The Federal University of Ouro Preto (Portuguese: Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, UFOP) was established on August 21, 1969 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. It resulted from the merger of two century-old higher education institutions: the School of Pharmacy of Ouro Preto, founded in 1839, and the School of Mines of Ouro Preto, founded in 1876. Today is one of the most important universities of Minas Gerais and also Brazil. The university is taken as a reference throughout the country by the School of Pharmacy and Engineering.
The Pharmacy School in Ouro Preto was created from the law 140 in 1839. The law was sanctioned by Jacinto Bernardo da Veiga, President of the Province of Minas Gerais. It began the pharmaceutical education in Brazil, which did not exist in colonial times.
In 1876, another institution was created in Ouro Preto: The School of Mines. It was officially inaugurated on October 12, 1876, at the request of Emperor Dom Pedro II. Its founder, Claude-Henri Gorceix scientist, described the city of Ouro Preto as the land on which they could follow the almost complete series of metamorphic rocks which form a large part of the Brazilian territory. Moreover, it said that all around the city lent themselves to useful and interesting mineralogical excursions.
On August 21, 1969, the Federal Government has incorporated the two schools located in the city, establishing the Federal University of Ouro Preto as a foundation of public law. Since then, the university has expanded with the creation of new courses in Arts, Humanities, Science and Technology areas.
Students UFOP have at their disposal a peculiar form of home, a model that is not seen anywhere else in Brazil. The large majority of "federal" republics (REFOP) and private (Private Homes) from the city of Ouro Preto establish a system of selection of new residents known as "The Battle".
"The Battle" consists of an evaluation period which each candidates prove[clarification needed] their responsibility to the republic. This is necessary because the houses do not have the characteristics of a property and the university would have a very high cost to maintain them. Because of this, the residents agreed with the university's autonomy of choice for residents in return for giving flawless maintenance of the property belonging to it.
