Its history began in the city of Rio Grande, but it also currently operates in Santo Antônio da Patrulha, São Lourenço do Sul and Santa Vitória do Palmar. Based on a collaborative approach, the university views itself as a place for everyone, and it seeks to provide an egalitarian environment for students. According to the university, FURG offers the first degree on oceanology in Brazil. The emphasis on data sciences and automation, together with the work of its technology park OCEANTEC and its business incubator INNOVATIO, earned it the first position among entrepreneurial universities in Rio Grande do Sul and the twelfth in the country in the Entrepreneurial Universities Ranking 2021.

The Carreiros district in the middle of the town. The beach and the city center are approximately 10 km away, respectively.

The university is served by municipal public transport. Buses depart from the city center approximately every thirty minutes. Lines running to the university are named FURG.

As it is a federal public university, no fees are charged.

Students enroll in FURG courses through the Unified Selection System (SISU) of the Ministry of Education. Students who took the National Secondary Education Examination (ENEM) in 2022 can apply.