Mariia Yakovenko (group TR-31), a student of the Department of Digital Technologies in Energy (DTE), studied on the Erasmus+ academic mobility programme at the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Portugal) from 15 September 2025 to 13 January 2026.
Mariia was immediately attracted by the high level of organisation at the host institution: the university is oriented towards international students, and its official website is well structured and regularly updated, which made preparing for the trip easier. Tomar is a small town with a rich history, unique architecture, numerous local festivals and a relaxed pace of life.
The biggest challenge was the language barrier. The university is small and has no separate groups for international students, so most classes were taught in Portuguese, and Mariia had to change several courses in her curriculum. The lecturers responded responsibly: they explained the material in English, provided additional materials and held individual consultations and extra classes.
The student liked the course “Software Development” most. The lectures were dynamic: interactive comprehension quizzes in Kahoot with small prizes, work with real examples and analysis of practical cases. According to Mariia, the course deepened her programming knowledge and let her examine real software development processes through practical examples. Another feature of studying at the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar is the timetable: classes lasted 2 hours and mostly took place in the afternoon, from 16:00 to 21:00–22:00.
Mariia's tips for future participants:
- Follow ESN Tomar events. Every month they organise events for exchange students: trips to museums and historical sites, Country Meeting, where students from different countries present their cultures, and International Dinner with national dishes.
- Travel around the country on your own and discover non-touristy places. Transport logistics in Tomar are complicated, but people from ESN and local students will help.
- Set aside a larger budget for housing: dormitory places are scarce and rent is expensive. ESN helped Mariia find a room.
- If you go for the autumn semester, bring warm clothes: according to Mariia's experience, houses have no heating and high humidity makes the cold feel stronger.
- After arrival, get a NIF (tax identification number) and obtain a certificate of residence from the university. They are needed for a transport card, discounts and free admission to museums.
The mobility influenced Mariia's professional and personal development: she gained a new vision of her own career, as well as experience of independent life abroad, of solving administrative issues, financial planning and time management.
“This exchange became much more for me than just studying in another country,” the student sums up. And she advises future participants: “Study responsibly, but do not forget to live this experience fully, be open to new things and use every opportunity to try something new.”
The DTE Department thanks Mariia for her detailed report and invites students who are considering studying abroad to visit the page Academic mobility.
