PORTUGAL : A STUDENT ’S GUIDE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION I. Country details II. How to get here III. Official requirements IV. Health V. Student concessions and accommodation VI. Transport system VII. Communications VIII. Services IX. Education system and higher education: a brief description X. Culture and places to visit XI. Useful links XII. Sources and related links I. Country Details The Azores islands are located in the Area – 92.142 km2 Atlantic Ocean between the European and Population – 10.599.095 thousand (2006) Portugal is situated at the south-west point American continents. The archipelago Capital - Lisbon of Europe and includes the Madeira and covers 2,355 km2 and is made up of 9 Currency - Euro Azores archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean. Language - Portuguese islands - São Miguel and Santa Maria in the Religion - Roman Catholic Eastern Group; Terceira, Graciosa, São Portugal’s Territorial Organization is formed Jorge, Pico and Faial in the Central Group; by three territorial areas: the Archipelagos and Flores and Corvo in the Western Group. of the Azores and Madeira (autonomous It takes about two hours to get from the regions) and the mainland (which includes Azores to mainland Portugal by plane. 18 districts). The Madeira archipelago has an area of 741 Mainland Portugal, located on the Iberian km2 and it is located in the mid-Atlantic Peninsula in the south-western corner of about 500 km from the African coast and Europe, occupies an area of 88,889 km2. It 1,000 km from the European continent. It has 832 km of Atlantic coast and a 1,215 km consists of the islands of Madeira and Porto border with Spain. Santo and the uninhabited island groups of the Desertas and Selvagens (which are now Natural Reserves). It is at 1½ hours flying time from Lisbon. Image Source: http://europa.eu - 2 - CLIMATE In spite of Portugal’s small In the Archipelagos of the Azores and LANGUAGE Of Latin origin, Portuguese territory, its climate varies significantly Madeira the temperatures are mild all year is the third most widely spoken European from one region to another since it is round, especially in Madeira, which language in the world and is the mother influenced by the relief, latitude and subtropical characteristics makes tongue of about 200 million people. It is proximity to the sea. Even so, it generally temperatures vary between 24 ºC in also the official language in: Angola, Cape offers mild winters, when compared to the summer and 19 ºC in winter. The sea Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São rest of Europe and hot and dry summers, temperature is also very pleasant all year Tomé and Príncipe (in Africa), Brazil (in particularly in the inland areas. Because of round in both autonomous regions. South America) and East Timor (in Asia). the sea’s influence, temperatures are slightly lower in the coastal areas. RELIGION The majority of Portuguese are Catholics. Even so the Portuguese In spite of the mild temperatures, in the Constitution guarantees religious freedom, North region, particularly inland, it gets which results in the presence of different cold and there is some snowfall (mainly in religions in Portugal: Christians (Protestants Serra da Estrela mountains, the highest of various denominations and Orthodox), point in mainland Portugal). There are often Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, etc. warm and sunny days in autumn, especially Fátima is one of the greatest Catholic in November – the so called "St. Martin’s sanctuaries of the world. Summer" as this saint’s day is on 11 November. - 3 - II. How to get here BY LAND , you can cross the Portugal- In Portugal we drive on the right . Seat- Spain border through Valença do Minho belts are obligatory as well as the helmet for moped or motorbike riders. Lisbon’s airport is the city's main (E01/A3), Chaves (N532), Bragança international gateway and all overland (E82/IP4), Guarda/Vilar Formoso (E80/IP5), When driving you should carry with you the connections are, of course, through Spain. Elvas (E90/A6/IP7), Serpa (N260) and Vila following documentation : Personal ID, Driving licence, Motor insurance certificate, Vehicle Real de Santo António (E1/IP1). There are BY PLANE There are international registration or equivalent, Vehicle logbook no longer any border controls. (livrete) or equivalent. airports at Lisbon, Oporto, Faro, Funchal (Madeira), Ponta Delgada (São Miguel Most petrol stations are open between 8.00 am BUSES are slower and less comfortable Island-Azores) and Lages (Terceira Island- to midnight; however some are open 24 hours-a- than trains, but cheaper - especially for an day. In the big cities, motorways and dual- Azores). TAP Air Portugal is the national under-26, student or senior. Two of the carriageways have service stations open 24 airline and it has multiple daily flights to options for European long-distance bus hours-a-day. Lisbon from Porto and Faro, and carriers travel are Eurolines and Busabout . The maximum level of alcohol is 0.5 g/l. operating scheduled international services. Maximum speeds: cities and built-up areas: 50 Km/h; main roads: 90 km/h; highways: 120 km/h. Insurance is obligatory. - 4 - BY TRAIN Daily international trains run between Paris-Lisbon (Sud Express), crossing the frontier at Vilar Formoso; between Lisbon- Madrid, crossing the frontier at Marvão; and between Oporto-Vigo, crossing the frontier at Valença. The two main rail crossings are at Vilar Formoso (the Paris to Lisbon line) and at Marvão (the Madrid to Lisbon line). There are two standard long-distance rail journeys into Portugal. Both take the TGV Atlantique from Paris to Irún (in Spain), where you must change trains. Sud-Expresso connects every day Paris TGV to Portugal, crossing Hendaye/Irún (Spain) and the border at Vilar Formoso (Fuentes de Oñoro in Spain), continuing to Coimbra and Lisbon. Lusitânia Comboio Hotel – This journey runs from Irún to Madrid, crossing into Portugal at Marvão and on to Lisbon. Source: http:/www.cp.pt For further information please see the section VI - “Transport System ” or the links below: Estradas de Portugal, SA (only in Portuguese) Caminhos-de-ferro Portugueses (Portuguese Railway Company) Sata International - 5 - III. Official Requirements Citizens from other countries not mentioned Schengen Country) should request to the above need a visa to enter Portugal. It can Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF in Citizens of the European Union (EU), be requested at any Portuguese Embassy or the address quoted below) the card of European Economic Area (EEA – Andorra, Consulate in their country. residence within 3 months after their Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) as well arrival. All EU citizens are entitled to this as Switzerland need only an identity card Under the terms of the Schengen card, which is valid for one year and can be to enter Portugal. Minors must also present Agreement, flights between Schengen states extended for equal periods. This request authorization from their parents to travel. are considered to be internal flights, should be submitted to the Serviço de therefore passengers do not need to Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (Immigration For visits of under 90 days, a passport is manage another visa. Office). necessary for visitors from Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, All foreign exchange students coming from For more detailed information contact the Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El non-EU countries should hold a study visa Department of Immigration and Border Control : E-mail: [email protected]/ Tel: (+351) 21 358 Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, obtained at the Portuguese Embassy or 55 00 / Fax: (+351) 21 314 40 53 Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Consulate in their home country, which is Sources and related links: Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, valid for one year. Department of Immigration and Border Control (SEF Romania, San Marino, Singapore, South - Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério dos Negócios Korea, United States, Uruguay, Vatican, As far as students coming from EU Member Estrangeiros) Venezuela and Special Administrative States are concerned, they are allowed in European Youth Portal Regions of the People’s Republic of China in the country upon the presentation of a valid Hong Kong ID card or passport and their entry in and Macao. Portugal is not subject to any control. However, the law states that for stays longer than 3 months these students (coming from any EU Member State or - 6 - IV. Health appropriate medical coverage for the duration of As Portugal assures medical assistance through their studies in Portugal. Many students can its National Health Service, patients do not have According to the Community Regulations on benefit from the International agreements in to pay the entire cost of treatment, medicines, Social Security, nationals from the 27 European which Portugal participates in order to gain x-rays, etc. when they use health centers or Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, access to the Portuguese Social Security System public hospitals. Only the payment of a certain Norway or Switzerland are entitled to the same and through it to the National Health System, percentage of the costs of medicines or other benefits as Portuguese citizens in access to free particularly within the framework of some expenses may be demanded, as well as a or reduced-cost healthcare. In order to have conventions/agreements. standard fee. access to health services, citizens from the above-mentioned countries, who are not For further information about these Citizens from non-EU or non-EEA countries are resident in Portugal, must address and carry the conventions and agreements, students should not covered by the provisions described above. European Health Insurance Cards (provided by contact the social security services in their They are guaranteed medical assistance in the origin country) as well as their passports or home country before travelling to Portugal.