INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY
FREQUENT ACADEMIC QUESTIONS
1. Why opt for international mobility?
First and foremost, international mobility must have as its primary objective the curricular, academic and cultural
enrichment of the student. The completion of concrete subjects must be seen not as motivation but as a possible
outcome if the conditions for this purpose are met.
2. Is there a maximum limit of ECTS which I am authorised to complete outside the SEM?
Yes. 90 ECTS is the maximum a student can complete outside the School, in the total calculation of the various
experiences of mobility (Erasmus, Free Mobility, Summer Schools) among others. In a semester the maximum allowed
are six subjects (36 ECTS), and exceptionally seven (42 ECTS) for the final year students.
3. Are foreign curricula similar to those in my School?
No. In fact, in any foreign university, partner or not, curricula have absolute identical curricula similar to those of the
School of Economics and Management, in terms of content of its semester offer.
4. How accurately is it possible to know in advance the curricular offerings of the different foreign
universities in order to, based on that information, make my application options in terms of preferred
destinations?
At the time of application the student may only have an approximate knowledge of the academic content that will be
available in the school year in which their mobility occurs. This knowledge is based on research of the subjects available
at that time in different destinations. Indeed, there are several constraints that may occur and that may dictate
changes to the curricular offer in force.
5. What are the subjects of the course I am attending that I can carry on during the mobility period?
Virtually all the subjects that make up the SEM study plans (common core, specific and electives) are likely to be held in
mobility, with due regard to the rules applicable to their academic accreditation, provided for in the Bachelor Degrees
and International Mobility Progression Regulation – Studies and Regulation Accreditation.
6. What types of academic accreditation can I get and what form?
SEM offers students three types of academic accreditation:
a) Equivalence (common core, specific and free elective subjects);
b) Substitutions (specific subjects within the maximum limit of 3 or 18 ECTS for the total degree);
c) Free electives (2 subjects or 12 ECTS, for the total degree).
7. How do I get the approval of my study plan? What kind of guarantees does this document provide me
with?
Once the student’s placement at the destination university, they should present SEM their study plan proposal for
consideration and approval.
This proposal should obligatorily include, under penalty of refusal, the study plan form (Annex to the International
Mobility Regulation) filled in digitally, as well as the programmes of foreign studies to attend, preferably in digital
format.
Obtaining approval is a guarantee of accreditation of foreign subjects, present in that study plan, which does not mean
that subsequent changes may not occur imposed by reasons connected with the Home University unrelated to the
academic content itself, previously assessed and authorised
8. Are the defined and approved subjects of a study plan unchangeable?
No. In effect, as aforementioned, the study plans proposed by students and approved by SEM can often be subjected
to partial changes. These changes remain similarly subjected to approval, aiming the later accreditation of the contents
which may be introduced.
9. Under what circumstances can these changes occur and simultaneously be authorised by SEM?
There are several circumstances that may originate modifications to the initial students’ study plans, such as,
cancelation of subjects in the foreign institution, timetable overlapping, minimum vacancies available, etc.
Every time these changes occur, the student must request the change of syllabus near SEM, which will be approved if
dully justified and as long as its contents allow so.
10. Can the foreign institution and SEM guarantee the student the absolute immutability of the chosen
and approved foreign subjects of the initial study plan?
No. The reasons that justify such modifications are not, due to their own nature, controllable by SEM, nor, in most
cases, by the foreign institution itself.
11. Are foreign grades taken into account? How is conversion conducted?
Yes. Once Mobility is concluded, the foreign subjects’ accreditation at SEM will have a mandatory presumption
conversion of the corresponding grades obtained for the national scale, as provided for in the Accreditation Regulation
and Notice nr. 8 /2015.
The option of not accounting for the foreign grades will not absolutely allow for accreditation of all completed ECTS.
AS far as the conversion grades to the national scale are concerned, this is automatic, resulting from the direct
application of the tables into force of DGES for the academic recognition of degrees obtained abroad.
12. How are foreign ECTS accounted for at SEM?
Depending on the granted accreditation, there are two scoring possibilities:
a) Equivalents: the 6 ECTS of SEM are taken into account by subject and the foreign subject cannot worth less
than 5 ECTS;
b) Optionals and substitutions: are considered the ECTS of the foreign university, which could lead to the need
for completion of additional ECTS to conclude a subject at SEM (6 ECTS).
13. How much should I pay for fees at SEM during my mobility?
The amount of fees to be paid shall be equal to the total amount of ECTS accredited by SEM as set out in the final
study plan.
14. What are the key regulations that I must be aware of and remember throughout my academic mobility
process?
In the very interest of the student, the Bachelor Degrees and International Mobility Progression Regulation should be
of perfect knowledge, as it is an essential tool in preparing the curriculum proposal.
In addition to these regulations, it is also advisable the perfect knowledge of the curriculum structure of the degree
and the consultation of semester offers at SEM concerning the school year mobility completion.