Mobility specification

Country:Portugal

Institution:University of Porto

City:Porto

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of International Relations and European Studies

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?neutral

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Different approach from teachers. One was incredibly nice and always switched to English even though I was the only one who didn't speak Portuguese. In other classes, on the other hand, they regularly forgot that I didn't know the language at a level to keep up with them in university lectures, so I had to keep reminding them, it was quite uncomfortable. So I was surprised by the variety in approaches from teachers.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yeah. Aside from the orientation day, there were also opportunities for free guided tours of the center, a few volunteer activities, and the chance to go present about my country to local elementary schools (which I was happy to take advantage of).

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:15000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?Local WhatsApp groups for Erasmus students.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I guess not.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The school itself offers a number of benefits - from cheap coffee at the faculty, lunches in the canteen to good deals on sports activities (you need to make the most of it).

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

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?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Search for connections online but the buses (don't) run as they want. With the metro it was easier - the timetable was at each stop and at each stop you could buy/refill a ticket in the machine.

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?Apart from the centre and the cruise on the Douro River, it's definitely surfing.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Follow the big waves to Nazaré, if there is time make a longer trip to Lisbon, fly to Madeira or the Azores.

Share your best experience:It will definitely be the first experience with surfing and beautiful Madeira.

💅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

Can you pay by card?in most places

🥳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?An invaluable and irreplaceable experience. A period that will shape you and be remembered for a lifetime.