Graduate programs in Brazil, despite existing for less than 50 years, have helped to ensure for Brazil an active scientifi c role in the world context. The Graduate Program in Environmental Technology and Water Resources (PTARH) at the University of Brasilia, initiated in 1995, had graduated 114 master and 4 doctoral students by September, 2008, thereby helping to consolidate the qualifi cation of scientists and professionals in the Central-West region of Brazil. This article seeks to compare the PTARH program with other graduate programs in the country, as well as to provide a profi le of its student body. In order to achieve this, data from the Program and from the Capes website were analyzed. It is hoped that the study will provide elements that can contribute to the evaluation of graduate programs in the context of environmental and sanitary engineering education in the country.