UnB Idiomas

What UnB Idiomas does

UnB Idiomas is the official language extension program of the Universidade de Brasília (UnB), a Brazilian federal public university, operating under the university's Department of Foreign Languages and Translation (LET). Founded in 2025, it delivers sequential language instruction across eight languages — German, Spanish, French, English, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Portuguese for Foreigners — to adult learners aged 18 and older. The program serves two principal segments: the internal UnB community (students, professors, and staff at differentiated pricing) and the external public in Brasília and beyond. Courses are structured in progressive modules from beginner to advanced levels and are delivered both in-person at the Darcy Ribeiro campus and remotely via Microsoft Teams.

The commercial product portfolio comprises tuition-based sequential courses, a free French extension program (FELF — Francês na Extensão) taught by supervised teaching interns from the Letras Francês licensing program, standardized reading proficiency exams (Exame de Competência Leitora) recognized for admission to UnB graduate programs, and a corporate solutions division. Revenue is generated through course tuition, exam registration fees (R$200–R$210 per exam), and ancillary fees such as R$50 per class-transfer request; specific revenue totals are not publicly disclosed. The technology stack is intentionally lightweight: Microsoft Teams for remote instruction, a proprietary student portal (sistema.unbidiomas.unb.br) for enrollment and administration, Tawk.to live chat, WhatsApp for service, and a gtranslate widget for site translation.

Distribution leans on the UnB campus infrastructure — including a newly inaugurated ~200m² classroom block with five air-conditioned rooms (March 2026) — supplemented by organic social channels (Instagram, WhatsApp) and live chat for student engagement. Strategic posture and governance are determined by UnB administration (Reitoria, Vice-Reitoria, LET department) and the Ministry of Education (MEC), and the program operates as a self-sustaining extension activity rather than a standalone commercial entity. No venture funding, M&A activity, or external private ownership is evidenced in the input data.

Name

UnB Idiomas

Legal name

UnB Idiomas

Website

https://unbidiomas.unb.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

UnB Idiomas is the official language extension program of the Universidade de Brasília, offering sequential courses in eight languages (including English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Japanese, and Portuguese for foreigners) to adult learners, UnB internal community members, and corporate clients in Brasília via in-person and Microsoft Teams remote delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (61163)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDANACAB

Academic Language Support (ESL/EFL for School & University)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Language Tutoring & Exam Prep

SECONDARYEDAIAEAK

Online-to-Offline Hybrid Language Immersion Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Language Schools & Immersion Programs

Keywords

• Foreign language courses
• University language programs
• Language education services
• Corporate language training
• Portuguese for foreigners

Headquarters

HQ city

Brasília

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Language Course Tuition: Revenue generated from language course fees charged to students. Different pricing applies for internal university community (students, professors, staff) versus external community. Courses are paid per module/level with installment payment options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

UnB Idiomas is the language extension program of the Universidade de Brasília (UnB), delivering sequential, level-based foreign language courses in German, Spanish, French, English, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Portuguese for Foreigners to adult learners (18+). It offers both in-person classes at the Darcy Ribeiro Campus in Brasília and remote classes via Microsoft Teams, manages enrollments through its own student portal, and runs supplemental programs including a free French extension course (FELF) taught by supervised teaching interns and a reading proficiency exam used for graduate admission.

Product overview

UnB Idiomas is a language learning center at the University of Brasília offering a portfolio of sequential language courses and programs. The core offerings include regular sequential courses in German, Spanish, French, English, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Portuguese for Foreigners, each organized in progressive modules/levels with associated textbooks. Supporting products include the FELF free French extension program for teacher training, reading proficiency exams (Exame de Competência Leitora) for graduate admission, and a corporate solutions division. The institution also maintains a student portal for enrollment and academic management, with courses available in both remote (online) and in-person formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Courses Sequential English language courses organized in 15 modules/levels including Basic, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced, and Advanced Conversation, plus a specialized Melhor Idade (seniors) track. Delivered in-person and remotely to adult learners, including reduced rates for the UnB community.
• Spanish Courses Spanish language courses offered as part of the regular sequential program, available in both remote and in-person formats for adult learners.
• French Courses French language courses offered as part of the regular sequential program, available in both remote and in-person formats for adult learners.
• German Courses German language courses offered as part of the regular sequential program for adult learners.
• Italian Courses Sequential Italian courses organized in 9 modules/levels (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced) using the Al Dente textbook series, for adult learners.
• Japanese Courses Sequential Japanese courses organized in 15 modules/levels (Basic through Advanced) using the Marugoto textbook series, for adult learners.
• Mandarin Courses Sequential Mandarin/Chinese courses organized in 12 modules/levels (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced) using the New Practical Chinese Reader textbook series, for adult learners.
• Português para Estrangeiros (Portuguese for Foreigners) Portuguese language courses for non-native speakers, organized in 8 modules/levels for speakers of languages such as English, Russian, and Japanese, and 6 modules/levels for Spanish speakers; includes thematic Conversation and Culture courses, with a 48-hour course load per level.
• FELF - Francês na Extensão (French in Extension Program) Free French language courses offered as part of the Permanent Extension Program, taught by undergraduate teaching interns under academic supervision; open to the UnB community and external participants aged 18+.
• Exame de Competência Leitora (Reading Proficiency Exam) Standardized reading proficiency exam available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian, used to certify reading proficiency for admission to UnB graduate programs; registration fee of R$210 (Edital 1.2026) and R$200 (Edital 2.2025).
• Corporate Solutions (Soluções Corporativas) Corporate language training solutions for businesses and organizations, leveraging the UnB Idiomas faculty and curriculum to deliver tailored foreign language instruction to company clients.

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Universidade de Brasília (UnB)flagshipOthersUnB Idiomas is the official language program of the Universidade de Brasília, operating under the Department of Foreign Languages and Translation (LET). The program leverages the university's academic infrastructure and is part of the institution's educational extension activities.
• Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução (LET)coreOthersThe Department of Foreign Languages and Translation (LET) of Universidade de Brasília oversees the FELF (Francês na Extensão) program. Teaching interns from the Letras Francês licensing program conduct classes under academic supervision as part of their mandatory supervised internship requirements.
• Ministry of Education (MEC)flagshipOthersRepresentatives from the Ministry of Education attended the inauguration ceremony of the new UnB Idiomas classroom block in March 2026, indicating official governmental support and recognition of the program's educational mission.
• Microsoft (Teams Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Teams is used as the official platform for conducting remote language classes, with tutorials provided to students for accessing online courses.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CCAA: One of the largest private English-language school chains in Brazil with hundreds of franchised units. Directly comparable as a multi-level adult language school targeting Brazilian learners, though UnB Idiomas is university-affiliated and CCAA is fully commercial.
• Fisk Centro de Ensino: Brazilian language school chain offering English, Spanish, and other languages through franchised units nationwide. Comparable multi-level curriculum and adult learner focus.
• PUC Languages (PUC Idiomas): Language school operated by Pontifícia Universidade Católica, offering courses similar to UnB Idiomas as a university extension program. Direct institutional analog: university-backed, multi-language, multi-level adult instruction.
• Cel.Lep Brasil: Brazilian language school chain with multi-level curricula and adult-focused instruction. Comparable on sequential modules and target learner profile.
• Instituto Cervantes Brasília: Official Spanish-language cultural and teaching institution present in Brasília. Direct peer in Spanish-language instruction for adults in the same local market, with similar cultural/academic positioning.
• Alliance Française Brasília: French cultural and language center serving the Brasília market where UnB Idiomas also operates. Both offer structured French courses with cultural programming and credentialed instruction, directly competing for French-language learners in the same city.
• CNA (Cultural Norte Americano): Major Brazilian English-language school chain with broad geographic coverage and similar sequential-level curriculum structure. Competes for the same adult-learner segment in Brasília and across Brazil.
• Wizard by Pearson: Brazilian language school franchise chain backed by Pearson, teaching English and Spanish across a national network. Comparable on multi-level adult language instruction and sequential pedagogy.
• International House Brazil: Globally affiliated English-language school operating in Brasília. Comparable adult language instruction model with international credentialing and progressive level structure, competing in the same local market.
• Cultura Inglesa: Traditional non-profit English language school network in Brazil with established brand recognition. Comparable on adult language instruction, multiple proficiency levels, and a cultural/educational positioning similar to a university-affiliated program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/unbidiomas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unbidiomas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UnB Idiomas