Montes Claros is a city located in northern Minas Gerais state, in Brazil. It is located north of the state capital, about 422 km away from it. The population is 413,487 in an area of 3,569 km2 (1,378 sq mi). It was made a seat of a municipality in 1831 and attained city status in 1857.

The Federal University of Minas Gerais is a federal research university located in the state of Minas Gerais. Its main and biggest campus is located in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. It is one of Brazil's five largest and highest-ranked universities,. It offers 79 undergraduate education programs, upon completion of their curricular schedule the student is awarded either a bachelor's degree, a licenciate degree, or a professional title, all officialized by the issue of a university diploma. It also has 90 postgraduate education programs, awarding 30 postbaccalaureate specialization degrees, 92 master's degrees, and 72 doctoral degrees, as well as 41 medical residency programs offered at UFMG's hospital facilities complexes. The university also has campi at Tiradentes and Montes Claros. Most courses, however, are taught at the main campus, located in the Pampulha district of Belo Horizonte.