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Practical Information




Portal UMinho > EN > Education > Course Catalogue > Practical Information

 Practice

​​informacoes praticas.jpg

How to get to UMinho​

Braga and Guimarães​

Support for students

Support for learning

Accomodation

Food Services

Sports​

​Cost of Living​

Visa and other formalities

EU, EEE and Switzerland Students

Students from European Union member-states, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Switzerland do not need a visa to enter Portugal.

These students are allowed to reside in Portugal for a period of up to 3 months, without any conditions or formalities required, except for a valid identification document or a passport. However, if these students choose to extend their stay over 3 months, they should register for residency (Certificado de Registo) within 30 days of the first 3 months of their arrival in Portugal. That can be done in the City Council of their area of residence.

Third-Countries Students

Students who are nationals of other countries must obtain a student resident visa, before they leave their country of origin. The visa application can be placed in the nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate.

Students who enter Portugal through a non-controlled border (in which stamping your passport is not required to stamp) must contact SEF - Immigration and Borders Service - within three days after their arrival, in order to declare their arrival in the country. Past these three days, students who do not do so will be fined.

On arrival these students should also ​request a residency permit with SEF. 
For further information, please contact SEF directly. 

Imigration and Borders Service (SEF)
Loja do Cidadão 
Rua dos Granjinhos, 6 
4710-352 Braga 
Tel.: +351 808241107 
Opening hours: Working days: 8.30 a.m. – 7.30 p.m. 
                                    Saturdays: 9.30 a.m. – 3 p.m.


Financial support for students

Scholarships for Regular Students
Economically disadvantaged students can obtain social support by applying to a study grant. This support provided through the Social Services (SAS) is exclusively focussed on degree seeking students (national or from EU member states) regularly enrolled at Universidade do Minho, in a 1st or 2nd cycle degree course, and is not available for exchange students. 

For more information please visit: http://www.sas.uminho.pt/Default.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=7&pageid=5&lang=pt-PT

Mobility Grants 
In the framework of the exchange programmes UMinho students can receive financial support according to the mobility programme involved. 
For more information please visit: https://alunos.uminho.pt/EN/students/mobilityprograms/Pages/default.aspx


Arrangements for academic guidance

UMinho students can use their respective Educational and Research Units (UOEI) to report any problems that compromise their academic performance. All UMinho faculty have an available timetable for students to contact them, clarify doubts or report problems, academic or otherwise. It should also be noted that all 1st, 2nd or 3rd cycle courses have a Course Director, to whom students can resort to.

The Rectorate of UMinho is responsible for the "Tutoria por Pares" project, which aims to provide a tutorial follow-up to UMinho students in subjects related to their experience as students of Higher Education, such as: knowledge about the structural and functional aspects of the courses and the University; development of peer cooperation relationships; development of personal, social, academic and professional competences that aim at the accomplishment of quality training and professional success. This tutorial system provides a personalized support of students (tutors) to students (tutoring), with a supervision structure throughout the process.

For more information please visit: https://www.uminho.pt/PT/ensino/tutorias-e-mentorias/tutorias


 

Insurance

Students from the European Union and European Economic Area state-member countries are covered by the European Health Insurance Card, which allows them to benefit from Portuguese Social Security, just like any other Portuguese citizen. In order to benefit from this framework, students should contact their local Social Security and request this card, before they travel to Portugal.

Students from outside the EU or the EEE must make sure that, before they travel, they have health insurance that will provide them with medical assistance during their stay in Portugal. Namely, Brazilian students associated with the Brazilian Social Security system can request the PB4 form with the corresponding institution in Brazil, so that they can benefit from health care in Portugal, in parity with Portuguese nationals.

All students, on arrival, must produce proof of health insurance, in order to enroll in the University of Minho.

Additionally, all students benefit from UMinho's insurance, covering: accidents that may happen within the university's facilities (during class time, free time included in the students' schedule, sports or leisure activities, organised or authorised by the university); outside the university's facilities (academic excursions, outdoors classes and internships); on their normal route to and from their residence to the university. This insurance is compulsory and guaranteed upon signing up with UMinho's International Relations Services (SRI), for the sum of approximately € 2.50.

It is important to point out that, in case of an accident, the students must contact SRI immediately, so as to inform the insurance company, through UMinho's Administrator's Office, in order to start all necessary procedures. 

 

Orientation programme

Every year, the International Relations Services (SRI) organise the Orientation Programme. This programme is specifically aimed at exchange students, to introduce them to the University of Minho. During this initiative, students can visit the university's facilities and gather information concerning all issues to do with their study period here. They will get to know the SRI team and all the other foreign students participating in exchange programmes.

It is important that all future UMinho students take part in the Orientation Programme, in order to get all the relevant information to make their stay in Portugal and UMinho easier.

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Electronic services

The University of Minho has many computer rooms on both campi, which can be used by all students upon presentation of the student card. Access to the Internet and e-mail is available and free of charge for all students, teaching and non-teaching staff. UMinho has several Virtual Learning Environments and digital platforms to support the teaching, learning and training process. A concrete example is the e-learning platform, where all the pedagogical materials of the Curricular Units in which the student is enrolled are made available.

For more information: https://alunos.uminho.pt/EN/Pages/servicoseletronicos.aspx


Transportation

The University of Minho's students can benefit from discounts on local public transportation. During enrollment, students can request a declaration that can be presented, with a photograph, at Transportes Urbanos de Braga - TUB/SM or Transportes Urbanos de Guimarães - TUG, to request their "passe" (public transportation pass).

In addition to public transportation, UMinho also has its own transportation service, ensuring the daily connection between both campi, at regular intervals. The campi connection bus schedule, from Monday to Friday, can be accessed here: www.aaum.pt/index.php/transportes


Banks

In the Gualtar Campus, there is one branche, open from Monday to Friday:

- Caixa Geral de Depósitos

Opening hours: 8.30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

In both campi, there are several ATMs available.

There are several other branches available just outside the university.

Students who want to open a bank account should produce their identification documents or passport, plus their tax number and their student card. The tax number can be obtained in the Tax Office (Repartição das Finanças) or in the Loja do Cidadão.    

    

Shopping

Shops in the centres of Braga and Guimarães are diverse and can be found mainly around pedestrian streets. In both cities there are multiple shops from well-known European brands, as well as local and national products.

Most shops are open Monday to Saturday. Shops usually close on Sundays and national holidays. Most supermarkets are open till later. Large supermarkets (hypermarkets) are open from Monday to Sundays.

There are also several shopping centres, open every day, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m..

There are also street markets in Braga and Guimarães every week, where you can find a variety of fresh and home-made products.

 

Leisure activities

The cities of Braga and Guimarães have a lot to offer, on what concerns cultural activities. Other than monuments, art galleries, associations and cultural dissemination areas, a cultural guide is published monthly, featuring detailed information concerning main events, such as concerts, plays, exhibitions and other events. The guide also features information concerning the main yearly events.

There are various cafés, bars, theatres, cinemas and clubs where students can have fun, watch the most recent films or plays, or just talk and enjoy their friends' company.

UMinho has modern sports facilities, with two multisport pavillions, one in each campus. There, students can have access to a wide array of sports.

Both cities also have a set of sports infrastructures that offer sports practice, such as swimming pools, gymnasiums, among others.

  • Universidade do
    Minho
  • Largo do Paço
    4704-553 Braga
  • T.:253 601 100, 253 601 109
    E.: gcii@reitoria.uminho.pt
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