Living in Covilhã @ UBI

The City

Characterized by being an industrial city, UBI buildings were born from deactivated factories, always maintaining the characterization of the manufacturing world and the history of the city. Located on the slopes of the largest mountain range in Portugal, Serra da Estrela, Covilhã offers visitors the beautiful landscape of its house, framed in a majestic mountain amphitheater.

Traditionally associated with wool, Covilhã grew in permanent dialogue with the mountain range, shaped by the buildings linked to industry, many of which were recovered by the University of Beira Interior and reconverted into teaching and research spaces.

Respect for the past has marked the philosophy of the institution, which contributes significantly to the rehabilitation of the heritage of the city and the region, through structures such as the Museum of Woolen, installed in the Pombaline Real Fábrica dos Panos and Real Fábrica Veiga

The city has in its entrance streets a distinctive peculiarity, which gives it a singular character. The challenging staircases connecting the various levels of the city are now accompanied by a modern system of bridges, elevators and funiculars, resulting from the adoption of an innovative development model to facilitate pedestrian circulation. The historic center of the city is now populated with paintings and sculptures of urban art performed by some well-known names, who have already created a script of their own, parallel to that of the city's history.

Housing

Residences

University of Beira Interior has seven residences for students and teachers. In the section accommodation of SASUBI, there are detailed information on each space/ building as regulations, how to apply and prices.

Private Accommodation

There are several real estate agencies with a wide range of all sorts of apartments in the city, such as:

If you are a student, it will be provided an ESN mentor to help you with this questions.

Temporary Acomodation

Covilhã has many Hotels and Hostels very close from the University for your first days in Covilhã. You can find more in Booking, and HostelWorld.

Health

The region has several public hospitals, such as the Cova da Beira Hospital Center, located next to the Faculty of Health Sciences. Covilhã has private Clinics too. The UBI offers its students free medical and nursing services.

The students from European Union will need the European Health Card or health insurance. If you are not a student from EU you will need a Health Insurance.

Living Cost

Because Covilhã is a city located in the inner part of the country, the cost of living is significantly lower than that of the great cities of the coast, which is reflected in the prices of food and housing, for example.

Security is another of the factors that distinguish the city: Covilhã is a small/medium-sized city that lives around the University, creating an atmosphere of closeness very safe and cozy.

Transportation

The city has public transportation, several car rentals, taxis, one train station and one bus station. There are several connections daily by bus and train.

Information and Timetables