Details

• Portugal
• MACEMS-25
• Graduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

Before the semester started, we received information at our Nova email addresses about the course registration process for all courses, including a team call where we could ask any questions we had. That really helped. At first, it was a little confusing and stressful figuring out the best way to go about registering for courses, but in the end, everything worked out great and I got all the courses I wanted.

2. Accommodation

I found my room in a 5-person shared apartment on Spotahome. It was right next to the “Arroios” Green Line station, which is the only metro line that goes all the way down to Cais do Sodré. That’s also where the train to Nova SBE departs from. I’d say that Arroios wasn’t the nicest neighborhood, but you can get to the city center and the waterfront quickly. If I had to look for a room again, I’d primarily look in Santos, because it’s still in Lisbon and the trip to Nova is significantly shorter than if you have to take the metro to a train station first.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is a 10/10 (despite the long commute from Lisbon). It’s very modern and clean. Like WU, Nova also has a supermarket on campus. Of course, the biggest plus is its proximity to the beach—just walk through a tunnel and you’ve got your feet in the sand. Academically speaking, there are half-semester courses and courses that run the entire semester. So the semester is divided into two parts by the midterm exams. I have to say that I took some of the most exciting courses of my academic career so far there, since the professors are truly engaging. I can definitely recommend “Geoeconomics and International Relations,” which is taught by Portugal’s former Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs. “Private Equity” was also very interesting. However, that course does require some prior knowledge of corporate finance. I didn’t have that background, but I still learned an enormous amount there, even though my grade suffered a bit as a result.

5. Every day life in the host country

If you’re 23 or younger, you can use public transportation for free. To do so, you’ll have to navigate the Portuguese bureaucracy and apply for a NIF. With this NIF, you can then get a Navegante Card at a ticket office. Overall, I felt pretty safe, although I was actually robbed in Bairro Alto during my last week in Lisbon. That’s why I’d recommend never walking alone through the small side streets in that neighborhood at night. I’ve also heard about a few pickpocketing incidents in Martim Moniz. As for sports and leisure, there’s Vivagym, which for about €35 offers gyms in most neighborhoods as well as on the Nova Campus. There are also many outdoor events with DJs, such as Beca Beca. If you’re going to Lisbon for the summer semester and your semester officially ends in May, I’d recommend staying a little longer into June to experience Santos Populares. Throughout the entire month of June, there are street festivals in various neighborhoods, and it feels like all of Lisbon is celebrating.

6. Testimonial

It was truly a great experience. The combination of a lively city, the ocean right on your doorstep, and a good university makes Lisbon a top destination for exchange students. Immersing yourself in Portuguese culture gives you a different perspective on some things, which can be extremely valuable.