Number of graduate degrees falls during the pandemic in Brazil

The number of master’s and doctoral degrees awarded in Brazil fell during the pandemic, interrupting the growth trajectories seen in recent years. But although Covid may have disrupted or delayed some applicants’ plans for further study, the main cause for the recent drop is the lack of investment in the sector and the general lack of coordination by responsible state entities. 

What the data shows. Using information from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) up to 2020, the last year with available data, the number of both master’s and Ph.D. holders suffered a significant drop compared to 2019.

• The number of master’s degrees fell by 15 percent in 2020, while doctoral degrees were down 18 percent, from 24,442 to 20,066.
• The number of Ph.Ds granted fell across the board: numbers were down across all regions in the country – highest in the North (down 23 percent) – and in all areas of...