of Business minor will earn credit towards those minors through one of the Pamplin College of Business Study Abroad Programs. 

Contacts: Drs. Sean  McGinnis, smcginn@vt.edu, or Nicole Sanderlin, npsander@vt.edu