The Federal University of Sergipe (UFS) has received authorization from Brazil's Ministry of Education (MEC) to offer a bachelor's degree in Law at its Professor Alberto Carvalho Campus in Itabaiana, with 50 authorized places per year in total. SERES/MEC Ordinance No. 541 was signed on October 21, 2026 and published in the Federal Official Gazette on October 22. UFS expects the course to begin in 2027, but authorization does not open applications or, by itself, establish an admissions timetable.
What has been authorized in Itabaiana
- Institution and degree: Federal University of Sergipe, bachelor's degree in Law, at the Itabaiana campus and the authorized teaching address.
- Places: 50 authorized places in total each year, not 50 applications already open.
- Location: Professor Alberto Carvalho Campus, Avenida Vereador Olímpio Grande, s/n, Centro, Itabaiana, Sergipe, Brazil.
- Document: SERES/MEC Ordinance No. 541 of October 21, 2026, published October 22, 2026, with e-MEC registration No. 202521121 in its annex.
- Start: 2027, according to the university's plan, without a specific first day of classes in the October 28, 2026 statement.
The ordinance is the regulatory act authorizing the course at the stated address. It does not replace admission rules, a selection notice listing available courses and places, or enrolment procedures. The ordinance also provides for a future application for course recognition, which is distinct from the initial authorization.
Why was the start moved to 2027?
UFS's University Council approved the creation of Law and Psychology degrees at the campus on July 25, 2025. At that point, the university expected to offer places through the Unified Selection System (Sisu) in 2026. On November 19, 2025, however, UFS announced that the planned start had been moved to 2027 because of external regulatory steps. For Law, the procedure includes an advisory opinion from the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB).
The October 28, 2026 announcement confirms authorization for Law and maintains 2027 as the expected launch year. This supersedes the earlier 2026 expectation. The 2025 news item must not be treated as a valid admissions notice for 2027.
How will applications and selection work?
Admission to the new places still requires a specific official announcement. UFS's October 28, 2026 statement gives no opening or closing application dates for Law in Itabaiana and does not confirm the 2027 selection notice, class shift, allocation of places, Enem exam-score criteria or enrolment steps. Sisu was mentioned in 2025 in connection with the original 2026 plan; that alone does not establish the rules or timetable for 2027.
UFS has already issued notices for other admission routes in the first academic term of 2027 (2027.1). For example, Notice No. 49/2026 from its Undergraduate Studies Office, announced on October 26, 2026, concerns unfilled places for applicants who already hold a degree. It is not the opening of general admissions for the 50 authorized annual places in the new Law program at Itabaiana.
What applicants should check
Those who wish to study Law tuition-free at UFS in Itabaiana should follow the university's and Undergraduate Studies Office's announcements. Once the relevant admission notice is released, applicants need to confirm that it explicitly lists Law, Itabaiana Campus and entry in 2027, as well as:
- the selection method and any use of Enem/Sisu;
- the number of places actually offered in that selection, application categories and criteria;
- application, results, document submission and enrolment dates;
- entry term, class shift and teaching calendar.
Status as of October 29, 2026: authorization published and a 2027 start planned. The specific sources reviewed do not contain an admission notice for the new Law places in Itabaiana. This article therefore cannot confirm an application deadline.
Sources and references
- UFS: October 28, 2026 announcement on the Law degree in Itabaiana
- SERES/MEC Ordinance No. 541/2026, consulted reproduction of the Federal Official Gazette
- UFS: July 25, 2025 council announcement with the original Sisu 2026 plan
- UFS: November 19, 2025 announcement moving the planned start to 2027
- UFS Undergraduate Studies Office: 2027.1 degree-holder selection for unfilled places, a separate process
