Details

• Portugal
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Think about why you really want to do an exchange semester. This will help you answer all of the questions in your interview. One thing to keep in mind before getting on a plane: A big hurdle is getting your NIF number. You need it for many things, such as opening a bank account, getting a phone number, and most importantly for the free transportation card. I highly recommend calling the Finanças office to make an appointment about a month before you arrive, as waiting times are very long. You usually need to try multiple times until they pick up, and they often do not want to speak English. It helps to have someone call with you, or to learn a few basic phrases and use AI to translate what they are saying in real time – get creative. This is the biggest administrative struggle for almost every student in Lisbon, and you will find many guides and recommendations online. Read them carefully.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation is the biggest question. Start looking well in advance (I booked my room in April for a start in September). Be aware of scams and use trusted platforms for booking (Uniplaces, Spotahome, Inlife, etc.). If you use WhatsApp groups to find an apartment (often cheaper), have someone check out the place for you. It is worth paying a student from an Erasmus or university group to make sure the place actually exists, is in a safe location (avoid Martim Moniz), and is as advertised. When it comes to where to live, you have two options. Either close to the campus (Carcavelos / Oeiras), with a walking time of under 20 minutes, or in Lisbon. Living in Lisbon usually means a total commute of about one hour if you choose a good location, either close to the train stations Santos or Cais do Sodré, or somewhere along the Green metro line. Whether you should live in Lisbon or close to NOVA depends on your personal preferences. If you want to go out more often and enjoy city life, Lisbon is the better choice. If you prefer a more relaxed lifestyle and spending time at the beach, it is better to find a place close to the campus.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus infrastructure at NOVA SBE is very modern and well organized. The campus is new, directly next to the ocean, and offers many study spaces, group rooms, libraries, and good food options, which makes it easy to spend the whole day there. The academic culture is very international and informal, with a strong focus on participation and continuous work during the semester. Teaching is highly interactive and practice oriented, with a lot of group work, case studies, and projects. Compared to WU Vienna, courses are generally less theory heavy and focus more on practical application, teamwork, and presentations. The workload is spread more evenly across the semester, with continuous assessment playing a much bigger role than final exams.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Portugal is very comfortable for students. Public transport is free if you have the Navegante card, for which you first need a NIF number. The city is generally safe in most areas, although it is recommended to avoid Martim Moniz at night. Pickpocketing is relatively common, as in many large Southern European cities, but nothing extreme. If you pay attention to your belongings, especially when a stranger approaches you and asks for help, you are generally safe. There are many social and leisure activities, especially with other Erasmus students. Two main organizations are active: ESN and ELL. Both are very similar, with only small differences. You can choose one, get a membership card for around 20 €, and gain access to various events as well as discounts on trips, parties, and activities they organize. Lisbon is an ideal place to learn surfing. At Carcavelos beach, directly next to the NOVA SBE campus, there is the surf school Lisbon Surf Camp, where NOVA students can get a monthly pass for 50 €, including four lessons and eight board rentals. You will hardly find a better offer anywhere else, and I highly recommend it. For a slightly better surfing experience, Caparica beach offers better waves, but it is further away and generally more expensive.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester was a great experience, mainly because of the combination of studying and lifestyle. Being able to study at a modern campus next to the beach while living in a dynamic and vibrant city like Lisbon made everyday life feel both productive and relaxed. On top of that, I built friendships for life with people from many different countries, which made the experience truly special for me.