Princeton in Portugal

General Information

Lisbon rooftops

Photo by Nicola Cooney

Princeton in Portugal 2021 has been canceled.

Summer 2021 virtual course information is available on this webpage. 

Entirely coordinated and designed by Princeton faculty, Princeton in Portugal is made possible thanks to a partnership with CIAL (Centro de Iniciação e Aperfeiçoamento de Línguas). CIAL has been operating since 1959, holds numerous accreditations and certifications and provides language training for ERASMUS students, the World Bank, UNICEF and multinationals, in addition to student groups from all over the world. The facilities are centrally located, easily accessible and housed in a beautifully restored building with comfortable classrooms and up-to-date technology.
Princeton in Portugal is designed for those students who wish to accelerate their learning of the Portuguese language and enhance their Princeton education by further deepening their understanding of our world. In four weeks of intensive study, with home-stays in families living close to the Center, a carefully selected combination of classes, lectures and excursions aims to provide both a rigorous academic environment and a transformative and unforgettable cultural experience. Students will also engage in a local community service project during their time in Lisbon. .
 
20180611_portugalstudyabroad_jc_038.jpg

Photo by Julie Clack

Lisbon, the oldest capital in Europe after Athens and set on seven hills along the Tejo river, is quite simply an enchanting place. It has the added benefit of being affordable and Europe’s safest capital. Stunningly beautiful, it bears the marks of its rich history and boasts a vibrant and cosmopolitan contemporary culture. Today’s Lisbon will provide the opportunity to investigate a number of topics, most significantly that of the Luso-African Diaspora. During our program we plan to look at Portugal’s histories of slavery, immigration, commerce and cultural exchange with Africa, from the age of maritime expansion to the present day, and reveal the way in which these have shaped the cultural landscape of Lisbon. Read more about the study abroad experience from past participants.


Program specifics

  • Program Directors: Prof. Pedro Meira Monteiro and Prof. Nicola Cooney
  • Classes are exclusively for Princeton students.
    20180611_portugalstudyabroad_jc_057.jpg

    Photo by Julie Clack

  • Class content provided or supervised by Princeton faculty.
  • Based in Lisbon.
  • Maximum of 18 students, divided into two levels.
  • Courses:
    POR 109S: Intermediate Portuguese
    Students who have taken 101 & 102 may apply for 109S. Students who have taken 106 (formerly 108) are also eligible to apply for 109S. 
    POR 207S: Studies in Portuguese Language and Culture
    Students who have taken 106 (formerly 108) & 109 or 110 may apply to 207S. Students who took 208 may also apply to 207S.
  • Weekly excursions.
  • The program fee for 2020 is $3,300 (covers course fee which is $2,632, and home-stay with breakfast which is $668).  Airfare, pocket money for meals not covered by the program, incidentals, and passport fees are not included.  Please see FAQs for more details about out-of-pocket expenses. 

Application process

For answers to frequently asked questions regarding the application process, check the FAQ page. 
Students will apply through the Global Programs System (GPS). 

Application information TBD.  
Students are encouraged to complete their application as soon as possible before the application deadline.

Princeton Global Programs System


If you have questions about the application process, contact Michelle Tong. 
If you have questions about financial assistance, contact Karen González.