As you can imagine for a town with a university tradition since 1431, Poitiers accompanies each year more than 27,000 students. Located halfway between Paris and Bordeaux, Poitiers is only one hour and a half away from the ocean.

As a great city of art and history, Poitiers – nicknamed « the city of the hundred bell towers »- offers an important monumental ensemble including the Saint-John baptistery from the 4th century, the underground chapel “Hypogee des Dunes” from the 7th century; the churches of Notre-Dame la Grande and of Saint-Porchaire both from the 12th century, and the cathedral of Saint-Peter from the end of the 12th century and the  beginning of the 13th century.  Though Poitiers, as you can see, has a long-lasting heritage to promote, it is also synonymous with a dynamic and eclectic cultural life. Various events of national or international impact are organized every year, among which the international film meetings Henri Langlois, the street festival “les expressifs”, the « Yolo » students welcoming month, and many more!

Last but not least, Blossac Park inside the city hosts concerts and outdoor activities as the main garden downtown.

At the University, international openness has long been one of the priorities of the University of Poitiers: over 4,200 students from 122 different countries enroll each year in training or research programs, accounting for nearly 17% of the total number of students, international exchanges place the University above the national average. The reasons for this success lie in a rich and varied range of courses, but also in the human size of the university, as well as in the city of Poitiers, allowing personalized follow-up, affordable living costs, peaceful lifestyles and a rich –  cultural life…

Aveiro is one of the most beautiful regions in the country and it has everything to please (almost) everyone. It has beaches, mountains, rivers, an ocean and a lagoon that connects everything and everyone. The lagoon hugs the coastline for 45 km and is the result of nature’s moods, whose strong winds and currents have transformed the coast, moulding the way that the rivers meet the Atlantic.

Aveiro is the third Portuguese district with the largest number of municipalities (19), which is why it is so different, so diverse and so rich. It brings together industry, business, tourism, sport, architectural and natural heritage and a university that knows how to welcome with open arms anyone who comes here.

The University of Aveiro (UA) is attended by more than 2,000 foreign students of 85 nationalities, among which are countries that belong to the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. Cultural diversity, very evident on the UA campus, enriches the academic community overall and gives it a number of very special characteristics.

You are not at the UA just to study, so take advantage of what this multi-cultural environment can offer you: throughout the academic year, a range of cultural, sporting, recreational, educational, and social events take place, involving the local communities and encouraging the active participation of everyone. We will also be depending on your involvement! The focus on an intercultural and inclusive University makes this institutional project a permanent challenge.

In order for their studies to be successful at the UA, the international student community has a number of study suport mechanisms and initiatives, including for those who have chosen the UA to do research. These include access to libraries and study rooms, support for information searches, help for students with special needs, among many others.

But because we know that student life at the UA goes beyond the lecture hall, work and exams, countless cultural activities take place throughout the year for students to enjoy and fill their leisure time, as well as events dedicated to the student community, to provide a fully rounded academic experience. The Academic Association of the University  plays a key role in energizing many of these activities.

The daily needs of students are also cared for by services for accommodation, food, health and well-being: student residences are mostly located within or in close proximity to the campuses, which means that travelling to the university is easy and quick, very often being possible on foot or on bicycle. UA students have access: to various restaurants and canteens with menus for all tastes; to the University Health Centre, which provides basic health care; and to excellent facilities for practising a range of different sports.

Find out more details about what it is like living in UA.

Tarragona, close to Barcelona, is located in a privileged natural and cultural environment. The local area’s climate is Mediterranean, so the temperatures are mild and moderate throughout the year. Known as the Costa Daurada (Gold Coast), it is home to long beaches with crystal-clear waters and a landscape of exceptional beauty. Furthermore, the city of Tarragona has a vibrant cultural heritage and has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO thanks to its breath-taking Roman remains, and the nearby modernist city of Reus was the birthplace and early home of the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. In addition, the villages and towns have a rich tradition of popular festivities filled with music, dancing and traditional shows. The region also has one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the south of Europe.

We are a young and dynamic university serving the needs of society, and our commitment to scientific research and teaching innovation has led us to become one of the leading universities in Spain and Europe and to be listed on the international rankings alongside the best universities in the world. We provide a full range of educational possibilities with more than 40 undergraduate courses and 50 master’s degrees (many of which are interuniversity), an extensive doctoral programme and a flexible lifelong learning programme so that professionals can constantly update their knowledge and improve their skills. Altogether, our courses are being enjoyed by over 15,000 students.

The URV  (the name is in honor of  Antoni Rovira i Virgili, a Catalan journalist, linguist and politician), is the leader of The Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia (CEICS) which represents the strategic union of different organizations and structures involved in teaching, research, knowledge transfer and the productive sector in southern Catalonia. It aims to become an international benchmark in knowledge and competitiveness within the areas of chemistry and energy, nutrition and health, tourism, oenology, heritage and culture. It also seeks to become the heart of an authentic region of knowledge that can play a key role in the future growth of the region and in its productive network. Our University is well positioned in the main world rankings as THE, ARWU, and QS. The URV is the 78th in the world young universities 1919 THE ranking.

The Faculty of Chemistry at URV is a leading centre in the quality training of professionals in the fields of Chemistry and Biochemistry. In Tarragona, unlike almost anywhere else in the world, they align the University, the industrial manufacturing sector and the international science parks, of which the Catalan Institute of Chemical Research (ICIQ) and the various centres that make up EURECAT (the Chemistry Technology Centre and the Technology Centre for Nutrition and Health).  The URV is considered the best university to study the Degree in Chemistry and the Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Spain according to U-Ranking 2017, 2018 and 2019. In addition, it is the first State University in the discipline of Chemistry and the only one in the top 100 according to Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 and 2020.