Details

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

1. Preparation

When applying for the exchange semester, I would recommend emphasising the following in your motivation letter: - the reasons why you want to have this experience - how it would enrich your Master's degree and your professional journey - explain why you want to apply for the specific destination(s). Once you have been assigned to a partner university, the application process is smooth and straightforward. On the WU side, you just need to apply for grants and complete the pre-recognition notice, which forms the basis of the Learning Agreement. In May, you will need to reapply for the exchange semester via the Católica portal by uploading some documents. Then, around mid-June, the courses offered in the autumn semester, along with their respective schedules and exams, will be available. Finally, around mid-July, you will be able to enrol on the courses via a first-come, first-served process, which was pretty easy. You will also have the chance to modify the courses in late July. In my experience, both the WU and the Católica International Offices provided helpful and supportive assistance throughout the entire application process, so there's no need to worry too much!

2. Accommodation

I started looking for accommodation in March, which was quite early, but I would recommend doing the same. There are lots of WhatsApp groups with dedicated housing sections (e.g. ESN Lisbon and Erasmus Life Lisboa), so join them as soon as possible - you'll find links to them on their Instagram pages. There are also Facebook groups, but be careful as there are a lot of scams. I would also avoid booking a room through Housing Anywhere or similar platforms, or through local agencies, due to the additional fees. Take a look at Flat for Friends, too. Overall, I would suggest booking a room directly from a private landlord, which is what I did. Please note that the Universidade Católica will not provide any assistance in finding accommodation. In terms of accommodation types, Lisbon offers large flatshares with 10+ people, as well as smaller ones, which I would recommend. There are also several student residences, which tend to be more expensive than private apartments on average. The houses are pretty old and don't have heating systems. The average cost of a single room is around €500-€550, but it's possible to find somewhere cheaper. In terms of location, the Católica campus is quite far from the city centre. I wouldn't live there anyway because of the tourists and the chaos in areas such as Graça and Alfama. Nevertheless, the area is well connected to the Yellow and Blue metro lines, and several buses serve it. I would recommend the Marquês de Pombal, Saldanha, Rato or Campo Pequeno areas, but generally, just make sure you're close to the metro lines mentioned above. I would also avoid neighbourhoods crossed by the green metro line, as these areas can be quite sketchy and potentially dangerous (e.g. Martim Moniz, Bairro Alto, Intendente).

3. Academic life at host university

The Católica campus is relatively small, particularly in comparison to the WU campus. During your exchange, you will attend classes in the same building, which has a canteen, a print shop, study rooms and a library. There are some welcome activities at the end of August, so it might be useful to arrive in Lisbon a few days before classes start. The university sometimes hosts career fairs with local and international companies, which I found very interesting. The teaching system is similar to WU's, with small classes where participation is encouraged and graded. For every course I attended, I had to complete some teamwork assignments, as well as a few individual assignments. Each lecture is an hour and a half long. Most courses have a final exam which accounts for 40–70% of the grade. The semester is divided into two trimesters (September–mid October; mid October–mid December), followed by a week dedicated to exams. Therefore, courses are either semester-long (7 ECTS) or trimester-long (3.5 ECTS). To fulfill the requirements of the exchange semester, you will need to attend either eight trimester-long courses or one semester-long course and six trimester-long ones. For example, I took eight courses, four for each trimester: Digital Marketing; Responsible Business; Managing People; Brand Management; Brand Activation; Business Ethics and Social Responsibility; eContent; Marketing Communication. The professors are friendly and supportive, and their grading is rigorous. Overall, the classes are demanding but interesting in terms of content. Because of the structure mentioned above, courses are condensed and fast-paced, so it's important to keep up with classes and study consistently. I met many international full-time students (mostly German), as well as exchange students and Portuguese students. Note: it is possible to attend a Portuguese course run by Católica while studying abroad.

5. Every day life in the host country

If you are 23 years old or younger, you can get free public transport with a NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal). I would recommend taking advantage of this and booking an appointment at the Finanças in advance, since the process is very time-consuming, especially when thousands of exchange students apply for it once they arrive in Lisbon. Once you have your NIF, you can get the free Navegante transport card. Otherwise, you can get either the Navegante Municipal card, which costs €30 per month and allows you to travel around the Lisbon council area, or the Navegante Metropolitano card, which costs €40 per month and allows you to travel to the greater metropolitan area of Lisbon (valid for metro, bus, and tram). If you are over 23 years old, you won't need the NIF and can go straight for the Navegante card. The city is quite safe and I have rarely felt in danger. Of course, some neighbourhoods are best avoided, especially Martim Moniz and Intendente. The city centre is crowded, and you should pay attention to possible pickpockets in certain situations (e.g. in Bairro Alto at night). Lisbon is a vibrant city, with lots of outdoor activities up until November. The weather is warm until late October and mild in winter. This allows you to visit nearby beaches and villages, take day trips to nearby destinations or travel to Madeira or the Azores. There are lots of festivals and parties, especially at the weekend, and the student associations organise lots of social events and activities. The city is beautiful and perfect for exploring during your exchange period, with lots of attractions and natural spots. In terms of museums, however, it's not the best. Restaurants and local amenities are cheaper than in Vienna. Gyms are pretty cheap (around €35/month) and there are university sports facilities that allow students to play sports at a discounted price (e.g. padel). You also have the chance to go surfing and take classes.

6. Testimonial

I'm convinced that doing my Master's exchange in Lisbon was one of the best decisions I've ever made, even though I love Vienna. I made so many fond memories and met so many amazing people in such a short time that the whole experience was unforgettable. I'll remember the sunsets, the colourful city, the vibrant community I found, the natural beauty I witnessed and the laughter. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity I had, and I would encourage others to take the leap and pack their bags once again. Portugal is an amazing country with a lot to offer, and Lisbon is the perfect city to live in. I feel like I learnt a lot, both academically and personally. Therefore, in my view, this experience was enriching and definitely worth it.