The first university in the USA to accept students without discrimination based on religion, Brown University is one of the oldest and most traditional in the country. It is also one of the most selective: only around 7% of candidates who applied to the class that began in mid-2019 at Brown University were approved.
But as is often the case with selective institutions, it also promotes excellence among its students. Eight Nobel Prize winners have passed through the universities, as well as countless prominent artists, researchers and executives. Check out everything you need to know about Brown University below!
History of Brown University
Located in the historic city of Providence in the smallest US state (Rhode Island), Brown University was founded in 1764. This makes it the seventh oldest college in the United States. It is also a member of the Ivy League , an association of the eight most prestigious higher education institutions in the country.
The institution’s name comes from the Brown family, who were essential in the university’s early years. Moses Brown, Nicholas Brown Junior and other family members were the ones who established the institution in the city of Providence. They also helped to create and maintain the institution’s endowment fund (a fund of assets donated by the institution’s alumni).
In 1969, the university adopted a series of measures to modernize its teaching methods. Since that year, the institution has been dedicated to offering mostly courses with interdisciplinary focuses and assessment methods that are not tied to traditional grades.
Brown University in numbers
In its student body, the university brings together a vibrant and diverse community, made up of around 6,700 undergraduate students , 2,600 postgraduate students and 580 medical students. There are around 10 thousand students in total , in addition to researchers, visiting professors and students of online courses.
According to university data, Brown students come from all 50 U.S. states and more than 60 countries. There are approximately 1,800 international students , which represents around 18% of the institution’s total students.
In international rankings of the best universities in the world, Brown also stands out:
- 53rd position in THE World Rankings 2020
- 57th place in QS Top Universities
- 84th place in the Academic Rankings of World Universities
Courses offered by Brown University
Undergraduate courses
The university offers more than 70 courses for its undergraduate students to obtain a bachelor’s degree. It is possible to study everything from Egyptian Archeology to neuroscience. The institution offers wide freedom to its students, who are responsible for setting up their course schedules. know more
Postgraduate courses
Brown University offers 51 doctoral programsand 32 master’s programs, distributed across schools such as Engineering and Public Health. The institution’s objective is to develop, apply and share knowledge.
Just like in undergraduate studies, postgraduate students can also “create” their own course, choosing some subjects and having the flexibility to participate in interdisciplinary research .
Non-degree studies
Brown University offers online courses open to students around the world. These are called “open non-degree courses”. In partnership with Coursera, the objective is to disseminate knowledge and understanding of disciplines from the most diverse areas. Check it out here!
Selection process for Brown University
Graduation
In addition to the traditional admission process (passing tests such as SAT , Toefl or IELTS , letters of recommendation , essays, among others), students who intend to apply to Brown University must keep some information in mind:
- If you get an SAT score above 650, you do not need to take any English proficiency test;
- The acceptance rate is around 7%
- 15% of approved students are international
- The university uses the Common Application websitefor your selection process
- Students interested in studying engineering, chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics and physics must enter more detailed information about their profile in a specific field
- The university offers an admissions guide
Postgraduate
Prospective students are advised to consult with department chairs to be educated on the specific requirements for the program of interest. After all, deadlines vary from sector to sector. Additionally, those interested in applying for a master’s or doctoral degree at Brown University are required to demonstrate proficiency in English. This can be done, for example, through tests such as the TOEFL .
The university also requires international students to take the GRE , with cutoffs varying by department. It is also necessary to present personal statements , letters of recommendation and academic records from previous courses. To learn more, click here.
Brown University Costs
Life in Rhode Island is more affordable than cities like Boston or New York , to begin with. However, this does not mean that studying at Brown is cheap.
The university estimates that a student spends, on average, $2,000 per month, including renting a room, food, transportation, books and personal expenses. Other than that, students must also cover the annual fee, which for the 2017-2018 academic year was US$52,231.
Although the institution has a need-blind admissions policy for U.S. students, according to its website, for international students this does not happen again. Students who are residents of the United States may apply regardless of financial need; International students must demonstrate that they can only pursue their studies there with the support of scholarships, and this is taken into account in the selection process.
However, according to the institution, 100% of the financial need demonstrated by students admitted to each cycle is offered by the institution. In other words: if you declare financial need and are accepted, it is extremely likely that your studies will be paid for by the university itself.
Financial Aid at Brown University
Several institutions offer scholarships for those who want to study abroad. CAPES scholarships, from CNPq and FAPESP are included on the list, in the case of Brazilian students. For those interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree at Brown University, the good news is that the institution offers financial aid based on each student’s needs.
Postgraduate candidates can use the “financial support” offered according to each department, whether merit-based or low-income scholarships. It is also important to highlight that Brown University itself offers several research internships so that students – even undergraduates – can earn extra income to pay for their studies
Curiosities
- The first women admitted to Brown University were the class of 1891.
- The university currently has 230 buildings.
- Every year since 1960, students have gathered for a week for the so-called “Green College Concerts”, which are open-air spring concerts. Renowned musicians such as Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and REM have performed there.
- During Halloween, at midnight, students gather in one of the University’s Halls – called Sayles Hall – for an annual concert. With blankets and pillows in hand, students lie on the floor and listen to a university musician play a selection of haunting music on one of the only remaining Hutchings-Votey organs in the world.