By signing “Scientiae Thesaurus Mirabilis”, King Dinis created the oldest university of the country and one of the oldest in the world. Dated from 1290, the document originated the General Study, recognised in the same year by Pope Nicholas IV. A century after the birth of the nation, the University of Coimbra germinated. It starts operating in Lisbon but, in 1308, it is transferred to Coimbra.
UC is a world leading university that offers education and research in all study levels and in nearly all study fields. It participates in joint programmes with some of the best universities in the world. Erasmus Mundus, MIT Portugal, CMU Portugal, Harvard-Portugal Clinical Scholars Research Training Program and UT Austin Portugal are examples of such excellence partnerships to name just a few.
R&D Centers that are associated to the IIIUC:
SASUC provides three residences reserved for undergraduate and integrated master international students, admitted within the framework of the special call for international students. Monthly prices include all expenses with water, electricity, gas, internet, TV, weekly laundry service of bed clothing and bathroom towels, utilisation of equipped kitchen with micro-waves, fridge, stove, range hood, utilisation of washing and drying machine, iron and ironing board, and access to study room.
Outside the UC residences, there are several lodging offers for students, for instance the possibility of renting apartments with or without furniture and equipped kitchen, bedrooms in family houses or private residences.
The General Library of the University of Coimbra is the richest university library within the Portuguese-speaking world, and one of the most beautiful and prestigious libraries worldwide. It currently comprises two buildings: the Library of King João V of Portugal (known as Joanina), built in 1728, and the main building, which became fully operational in 1962.
UC has its own medical services that provide general practice examinations and speciality examinations that cost around 5 to 10 euros according to the required type of examination.
Coimbra is a district capital, the largest city of the Centre Region of Portugal with around 150,000 inhabitants.
The City Festivities, the Arts Festival, the jazz festival "Jazz ao Centro" and the Cultural Week of the University of Coimbra are just a few examples of the events that take place every year and are really worth to see.
Coimbra is a friendly city to the young people. With over 30,000 students, it offers several discounts for students in restaurants, bars, shops, hairdresser, beauty shops, public transports, gym, swimming pools, bookshops, theatres, cinema, art galleries and museums, among others.
In the area of sports, for the quality of its sports’ facilities (Multi-sports’ Pavilion, Coimbra City Stadium, University Stadium, Horse Riding Centre, AAC Nautical Sports Section, Olympic Swimming Pools’ Complex, Mondego Swimming Pools, among others), and the excellence of the UC student athletes, the European University Sports Association chose Coimbra to be the organiser of the European University Games of 2018. The event is expected to host 4500 athletes and 2000 participants from all over Europe, representing more than 400 universities.
The student union is a characteristic of the student life in Coimbra. Besides the AAC, students form and belong to groups linked to their study field, such as the student nuclei at the Faculties that interact with similar groups at national level, but also to international networks, for instance the European association of engineering and technology students BEST. The international Erasmus network ESN Coimbra helps international students to find their way in the city.
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