CAPES was born from a national campaign carried out in 1951, which aimed to improve higher education personnel. The mission would be carried out by a Commission, established by Decree 29,741/51, of 07/11/1951, composed of representatives from different government bodies and private entities. Its president was the then Minister of Education and Health, Ernesto Simões Filho, accompanied by his general secretary, professor Anísio Spínola Teixeira.
In 1952, CAPES officially began its work, evaluating requests for aid and scholarships. In 1953, 54 scholarships were awarded and in 1954, 194. In 1961, CAPES became directly subordinate to the Presidency of the Republic and remained there until 1964, when it returned to the administration of the Ministry of Education and Culture – MEC – under new management and in the Coordination condition. The following year, 38 stricto sensu courses , 27 master's degrees and 11 doctorates, were offered in the country.
CAPES reinforces characteristics that have contributed to the institutionalization of postgraduate studies and its public recognition:
-It operates with the involvement of teachers and researchers,
-It operates on several fronts, diversifying support and programs, in line with the development of Brazilian postgraduate studies and the new demands that this development requires;
-It maintains its commitment to supporting innovative actions, with a view to the continuous improvement of academic training.
CAPES activities are grouped into the following lines of action, each developed by a structured set of programs:
-evaluation of stricto sensu postgraduate studies ;
-access and dissemination of scientific production;
-investments in training high-level personnel, in the country and abroad;
-promoting international scientific cooperation;
-induction and promotion of initial and continuing teacher training for basic education in face-to-face and distance learning formats.
The evaluation system serves as an instrument for the university community in the search for a standard of academic excellence for national master's and doctorate degrees. The evaluation results serve as a basis for formulating policies for the postgraduate area, as well as for sizing development actions (scholarships, grants, support).
