Details

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

1. Preparation

I don't have any specific tips for the application. The only tip would maybe be to not stress about the Learning Agreement/course choices. From my own experiences, the courses at ULisboa changed significantly and it is possible to switch courses for a certain period of time once you are in Lisbon.

2. Accommodation

I have had the luck that a friend of mine referred me to a housing company. I stayed in a shared apartment with six other people and paid 720 EUR. I stayed with ViVHousing Company and had good experiences with their service (communication, payments, made an effort to repair things, etc). However, the state of the apartment was rather bad. The housing situation in Lisbon is quite chaotic and a lot of apartments are in a bad state or the owners are strict/complicated. Average prices range from 550-750 EUR/month for a room in a shared flat I would say. I stayed in proximity to Arroios station (Green Metro Line) and I loved the area. Except for the Martim Moniz area, I think Lisbon is pretty safe.

3. Academic life at host university

The Law Faculty of Ulisboa has three cafés and the uni canteen is close as well. I felt that the University was way more family-like and personal than WU. The teaching style varies. I had very good experiences with two portuguese professors, however the Intensive Courses, which are held mostly by foreign professors, were rather a monologue and not very interactive.

5. Every day life in the host country

Metro is very reliable, buses not so much, but it is still possible to get around with them. The metro card is 40 EUR per month if you older than 23. In my free time I went mainly surfing in Carcavelos. Lisbon Surf Camp has a progression group and this is a really good way to get into surfing regularly.

6. Testimonial

Overall I loved my exchange experience and I would 100% do it again. It is a great way to experience other cultures and to get in touch with people from different countries and backgrounds. Even if it sometimes requires stepping out of your comfort zone, it is totally worth it.