Details

• Portugal
• MASIMC-17
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

For the application process at WU, the most important thing is to keep an eye on all deadlines and make sure you submit everything on time. When writing your motivation letter, be clear about why your first-choice university is your top choice and how you see yourself fitting into the academic and social environment there; try to be authentic. In terms of preparation for the semester abroad, it really pays off to start looking for accommodation as early as possible, since good and affordable places get booked quickly. The same goes for flights: booking early is usually much cheaper and saves you unnecessary stress later on.

2. Accommodation

For accommodation, common platforms to find apartments are Spotahome, Idealista, and Uniplaces. I lived in a shared apartment with two other SIMCies that we booked via Spotahome, which worked out well overall. The location was near Sete Rios, which is not the most charming or “typical Lisbon” area, but it felt very safe and was still well connected to the city via the blue metro line. Door-to-door, my commute to the university took around one hour, which is quite normal if you live in Lisbon and not in Carcavelos, but if you have the choice, living closer to the green line or in areas like Cais do Sodré or Santos can make your daily commute shorter. Some students also decide to live in Carcavelos instead of Lisbon; if you are planning to surf a lot and want a short commmute, this might be a good option. Nevertheless, I would overall recommend living in Lisbon city for your exchange, as most of the Erasmus life happens there. In general, I would recommend starting your apartment search early, as good places get booked quite quickly and your options become limited or very expensive. Also, try to live near a metro line, as buses and other forms of public transport can be rather unreliable.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus infrastructure at NOVA is very good and quite comparable to WU. The campus is completely new, and one of the highlights is definitely that it is only a five-minute walk from the beach, where you can go surfing, play beach volleyball, or just relax, which is especially nice during summer and early fall (up until around mid-November, when it started to get colder and more rainy). Academically, many courses are based heavily on group work, which often makes up around 50% of the final grade, and there is usually also a final exam. The workload depends strongly on the course, with finance-related courses typically having a slightly higher workload, but overall it is comparable to WU. Some group projects can become intense, so it is highly advisable to join a motivated group in order to keep the individual workload manageable, especially if you plan to take finance courses. The teaching style felt somewhat less engaging compared to WU, with fewer in-class discussions, but this also strongly depends on the specific course and lecturer.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Lisbon is generally very reliable when it comes to the metro, while buses are not always as punctual. You can get a Navegante card for around 40€ per month for the whole metropolitan area or about 30€ if you only need it for Lisbon city. If you are 23 or younger, you can even get the pass for free, but for that you need a NIF (Portuguese tax ID). In addition, Uber and Bolt are very cheap, so you will probably use them quite often, especially when going out at night. In terms of safety, Lisbon feels very safe overall, but areas like Martim Moniz can feel a bit sketchy at night. There are also some pickpockets, particularly in Bairro Alto during busy nights, so it is good to stay aware of your belongings. Apart from that, everyday life in Lisbon is great, as the city has a lot to offer. There are tons of amazing cafés, bars, and restaurants, and the miradouros (viewpoints) are especially popular for watching sunsets and having a drink with friends. For going out, Bairro Alto is always a fun option, and there are also many events and festivals, particularly at the beginning of the semester. Renting cars in Portugal is also very cheap (around 15€ per day), which makes it easy to do day trips or weekend trips. Moreover, flights to Madeira and the Azores are also quite affordable, so I would definitely recommend visiting these places. In terms of sports, surfing is obviously very popular, and there are also many padel courts available.

6. Testimonial

I really liked my exchange semester in Lisbon. The city has so much to offer, and there’s always something to do or explore. What made it especially great was the combination of living in a beautiful, lively city and studying at a modern campus right by the beach. Being able to surf and enjoy the good weather was a huge plus, especially during the warmer months. Portugal itself is also an amazing country, with many great places to explore beyond Lisbon, such as Nazaré, the Algarve, and Madeira. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I would definitely recommend choosing Lisbon and NOVA for an exchange.