Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula in the southwestern corner of Europe, and is bordered by Spain to the north and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. Its location contributed to its status as a pioneer in maritime exploration and to the array of cultural influences reflected in its architecture, music, arts, and cuisine.
With a population of almost 3 million, Lisbon is Portugal’s cultural and financial hub and one of Europe’s safest and most affordable capital cities. It has retained much of its distinctive flavor and boasts remarkable diversity, with large communities from such far-flung locales as Mozambique, Cape Verde, Macao, Indonesia, Angola, and Brazil.
About the Program
The Lisbon program, offered through Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ affiliation with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), is based at the Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE) and Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Both university partners offer a wide range of academic programs and are elite institutions drawing Portugal’s strongest students. A series of excursions and cultural programming will complement the academic program.
All students will enroll in one Portuguese language course at their appropriate level. In addition, students will choose their remaining three classes from a broad menu of courses taught in English at ISCTE or Universidade Nova. More information about the course offerings, including descriptions and (in some cases) full syllabi can be found here.
ACADEMIC FOCUS
This program can accommodate students in a variety of academic areas, including anthropology, art history, economics, history, IR, management and entrepreneurship, media and society, music, philosophy, and politics. Lisbon is an ideal location for the study of the impact of colonialism and globalization on human rights, law, public policy, and ethnic or national identity. Internship and community service/service learning opportunities are available and offer a unique way to learn more about Portuguese culture and society. Those with advanced Portuguese language skills may choose from an even wider array of courses.
This program is open to juniors and seniors in good academic and social standing who have a minimum GPA of 2.75. Due to the challenging nature of study abroad, student academic and disciplinary records will be carefully screened.
Students will reside in fully-furnished rooms in a student residence alongside other CIEE participants and international students enrolled at local universities. Students will have access to common space and shared kitchens to prepare meals, with grocery stores, restaurants, and an array of cultural amenities nearby.
This program includes a variety of excursions designed to provide students with an overview of Portugal’s distinctive regions and rich history, including its unique maritime tradition. Destinations typically include Mafra, Obidos, Sintra (home of the National Palace), and either Coimbra or Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city whose historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Students will be charged standard HWS tuition and fees, room fees, and a $600 administrative fee. This will cover tuition for a four-course semester, health insurance, housing, and program-related activities and excursions. Note that no HWS board fee will be charged. Students should plan to bring their board fee to cover meal expenses throughout the program.
Additional expenses not covered include airfare, visa, books, meals, and personal expenses (laundry, entertainment, ground transportation, and independent travel). We estimate airfare for this program at $800-$1,000 from the East Coast, visa at $200, and books at $200. It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of personal expenses because student spending habits differ considerably. We would suggest a minimum of $1,500 above and beyond meal expenses. However, students on a tight budget should be able to manage with less. If you are concerned about finances we strongly encourage you to talk to the CGE staff who can offer information and advice based on your specific situation.
HWS students must complete all components of the Global Education application in order to be considered for admission to this program.
- This program is offered every semester.
- All components of the application must be submitted online by the published deadline. Specific deadline dates are set each semester and typically will be in late September/early October (for Fall programs) and late February/early March (for Spring programs).
Program Handbook
IMPORTANT: The handbook(s) below is/are the most recent handbook(s) published for this program. A new version, with updated information, will be made available each semester. Program participants will receive their updated handbook approximately 2-3 months prior to their program’s start date.
FALL HANDBOOK / SPRING HANDBOOK
Please DO NOT MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS until you have received final confirmation of the program start/finish dates for the specific semester you are attending. Dates included in versions of the program handbook intended for previous semesters do not necessarily apply to future programs.
NOTE: The information above is subject to change. Please see the CGE for more information.
Resources for Smart Travelers
Rick Steve's Packing Tips!
