Mobility specification

Country:Portugal

Institution:Polytechnic Institute of Santarém

City:Rio Maior

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Sports 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?it's alright

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The atmosphere here is even more friendly than at our faculty. I often had the feeling that I was being taught by a friend rather than a teacher.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?I think there were some possibilities.

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

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?Facebook groups

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?The cheapest surfboard rental is around 15 € per day. Which isn't much, but if you want to go regularly every weekend, it gets pretty expensive. Anyway, the school has the surfboards, so if you go as part of your lessons, you don't have to pay anything.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Overall, I think the food is comparable in price to the Czech Republic. And a tip to save money: Go to the canteen for lunch!

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

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

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?You can buy long-distance tickets online and shorter tickets from the driver or at stations.

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?So in Rio Maior, definitely Salinas, there's a nice bike path leading to it. Then a flooded quarry where you can swim with a little courage. Otherwise Fatima, Peniche, Nazaré, Lisbon...

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Azores! For a few euros you can get a return ticket from Lisbon. The island of Sao Miguel is an absolute blast! If you have a bigger budget, go to Madeira too. It's just quite crowded.

Share your best experience:There are so many that I don't know which one to choose. Hitchhiking anywhere to surf. Party in Lisbon. Exploring Nazaré at night. Canoeing with the school.

💅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
Car

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Neoprene, climbing shoes, waterproof jacket, trekking boots, sunscreen.

🥳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?I was afraid to go because of my very poor English. Don't worry! You'll make it and then you'll remember how top it was.