Getting started at Nova SBE

Welcome! Nova SBE is waiting for you

Nova SBE supports the arrival of new students, providing assistance in areas such as mobility and accommodation.

International Students

According to your nationality and/or country of residence (if your country of residence is different from that of your nationality), you should lodge your visa application with the Portuguese Embassy/Consulate closest to you.

Portuguese visa processing can take anywhere from two weeks to up to three months. Hence, it is advisable to apply for Nova SBE as soon as possible and start your visa application as soon as you receive the Acceptance Letter.

Students coming from countries outside the Schengen Area or the Republic of Ireland are required to ask for a Schengen Visa for Studying Purposes "Temporary Stay Visa for Attendance of a Study Program into an Educational Establishment" for longer than three months and up to one year) or a Residence Permit (for stays that could take longer than one year). Please note that you can apply for a Residence Permit once you are in Portugal instead of renewing your Schengen Visa. Do not enter Portugal with a Tourist Visa as you will not be able to renew it.

For more information about the visa application process, click here.

Here you can find Embassy's details around the world:  https://portaldascomunidades.mne.gov.pt/pt/rede-consular/europa.

Remember that the responsibility for initiating and following the visa application process is entirely yours. Nova SBE has no influence on the issuing time to process the visa.

Nova SBE has partnered with Kleya, a company that provides specific services to expats, giving them the possibility of asking for assistance when settling in Portugal. Kleya can help with many different day-to-day life needs, such as setting up a tax number (in Portugal, it's called "NIF"), finding a rental property, checking rental contracts, setting up utilities, cleaning services, etc.

Accommodation

Where to stay? A place you can call home

Deciding where to live is a very personal choice – you should always consider several factores like commuting times, rent prices, available services, activities, etc. For example, finding a place to live closer to the campus may be more practical since it will reduce commuting times, but some students might prefer to be closer to the Lisbon or Cascais City center.

If students with to stay in Lisbon city center, the best area to stay and commute every day to campus are the areas closest to the Cascais train line (Cais do Sodré, Alcântra, Santos, Belém), or more central areas that are closest to subway stations that can quicky take you to Cais do Sodré (green line) or to Terreiro do Paço (blue line). Check the subway map to have a clear understanding of all the lines. (https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/travel/diagrams-and-maps/)

Given the current housing situation in Europe, especially in Lisbon, we kindly encourage you to begin your accommodation search as early as possible to ensure you have the best options available. To help you get started, we recommend taking a look at our housing partners.


Lot of options to choose from

 | Program Rede ¼ - Nova University

The rede ¼ is a project launched by Universidade Nova de Lisboa, aimed at promoting the rental of rooms to university students by families or individuals who have a spare room in their home and are interested in hosting a student. Home sharing goes beyond providing a room - it’s about creating a welcoming, supportive environment. Whether it’s offering companionship or helping with everyday tasks like housekeeping, gardening, tech support, or childcare, your contribution matters. Find out more here: rede 1/4 - Quartos para estudantes a preços acessíveis

 
 | Une-Idades

The Une-Idades program fosters intergenerational home-sharing by bringing together seniors and university students in a mutually beneficial living arrangement. In each match, a senior welcomes a student into their home, offering accommodation in exchange for companionship and light assistance with daily tasks.

More than just a housing solution, UneIdades promotes social inclusion, combats loneliness among older adults, and provides students not only with affordable accommodation, but also with a safe, welcoming, and family-like environment in which to live and study.
Learn more: Duas gerações – Uma Casa | Une.Idades (une-idades.pt)
 | UNL Residences – SAS NOVA

The Social Welfare Services of NOVA University Lisbon have subsidized rooms for Nova SBE students in the Campolide Residence (Lisbon). 

For availability, please contact SAS NOVA (alojamento@unl.pt). 

 

 

 | NIDO

Nido Carcavelos is the ideal choice for those looking for student accommodation in Carcavelos. Stylish studios, plenty of social spaces, and shared study rooms —all bills included —this is an experience designed for those who want to make the most of student life. Managed by the award-winning brand Nido Living, you’re guaranteed exceptional customer service and fun events throughout the year. Right next to the train station, Nido Carcavelos offers quick connections to Lisbon and the Nova SBE Campus – the perfect location for anyone who wants to study in peace while enjoying the best of life by the sea. Come live with us and be part of an active, creative community, in spaces designed for you.

Secure your spot in your next home today.

 
 | Milestone Student Living

MILESTONE Student Living, an experienced premium student housing provider, has two buildings in Carcavelos: MILESTONE Student Living Nova SBE (on campus) and MILESTONE Student Living Carcavelos Lombos (about a 10-minute walk from the campus). Both buildings offer different studios with private bathrooms and communal spaces such as kitchens, lounges, gyms, and other rooms!

Website: www.milestone.net

 
 | Chalet Júlia

Chalet Júlia is a unique experience! A student residence located less than 3km from campus, 800m from the beach, and near the Parede train station. It has an all-inclusive pricing policy – rent includes bed linen, a fully equipped kitchen, laundry room, Wi-Fi, electricity and water supply. Rooms have a private bathroom, TV, mini-fridge, and air conditioning. Also, an annexed garage is available for students to store their bicycles and surfboards, which is especially useful for a beach lifestyle.

Website: www.chaletjulia.pt

 
| Coocon Residences

Cocoon Residences are renovated student housing in the Parede area. All properties benefit from a high standard of decoration, furnishings, and facilities, are inclusive of all bills, cleaning of shared areas, and maintenance of the garden and pool. With the purpose of providing comfort, safety, and support to students, it's a memorable experience where you can study, relax and make friends from all over the world.

Website: www.cocoonresidences.com

 
 | Fundação Aboim Sandes Lemos

The FASL University Residences, created by the Aboim Sande Lemos Foundation – Private Social Solidarity Institution, provide affordable, quality accommodation for public higher education students, in any field of study, with habitual residence outside of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. You can find more information on how to apply here.

 
 
| Inlife

Inlife improves the way anyone can rent a home in a new city, solving the visit process and turning the rental into an easy online experience.

Have live video calls with the landlords or book your favorite place instantly through Inlife, accessing a wide range of verified rooms and apartments to rent in Lisbon and Carcavelos, with great access to NOVA SBE. 

At Inlife you can also get to know who will be your future housemates and watch a video about each neighborhood, so that you can feel fully confident about your accommodation choice.

Inlife is one of Europe's fastest growing mid-term rental platforms, operating in the largest cities in Portugal, Spain and Italy, with over 20.000 places listed on the platform. Through this platform, students can visit and book their favorite accommodation in up to 24 hours.

- Choose from thousands of verified homes in Lisbon and Carcavelos.
- Book right away or set up a quick video call with the landlord in real-time before you book.
- Receive guidance, recommendations, and tips from local Inlife advisors for free.

Watch the video to understand how it works

If you have any questions during your search, don’t hesitate to contact us via email: housing.unovasbe@inlifehousing.com.

 
| Uniplaces

Uniplaces is an online student accommodation booking service with properties in Lisbon and around Carcavelos. It offers many types of properties ranging from shared apartments with private rooms to small studios. They also have Uniresidences, a marketplace of student residences designed to create communities that value well-being, tranquility, and sustainability.

www.uniplaces.com | https://www.uniresidences.com/ | Email: b2b@uniplaces.com | WhatsApp: +351 912 327 259

 
| Seahousing

SeaHousing is a platform that was created by a Nova SBE graduate who anticipated the students' desire to live close to the Carcavelos Campus and the beach. This platform covers different house types located near the campus and surrounding areas equally well served by public transportation.

Website: www.seahousing.pt

 
| Coolivin

Coolivin is a service-focused real estate marketplace for students and professionals living away from home. Get up to 7% on the service fee. Contact the Nova SBE support to get the discount code. | Website: www.coolivin.com/pt

 
|  Joivy 

Joivy is Europe’s leading provider of shared apartments and student residences in more than 30 cities. We’ve pre-reserved 30 rooms exclusively for Nova SBE students this fall.  
 
If your studies at Nova SBE later bring you to France, Italy, Spain, or the UK, we have a home waiting for you there, too!  Students also enjoy discounts on our hotels and short-term rentals across 7 countries. We can’t wait to meet you!

Request your room today:  Joivy Housing Offer for Nova SBE Students

 
         ELL- Erasmus Life Lisboa | Erasmus Life Housing – Your home Abroad

Doing Erasmus or an internship in a new city? We’ve got your back. Erasmus Life Housing connects you with safe, student-friendly places to live — all verified, no scams, no surprises.
Booking is super easy, support is always just a message away, and we’re here before you land and long after you check in.
It’s not just about where you sleep — it’s about feeling at home, meeting people, and making memories.

Ready to find your place?  www.erasmuslifehousing.com

 

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Focused on our commitment to inclusion, Nova SBE and NIDO have established a partnership aimed to support a displaced Bachelor's student facing financial constraints by offering them the full NIDO experience and accommodation for one year at no extra cost. 

The support package offered by NIDO will include a studio room until August 2025, a set of bed linen and kitchen utensils on arrival, and scheduled meetings with the residence team to ensure that the selected student is adjusting to academic life. Learn more.

 

Contacts

Need a hand?

Additional information about housing partnerships and special conditions/discounts is available in our Life at Nova SBE Guide, which is shared with all students admitted at Nova SBE. If you have any other questions regarding these partnerships, feel free to reach out.

Mobility

The Carcavelos Campus is located halfway between Lisbon and Cascais. It is accessible by car and through public transport. Find out more about how to get to campus.

Directions

Finding a room in the campus surroundings might be more practical since it will allow you to get to the campus quicker the rent might be cheaper.

However, you may choose a place further away, somewhere along the coast. There is a train connecting all locations between Lisbon and Cascais, which will make your life easier.

If you wish to live in the center of Lisbon, there are four subway lines that reach the suburban areas. It would be best if you take the train to Carcavelos or Oeiras in Cais do Sodré, the station for the subway's green line.

From Lisbon

Hoop Carpool
O Hoop Carpool is a car sharing app which aims to reduce emissions by having fewer cars on the road. Users sign up for the app with their institutional (@novasbe.pt) emails and input their travel plans for up to the next seven days. The app then matches them with other members of the Nova SBE Community who have similar routes and schedules and the user selects which ones they would be interested in sharing their journey with. Each user can be a driver or a passenger. Drivers can share the cost of the trip with passengers and receive a Repsol fuel voucher of up to 20 euros after completing 10-20 shared trips.

User's Manual for carpooling

Electric Scooters: Superpedestrian and Bird
Nova SBE partnered with Superpedestrian and Bird and to bring people who sign up with their institutional (@novasbe.pt) email 20 % and 30 % discounts, which include cheaper unlocking fees and free-roaming journeys among Lisbon, Oeiras, and Cascais (without municipality restrictions). Electric scooters are available at the train stations of Carcavelos and Oeiras, and on-campus at strategic hours for easier use by students. Space for parking these electric scooters is available at the hub in front of the main entrance of the campus (Hovione Atrium).

Bird electric bikes
The Nova SBE community can also enjoy a 20 % discount on bike trips and a 30 % discount for trips whose final or initial destination is Nova SBE. There is also bike parking available at school, at the hub located in front of the campus's main entrance (Hovione Atrium).

Public transportation
The campus is accessible by several bus routes, including the M16 which connects directly to the Carcavelos train station. In addition to the M16, there are other bus routes provided by Carris Metropolitana. The bus stop at Avenida de Portugal (roundabout at the end of Rua da Holanda) offers the following routes: 1601, 1604, 1612, 1613, 1614, 1615, and 1622. The bus stop in front of the main entrance of the campus (near the entrance to the parking lot) offers routes 1605 and 1606. Don't forget that there is a discount for students under 23 years old. Drop by the Student Central (Mon-Fri, from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, ticket C "Life at Nova SBE") to get the discount form.

Surrounding areas

If you decide to use your car, know you can use the campus parking, which has 550 parking spots, or park in the campus' surrounding areas.

Campus parking*

  • 1 hour – 1€
  • 1-6 hours – 2€
  • 6-12 hours – 3,5€ (max. price per day)
  • Nightly fee (from 7.00 pm to 6.00 am) – 1€


* These are special prices created especially for the Nova SBE community. Via Verde does not apply.

The public transportation network is extremely far-reaching and dependable. Lisbon's subway (metro) is its main artery, connecting the city center with the upper and eastern districts and the suburbs.

The best way to pay for public transportation is by buying a monthly subscription, which allows users to travel in the whole transportation system. Alternatively, a rechargeable green-colored "Viva Viagem" card can be bought and recharged multiple times.

Cooltra Scooter Rentals
Nova SBE has a partnership with Cooltra, the main provider of scooter sharing in Lisbon. To get a discount, go to one of their shops and mention the exclusive referral code (available for Nova SBE students).

What To Do

Portugal is one of a kind. Its people, culture, and weather make it a welcoming place for citizens from all over the world. Several touristic points are must-see if you are living in the Lisbon area, and who better than our students to tell you all about them?

Be amazed by the Portuguese culture

Check out these pages with cultural suggestions, gastronomy, shopping, and a list of routes! Check out what you can do to discover more not only about Lisbon but about the entire metropolitan area and sometimes a little further.

Enjoy it!

Living Costs

Portugal offers a highly dynamic environment with rich culture and amazing weather. Living here is an experience that you will never forget. We can give you guidance about how much you should expect to spend here. Here are some examples of the day-to-day costs you can expect to find:

 

  • Accommodation 350-600€/month per room.
  • Groceries 150€ per month.
  • Public transportation system subscription 35/40€ per month.
  • Subway ticket 1.50€ per ride.
  • Bus ticket ~2€ per ride.
  • Cell phone (calls & mobile data) ~19€ per month.
  • Coffee 0.65€.
  • Newspaper ~1.70€.
  • Nightclub entry fee from 10€.
  • Full-course meal in an average restaurant ~15€.
  • Ticket for a football match or cultural events from 10€ onwards.

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