Mobility specification

Country:Portugal

Institution:Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon

City:Lisboa

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of Musicology

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓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 study was generally more practice-oriented, which I liked. The assessment of the courses was not only based on writing texts (or tests) but the tasks to conclude the study were more varied (group tasks, presentations, semester-long project, portfolio creation).

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, I am! The local university offered many projects to integrate international students into local life. Apart from ESN, for example Erasmus Life Lisboa or the offer of surfing courses for international students. Besides that, the local students were very friendly so I didn't have to take advantage of the offer.

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:10000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?Finding budget-friendly accommodation in Lisbon is very difficult, so sometimes the frustration of searching can get to you. I searched for accommodation long in advance and still had a hard time, so I recommend starting as soon as you decide to go for your stay. I was lucky enough to snag a single room for 330 euro/month on Spotahome. I definitely recommend the site as only students can find accommodation through it, so you don't have to worry about sharing an apartment with some weirdos. I was very lucky as other classmates were paying 600 euro/month for accommodation, which is the amount of the scholarship for a month. My room was 11m2, but it was enough for a few months. I even managed to accommodate some friends from the Czech Republic:)

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Transport, which without a NIF number cost 40 euros per month.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I had a challenge to buy groceries under 10 euros that lasted me for a week. I recommend doing similar challenges and not spending on crap. I pretty much only ate local produce, vegetables and fruit. They grow it in their gardens so it's very cheap.

🗺 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?neutral

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?On buses like ours.

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?Nothing specific, I guess. The whole Lisbon vibe is just a vibe, so grab your feet and go wander.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Praia de Ursa beach. It's less than 2 hours from Lisbon and it's probably the most beautiful place I've ever been to. It's also the westernmost point of the EU so I recommend it with all ten!

Share your best experience:My pockets are full of the best experiences from Erasmus. I loved the sunsets from a viewpoint in the city (of which there are many!), when a bunch of friends from all over the world and I would grab a pizza and take a ferry across the river to watch the sunset and watch the yachts go by. Or when we went downtown on St. Anthony's Day all June to dance in the streets with the locals, drink sangria and eat sardines.

💅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?Probably not, it's a hassle-free journey if you're coming from Vienna:) There's a metro right at the airport so it's really easy to get there. You just have to get used to the southern mentality so you don't mind that the timetables are more ornamental than useful. If your bus is 40min late or 10min early, it's not a problem but your new lifestyle:)

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?As Lisbon is a coastal city, the winters are quite long and there is a cold wind all year round. So pack an extra sweater rather than a pair of swim trunks, which you can buy in a thrift store.

🥳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?Erasmus in Lisbon is a life goal, both in independence and in the opportunity to live literally 30 minutes from the beach! A Pastel de Nata!!