Hayek Global College, an international higher education institution based in Brasília, has signed an agreement with George Mason University (GMU), located in the state of Virginia, near Washington, D.C., in the United States. The partnership expands the portfolio of foreign universities available to students enrolled in the American College 2+2 program, which offers undergraduate degrees with dual certification from Brazil and the United States.
Under Hayek’s 2+2 model, students complete their first two years in Brazil, following an American curriculum taught entirely in English, and then continue their final two years at a partner university in the U.S., such as George Mason University, Cumberland University, Kentucky State University, SUNY Alfred State, Fort Hays State University, among others. At the end of the program, students earn a bachelor’s degree in fields such as Computer Science, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Marketing, International Relations, Business, and related areas.
A leading university in the United States
George Mason University is the largest public research university in Virginia, with more than 40,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and 130 countries. Recognized for its academic rigor, cutting-edge research, and strong career preparation, the institution ranks among the top 50 public universities in the United States according to The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.
The university offers 132 undergraduate and graduate programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, in addition to more than 100 postgraduate certificate programs. Eight of these programs have been recognized as the best in the state of Virginia.
George Mason also stands out for its regional economic impact. According to a survey of recent graduates, 85% of alumni are employed in Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C. The institution ranks first among public universities in Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in salary outcomes, with 85% of the Class of 2024 reporting positive career outcomes within six months of graduation. In addition, it is ranked among the top five universities in Virginia for student experience, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Nobel Prize winners
George Mason University’s academic legacy also includes two Nobel Prize winners in Economics: James M. Buchanan (1986) and Vernon L. Smith (2002), both affiliated with the Department of Economics in the fields of public choice theory and experimental economics. Their contributions were instrumental in consolidating the university’s international reputation.
Partnership expands academic opportunities
For Edson Agatti, Executive Director of Hayek Global College, the agreement represents a strategic opportunity for Brazilian students seeking a structured international education from the very beginning of their academic journey.
“This partnership with George Mason University is yet another confirmation of the trust that American universities place in Hayek. George Mason is an institution recognized for its academic excellence and strong connection to innovation and the job market, and this agreement reinforces the solidity of our international education model for Brazilian students,” he says.
According to Agatti, the partnership includes automatic credit transfer from Hayek to George Mason. “I completed my master’s degree in Economics at George Mason University, and I can personally attest to the quality of education there. It is a university deeply connected to the job market, and Brazilian students who graduate from GMU gain a significant competitive advantage and are very well received by companies,” Agatti concludes.