Rio de Janeiro State University

Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ; ) is a public research university in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the country. The university's law and medical schools are among the best in the nation (according to the Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes ranking and the Order of Attorneys of Brazil). Its Biology, Social Science, Nursing and Philosophy courses are also highly praised, as stated by Guia do Estudante. U.S. News & World Report elected UERJ as the 5th best university in Brazil, the 11th best university in Latin America and 464th in the world. Its main campus is called Francisco Negrão de Lima and is located in the Maracanã neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro city. Other campuses are located in Petrópolis, Nova Friburgo (Polytechnic Institute), Teresópolis, Duque de Caxias, Angra dos Reis, Resende, and São Gonçalo. History The university was founded on December 4, 1950 as University of the Federal District (UDF). Due to political shifts, the university experienced various name changes. In 1961, after the Federal District was moved to Brasilia, it was renamed Guanabara State University (UEG). It was only in 1975 that the university received its current name, when the State of Guanabara merged with the old State of Rio de Janeiro to form a new State of Rio de Janeiro. The university's first four schools were the Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Economic Sciences, the Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Philosophy of the La-Fayette Institute, and the Faculty of Medical Sciences.