Details

• Portugal
• MAMark-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

If you are 23 or younger and want to take advantage of the free public transport ticket you can make your NIF appointment online before arrival in Lisbon to avoid long waiting times. Other than that no specific preparation is needed.

2. Accommodation

Start looking early, there is a lot of students in Lisbon. I grouped up with 3 other students from WU and we searched for a flat to rent together. We found one through uniplaces in February already. We lived by the Alameda metro station. It is around 30 minutes by public transport away from campus but you need to include some buffer because there often are some delays. The area is safe and well connected to both the city center and travel opportunities such as the airport and the main long distance bus terminal.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is much older than WU and also does not compare in terms of style and functionality. It is much smaller so there also aren't that many food options. On campus you just have the uni cantine and cafetaria. Most professors are quite engaged and participation is always part of the grade which can lead to lively classes and discussions.

5. Every day life in the host country

If you are under 23 and get the NIF (portuguest tax id) public transport is for free and connects you well through the city. While the metro is mostly reliable, busses run on their own schedule and can have big delays. There are also trains going to the beaches around Lisbon and other areas like Sintra. Overall the city is very safe. I'd just advise to avoid the Martim Moniz area at night since there are many homeless people. There is plenty of social events and sports options throughout the city. Everybody can find something that suits them.

6. Testimonial

My favorite part about living in Lisbon was exploring the city itself and also other parts of the Portugal. It's a beautiful country and there are endless options for trips to take. Since rental cars are very cheap (usually around 10-20€ per day) we took advantage of that quite often.