ELAN: University of Coimbra

Universidade de Coimbra is a destination within the European Liberal Arts Network (ELAN) for University College Utrecht students, located in Coimbra, Portugal. The University of Coimbra offers various courses to students visiting Coimbra within the ELAN network. Incoming students can choose from a list of units and also add language courses (Portuguese, Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Dutch and Russian are on offer).

For further information please see this page

Semesters available

The academic calendar is most aligned with our Spring semester, so this is what we recommend.

Webpages
Number of places available

6 students per semester

Academic calendar

Fall Semester: September – December
Fall Examination Period: first week of January to first week of February.
Spring Semester: February – June
Spring Examination Period: June – July

Language of instruction

This destination has a language of instruction other than English. This means that you need to have at least a language proficiency level of CEFR B2 Portuguese. Since there is no Portuguese language course taught at UCU, it is your own responsibility to achieve at least B2 Portuguese. This language requirement is partly for your own protection, so you can take courses at the same level as you do at UCU, and partly because we believe it allows you to have an experience abroad that is more immersive, enriching and culturally valuable to you.

At the University of Coimbra, courses are predominantly taught in Portuguese, and very few are available in English.

Application deadlines

For Fall semester: 15 July
Spring semester: 15 December

Course offerings

All programs of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities are available here. Please contact the departmental coordinators of the subject area that interests you most for more information.

Course levels

When choosing courses, pay attention that courses starting with “01” are bachelor’s courses and those starting with “02” are master’s courses, not available to UCU exchange students.

Credit system

The same as UCU, ECTS.

Grade system

The University of Coimbra works with the following grading system:

18-20 Excellent A
16-17 Very Good A-/B+
14-15 Good B
10-13 Sufficient C
<10 No pass F

 

Housing

Information about university-owned and private housing can be found here.

Costs

Information about costs at the University of Coimbra can be found here.

Orientation

There is a “Welcome month”, which includes orientation, campus tours, and cultural / sports’ activities. The University of Coimbra also offers a Buddy Programme which can help you find your way around the academic and social scene.

Situation

The university is located in the old center of Coimbra, a city of some 150,000 inhabitants. The city is a popular tourist destination with a Medieval center and remains dating back to the Roman era. 

Student life

The university has some 25,000 students, 20% of which are international. The University comprises three campuses, named “pólos”. In the uptown central area, there is Pólo I, the historical centre of the University, where we can find the Rectory, the Administration, and amongst others the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the General Library, the Archive and the Botanical Garden. Pólo I also includes museums, colleges, canteens, residences and many other facilities.  

At Pólo II, in the right bank of river Mondego, located in Pinhal de Marrocos, focuses on engineering. Pólo III hosts medical sciences. 

Besides these three pólos, there are more two Faculties that are part of the University, namely the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, in the left bank of river Mondego, at the Pavilion III of the University Stadium, and the Faculty of Economics, in the uptown area, at Casa dos Limas. 

Click here for maps of the campuses and here for general information on life at UC. 

Student experiences

Universidade de Coimbra is a new destination, and therefore we have not received feedback from our students yet. Be the first UCU student to explore this university!

More information

For information about the requirements for studying abroad, the application procedure and more, go to UCU's Study abroad page. 

You can browse through all UCU exchange destinations and UU exchange destinations in the exchange catalog.