Mobility specification

Country:Portugal

Institution:University of Coimbra

City:Coimbra

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Department of Biochemistry

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?Most of my chosen subjects were taught in blocks and the exam followed the study block.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Apart from the orientation week, the university did not organize anything directly for international students, but there were a large number of events organized by ESN.

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?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:20000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?The university directly offers a page with a map and contacts to several private student accommodations, but they are a bit more expensive. Moreover there are Facebook groups, or you can ask on the ESN chat on WhatsApp.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?It is most convenient to use the canteen from the university. They also have breakfast and dinner.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?neutral

How does public transport work in the city?terrible

And what about transport outside the city?terrible

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?For trips to big cities, FlixBus or Rede express is best. These carriers are also quite reliable. It's best to use websites and apps to search, but none are very reliable, so it's best to check from multiple sources. If you're taking the train, it's easiest to buy tickets at the station if you can. Our IDOS is also good for verifying train connections. It has worked better at times.

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?I would definitely recommend going to the old university building and the adjacent palace. Then definitely the old university library and the botanical gardens. Then I would recommend the parks by the river, the beach by the river just outside the city and the conimbriga. I definitely wouldn't miss the Santa Clara Monastery (including the adjacent former military base) and the Convento São Francisco, which serves as a cultural center.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Besides the Algarve, Porto and Lisbon, I would definitely recommend Braga, Nazaré, Óbidos, Aveiro, Tomar, Peniche and Lousa. I would definitely recommend a national park or a trip to the south of Spain.

💅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
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?When choosing accommodation, take into account the ruggedness of the terrain. Coimbra is very hilly and it's really annoying if you live on the wrong hill. Ordinary public transport is not very reliable. In the city it is better to use the Bolt or Uber.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Warmer clothes and an umbrella. If you go in spring, it rains a lot until the end of April.

🥳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?Super experience.