GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Please write this report in English
Name of the University: Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Names of the students: Christiane Foss
Exchange semester:
Fall 2008
1. ACADEMIC INFORMATION
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General Information about the School
The school is located in nice surroundings, on one of Lisbon’s seven hillsides, Colègio de
Campolide, about 10 minutes with the metro from the city center. The buildings are quite
old, but are nice and historical. Nova is the leading business school in Portugal.
Economics and business are the main areas in the undergraduate program. On the
master program Nova has good management courses, approved by EQUIS and AMBA.
The school is fairly small in comparison to BI; the school has a total of ca 1500 students,
where 1200 are undergraduates, 200 master students and approximately 100 exchange
students. Nova has mostly undergraduate students, so the variety of courses are greatest
in this area, but Nova’s graduate programs, special the management courses has good
recognition. The study structure is not so “self study” centered as BI, whit three lectures in
each course every week. The semester is divided into two with mid-terms ca half way into
the semester and a final exam at the end of the semester.
The Teaching situation
 The courses are taught in English, and there was no problem with regards to the quality if
the English skills of the professors. The level of study in quite high in Nova, the school
work takes quite a lot time, while the effectivity of what is done may not be at the most
productive (this because of the way the Portuguese structure themselves). The teaching
is divided into two part, one theoretical (2 lessons à 1, 5 hours) and one practical (1, 5
hours) in each course. The professor goes through the curriculum in the theoretical
lessons, while a student assistant has the responsibility for the practical courses where
we do exercises related to the course. The courses also have a lot of group work and/or a
mid-term exam. The work load is quite much in comparison to BI, as it is expected to do
homework in the practical classes. This gives a bit of high school feeling, rather than the
self study that is usual at BI. The faculty staff is helpful and the lecturer has a good
relationship to the students since the school is so small it is so small the classes are
much smaller than at BI.
Required Literature
 All the literature to the courses is available in English. The level of literature is the same
as at BI, Nova uses the “normal” international literature books. The exams are based on
both the theoretical part, and the practical part. The exam problems are highly related to
the practical classes, and it is therefore important to attend these classes to get the
required knowledge for the exam. Especial since (almost) nothing of the things done in
both the practical or theoretical is posted on the school page (its not like Blackboard).
Exams
 I was given written exams in all courses. One mid term (30%) and one final exam (70%),
both of is 2 hours. The exams were highly related to the practical classes.
Other
The library was ok; they had the literature related to the courses. Nova has good access to
computers at the faculty.
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Name and code of the course
Prerequisites, if any
Exam form
Comments: Relevance, Difficult/easy, Practical/theoretical, Enrolment problems
Courses:
1203 Finance
Basic pre-requiring: Basic financial management
Exams: The course grade was divided into several parts, group cases (20%), mid-term (20%),
quizzes (10%) and final exam (50%).
Comments: The professor and student assistant showed good teaching skills. This was one
of the best courses at Nova. Quite a lot of work, but everything was relevant for the exam. Not
a problem to pass if you follow the lectures and to all the required work.
Equivalent course at BI: Financial Decision Making
1109 The Global Economy
Basic pre requiring: Principles of macroeconomics and Principles of microeconomics.
Exams: Mid term (30%) and final exam (70%).
Comments: Interesting course that focus on trade and exchange rates. Not a problem to
pass, as long as you attend the practical lessons (which have a really good professor).
Equivalent course at BI: International economics and trade.
1107 Macroeconomic Policies
Basic pre requiring: Macroeconomics
Exams: Two mid terms (à 25 %), and a final exam (50%).
Comments: Very interesting course with a good professor, but the course is really demanding.
The level is high, and it is important to have good pre requiring in deriving. To pass you need
to do both the mid terms and the final exam with good results. The course literature is
provided by the lecturer after each lecture, so it is important to attend the classes. Both the
theoretical and practical classes are very important to attend to pass this course.
Equivalent course at BI: Macroeconomics and Financial Markets.
1306 Econometrics
Pre requiring: Algebra
Exams: Mid term (30%) and final exam (70%).
Comments: The practical lessons are the most important classes to follow to pass the course.
Equivalent course at BI: Empirical Methods in Finance
2. PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL AND THE EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE
Information before you left
 I got information from the school in the end of June. All information prior to the first school
day was provided by e-mail. No difficulties. I didn’t get much information on before hand,
but the school web pages are a good source to information.
Visa Procedure and travel experiences
I didn’t need a Visa.( Some told me that I should have had it since I was there for more than 3
months, but nobody told me this before I left, and I did not experience any difficulties
regarding this). TAP has direct flights from Oslo to Lisbon; it is possible to get relatively cheap
flight tickets if you book in good time before departure. The flight takes 4 hours.
Academic Calendar
Welcome meeting was on the 11th of September, lectures started on the 15th on September.
The last day of classes was the 12 th of December, and the first round of exam started on the
5th of January and ended on the 14th of January.
Reception
The reception was nice, with a welcome meeting for the exchange students were we got all
the information we needed to register to the courses etc. We got a tour around the school,
and had a snack after were we got to meet all the exchange students. There was a welcome
dinner for the exchange students, and the school had a welcome/back to school party on the
first week of school. Only the exchange students participated on the welcome meeting.
Housing
I did not have a place to stay before I got to Lisbon. Student assistants were open to helping
find an apartment. They even went to see the apartment with some students because the
level of English for most of the Portuguese is low. It is useful to use the erasmuslisboa.com to
find available apartments and/or to find/ get in contact with other students that you can share
an apartment with.
Costs
The costs are relatively low. I had to pay 225 Euros for a room in an apartment central
located. A month rent costs between 200-300 Euros. Books cost around 30-40 Euros. Food is
cheap, and it costs around 10 Euros for a meal, with drinks on a restaurant.
The International Office
There is an international office at the school. They are helpful and you get all the information
needed there.
Social Activities
The relationship between the exchange students is really good. Since the school is so small
you see everybody everyday and get to know almost all the exchange student at the school.
The Portuguese students keep to themselves. Erasmus Lisboa arranges parties every week
and they also arrange some trips around Portugal and to Spain (Madrid).
Culture and Language
There was no problem to use only English to get by in Lisbon. But the school offers at free
language course that is ok to attend to get some basic Portuguese knowledge.
Cultural and Social Effects from the Exchange Experience
The time issue was one of the most different things I had to adjust to, the relaxed and
laid back attitude to time is totally different to the Scandinavian stressed environment.
Any other experience
The exchange was an amazing experience. When you live in a different culture for
some time you see the different values and life that people have. To get so close to a
totally different culture and life style was a good experience. Portugal also has a
beautiful nature and there is a lot of cultural things to experience.
Names and e-mails:
Christiane Foss, christiane.foss@student.bi.no