Cost of living

Although in Portugal, prices tend to be higher in the coastal cities, especially Lisbon, Porto and the towns of the Algarve area, generally speaking, however, if we compare with the rest of E.U. countries, the cost of living in Portugal can be considered to be lower.
As an estimate, a student in Lisbon will need somewhere between 450€ and 600€ per month for accommodation, food, study material and other basic expenses.

Getting the Money

Portugal has a national inter-bank network of ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines). "Multibanco" terminals are distributed among shopping centres, petrol stations, shopping areas and, of course, the banks.
Apart from providing cash withdrawals of up to €200 per day, other services are available, including bank transfers, bank statements, payments for public and private services, purchase of train tickets and even the purchase of tickets for public events like football matches and shows.
The ATMs can be used with a wide variety of international credit and debit cards.(For further information contact your bank).
You can also open a bank account in most banks as long as you intend to stay for more than 3 months. To open the account, you will need to present identification as well as a tax number. Students don’t pay tax in Portugal, but all persons are issued with a tax number anyway. To receive the tax number, you must go to the Direcção Geral dos Impostos (i.e. the tax office) located in the "Loja do Cidadão" (the citizen’s service bureau, see www.lojadocidadao.pt).

Accommodation

Ispa provides no accommodation within its own structure but there are in the area surrounding the University, multiple offers which the Erasmus office will be happy to direct you to.
There is even in the Students Association website a page dedicated to this effect.

Meals

Canteens and Bars
There are two bars and a Canteen within the Institutes building.

Portuguese Cooking
Like many aspects of Portuguese society and culture, Portuguese cooking is heavily influenced by the travels of the Portuguese people throughout the world, from India to Newfoundland. While the Mediterranean ingredients like olive oil, garlic, onions, lemons and bay leaves have an essential role in seasoning the main dishes, oriental spices and north sea cod are equally characteristic of the meals served in every home and restaurant.
The meat is seasoned with spices and often infused with wine, accompanied by potatoes, rice and vegetables, and there are some curious meat and shell-fish combinations. The soups of Portugal can be light and nutritious with vegetables and pulses, or made in a heavier country style with broad beans, kidney beans, chick peas or rice.

Medical facilities

Public Health Clinic
The Public Health Clinics (“Centro de Saúde”) are run through the National Health System in order to provide general healthcare for the general public. In case of sudden illness you should go to the permanent attendance service (SAP), or to the nearest Hospital in case of a life threatening situation or serious illness.

Payments and healthcare insurance
Healthcare must always be paid for, either directly by the patient or by means of a health insurance policy. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he/she has an adequate health insurance policy.

Social Security System
Many students can benefit from the international agreements in which Portugal participates in order to gain access to the Portuguese Social Security System, and through it to the National Health System, particularly within the framework of the following:

• At multilateral level, the Community Regulations on Social Security, no. 1408/71 and no. 574/72, which include the member states of the European Union as well as Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, which are part of the European Economic Area, as well as Switzerland.
• At bilateral level, the conventions / agreements celebrated with Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, USA, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, Venezuela and Uruguay.

Facilities for special needs students

Ispa is equipped to take in students with physical disabilities, as his required by law of all Public and Private Education Services in Portugal.

Insurance

Students coming to Ispa should make sure that they are covered by either their University’s insurance policy or by one taken on by themselves before departing their country.

Financial support for students

The Financial support for exchange students is funded by the E.U. and students should apply for it at their home University.

Student affairs Bureau

A Student affairs Bureau is available for all students with the following hours:

• Monday’s – 11h – 13.30h / 14.30h – 17.00h
• Tuesday – Friday – 11h – 13.30 / 14.30 – 20.00h
• Saturday’s and Sunday’s the Bureau is closed

Study facilities

There are within the Institution several structures which support the activities of the students, notably;

• A Bookshop (open from Monday to Friday. 10.30h/13.00h –14.00h/20.00h)
• A Documentation Center (open Monday to Friday. 09.30h/23.00h and Sat. 10.00h/18.00h)
• A Study Room (open Monday to Friday. 09.30h/23.00h and Sat. 10.00h/18.00h)
• A Student Computer Work Room (open Monday to Friday. 09.00h/23.00h and Sat. 09.00h/17.00h)

International programmes

Ispa works with Universities across Europe in the framework of the LLP, and with several Universities in Brazil as result of Bilateral Agreements signed with these Universities.
These initiatives comprise both Studies and Research projects.

Practical information for mobile students

Ispa Accepts students from any University which as a Bilateral Agreement signed with us, within the framework of the LLP.
Students should make sure they have a Learning Agreement approved by their home university and that it arrives at our International Relations Office before the deadline expires.
The first Semester begins in September and the Second in February, generally all applications must be in until the 15th of July the latest.
There will be a welcoming session organized early September and late January to aide the students with all the administrative details and doubts.

Language courses

Ispa does not lecture at the moment any courses in Portuguese for foreign students, but there are several alternatives available.

Internships

It is possible upon request and depending on the area of work desired by the student to arrange for the Erasmus students to have internships organised through our network of contacts.

Sports facilities

There are a wide range of sports activities organized by the Students Association and foreign students interested should contact them upon arrival.

Extra-mural and leisure activities

All the extra-mural and extra-curricular activities are published in our Website – www.ispa.pt