Erasmus Experience in Amadora, Portugal by Mathilde

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

1500 €

What is the student lifestyle like in Amadora?

I am living in Lisbon, near a train station, I take the train to go to study in my school in Amadora. I don't advice to live in Amadora, it's much better to be in Lisbon, and it is possible. I take around 45 minutes to get to the school from my house (15min walking, I take a train, and 5 minutes more walking).
If you organise yourself good and ealy, you can have a nice home in Lisbon.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Amadora to other students?

I recommend the cursus I chosed : escola superior de teatro e cinema, I don't know about the others.

What is the food like?

The food is very good, I especially like their toasts which are very cheap and very tasty. Like for example in "Loucos" or in the pink street, or in other kind of small cozy bars everywhere in Lisbon.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

I got free courses in Benfica thanks to the erasmus program. 2 weeks intensive in september and then 4 hours per week until december. The laguage is not to hard to learn for spanish, italian, frenches... etc. For the laguages which are very different, it's much more difficult. I am french, and after 3 months here, I can have a conversation with a portuguese without too much difficulties.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Amadora from your city?

You can use the metro the bus the train and the boat, it's not very expansive. Which is nice, it's to visit other cities around Lisbon by train, it's cheap and short (Cascais, Sintra, Belém)...
But be careful when you take your transport card at the station, it's a bit complicated and they don't really take the time to explain all : you can buy a monthly card for train and/or metro + bus + tramway... if you are less than 23 year old you can ask a paper called "SUB 23" in your school. Then you go to a station (any) and ask for a paper for a monthly card, they will give you a paper to fill with basic informations and an identity picture.
You fo to the station of metro "entrecampos" you give the paper sub 23, the paper of the demand for the monthly card filled and 12€. Then, you can pick up you card on the day after in entrecampos sation.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Everything is good to visit in Lisbon and around lisbon, just walk and let you guide by your feet, the streets are as great as the important monuments. Be courageous, Lisbon is full of hills, you have to climb often.