Studying Abroad in Lisbon: Eve’s Experience as a German Student at Universidade Europeia

What was it like arriving in Lisbon and starting the semester?

When Eve left Hamburg in August and spent a month enjoying the summer in Portugal before her semester officially began in September, she was curious to see what studying in Lisbon would be like.

She enrolled at UE Universidade Europeia for a semester abroad in Management, attending classes on the new Oriente Green Campus in Moscavide, close to the airport.

Since the campus only opened in September 2025, everything was still very new. It’s a bright, open, modern space that feels pleasant and welcoming.

How did Asia Exchange support the experience?

One helpful aspect was that the university cooperates with Asia Exchange, which made the whole experience even smoother. There is an Asia Exchange representative directly on campus, meaning that if any questions or problems came up, Eve could discuss them in person right away.

Having a direct point of contact on-site gave her a lot of reassurance and made the administrative side of studying abroad much easier.

How does studying in Portugal compare to studying in Germany?

For Eve, studying in Lisbon felt quite different from what she was used to in Hamburg. At her home university, assignments follow strict formal guidelines, and most modules have only one final assessment.

In Portugal, the approach is more flexible. She felt the overall content was a bit easier, but the workload was spread across several components:

• midterm tests
• group projects
• presentations
• a final exam

So even if the academic level felt more accessible, there was still plenty to do. From Eve’s perspective, Portugal is a good option for students who hope to slightly improve their grades, but staying consistent is still essential.

One feature she appreciated was the option to take some exams online. In one module, the entire exam was written directly on the computer, and they received their grades instantly. It was extremely efficient compared to the long waiting times she was used to in Germany.

What did her weekly schedule look like?

Eve took four modules but had classes only three days a week, and one of those was a master’s course that took place late in the evening. Her class ran from 21:00 to 23:00, and some students even have classes until midnight because many Portuguese students work during the day.

She didn’t mind the late hours because it meant she had the rest of the day free. In practice, she mostly had two real university days per week, plus the evening course, leaving plenty of time for studying, exploring Lisbon, or traveling around Portugal.

There is a 70% attendance requirement, so staying disciplined matters, but with her schedule, it was completely manageable.

How was the campus location and daily life?

The campus is well located, with a supermarket next door and a cafeteria inside the university. It’s easy to reach by metro or bus, and the professors were friendly and approachable.

Many topics covered in class were things Eve had already learned in Germany, so the content felt manageable and familiar.

Was it easy to meet other international students?

One thing that stood out to Eve was the large number of German students. Portugal, especially Lisbon, is a very popular destination for German exchange students. In her case, all of her modules ended up being filled with Germans, meaning she didn’t have much contact with international students through class.

This might be different for others, depending on the modules they choose and the semester they come in. At first, she thought it would take away from the cultural experience, but she still met many lovely people and enjoyed her time.

And for those who want more international interaction, it’s easy to meet exchange students from other countries at parties, events, or through student groups.

Would Eve recommend studying abroad in Lisbon?

Absolutely.

She found the campus modern and comfortable, the professors kind, and the workload structured but manageable. Lisbon itself is a wonderful city with so much to explore. Having Asia Exchange as a direct contact on campus was also incredibly helpful.

Her semester abroad allowed her to study effectively while enjoying life in Portugal, an experience she would definitely recommend to others.

Read more about Universidade Europeia here!

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