158 reviews
4.22 / 5 based on 158 reviews
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Madita S
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
This time, I had to share my room with someone else, next time, I would like to have my own room. But the rest was okay, that is, having to share the kitchen etc. I think the best possibility for me to have my own room would be in an apartment.
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Personal comments
The accomodation was old and far away from the university ( 20 minutes walk ), not to mention far away from the center ( 30 mintues walk ). However, everything was clean and worked ( washing machine etc. ). Besides, I liked living in a house with other Portuguese girls. Because of this I was forced to speak Portuguese.
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Madita S
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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Travel, Nightlife: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Activities: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Dom Dinis+ O Rato ( night spots )
Event not to be missed ( I still have to go see it though ): queima das fitas
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Madita S
Academic
Course recommendations
The courses are véry intensive. Get enough sleep!
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
We didn' t have classes on Friday. I think this would have been better because on Friday I was so tired I couldn' t do anything useful anyway. It would have been better to spread the courses over more days.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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Madita S
Overall
I wish I had known...
I didn' t know where I was going to end up. I didn' t even know wether to bring my own sheets! I would have like to know that. For the rest: It is always useful to take a ( in my case )Dutch - Portuguese grammarbook.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
If you can, try to follow classes in the old buildings. They are beautiful!! Do remember though to bring a pillow or something..The wooden benches get hard as stone after sitting on them for 2 hours!!:)
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Going to Coimbra was fun, but don' t expect too much though. Most people from outside Portugal will regard to Coimbra as a village. It thrives on the students, there' s not much else.
Advice: The Tourist Information is very helpful and they are used to exchange students etc. They are well informed and can get you good information on what to go do and see!
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Madita S
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
At home I wouldn' t have had to buy food, because I would have been living at my parent' s in summer. I spent less on accomodation than I pay for my apartment here. I spent less on travel because public transport is very cheap in Portugal compared to Holland.
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Food:
was more expensive than at home.
Telephone, Nightlife, Overall:
was the same price as at home.
Housing, Travel:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Don' t buy food at the 'Pingo Doce' but at the 'Mini-Preco'. The last one is much cheaper. Doing something like this is always more expensive than you think. So save some money before you go!
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Madita S
Languages
Language of instruction: Portuguese
Was learning Portuguese a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Portuguese
How much did you improve your Portuguese?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
It got easier every day, but sometimes it was hard to have to listen to Portuguese in class for 8 hours a day. I was surprised I could actually speak Portuguese so good already, but I still feel I have learned a lot.
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