Católica is "Home and Family" | On National Student Day, 4 students present the campi and life at Católica

To celebrate National Student Day, on 24 March, we went to find out about the dreams and stories of Mariana, Carmo, Manuel and Mathilde. 

We start our journey in the north, in Braga. For Mariana Alves Peixoto, 21, "Católica was never a choice". "It was almost like an instinct that brought me here. Of course, the educational offer and the quality of teaching were key elements in my decision, but three years ago, when I joined Católica, I realised that it's not just about academic knowledge," says the young student.

At Católica, "you're not only valued for academic excellence, but also for who you are as a human being," says the student at the Braga Regional Centre of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP).

That's why the best part of studying at Católica, for Mariana, "is that you're not just another person", but that you're "recognised and valued" for your uniqueness.

And on each campus there are particularities. Each student finds personal fulfilment in different ways. Mariana found "a second family" in the UCP female tuna, As Líricas: "It was the tuna that took my university journey to the highest level and made me create memories that I will cherish forever in my memory and in my heart."

In addition to the rigorous academic component, skills such as "teamwork, time management, discipline, rigour and responsibility" also take shape through participation and experience in the Tuna.

Carmo Neves da Costa, 22, from Évora, came to Sintra to study medicine at UCP. She dreams of the wider world and of travelling " backpacking."

"I chose Católica because I was sure I would be well prepared for the future and because I believed I would be trained at all levels, not just as a student, but as a co-worker and professional," she says.

For the future doctor, being a student "means having the opportunity to benefit from all the knowledge of former students, the vast scientific knowledge that lies ahead, to experience personal growth, overcome challenges, acquire responsibility and critical thinking."

Of her time at Católica, she highlights the Missão País, "an intense week of volunteering" where she discovered "joy in the simplest things". Participating in the Missão País gave her the opportunity to "strengthen friendships with colleagues, deepen her faith and share it with others", she confides.

Regarding the best part of being a student at Católica, Carmo points out three: "differentiated teaching"; the possibility of gaining "experience in the clinic" and the "familiarity with the English language" of the programme taught entirely in English.

Heading north again, at UCP's Porto Regional Centre we meet Manuel Lopes, 21, who is studying a degree in Law. He was sure from an early age that he wanted to study law. "Consequently, the name of the Universidade Católica and all the reputation that follows it often came up in conversations about my transition to higher education, so when the time came to choose, I was already orientated," he says.

Three years on, he believes that "the very practical and thorough teaching model, with its attention to detail that is to be commended, even on an individual level," is one of the best parts of being a student at Católica, but not only that. "The various connections and opportunities that Católica provides with external organisations" and the "soft skills" it develops are equally important, he adds.

For the young man, "being a student means knowing how to reconcile studies and academic development with the best years of our lives" and, in his case as well as Mariana's, this involves being part of a Tuna, which he joined in 2021.

As well as the friendships created, in the Tuna da Universidade Católica Portuguesa no Porto (TUCP) he has had the opportunity to develop his oratory, his ability to respond to problems and learn to work as part of a team, explains Manuel. "For me, the Tuna also means creating memories that I'm sure will last a lifetime and, at the same time, providing memorable moments for the people who cross our path, from serenades to toasts and joyful moments."

While Carmo's journey took her between Évora and Sintra, Mathilde's was a little longer. Born in Hamburg, Germany, 20-year-old Mathilde Morais studies at the Viseu Campus of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. "I discovered my passion for science at an early age and my great curiosity and desire to learn more led me to choose a degree in Biomedical Sciences at UCP," shares the young scientist.

Unlike her colleagues, Mathilde's choice of university wasn't immediate, but she confesses that it turned out to be the best one: "What most captivated my attention at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa was the quality of the teaching".

"The laboratory experience", the "proximity to the professors" and all the "opportunities throughout the course", as well as the possibility of taking part in various research projects and working, for example, at SalivaTec "are extremely enriching, as they allow you to acquire experience and skills that are relevant to your professional future", she emphasises.

For Mathilde, being a student isn't just about studying: "It's about being curious and asking 'why', not limiting our learning and always seeking to know more. It's about discovering your passions and not being afraid to be curious, because curiosity can lead to great things."

Separated by a few hundred kilometres, the four students saw Católica as the path to fulfilling their dreams and are now laying the foundations for the next chapters of their lives every day, each in their own unique way. Happy National Student Day!