Details

• Portugal
• MAEXINT-24
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Be prepared to complete a lot of paperwork during the application process, and pay close attention to all deadlines. It is highly recommended to submit documents as early as possible instead of waiting until the last minute, as the process includes several steps and missing deadlines can cause unnecessary stress. Start searching for accommodation early, as the housing market in Lisbon is very competitive. Also, be very careful which platforms and websites you use, since there are many scams. Only book accommodation through trusted providers and always verify the legitimacy of offers before paying anything. In addition, I strongly recommend arriving a few days before lectures start and joining the Discovery Week / orientation activities. It is a great opportunity to meet other exchange students, learn how the university system works.

2. Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Lisbon can be extremely stressful. The demand is very high, prices are expensive, and there are many scams online, which makes the process even more challenging. Because of this, I decided to choose the safest and most reliable option and booked a student dorm. I stayed in the student residence Milestone. I chose the Milestone residence in the city (Olaias) rather than the one in Carcavelos. The dorm opened in September 2025, so everything was completely new, which was a big advantage. The location in Olaias felt safe and secure. While it is quite far from Nova SBE, I got used to the commute quickly. It took me around 1.5 hours to reach the university. However, this was not a major issue for me, since I only had lectures 2–3 times per week.

3. Academic life at host university

I was very happy with Nova SBE. The university has an excellent campus infrastructure and a very well-organized system. The campus is modern, well-equipped, and offers a great overall learning environment. A unique highlight is the location: the campus is only around 3 minutes from the beach, which creates an amazing atmosphere. There is also a very strong surfing culture, which was a very special and enjoyable part of the experience. Nova SBE is highly international, which makes it easy to meet people from many different countries and creates a diverse academic environment. The professors were very friendly, supportive, and approachable, and they were always willing to help students when needed. Compared to WU Vienna, the course structure at Nova SBE is slightly different. In almost every course, the grading was based on a combination of: a group project, an individual assignment, a final exam. The courses were not extremely difficult in terms of content, but the workload was quite high, mainly because the group projects were usually very large and time-consuming.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Lisbon is affordable and easy to use. A monthly transport pass costs around 40€ per month. However, for students under 24, public transport can be free of charge (0€). The only downside is that the administrative process of obtaining the free student transport card can take quite a long time. Lisbon offers variety of activities and events. There are always things happening, and it is very easy to find something to do every day. The city is lively and never boring, with something for everyone.

6. Testimonial

I am very happy that I chose Lisbon as my exchange city and Nova SBE as my host university. The four months I spent there were filled with unforgettable moments and new experiences. Living in a student dorm allowed me to meet many international exchange students who quickly became close friends, and one of my personal highlights was learning how to surf — I even had surf lessons in December, which was a truly unique experience. Portugal is an incredibly beautiful country, and the people are very warm and welcoming. This made it even more special to explore Portugal beyond Lisbon and discover different regions and cities such as Porto, Algarve, Madeira and the Azores. I feel very grateful for everything I experienced during this semester abroad. For future outgoing students going to Nova SBE, I would highly recommend staying in Lisbon city, as it is vibrant, beautiful, and there is always something happening. Since a four-month semester passes very quickly, I would also suggest planning enough time to travel and explore the country as much as possible — Portugal has so much to offer, and it would be a shame not to use the opportunity to see it yourself:))