Exchange Report

For the application process, most importantly keep the deadline in mind that WU has. Then for the interview think about why you are the right person for the exchange semester and why you chose your destination. What I would have liked to know before is that the bureaucratic side of preparing for an exchange semester is rather challenging as you need to complete different forms and keep deadlines in mind next to your usual university life and exams. My best tip is to be informed as soon as possible and put every deadline into a calendar.

Accommodation search was a bit overwhelming in the beginning as I did not know where to start. I ended up booking a room in a shared flat via a platform called Uniplaces, which looking back was one of the best options as some of my friends that booked theirs via other platforms ended up having issues with their landlord or booking. I also heard about people being scammed so be a little careful when booking the place. I lived in Lisbon and took the train to Carcavelos where Nova university is. I would also recommend that as most of the social life and also going out is happening in Lisbon. My flat was located close (4 min walk) to the Alameda station of the green metro and I felt safe in the area. I took the green metro and the train to get to university and the entire trip was about 50 min. If you are studying at Nova, I would recommend choosing a flat close to the "Santos" or "Cais do Sodre" train station or close to a station of the green metro line.

The campus of Nova SBE is very modern and pretty and I really liked it. The location is insane with it being directly next to the beach and often you see people walking across the campus with their surfboards. The academic culture is friendly as well as ambitious. The courses are more interactive and the biggest difference to WU is that I had groupwork in every single course i chose. There were some assignments to do during the semester but because of that the exams were a little less stressful.

Public transport includes the metro, trams, buses and trains, which makes it simple to get around the city and nearby areas. I took the metro and train everyday and they were rather reliable, the buses were not so reliable. The safety situation felt good overall and I generally felt safe during the day and at night, especially in busy areas. There are many possibilities for social and free time activities. I went surfing in Carcavelos, did Padel, went Bouldering a few times and took part in activities organized by ELL (Erasmus Life Lisbon). The going out options are really good and there is an area called Bairro Alto and Erasmus Corner where all of the students meet to go out and there are countless bars. If you like techno I really liked the raves at Village Underground and Komplex Club. Lisbon/the area surrounding it also host many events such as festivals, concerts and cultural activities throughout the year, me and my friends went to NO ART festival and YARD festival is also really popular. For sports, there are gyms, football fields and great opportunities for surfing near the coast, as well as running or exercising along the river.

The combination of university life, the relaxed surfer lifestyle and the lively city made my exchange semester in Lisbon very special. I grew a lot personally and interacting with other cultures gave me a new perspective on my own life. Looking back, I am most grateful for the friends I made and the places I was able to see.