ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify the characteristics of violence in the context of the teaching and learning of the undergraduate Nursing course, from the perspective of students. Methods: quantitative, cross-sectional study, developed with 208 undergraduate students in Nursing. The data was obtained through the application of a survey questionnaire and processed by descriptive and bivariate statistics. Results: of the participants, 69.2% (n = 144) have experienced some kind of violence. Violent acts of a psychological nature were the most frequent, but there were also reports of physical, sexual violence and deprivation or abandonment. Violence was practiced in a theoretical and practical learning environment. Teachers and classmates were the most frequent perpetrators. Most students had no reaction, told friends, family, and colleagues, or pretended that nothing happened in the face of the violent acts. Conclusions: violence is present at various moments in the undergraduate Nursing course and can negatively impact the quality of training in the area.