Universidade Federal da Bahia

The Universidade Federal da Bahia (Federal University of Bahia, or UFBA) is a public university located mainly in the city of Salvador. It is the largest university of the state of Bahia. Students can study there without paying tuition fees, as it is a public university. To join the university they must pass an annual examination, known as the "vestibular".

UFBA was created on April 8, 1946, through Decree-Law 9155. Earlier, the Federal University of Bahia was formed by the School of Medicine and their associated schools, Dentistry and Pharmacy, and the schools of Philosophy, Economics, Law beyond the Polytechnic School. The actual installation of the university took place on July 2, 1946, the oldest center of higher education in the country, the School of Medicine at the Shrine of Jesus.

Four years later, the Federal University of Bahia was federalized. On December 4, 1950, the government enacted the 2234 law setting theFederal System of Higher Education. Since then, the university has been called the Federal University of Bahia. The history of higher education in the state dates back to 1808 when, for determination of the Portuguese court, the first school of medical education in the country was established: the Medical School of Bahia.