FIES Social: opportunity for CadÚnico registrants to enroll in college!

FIES Social is a very special new feature for 2023/2024 entrance exam candidates, as it expands the possibilities for student financing from the Federal Government.

And, if you've already tried to join FIES, but were unable to complete the application for income-related reasons, know that the new features introduced to the program may change your situation.

So, if you want to know more about FIES Social, keep reading!

What is FIES Social?

FIES is a Student Financing program that aims to expand higher education opportunities for the financially disadvantaged population.

This is because, through it, low-income students can finance a higher education course, depending on their ENEM score and payment possibilities.

However, when we talk about financing, there are some sensitive topics, which are: the applicant's payment potential and down payment amounts.

Even though the FIES payment options were advantageous due to the extended payment term and lower interest rates, these issues still took many people out of this “race for the opportunity of higher education.”

This occurred especially among the poorest segment of the population, who do not have down payments and, at times, cannot offer income or a credit profile as collateral.

FIES Social was created precisely to change this situation, as it allows those registered with CadÚnico to finance 100% of the course, and also reserves 50% of the places for this modality.

So, those who were previously left out of the competition now have the chance to turn things around and achieve their dream of higher education!

This may interest you: FIES; Student Fund, is it worth it? – I accepted.

Who is entitled to FIES Social?

Although the changes announced for FIES in 2024 will excite many college entrance exam candidates, it is important to note that these changes will not apply to all candidates.

This is because, as we explained, the FIES Social vacancies correspond to 50%, so the other half follows the same rules and possibilities.

To be eligible for FIES Social, you must meet the requirements, the main one being registration with CadÚnico.

In addition to this criterion, the candidate must also prove a per capita family income of up to ½ (half) the minimum wage, or R$ 706.00.

This clarifies that beneficiaries of programs such as Bolsa Família and Pé de Meia are entitled to this new quota, since the requirements for all programs are the same.

It is also worth mentioning that the candidate must meet the other requirements of the regular FIES, which you can check in the link below.

Click here to check the FIES requirements: Obtain FIES financing (www.gov.br).

See how the registration process works 

Registration for FIES Social is the same as for regular FIES, meaning candidates have two opportunities per year.

This is because, as we explained, FIES Social is not a different program, since it corresponds to 50% of the available vacancies, while the other half is offered normally.

In 2024, the registration process closed on March 15, so pre-selection for those on the waiting list runs until April 30.

However, it is important to note that this is only the first opening of the selection process, as another will take place around the middle of the year.

Therefore, keep an eye on FIES updates to keep up to date with openings and selection process results.

It is worth mentioning that, if you did not participate in the first process, you can still participate in the second, and to join FIES Social, you must register with CadÚnico.

What is the waiting list for FIES Social?

The waiting list is a resource used to store data on candidates who narrowly missed out on a place through the regular selection process.

This means that if there were, for example, 20 vacancies and you came in 22nd, it is very likely that you will be selected from the waiting list.

These vacancies usually come from withdrawals, disqualifications or even from candidates who did not show up for the FIES completion process.

In general, the waiting list period usually occurs a few weeks after the regular list deadline, so keep an eye on it.

It is worth mentioning that the waiting list applies to both FIES Social and regular FIES, but if you are applying for Social FIES, you should know that you will only get a place if the opportunity that arises corresponds to the 50% allocated to this quota.

However, you will receive information through your contact details, in addition to being able to check the results of each stage of the selection process on the FIES Participant Portal.

Finally, now that you're up to date with all the information about FIES Social, keep an eye out so you don't miss out on opportunities in 2024!

+Read also: FIES: And Changes in Higher Education – I Accepted.