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author
Evelína Beníšková
Evelína
Beníšková
faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
academic year of the stay
2022/2023
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author
Evelína
faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
academic year of the stay
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2022/2023
University of Coimbra
traineeship
study stay
short-term mobility
other
How does Evelína rate their stay?
university
city
accommodation
financial demands
about university
What made your university special? What were the facilities where you studied and the university equipment like?
The University of Coimbra was quite modern and well equipped. It had various faculties spread across the whole city but my faculty (Faculty of Economics) was pretty close to the center.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your "adoptive" university? What made it special? What were the premises where you studied and the university facilities like?
The lessons were much more interactive than on Charles University, the teachers tried to make them fun rather than just theory. The exams consisted mainly of midterms and final short written essays, which was perfect for me.
What is student life like at university?
The life at the university in Coimbra is very friendly and sympathetic. The student clubs and organizations introduced us to the Portuguese culture in the first week and also organized many events throughout the year for us to enjoy.
Did you study in English or in the language of the host country? What language requirements does the university have?
I communicated in English, had all my lessons in English but took a Portuguese class which was very fun. But the uni only requires English.
about the city
What was your impression of the city? How would you describe it? What is interesting to see here?
The city of Coimbra was very student friendly, very youth oriented and full of energy. It was also very hilly so one had to climb up and down all the town. But other than that it was perfect for Erasmus - not too big, not too small, not violent or dangerous and very well spirited. Many students hang out at Praca which is the main meeting spot, we also used to go to jam session in Liquidambar every Wednesday which was very fun - everyone could join and play some instrument.
about finances
In your experience, how far does the scholarship go? What percentage of your expenses did it cover? What is your opinion on prices in the country in general?
It is quite difficult to comply with the scholarship, especially since you wanna see a lot of places and go to various events in order to enjoy the country to the fullest. My scholarship ran out in 2 months so I had to ask my parents to lend me some money for the remaining 2 months. But otherwise Portugal is not an expensive country, it's just the student life that all of us wanted to enjoy there.
Please advise your classmates on how to save money—Where to shop? What services can be used to save money?
I would recommend shopping in Pingo Doce which is the cheapest way to get groceries. Beer is not that cheap as in Czech so prepare to pay for that.
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about accommodation
What type of accommodation did you choose? Would you recommend it to others? If not, what type of accommodation do you think is best based on your experience (dormitory, private apartment, private dormitory, shared room, etc.)?
I lived in a shared house with 11 other Erasmus students and I would recommend it to everyone. It is very fun! We had 2 bathrooms, one kitchen and a garden which was a blast. Not everyone got along since some of my housemates were introverted and did not really go to many events but most of them were fun and we enjoyed a lot of great days at the house.
about experiences
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
I travelled just a little bit - to Faro, Lisbon and Porto, which are the easiest places to visit. There are direct buses and the route is fine. I went to Porto multiple times because it is close and has a lot to offer. We also travelled to the beach many times, especially Figueira de Foz.
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
Portugal actually really impressed me and I wanna move there for some time. Portuguese culture is very tradition based, very cheerful and playful but also very calm. The life there is slow and everyone takes their time. Portuguese language is quite difficult to learn but the basics are fine and one can manage with them in day-to-day life.
final rating
Why here? What makes this location special? Why would you send your friends to your country/city?
I think the town has the best combination of right size, safety, a lot of international students, many events, possibilities of hikes and ocean as well, it is also well centered in context of Portugal and the university offers many great courses.
live-saving tips
If I went again, I would definitely remember to pack...
Hiking shoes! Many opportunities for hikes in Coimbra.
Before leaving, I would like to know that...
The university is not difficult at all, it is rather a lot of fun and chill.
What surprised me most was that...
The way Portuguese people drink coffee at 1AM and are fine.
The hardest thing for me was...
Leaving. I had a great group of friends, the school was fun, everything was fine for me so leaving and coming back to Czech was the hardest.
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