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Frequently Asked Questions - U.Porto Students

Were you just admitted into U.Porto and now feel "lost"? Are you considering taking part in a mobility period abroad, but you don’t know how? Are you close to finishing your studies and don't know what to do next? You can find answers to some of your questions in this section. We’re here to help!

Hello! Welcome to the University of Porto! You are now starting your adventure in the university most frequently chosen by Higher Education applicants in Portugal and one of the best in Europe. You are one of the special applicants who arrive at our faculties every year, hoping to get the best training in different study cycles and fields of knowledge.

U.Porto offers you a set of services and tools that will facilitate your integration into university life, in addition to quality training enhanced by a campus spread throughout the city. So, make sure you participate in the welcome activities promoted by the University and your school.

For more information, you can read the U.Porto Student's Guide anytime. Good luck!

The academic year at U.Porto usually begins in mid-September and ends at the end of September of the following year. You can check out the most important dates of the current academic year in U.Porto's academic calendar. For more detailed information, please consult your faculty's calendar.

You can get answers to all your questions regarding your academic career at your faculty's academic services. For general information, please contact the Training and Academic Organisation Office (FOA) based in the Rectory.

Training and Academic Organisation Office (FOA)

Rectory of the University of Porto
Praça de Gomes Teixeira
4099-002 Porto, Portugal

Tel.: (+351) 220 408 198
E-mail: [email protected]

ECTS credits refer to the "value" of each course unit. Every year, there is a minimum and maximum number of credits you can apply for. In your course, some course units will have more credits than others, which will influence the final average grade at the end of the study cycle.

This system evaluates the volume of the work developed in a course unit and facilitates the recognition of your academic career in Portugal and the rest of Europe.

At U.Porto, an ECTS credit corresponds to 27 student work hours (classes, tutorials, internships, projects, etc.) In the Academic Glossary of the University of Porto, you can find the meaning of useful terms, including this one.

Every year, the Social Support Services of the University of Porto (SASUP) offer thousands of scholarships to economically deprived students. U.Porto also awards merit scholarships to students with the best academic results.

For more information, contact SASUP or your faculty's student support services.

Yes. If you are far from home, U.Porto provides several halls of residence that can host more than 1000 students in bachelor's, master's or integrated master's degree courses. Priority is given to scholarship holders of U.Porto’s Social Support Services (SASUP) during the selection process.

For more information about U.Porto accommodation, contact SASUP or your faculty's student support services.

As a U.Porto student, you have access to a wide range of study support structures. Explore all the knowledge in our library network; use our work and study spaces in different faculties; and enjoy our high-speed Internet in any part of the campus...

We will provide you with the necessary conditions for success.

You just need to have an adventurous spirit and take advantage of the national and international mobility opportunities offered by U.Porto to the academic community. Learn more about Europe, and discover Asia, or South America, among many other destinations covered by different international cooperation programmes and protocols. The world has no borders for our students!

For more information about mobility opportunities, contact U.Porto's International Relations Office at the Rectory. It will not only provide support in the application process but also during the mobility experience.

U.Porto's International Cooperation Service (SRI)

Rectory of U.Porto
Praça de Gomes Teixeira
4099-002 Porto

E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: (+351) 220 408 041
Opening hours: subject to prior booking

Yes, and you do not need to pursue a scientific career to do so. As a Research University, U.Porto offers you the opportunity to explore the research world from undergraduate to postgraduate levels. This is done through an educational method based on experimentation and knowledge production, often in articulation with the most prestigious Portuguese research centres.

You also have the opportunity to show your work at IJUP's annual meeting, an event specially dedicated to revealing and promoting the University's new scientific talents.

Do you want to eat well and for a small price? Do you have a short lunch break and need a quick meal? U.Porto offers a wide range of canteens, restaurants, snack bars and a grill – managed by the Social Support Services of the University of Porto (SASUP) – which allows you to enjoy quality meals at affordable prices at any of the University’s campuses.

Yes. The University challenges you to keep in shape through a wide set of activities and sporting facilities open to the entire community, from swimming to playing tennis, a diversified fitness programme, in a swimming pool or in modern sports halls, always with the support of qualified technicians.

It is not by chance that U.Porto currently dominates the university sports scene in Portugal. If you would like to join our teams or simply exercise without the commitment, take the chance!

For additional information about the University's sports offer, contact the U.Porto Sports Centre (CDUP-UP).

Yes. You just need to come to the training sessions of more than 40 modalities promoted by U.Porto Sports Centre. If you are selected, you will have the opportunity to represent U.Porto in National University Championships (CNUs) and other national and international competitions while benefitting from the Student-Athlete Status.

If you are interested, send an email to [email protected].

Yes. As a U.Porto student, you have access to various medical support services (most of them for free) in the following fields: General Medicine, Gynaecology/Obstetrics, Psychiatry and Psychology, among others. The Faculty of Dental Medicine (FMDUP) also offers Dental Medicine consultations at affordable prices for students.

For more information (on timetables, appointments, prices, etc.), contact U.Porto's Social Support Services Health Unit (SASUP).

Wrong question! What you should ask is: What can you not do? U.Porto guarantees the best student experience in and outside the classroom, as it is part of a city with an intense academic life. Practise a sport with the best university athletes in the country, join the Porto University Choral Society or the Porto University Theatre Group or other cultural groups in your faculty, or follow the example of more than 1000 University students who have participated in volunteering programmes promoted or sponsored by the University.

Don't forget to visit our museums and the new Porto Cultural Corridor. There will be plenty of opportunities to experience University life in a fulfilling and unforgettable way.

Yes. U.Porto is proud to be an inclusive university and accessible to all students. The buildings of our schools, research centres and libraries prove this. Online resources are also available in multiple formats.

The Support Service for Students with a Disability (SAED) is the entity responsible for providing technical-pedagogical support to our students with a disability or Special Educational Needs (NEE).

This service can be provided locally by the student support services in each of the University's schools.

The U.Porto Student Card is your "Academic ID". You can use it to access several resources only available to our academic community and to benefit from various discounts on services provided by U.Porto's partner entities.

The U.Porto Student Ombudsman is an entity which aims to promote dialogue between students and lecturers, staff and the University's management bodies. Do you have a problem or a complaint which you cannot resolve in your faculty? Then schedule an appointment.

The hardest part is done. Now that you have your University of Porto diploma, we would like to help you quickly make your skills available to the community. You can count on the employability support services in each of our faculties. Don't forget to visit U.Porto's Employment Portal, where you can register your CV and have access to job opportunities published by our partner entities. If you have completed a 1st cycle (Bachelor's Degree) or Integrated Master's Degree course, we encourage you to continue your studies with one of our postgraduate courses.

YES. According to the latest studies carried out by U.Porto's Employment Observatory, the employability rate of graduates who completed their course more than five years ago is higher than 80%, more than half of the national average. Also, more than 50% have never been unemployed, and approximately half of them found a job in the first three months right after finishing their bachelor's degree.

To make sure you don't miss the best opportunities, the University offers several employment support services to facilitate the integration of our graduated students into the labour market.

Yes. At U.Porto, however, we do not just train competent professionals. We want our students to be leaders in their field and people who make a difference. So, we encourage you to explore your talents and make them available to the community in the form of an innovative idea.

That is why U.Porto strongly invests in youth entrepreneurship incentives, which support you in your own business initiatives. Discover opportunities at UPTEC. Participate in iUP25k, our contest for business ideas.

TAKE A CHANCE!

To follow U.Porto's daily routine, we invite you to visit the University's information platforms. Visit our website and our news portal, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

Do you have any other questions?

Send your questions to the e-mail address [email protected]. We will reply as soon as possible.