Frequently Asked Questions

On this section, we have compiled clear answers to the questions most often asked by incoming students. Here, you’ll find helpful information about academic processes, administrative steps, and other topics related to your arrival and settling in. We recommend checking these FAQs first whenever you need guidance.

Freemover students can also rely on this FAQ section. Apart from the admissions process, which has its own steps, all academic and administrative procedures work the same way as for Incoming Exchange students once the tuition fee is paid.

Are you a Nova SBE student going abroad?

These FAQs apply exclusively to Incoming Exchange and Freemover students. For more information on Outgoing student mobilities, make sure to check the Outgoing BSc / Outgoing MSc SharePoint pages.

Before Arrival

You can come to Nova SBE through one of our bilateral agreements, as an Exchange student and nominated by your home university or as a Freemover student. For more information on Freemovers, click here. In case you wish to come to Nova SBE under one of our agreements, make sure to refer to your home university, since they oversee student nominations.

The required documents depend on the type of mobility. Freemover students must consult the dedicated section on our website at Freemovers for detailed information on the application process. Exchange students are required to submit a copy of their ID document, a passport like photograph, the English Certificate and their most updated Transcript of Records (it can be an unofficial version).

Nova SBE requires students to present a valid English Certificate, within the ones listed under How to Apply. Freemover students should consult the specific requirements under Required Documents.

There is no minimum GPA to join our Exchange Program.

No. When you fill in your application, you must already have a document to prove your English Level.

Unfortunately, Nova SBE does not offer scholarships to Incoming students. Make sure to check with your home institution to see if they provide any financial support.

If you have questions before your arrival, make sure to watch out for the information on our website and Student Guide documents. If you still need assistance, contact the appropriate team according to your student status:

Exchange Applicants: international.mobility@novasbe.pt
Freemover Applicants: studyatnova@novasbe.pt
Admitted Students (Exchange and Freemover Students): bachelors@novasbe.pt or masters@novasbe.pt

Visas, Accommodation, Insurance and Travels

Please check the Life @ Nova’s section of the website for further information.

You should immediately inform the International Mobility Team through masters@novasbe.pt or bachelors@novasbe.pt to confirm what your options can be.

We highly recommend incoming exchange students to have a health insurance plan valid throughout the entire stay, for example:

EU students: European Health Insurance Card (EHIC),
Non-EU students: private international health insurance.

For more information, please consult Life at Nova Welcome Guide.

On-campus housing is available, as well as alternative options amongst Nova SBE’s list of partners. We provide resources, recommended platforms, and guidance to help students find accommodation in the Lisbon/Cascais area. For more information, visit the Life at Nova website.

You should arrive before the Discovery Week and ideally a few days earlier to settle into your accommodation. Late arrivals may impact your ability to participate in the information sessions or the beginning of classes.

Late arrivals are strongly discouraged. Important academic information and orientation activities take place at the start of the semester. If you expect delays, you should contact us as early as possible.

Yes. Our campus is a 10–15-minute walk from the nearest train station and is connected by frequent trains to Lisbon and Cascais. For more tips, visit the Life at Nova website.

You may travel during your semester. However, please note that your travels must not interfere with academic obligations such as group works, evaluations, exams, etc. Travelling will not be accepted as a justification for missing classes or evaluations.

Courses

For more information on the enrolment process for Bachelor courses, please check the Incoming Bachelor’s Student Guide. For more information on the enrolment process for Master courses, please check the Incoming Master’s Student Guide.

Please visit the Course Offer section, where you will find the most updated course offer published. The one for next semester will always be uploaded to our website as soon as possible, and in time for the enrollment process.

No, Incoming students can only enroll in courses listed on the published course offer.

At Nova SBE, there is not a minimum amount of ECTS an incoming student must be enrolled in. However, please keep in mind there is a limit of 31.5 ECTS per student.

1 ECTS at Nova SBE equals a total of 28 hours, including contact hours.

Students are advised to check each course’s schedule and exam dates, to make sure there are no overlaps. If your courses end up overlapping, make sure to correct that during the Add&Drop period, as no changes will be allowed afterwards.

No. Changes to your enrollments and study plan will not be allowed after the Add&Drop period.

It depends on each course and the Professor. However, at Nova SBE, we encourage students to attend their classes and lectures regardless.

Nova SBE does not offer language courses but it is possible FCSH’s Portuguese Language Course, which is available for incoming students. Please be aware that Nova SBE does not manage these courses.

This course can be added to your Learning Agreement, however, since it is not taught at Nova SBE, this course will not appear on our Transcript. You will receive a separate transcript for that course.

Yes, incoming exchange students can register for courses taught in Portuguese, if they are included in the course offer. However, at least B2 level of Portuguese within the CEFR Scale is recommended. Most Bachelor's and Master's courses at Nova SBE are taught in English, and exchange students are strongly encouraged to prioritize English-taught courses to ensure a smooth academic experience.

During your Stay

Yes. For the Fall Semester, this event will take place at the end of August, whilst for the Spring Semester, it will be hosted on the last days of January. Attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended. It helps students integrate faster, complete administrative steps, understand academic procedures, and meet fellow exchange students and the Nova SBE community.

Yes. Nova SBE charges 36,50€ for administrative fees and school insurance, which are mandatory for all students.

Yes. Students with physical, learning, medical or other conditions should contact the International Mobility Office early after being accepted so that appropriate support can be arranged.

Yes. After completing your arrival and registration through the link provided in the welcome email, you will, near the start of your semester, receive an email informing you that your student card is ready for collection at the Santander branch on campus.

Yes! Nova SBE offers a wide variety of student clubs and organizations you can join. They cover areas such as academic interests, professional development, social causes, entrepreneurship, sports, and cultural activities. For more tips, visit the Life at Nova website.

These documents will be made available on our internal student portal close to the beginning of the semester, where you can download the documents.