Study abroad in Portugal
calendar_month 01 Mar 2011, 00:00
Country overview
Those who think of Portugal merely as a sun-drenched beach resort between Spain and the Atlantic are missing the point. It's true that it's a great travel destination, in fact, Portugal is the 16th most visited country in the world, but it is also a nation steeped in history and culture and dates back, as an independent nation, to the 13th Century.
In addition, Portugal is a warm and welcoming country with an outward looking mentality, as evidenced by the fact that some of the world's earliest and most successful explorers came from here. There were Portuguese captains in the 15th and 16th Centuries settling in places that few other Europeans had even heard of. Even now over 200 million people speak Portuguese around the world and the presence of the former imperialists is felt in places as far flung as Macau, Goa and Indonesia.
Portuguese food is perhaps the world's best kept secret, as is its wine, hospitality and the warmth of its welcome. Despite its small geographical size (it's about the same size as the US state of Indiana), it's an important partner in the European Union and is participating in the Bologna Process which is aiming to integrate all European Higher Education.
Education overview
Speaking of medieval history, Portugal boasts one of the world's oldest universities, the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290. More than seven centuries on, there are 15 public universities including the University of Porto which is Portugal's largest with 28,000 enrolled students, and several private universities.Three Portugese universities appear in the 2010QS World University Rankings: University of Coimbra, University of Porto and Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
The Portuguese higher education system is relatively uncomplicated, divided as it is into universities, polytechnics and higher education institutions, and there are public and private versions of each. The universities tend to offer theoretical and research-based courses such as medicine, law and economics, while both universities and polytechnics offer more practical courses such as engineering, education and humanities. Nursing and accountancy are among those only offered in polytechnics.
No institution can operate without the strict accreditation of the Ministry of Education. Importantly it is quite possible to change institutions between polytechnics and universities and public or private institutions, or vice versa. There are 15 polytechnics and a large number of higher education establishments and institutions.
In terms of qualifications, students can opt for a three-year Bachalerato (bachelor's degree) at a polytechnic or a Licenciatura, which is a three to six year degree course offered either at a university or at a combination of polytechnic and university. In universities not part of the Bologna process - some private universities have opted out - these are four to six year courses.
Portugal is not an Anglophone nation and English is not as widely spoken as in many other countries. It's hard to saywhat proportion of courses are taught in English although it is likely to be quite low. There are some foreign international schools, especially in Porto, Lisbon and the tourist base of the Algarve. If your aim is to improve your Portuguese language skills then the country does have some well-established institutions that offer a high quality of education and will prepare you well for careers in the Portuguese-speaking world.
| Flexibility between courses and universities Good transport links to Europe and the rest of the world Opportunity to learn an important world language as English is not widely spoken | English not widely spoken (note this is a pro as well as a con!) Portuguese education is not top of the international league |
International student accommodation
Most universities have student accommodation offices to help students find accommodation when they first arrive. Portuguese law is heavily weighted in favour of tenants. Properties for rent are advertised in local newspapers and magazines, particularly in English-language publications. For more information see the LisbonGuide.
Weather/Climate
In a 1990s British TV comedy show, The Fast Show, a TV weatherlady for an imaginary Mediterranean country put sun symbols all over her map and said, simply, 'Scorchio!' all over the nation. This sums up Portugal's summers as well as late springs and early autumn seasons. When the mid afternoon sun beats down in summer it is sometimes time to find an air-conditioned room to read in, although as a narrow coastal nation, the sea breezes make it seem very pleasant most of the year round. Winters are mild too, although it can get very cold in the north and west.
In geographical terms, three great rivers that start in the highlands of Spain, reach the coast in Portugal and divide the nation into three sections. The Minho River forms part of Portugal's northern border with the Galicia region of Spain, while the Douro, Tejo and Alentejo Rivers split the mainland. The Azores and the Madeira Islands form part of Portugal's Atlantic interests and have long been strategic bases both as access to the Mediterranean and for ships refuelling on long distance routes.
Transport
The international airports are Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal (Madeira) and Ponta Delgada (Azores). Throughout the country there are a number of small airports with limited facilities. It is possible to travel from the international airports to many of these smaller ones but it is important to check first, as these services are variable.
Coaches exist on the national network of "Rodovi'ria Nacional" (RN), and competing private operators who run quick non-stop services on the more popular routes and often to destinations not covered by trains. The RN tends to be slower but its prices are lower. Many private operators offer more facilities on longer journeys such as toilet, video, air-conditioning and snacks and it is recommended that before a long trip you check what the coach facilities will be before boarding. You will find that in major tourist areas or cities there are excellent local excursions by coach. In almost all cases tickets are purchased in advance.
Only Lisbon has a Metro system but one is under construction in Porto. Overland, the railway system is owned by the state and called "Caminhos de Ferro Portuguese (CP)". The system provides very reasonably priced transport within the country. Major lines are fast, efficient and comfortable. In Lisbon, passengers can use trains, buses, electric trams, underground, taxis and public elevators. Taxis are required by law to be painted cream. In urban areas they charge according to the taximeter. Outside these urban areas the charge is per kilometer and includes the cost of the return trip. Luggage over 30 kilos is charged at a fixed rate.
Cost*
Unlike its neighbour, Portugal is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, and your Euro will go a long way.
| Item | Price (Euro) |
| small bottle of beer | .75 |
| mountain bike rental per day | 10.00 |
| can of soft drink | 0.60 |
| street snack (toasted sandwich) | 2.50 |
| litre of milk | .75 |
| one litre of table wine | 5.00 |
| single adult campsite with car | 8.00 |
| CD | 17.00 |
| sending 20g letter overseas | 1.80 |
Useful info
Dialing code: 351
Currency: Euro () Time zone: GMT/UTC 0
Famous Portuguese People
Jose Mourinho - Former Chelsea Football manager Cristiano Ronaldo - Football player Nelly Furtado - Singer (dual Portuguese/Canadian nationality) Bartholomew Dias - 15th Century explorer and first crosser of Cape of Good Hope Vasco da Gama - 15th Century explorer who opened up sea routes to India.
Noutati
