Portugal has long been one of the favourite Erasmus destinations: the climate, the cost of living lower than in much of northern Europe, the quality of many universities and the energy of cities such as Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra make it a natural choice. Many students, after Erasmus, come back for a master's degree or to work.
The universities
The Portuguese higher education system includes public universities, polytechnics and private universities. The main ones are:
- University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, one of the oldest in Europe, with the Joanina library and the royal palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (see Coimbra).
- University of Lisbon and NOVA University Lisbon, the country's largest, with faculties in every field, and ISCTE, strong in economics, management and social sciences.
- University of Porto, one of the country's best, known for engineering, architecture (the school of Siza and Souto de Moura, see Portuguese architecture), medicine and economics.
- University of Minho, with campuses in Braga and Guimarães, and University of Aveiro, with a modern campus and excellent science and technology courses (see Aveiro).
- The universities of Évora, the Algarve, Beira Interior in Covilhã, Trás-os-Montes in Vila Real, Madeira and the Azores.
For EU citizens, tuition fees at public universities are the same as for Portuguese students, relatively modest for bachelor's degrees; master's degrees and private universities cost more.
Academic traditions
Portuguese student life has very particular traditions. On important occasions students wear the traje académico, a black suit with a long cape, which according to an oft-told story inspired the Harry Potter uniforms, since J. K. Rowling lived in Porto in the early 1990s. Freshers are welcomed with praxe, a series of initiation rites, sometimes controversial. In May, the Queima das Fitas, the "burning of the ribbons" by graduating students, turns Coimbra, Porto and other university towns into a week-long party, with parades, concerts and serenades of Coimbra fado, sung by students.
Learning Portuguese
Many Erasmus courses are also taught in English, but learning Portuguese helps enormously in daily life and at work. Universities run Portuguese courses for foreigners, year-long and in summer, and many private schools offer intensive courses. The official certificate of European Portuguese for foreigners is issued by CAPLE at the University of Lisbon, with exams at several levels. To get started, see useful phrases.
Cost of living and accommodation
The cost of living for a student is generally lower than in many Western European capitals, with very cheap transport, canteen meals and coffee. The main problem is accommodation: in Lisbon and Porto rented rooms have become expensive and hard to find, so start looking well in advance, ideally through university services or specialist platforms. Towns such as Coimbra, Braga, Aveiro and Évora are more affordable (see cost of living).
Useful information
For Erasmus calls, requirements and grants, contact your own university's international office. For residence paperwork, the NIF and healthcare, see moving to Portugal.