Erasmus Incoming

* Independent ObipNOVA 2020 report on NOVA IMS graduates.
** Employment rate measured according to active graduates.

Important Information:

The NOVA IMS Board has established a numerus clausus of 60 mobility students per semester. Selection is made on a first come, first served basis (subject to nomination and complete application).

Fall Semester / Full Academic Year

• Nominations: March 15 to May 31
• Applications and supporting documents: July 1

Spring Semester

• Nominations: August 1 to November 1
• Applications and supporting documents: December 1

After these deadlines, we will not be able to accept further applications.

Partner universities must submit the official nomination to NOVA IMS by completing the online Nomination Form (preferred). All relevant information and instructions for online nominations will be sent to partner institutions by email in March (Fall Semester) and August (Spring Semester).

Alternatively, partner universities may email the list of nominated students to the NOVA IMS Erasmus Office: erasmus@novaims.unl.pt .

NOVA IMS will contact the selected students by email with instructions and the list of required documents to proceed with the mobility process.

After nomination, students will receive instructions on how to access the ONLINE Application Form.

• Learning Agreement
  • OLA – Online Learning Agreement (preferred), or
  • Learning Agreement for Studies (hard copy), duly completed, signed, and stamped by the sending institution
• Transcript of Records (English version only)
• Copy of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
  • For non-European Erasmus exchange students: Health Insurance certificate (English version)
    (Insurance must be valid for the entire period of stay.)
• Statement of Responsibility (document provided by the NOVA IMS Erasmus Office)
• Passport-size photo

Important notes:

• The Transcript of Records must be an official document issued by the sending institution.
• The Learning Agreement must be signed by all parties before the mobility period starts and must include all educational components to be carried out at the receiving institution.

The Receiving Institution:
Name: Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Faculty/Department: NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS)
Erasmus code: P LISBOA03
Address: Campus de Campolide 1070-312 Lisboa
Country: Portugal
Contact person: Ana Sousa / Catarina Silva / Hugo Caldeira
Email: erasmus@novaims.unl.pt 
Phone number: +351 213 828 610

Responsible person in the Receiving Institution:
Name: Hugo Gaspar Caldeira
Function: Erasmus Coordinator
Phone number: +351 213 828 610
Email: hcaldeira@novaims.unl.pt 

• English proficiency: at least B2 level.

Mobility students attend courses taught in English. Students should have a solid command of English in order to successfully follow classes and complete coursework.

An Acceptance Letter will be issued upon request by the student.

To view the academic calendar, please click here.

NOVA IMS Academic Services will contact students regarding the required procedures.

Please note that the registration process will only start after the Learning Agreement has been duly signed by:

• the student, and
• the responsible persons at both the sending and receiving institutions.

Welcome Day usually takes place in the week before classes begin. Attendance is strongly recommended, although not mandatory.

If you are not able to arrive on the official start date, you must request permission from the NOVA IMS Erasmus Coordinator.

Please note that NOVA IMS does not accept students who arrive more than two weeks after the start of the semester.

Requests to change the Learning Agreement must be submitted within 10 days after the start of classes.

Any changes must be approved by:

• the Erasmus Coordinator at the sending institution, and
• the Erasmus Coordinator at NOVA IMS.

Students should carefully check, for each course unit:

• the exam calendar,
• attendance requirements (physical presence in the classroom), and
• the assessment methods.

The academic calendar and exam periods (1st and 2nd) are the same for all NOVA IMS students.

• If you fail the 1st exam period, you must take the 2nd exam period in order to pass (please consult the exam calendar).
• Please note that in many course units there is no 1st-period exam. In those cases, the 1st period corresponds to continuous assessment, and the 2nd period corresponds to a final exam (non-continuous assessment).
• Missing an exam does not automatically result in a grade of zero (0).

Students should not plan to travel before the end of the exam period.

At NOVA IMS, grades are awarded on a 0–20 scale, in accordance with the Portuguese grading system. The minimum passing grade is 10.

ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) supports transparency and academic recognition across the European Higher Education Area. ECTS credits reflect learning outcomes and the associated student workload.

As a reference:

• A standard semester workload is typically 30 ECTS.
• NOVA IMS Bachelor’s programmes comprise 180 ECTS.
• NOVA IMS Master’s programmes comprise 95 or 120 ECTS.

For a description of the institutional grading system, please click here.

NOVA IMS Academic Services is responsible for issuing the Transcript of Records for course units completed at NOVA IMS.

• The Transcript of Records is issued after the exchange period and must be requested through NOVA IMS Academic Services.
• The Transcript of Records can only be issued after the end of the 2nd exam period.
• It confirms that the student was assessed and includes the grades obtained.
• Non-attendance of exams will not be mentioned in the Transcript of Records.
• Students can also check their grades via NetP@.

Please note:

• NOVA IMS does not issue certificates of class attendance.
• We are not able to provide a declaration of attendance, as attendance records are not centrally managed by Academic Services.

As a general rule, almost all course units are taught in English whenever international students are enrolled, unless an imperative reason prevents this.

Limitations and Restrictions on Course Registration

• Limited number of places: All course units have a limited number of vacancies.
• Elective course units are only offered if a minimum number of students enrol. Confirmation can only be given during the enrolment period.
• The list of available course units may change, as places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
• Some course units require prior knowledge of statistics/econometrics or computing/programming and may require prior approval from the course coordinator.
• Students must enrol in course units corresponding to the same cycle of studies they attend at their sending institution. Master’s students may attend undergraduate course units only in exceptional cases.
• There are course units in which Erasmus students cannot enrol.

Timetable Overlaps

Some course units may have overlapping schedules. To minimise this risk, we strongly recommend:

• Preferred option: Select course units from the same programme and year (no risk of timetable overlap).
• Alternative option: Select course units from the same programme across adjacent years (e.g. 1st and 2nd year or 2nd and 3rd year), which involves a moderate risk of overlap.

For further details, please consult our Fact Sheet.

Please note that Portuguese language courses are not taught at NOVA IMS and are therefore not offered on the NOVA IMS campus.

The NOVA University of Lisbon School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH) offers several language courses, including Portuguese as a Foreign Language, specifically designed for international and mobility students. Classes take place at NOVA FCSH facilities located at:

Av. de Berna, n.º 26–C, 1050-099 Lisbon, Portugal

Students should contact NOVA FCSH directly:

• E-mail: cursoportugues@fcsh.unl.pt
• Websites:
  • www.fcsh.unl.pt
  • http://ple.fcsh.unl.pt/
  • https://ple.fcsh.unl.pt/en/semester-course/ 

Special Conditions

Erasmus+ students from other NOVA University schools who include Portuguese as a Foreign Language in their Learning Agreement may benefit from special fees.

Transcript / Certification

Since Portuguese language courses are not taught at NOVA IMS, the Transcript of Records issued by NOVA IMS Academic Services will not include this course. As the course is offered by another faculty, students will receive a separate certificate issued by NOVA FCSH.

Please ensure in advance that this certificate can be accepted by your home institution.

Within the scope of Erasmus+ mobility, NOVA IMS may host students for academic traineeships, namely:

• traineeships linked to a Bachelor’s or Master’s final project/thesis; or
• other activities directly related to the student’s academic pathway (curricular traineeships).

As a rule, NOVA IMS does not host professional or extra-curricular internships, and most traineeships carried out at the University are unpaid, as NOVA IMS does not operate as an employer nor offer regular internship positions.

Students may contact directly:

• a faculty member; or
• a research lab or research centre at NOVA IMS,

in order to explore the possibility of carrying out an academic traineeship, subject to its relevance to the student’s academic background and the availability of supervision.

When contacting faculty members or research units, students should clearly indicate:

• the purpose of the traineeship and its academic relevance;
• why the selected research unit/lab is suitable for their objectives;
• the proposed dates and a brief description of the activities to be carried out;
• language proficiency level (recommended).

Administrative and academic status

Students undertaking Erasmus+ Traineeships:

• do not enrol as students at NOVA IMS;
• cannot attend curricular units or follow courses;
• do not receive a NOVA IMS student card;
• do not receive a NOVA IMS institutional email account.

Traineeships are governed by a Learning Agreement for Traineeships, and students are required to submit the documentation applicable to Erasmus+ mobility, duly adapted to the traineeship framework.

EU / EEA / Swiss Citizens

Students who are nationals of EU / EEA / Swiss (EU/EFTA) countries do not need a visa to study in Portugal.

EU/EEA/Swiss students who stay in Portugal for more than 3 months must apply for the EU Citizen Registration Certificate (CRUE – Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia) at the local City Council of their place of residence, within 30 days after the first three months in Portugal.

Useful information:

• https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/documents-formalities/registering-residence/index_en.htm 
• https://informacoeseservicos.lisboa.pt/en/services/detail/european-union-citizen-registration-certificate (Lisbon City Council)

Students Holding a Residence Permit Issued by Another EU Member State (Intra-EU Mobility)

Students holding a valid residence permit issued by another EU Member State, and who are covered by:

• a European Union or multilateral mobility programme, or
• an agreement between two or more higher education institutions,

are authorised to enter Portugal for study purposes, provided that the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) is informed up to 30 days before the start of the mobility period.

The mobility notification should preferably be sent by email to AIMA’s institutional mailbox: comunicacao.mobilidade.ue@aima.gov.pt 

The email must be accompanied by the required documentation, including:

• Model Form 6;
• Copy of the valid residence permit issued by the EU Member State;
• Copy of a valid passport (biographical data and relevant pages such as stamps or visas);
• Proof of admission to a higher education institution under a mobility programme or inter-institutional agreement;
• Criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or from the country where the applicant resided for more than one year prior to Portugal (EU-issued documents are exempt from further legalisation);
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence;
• Proof of health insurance;
• Proof of payment of the applicable fee, by bank transfer to the IBAN indicated on the form.

Fee: €28.40 (in accordance with Order no. 307/2023 of 13 October).

Students meeting the conditions set out in Article 91.º-A will be issued a declaration authorising their stay in Portuguese territory and granting the rights provided for by law.

More information:
https://aima.gov.pt/pt/estudar/mobilidade-de-estudantes-do-ensino-superior-art-91-o-a 

Non-EU Students

Applicants from non-EU countries generally need a visa to study in Portugal.

To determine whether a visa is required and how to apply, students must contact the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence.

Processing times may vary significantly depending on the country and volume of applications. Students are therefore advised to submit a complete visa application at least two months before departure, whenever possible.

ETIAS (from 2026)

Starting in 2026, the ETIAS travel authorisation will become an entry requirement for non-EU visa-exempt nationals travelling to Portugal and other Schengen countries. Further details will be provided closer to its implementation.

Documents for Visa Purposes

If you require any official document for visa or entry purposes (such as an Acceptance Letter), please do not hesitate to contact us.

You can find information regarding visas and entry in Portugal at:

• Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas;
• Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA);
• VISA - Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Please note that admission to NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) does not include accommodation or a guaranteed room in a university residence hall.

NOVA University of Lisbon has 3 residence halls available for students from its faculties. More information is available here: https://sas.unl.pt/en/accommodation/ 

These residences are intended for students, teachers, and researchers, with priority generally given to Portuguese scholarship holders and international students participating in mobility programmes. As the number of places is limited, many incoming students need to find accommodation independently on the private market.

For practical guidance and useful information, please see:
https://www.novaims.unl.pt/pt/ensino/alunos/programas-de-mobilidade/erasmus/useful-information/ 

Please note that the information provided on the external websites mentioned above is the responsibility of the respective organisations.

Rede 1/4 (Room Network)

NOVA University of Lisbon has created Rede 1/4, a platform designed to connect people who have available rooms with those looking for accommodation in the Greater Lisbon area. The service is supported by a network of partners and a dedicated multidisciplinary team.

More information:
https://www.novaims.unl.pt/en/education/students/rede/ 

All EU/EEA exchange and Free Mover students must hold and provide NOVA IMS (before the start of the semester) a valid copy of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC allows access to medically necessary healthcare through Portugal’s public healthcare system, under the same conditions as residents.

Please note that the EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. We therefore strongly recommend that students take out additional private insurance to fully cover their stay abroad (e.g., medical expenses not covered by the public system, repatriation, accidents, and liability).

NOVA IMS is located at the Campolide Campus, which offers several facilities and services, including student residences, food services, ATM facilities, health services, and spaces for leisure and physical activities. In addition, NOVA IMS provides dedicated student support services such as Academic Services, IT Support, and Library and Documentation Services.

Academic Services

Academic Services provide support and information on topics such as enrolment, timetables, and key academic schedules, including the Academic Calendar and Exam Periods.

IT Support

All enrolled NOVA IMS students have access to IT Helpdesk support. The IT Department also provides access to a range of software tools for teaching and research purposes, including (among others) ESRI, Clark Labs, Microsoft, MicroStrategy, OutSystems, QlikView, SAP, SAS, and Sybase.

Library and Documentation Services

Specialised in Statistics and Information Management, the NOVA IMS Library supports students, faculty, and researchers by providing access to essential documentation and information resources.

The Library gives access to thousands of books, theses, and dissertations (in print and digital formats), as well as full-text electronic journals and scientific databases such as JSTOR, Emerald, Wiley Blackwell, and b-on (Online Knowledge Library), with access to a wide range of international scientific publications.

Click here for more Useful Information.

Lisbon has long been a meeting point of people, cultures, and ideas. Often called the City of Seven Hills, it is known for its distinctive light, historic neighbourhoods, and the way tradition and modern life blend naturally throughout the city.

As you explore Lisbon, you will find details that reflect its heritage — from the famous azulejos (decorative tiles) on building façades to the ironwork balconies and streets that still preserve the character of “old Lisbon”.

Lisbon is generally a welcoming city, and it is often possible to communicate in English, especially among younger people and in central areas.

Getting around and nearby places

Lisbon has a good public transport network. Within a short distance you can also visit:

• the beaches of Cascais and Costa da Caparica, and
• the historic town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Culture and lifestyle

The city offers a wide range of cultural activities, museums, concerts, and events throughout the year.

Lisbon — and Portugal — is also widely appreciated for its food culture. You will find everything from traditional Portuguese restaurants to international cuisine, often at accessible prices. Seafood is especially popular, as well as dishes such as bacalhau (codfish), grilled sardines, and the famous Pastéis de Belém.

Practical information (shops, pharmacies, banks)

• Shops are typically open Monday to Friday, often from around 9:30 to 19:00, and many shopping centres are open daily (commonly 10:00 to 23:00).
• Pharmacies usually operate on weekdays during business hours, and Portugal has an on-duty pharmacy system (Farmácias de Serviço) for extended hours, including evenings and overnight.
• Banks are generally open on weekdays (commonly 08:30 to 15:00). ATMs are widely available and easily identified by the MB (Multibanco) symbol, allowing cash withdrawals and several services (e.g., bill payments, mobile top-ups, and public transport card top-ups).

Lisbon offers a great balance between a friendly study environment and a vibrant lifestyle — with culture, nature, sport, and many places to explore.

Welcome to Lisbon!