Mobility specification

Country:Portugal

Institution:Farmácia do Chafariz Sociedade Unipessoal Lda

City:Funchal

Program:Erasmus+ traineeship

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Pharmacy / Department of Applied Pharmacy

Study level abroad:Master

✅Check the boxes

How would you categorize your internship?Pharmacy

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?Recommendation from acquaintances

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?University trainee

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?Fulfill your portion of the 24 week mandatory pharmacy practice experience.

Did your tasks align with the pre-defined conditions?yes

Did the internship meet your expectations?yes

Did you apply any theory you learned at university during the internship?yes

If yes, can you provide a specific example?My practical internship serves to apply my theoretical knowledge in practice, while I had the opportunity to verify my theoretical knowledge in real working conditions.

How well did you manage to communicate in a foreign language?perfectly

Did the institution have any special requirements?Specific language skills
Level of study

Do you have tips on how to make a great impression on the institution?Yes, here are a few tips on how to impress the institution: show initiative from the start (be on time), be reliable, responsible and punctual. A basic level of Portuguese might also be of interest - although it is not a prerequisite for admission to the institution. It is important to show enthusiasm for the field and a willingness to learn new things.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?The competition was mainly in the number of students who applied. So there was competition, but for capacity reasons.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?Personally, I would recommend every student to do an internship because it is a great and unrepeatable experience. During the internship I had the opportunity to acquire many new skills, make new friends and contacts, get to know new people and their culture, and at the same time understand how the working system works abroad. I would never have had such an experience if I hadn't dared to go on an internship abroad.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?20000 CZK/month

Did you have any unexpected expenses during the internship?no

Do you have any tips on how to save money during the internship?Yeah. :) In Madeira there was a possibility to get a card for buses all over the island. As a student under 23 I had it for free. I also saved money by not eating in restaurants, but cooking my own meals and shopping at cheap supermarkets like Pingo Doce or Continente.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?absolutely flawless!

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?I've seen better

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I searched for connections in the centre of the capital Funchal on Google maps, but for connections outside Funchal on Siga's website. The ticket could be bought directly from the driver for €2,00,or a card could be arranged.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?The "must see" in the city is definitely the centre of Funchal, beaches like Praia Formosa, the cable car that leads directly to the beautiful botanical garden Monte Palace. There is also a museum by the port with a statue of Cristiano Ronaldo. I also recommend visiting the Mercado Lavradores market.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?There are countless places to go on a trip and things to discover in Madeira. There are beautiful levadas that are typical of Madeira (e.g. Levada Nova). Pico do Arieiro is also a very popular mountain with an incredibly beautiful view of the sun. It is one of the 3rd highest peaks of Madeira.
I also recommend visiting Pico Ruivo - the highest peak in Madeira. In the past, it was possible to walk from Pico Ruivo to Pico do Arieiro, but this summer this route was closed due to a fire there in the past. Next, I recommend visiting Fanal - a beautiful forest that is also a Unesco site. Also very beautiful are the natural lakes in Porto Moniz, the black sand beach in Seixal or the statue of Christ - Cristo Rei.
You can also take a ferry to the island off Madeira - Porto Santo, where there is a beautiful 9 km white sand beach (which is not typical for Madeira).

Share your best experience:I probably don't have one particular best experience because there were so many. 😊 However, I really liked visiting Pico do Arieiro or Fanal with my friends, which was a really unforgettable experience.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?It definitely depends on the type of accommodation, as I had minor complications with my first accommodation. Always ask for all the details and check the accommodation properly before you arrive.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Hiking boots, hiking clothes, swimwear, sunscreen and sunglasses, mosquito repellent and Fenistil. :)

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?For me personally, it was the best thing that happened to me at university - I would only regret not going.