Paul Christian Dumler

I found my semester abroad at Nova SBE in Lisbon to be an extremely formative encounter. The study programme here is structurally well organised and has a balanced mix of lectures, seminars and group projects. The teaching quality is high; the lecturers mostly come from a business background and have extensive expertise in both theory and practice.

Compared to my German university, the teaching is significantly more practical and less theoretical; there is a compulsory attendance policy and participation during lectures is sometimes graded, which results in the lectures being more interactive and engaging.

This practicality is most apparent in the real case studies undertaken in cooperation with companies, added to which most of the lecturers have a background in business and consistently convey the key skills from their field of activity. Another aspect is that virtually every event has a final exam and at least one individual case study or group work involving a presentation, which results in a good mix of varied exam achievements that need to be maintained throughout the entire semester.

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The dawn drenches the foyer of the Nova SBE in a magical light

The semester goes by relatively quickly, since there are two assessment phases – one at the end of the semester and the other in the middle. Nova SBE provides excellent opportunities for making contact with companies because career fairs and guest lectures are arranged on a regular basis, something I was already familiar with from Germany.

Yet Nova was able to raise this to an entirely new level by organising multiple weekly events, fairs or cases involving companies, which makes it very easy to establish contact with new companies. The campus by the ocean is in a truly beautiful location, even if it’s on the outer edge of the city centre, although the flip side is that you can be on the beach in five minutes and enjoy the sunset there at the end of the university day.

In terms of my plans for the future, I view my studies at Nova SBE as being an important milestone in my academic career. The guest lectures and career fairs gave me an opportunity to gain deeper insights into various occupations and businesses, and thus to expedite my forward planning. The knowledge and skills that I acquired, above all with respect to case studies and sectoral insights, will enhance my career prospects and make me better prepared for the challenges of the consultancy job market.

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A quiet moment in the Torre de Belém and the unspoiled beauty of the Parque Natural da Arrábida

I intend to write my master’s thesis after my semester abroad and anticipate completing a further work placement, so that I can work full time after that.

The university, but also my shared accommodation, enabled me to make a lot of new contacts, to form friendships and to expand my professional network.

The shared apartment block was very centrally situated in Lisbon, which was of course associated with many advantages, although the downside of its location was the journey to Nova – because it is situated just outside the city and the buses in Lisbon aren’t that reliable. I really enjoyed the opportunity of meeting and working with people from different countries and backgrounds and can only recommend it to everyone, especially during their studies.

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Swimming at the waterfall and the idyllic view of the Sete Cidades crater lake in the Azores

Living in Lisbon was superb, despite cultural differences and new eating habits and times you quickly get used to city life and the locals are mostly very friendly and helpful. The Portuguese people’s easygoing and spontaneous lifestyle is something I’ll try and replicate back in Germany.

Aside from academic life, the city of Lisbon and its immediate surroundings offer many opportunities for enjoyable recreation.

The rich history and cultural heterogeneity provide a wonderful environment for studies and personal growth. The numerous pretty alleyways in the historical centre, where you can always discover something new and come across the city’s most beautiful viewpoints, were a particular highlight for me.

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The Palacio Nacional de Pena in Sintra: a landmark of Portuguese romanticism

Proximity to the ocean and the pleasant climate also contribute to a positive attitude and make it possible to engage in a wide range of sporting activities, such as swimming, surfing or paddleboarding. There’s a lot to discover in addition to the historical city centre, I was for instance able to visit the nearby town of Sintra and the Azores archipelago. Porto, Braga and the Algarve are also worth a visit, and the national parks around Lisbon are persuasive given their natural beauty and the charm of the Atlantic.

I can finally only express my deep gratitude for the renewed opportunity to study abroad. You don’t often get the chance for a stay abroad like this; it’s a fantastic way to learn about another country’s culture.