Welcome and Integration

The special channel provides:

1. Portuguese Language Courses: The Faculty of Arts and Humanities offers a variety of opportunities to learn Portuguese. It also provides a Foundation Year Programme in Portuguese Language (FYP-PL) with intensive training and customised follow-up to prepare students to gain the necessary skills and proficiency in the Portuguese language to take UC degree programmes.

2. Recognition of prior higher education qualifications: The UC handles the recognition of refugees’ higher education qualifications according to international best practices and recommendations.

3. Access to graduate and post-graduate programmes: Students having completed secondary education, or previously enrolled in higher education in their home country, can apply for our bachelor, master and doctoral programmes.

4. Other educational opportunities: The UC offers various non-degree courses, e-learning and other educational opportunities.

Special support available for refugee students includes:

1. Tuition fees and other academic costs (only for students who didn't receive social scholarships);
2. Access to UC Welfare Services, including meals at university restaurants, medical assistance and other services, as well as social scholarships;
3. Specific orientation and integration provided by the UC services in coordination with local and national authorities;
4. Students enrolled at the University of Coimbra with refugee status are considered international students with special support from the UC.

Please note that:

Although the UC will make every effort to support refugee students, the number of vacancies is limited. The UC works closely with Portuguese authorities and refugee support organisations in Portugal to ensure that existing vacancies are used in the most effective way as part of the national effort to support refugees in the European Union.

For more information please contact us at: refugees-help@uc.pt

1. The Academy for the Encounter of Cultures and Religions (APECER-UC) has as its goal to promote the study of the history of different cultures and religious traditions worldwide, encouraging the intercultural and interreligious dialogue;

2. The campaign to combat food waste Less=More aims to sensitize all members of the university community to the importance of a rational use of available resources and to the adoption of responsible consumption behaviours at the UC canteens and cafeterias, namely the adjustment of portions to individual needs and the adoption of cooking methods that promote efficiency in the use of food and the monitoring of waste;

3. The UCicletas project consists in the provision and temporary use of bicycles at the UC, in order to promote physical and sporting habits within the academic community, through the adoption of alternative means of transport, thus encouraging attitudes and behaviours that contribute to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, through physical activity and sport;

4. Biodiversity Promotion Initiative where all new students are invited to adopt and take care of a plant during an academic year, which will afterwards be planted in the region (oak trees, arbutus, hawthorns, stone pines, cork trees, rowans and maple trees);

5. The Ecoliteracy course unit has as its main goal to enhance the debate about several environmental and ecological issues, such as sustainable agriculture, the loss of biodiversity or the Ocean protection.The subjects chosen are based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, with a special focus on the priorities within Natural Sciences.

More projects available here

• Mobility programmes
  Doing a mobility period for study or internship will enhance your employability by providing you with skills and experience that employers look for, such as intercultural awareness, self-confidence, initiative and other. Check more information: https://www.uc.pt/en/iru/
• Summer internships

  This is an excellent opportunity to experience a work environment, through direct contact with the general environment of an organization.

• The Entrepreneurial Week (7-10th October 2024) will take you on an inspiring entrepreneurial journey. Students of all disciplines are welcome to join in the adventure. Along the way you will collaborate on new ideas in international and multidisciplinary teams. This time round, the special topic will be “Health Innovation”. There will be workshops led by international experts, and entrepreneurs will share their experience and advice. Capture and reflect on what you learn, your experiences, your ideas, and your inspiration in a learning journal. Explore the lively student city of Coimbra, Portugal, together with other students from across Europe.

  Applications until 31st August 2024

More information about employability available here