University of Aveiro Speciality : Sociology
programme: School of Arts and Sciences

I completed my BSc in Biology at the University of Aveiro from 2015 to 2018. Overall, I really appreciated the campus culture,having a unified space made it easy to meet diverse people, access different fields of expertise, and keep essential services and student support (like financial aid and housing) within close reach.

As for the degree itself, it provided a solid general introduction to biology, but it fell short in a few areas. I originally enrolled because of a planned 4th-year internship, but the program structure changed and it was removed before my cohort reached it. While most of the professors were great, the practical training was heavily weighted toward lab work when I would have preferred more hands-on field experience. Additionally, navigating administrative matters within the department (and now CESAM, following the staff restructuring) was often frustrating, as there felt like a lack of support for students and researchers.

I think the university is great overall. The atmosphere is amazing and it’s easy to meet people and feel part of the community. The courses have a good balance between theoretical and practical learning. The facilities are also very good, with well equipped labs, a large library and an online platform where teachers share materials for students to study.
There are also many events that help new students feel welcome and stay engaged throughout the year. Some professors are very passionate about teaching and are always willing to help, while others are more average. One downside is that administrative services can be quite slow, especially when dealing with timetable issues, which can be frustrating.