UNIVERSITY OF THE AZORES

In order to study at the University of the Azores as an Erasmus student, your home institution must have an institutional agreement in place with the respective school of our university.

Applications must firstly be made to your home university, and if selected they will nominate you to UAc. All students who have been nominated to take part in an Erasmus SMS (student mobility studies)) exchange will receive the appropriate UAc´s application form instructions. We will only consider applications from students who have been nominated by their home institution.

If you wish to work rather than study, the UAc is glad to accept Erasmus trainees for a SMT (student mobility traineeship), in this case, an institutional agreement is not required. In this case, please fill the pre-acceptance request to verify if your traineeship is possible.

Our Erasmus Institutional Code is P ACORES01.

Mandatory registration at InforEstudante

Please read very carefully our Incoming Application Guide, which has all the necessary steps to complete your application.

To proceed with your application, you have to make sure that your University sent your nomination to the UAc. For traineeships mobilities, you must be sure that you already have the University of the Azores’ authorization to carry out a traineeship in our institution, provided upon a previous pre-acceptance request as indicated above.

You should also have copies (or prepare) of the following documents:

• Passport or identity card;
• Photo (ID type of photo);
• European Health Insurance Card (for non-European students ‒ Proof of appropriate health insurance);
• Language Certificate (Portuguese or English, level B1);
• Learning Agreement for traineeship students, in case of a Erasmus Traineeship;
• OLA, On-line Learning Agreement for studies mobilities (students must proceed with this LA in the OLA dashboard). In case your University is not ready yet to work with the OLA version, we accept the Learning Agreement classic document. Please note that, in case you’re using the OLA, the Learning Agreement for studies mobilities must be available for the University of the Azores’ signature at the On-line Learning Agreement dashboard (OLA) and you must also submit your application at Inforestudante, in order to approve your mobility.

Thus, it’s mandatory to register and fulfill all the requirements in order to have your mobility exchange approved!

Students from outside the EU must bring their passport. Non-European and Turkish students must arrive with a student visa. The visa request must consider the duration of the mobility (1 semester or 1 year). Upon arrival (in the first three days), Non-European and Turkish students must go to AIMA (Foreign and Border Services).

For further information, check the website of AIMA or contact the nearest Portuguese Embassy.

The UAc issues acceptance letters for VISA purposes. After the mobility’s approval, the acceptance letter is available for download at your incoming application.

At the UAc the language of instruction is portuguese, however, we provide a tutorial system in english to Erasmus students. Classes are taught in portuguese, although teachers authorize essays/paper works, examinations or oral presentations in English. Also, the list of recommended literature in most subjects contains a sufficient number of articles/books in English. Nevertheless, the evaluation methods to be used in each course are established by teachers at the beginning of the semester.

Therefore, in order to communicate properly and attend classes successfully, during your mobility period, it’s absolutely important having the following language proficiency upon your arrival:

Portuguese level B1

or

English level B1

Since 2016/2017 the European linguistic platform (OLS) offers you a course in Portuguese and English languages. We strongly recommend that you evaluate your level of knowledge of the language (Portuguese or English), and, if needed, take the course online. Ask your University for access to OLS.

Please note that the University of the Azores is not responsible for academic failures nor any other misunderstanding related to your mobility procedures due to the lack of language skills.

During school semesters, the University of the Azores offers Portuguese Foreign Language classes (PLE). It is a unique opportunity for students to improve their portuguese language skills.

The PLE course has an administrative fee of €25,00, non-refundable. Students must apply to the portuguese course at Inforestudante at “Appplications”, “Degrees”. Once the application is submited, the fee must be paid by credit card only. For further assistance regarding the portuguese course application please contact the Academic Services queroestudar@uac.pt

Deadlines for PLE on-line application:

1st Semester (Winter/Autumn Semester) – April 15th to June 30th (levels A1 and A2, calendar will be sent in September).
2nd Semester (Spring/Summer Semester) – October 1st to November 30th ( the availability of the course will be confirmed later).

At the end of the course, and in case of approval, students may request, at the Academic Services (the request can be done on-line in Inforestudante), the diploma of the PLE course. The diploma costs 10€.

In the 2nd semester will be offered starting the first day of classes – level A1 only and at Ponta Delgada campus.

The PLE provides you with 6 ECTS (if you succeed) and it may be included in the Learning Agreement upon your arrival.

The PLE will only be offered for Ponta Delgada campus’ students with a minimum of 10 students enrolled.

Students who don´t apply to the PLE will not be selected!

The choice of courses will depend on the degree that students are enrolled in their home universities. Students may choose courses from our undergraduate and master’s degrees, according to the availability of the courses.

Students must keep in mind that the first course selection may not be the final selection, changes may occur upon arrival for several reasons such as: timetable conflicts or even course availability. Your course selection must respect the bilateral agreement study area.

At the UAc, each school has an Erasmus coordinator. The Erasmus coordinator is responsible for the organisation of your courses and Learning agreement. Please get in touch with the respective coordinator to find out more about the options available to you.

Find out who is your Erasmus Coordinator in the Arriving at the UAc section.

For more information regarding our study plans, please check our course catalog.

Academic Calendar UAc 24-25

Academic calendar UAc 24-25 Nursing

UAc’s Students Residence

Our students residences are able to house up to 250 students in Ponta Delgada: Laranjeiras Residence (São Miguel Island) and 90 in Angra do Heroísmo: Morrão Residence (Terceira Island). They are fully furnished and equipped, offering students comfort and safety at reasonable prices. Check in is open 24h/day.

The University of the Azores also has 4 houses in Horta (Faial island) totally equipped.

Laranjeiras Residence

Rua Dr. José Maria Caetano Matos

9500 – 116 Ponta Delgada

Morrão Residence

Rua do Morrão, nº 30, 9700 – 105 Angra do Heroísmo

Prices

• Single room: €200/month
• Double room: €145/month

To stay in our residences, it’s mandatory to apply at Servicos On-line. You must register first in order to log in (menu Sign up, and click on New Registration).

Please note, that the application for the accommodation is done in a different platform, thus, another registration is required. Therefore, you cannot use the same username and password given for the Inforestudante application.

For further assistance regarding the accommodation, please contact  sase.alojamento@uac.pt

Be sure to check, before you leave, if you have your reservation confirmed!

The number of rooms for mobility students are limited, therefore, students must apply as soon as possible. Applications received will be handled by order of submission.

Deadline to apply for accommodation:

Winter/Autumn semester: 15/04/24 – 03/06/24

Spring/Summer semester: Available soon

More Information

Since the number of places at our student’s residences are limited, students can also search for private accommodation solutions. You may find renting apartments, with or without furniture, equipped kitchens, bedrooms in family houses or private residences to share with other colleagues. You also may consider booking a hostel or hotel for a couple of days and make your rent contract only after checking the facilities and conditions in the loco.

Please note that you’re responsible for booking your own accommodation in either case.

Here are some of the websites dedicated to finding accommodation in Ponta Delgada/Angra do Heroísmo/Horta managed by private operators:

Home2Study

BQuarto

Custo Justo

Idealista

Imóveis

Airbnb

Facebook

Please note, that the University of the Azores is not responsible for the activities carried out, and the contents conveyed on the websites or the services offered.

Once in Ponta Delgada or Angra do Heroísmo or Horta you can check the bulletin boards on the campus of the University, looking for rooms/apartments listings.

You can also go to the Tourism Office and ask for a list of available rooms/apartments contacts.

Ponta Delgada Tourism Office

Avenida Infante D. Henrique 9500 – 769 Ponta Delgada

+351 296 308 625/6/7/8

info.turismo@azores.gov.pt

http://www.visitazores.travel

Angra do Heroísmo Tourism Office

Rua Direita, 70/74

9700-066 Angra do Heroísmo

+351 295 21 33 93

 pt.de.ter@azores.gov.pt

 http://www.visitazores.travel

In Portugal, health care is provided by the SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde/National Health Services), including public hospitals and health centres. The SNS provides emergency services (permanent medical assistance 24/day).

National Emergency Number: 112

European Union and Swiss students can be included in the SNS system by using the European Health Insurance Card. It’s very important to obtain this card in your home country, since without this card you may be subjected to high prices in order to get medical assistance. Thus, students should contact their local services in advance.

More information about the EHIC here

Students from countries outside the European Union should bring a Health Insurance in order to cover their stay in Portugal. 

In case of emergency, go to the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada and Santo Espírito Hospital in Angra do Heroísmo or the nearest Centro de Saúde (Health Centre).

Upon registration, the UAc provides an insurance for all Incoming students. This insurance is intended to protect you from personal injury occurring in the UAc´s facilities, and off-campus (outdoor classes, study visits, etc), or even during other scheduled academic activities. It also considers the normal route between the university and the student’s residence location.

The student insurance it’s mandatory and it costs €3.25 (paid upon arrival).

UAc students are entitled to medical care through our Social Services. We offer free medical appointments in General Practice, Nutrition, and, as well as, psychological assistance. If you have special needs, we also have a Special Needs Committee that will provide you with the necessary support.

See more information at health support chapter.

Incoming Erasmus students do not pay tuition or fees in the UAc. However, you will have to pay for expenses such as accommodation or meals.

The Erasmus office at your home institution will be able to provide you with information regarding the fees that are payable to them and about any financial assistance that is available to you.

When budgeting, you should be aware that your first few weeks are likely to be more expensive as you prepare and settle into life at the University. Living costs vary from country to country and it’s important to have an idea of the cost of everyday items. You will need to budget carefully to cover all your living costs, which include accommodation, clothes, transport, books, food and entertainment.

Compared to other regions of Europe, the Azores have a low cost of living. Below you may find some prices, just to give you an overall idea of how much things cost in the Azores:

1 coffee: €0.60 – €0.80

1 pack of milk (1 L): €1.00 to €1.20

1 bottle of water (1,5 L): €0.40 (supermarket)

1 small piece of bread: €0.24

1 pack of rice (1 Kg):€1.00 to 1.50

Average meal (take away): €10.00 to €12.00

Full dinner in a middle class restaurant: €15.00 to €17.00

1 cinema ticket: €6.80

1 minibus ticket: €0.50

The weather in the Azores is quite pleasant, however, sometimes can vary dramatically, and you may experience all the seasons in the same day. Located in the temperate area of the Northern Hemisphere, the Azores are characterised by their mild climate throughout the year. Clouds and rain are strong possibility any time of the year, although the summer months – between June and September/October – have longer periods of sunshine and higher temperatures.

It’s never too cold or too hot in the Azores, nevertheless, it’s a good idea to bring a selection of light clothes that you can wear in layers, as well as some warm outer clothing and a waterproof coat or an umbrella.

University – Universidade

Good Morning – Bom dia

Good Afternoon – Boa tarde

Good Evening/Night – Boa Noite

How are you? – Como está?

Please – Por favor

Could you please help me? – Pode ajudar-me, por favor?

Yes – Sim

No – Não

Breakfast – pequeno-almoço

Lunch – almoço

Dinner – jantar

ATM – Multibanco

Bus – Autocarro/minibus