O'Neill in Portugal

Jul 1- July 31, 2025

E482/E582/V482/V582 – Sustainable Development in Practice (3cr.)

Program Director: Daniel Preston

This four week course focuses on theoretical approaches and applied strategies for sustainable development. It first anchors students in the academic literature and debates around the concept of sustainable development and the most effective ways to advance prosperity without compromising the needs of future generations. This includes reviewing both competing and complementary theories made by leading scholars focused on advancing human development. It then moves into modules involving efforts at the national, regional, municipal and community/grass roots levels as well as approaches taken in rural versus urban communities. These would also involve layering in topical areas such as governance, civil society, finance, health, education, agriculture, industrialization, trade, urban planning, infrastructure, renewable energy, and the arts.

IU Bloomington Undergrads: See how this course counts towards your major/minor at O'Neill here.

Past day-long excursions have included:

• Peniche for a surf class and visit to Museum of Freedom and Resistance
• Tomar to visit the Convento de Tomar and Castelo de Almourol as well as kayaking the River Tejo
• The Alqueva dam and floating solar power installation
• Setubal to engage with a local NGO’s conservation project and visit to the Arrábida National Park

 Past half-day visits have included:

• The Moinho de Maré de Corroios tide mill
• EDP headquarters to learn about their smart city efforts and renewable energy investments
• The Agriculture Institute to tour their sustainable research projects
• The Aljube Museum
• The Belem Cultural Center

Students will be housed in shared apartments designed for students in central Lisbon conveniently located near public transportation for travel to ISEG and other site visits/meeting spots in Lisbon. All students will have their own bed. The apartments have multiple bedrooms and bathrooms in each unit as well as a kitchen. Rooms in the apartments would have up to three beds. Other amenities include wifi, television, elevator and washing machine.

All O’Neill International programs are academic, credit-bearing courses that take place abroad. As such, your bursar will be charged two amounts for participation in this program:

1. Program Fee for O’Neill in Portugal (made in two payments)
2. Tuition for the course (3 credits at your normal IU-Bloomington tuition rate)

2025 Program Fee: $3,500

The Program Fee for this program includes:

• Lodging for 4 weeks in Portugal
• Site visits and guest speakers
• Cultural excursions
• Several meals
• International health insurance

The Program Fee will be charged to your IU Bloomington Bursar account in two installments:

1. A $550 non-refundable pre-payment will be charged shortly after you confirm your participation in the program
2. The remaining balance will be charged in March prior to departure

For a full breakdown of costs, please see the Portugal fee sheet. 

Tuition: 3 credits paid at your IU-Bloomington tuition rate 

Students will pay for 3 credit hours of tuition based on their student status (resident/non-resident, graduate/undergraduate, etc.) on the Bloomington campus.

Additional Costs

Students will pay for their own flight to and from Portugal, meals that are not included in the Program Fee, and other personal incidentals. 

For a full breakdown of costs, see the O'Neill in Portugal fee sheet.

Scholarships

The O’Neill International Office offers several scholarships to support students studying abroad. The O’Neill International Equal Opportunity Scholarship is a need-based award available to help O'Neill students from IUB and IUI to be able to study abroad. Please visit our scholarship page for eligibility requirements and application deadlines. Other need and merit-based scholarships are available on a competitive basis. Students are encouraged to apply widely to all scholarships they are eligible for. Please email us at oio@iu.edu if you want help navigating different funding resources.

O’Neill in Portugal is open to undergraduate (sophomore+) and graduate students from any IU campus. Undergraduates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Graduate students must be in good academic standing.

During the application period (November 1 - December 8) an "Apply Now" button will be available at the top of this page. You will need to submit the online application by 11:59pm on December 8. 

Please review our detailed application instructions!

If you have any issues or questions throughout the application process, contact us via email: oio@iu.edu

• Ability to Walk Long Distances Daily: Participants should be prepared to walk at least 3-5 miles each day, often in urban areas or on uneven terrain such as cobblestone streets.
• Ability to Walk on Uneven Ground and Climb Stairs: Some excursions may require walking on uneven ground or cobblestones and managing multiple flights of stairs at once. A basic level of fitness is necessary.
• Ability to Manage Stressful Situations: Students should be able to navigate stressful situations such as crowded areas, time zone changes, language barriers, and group travel dynamics.
• Ability to Adapt to a New Culture: Willingness to embrace a different culture and step outside one’s comfort zone is essential. Students should be prepared to adapt to new customs, food, norms, and environments.
• Ability to Navigate New Cities Independently: Participants should feel comfortable navigating new cities in small groups, using maps or public transportation.
• Ability to Stay Calm and Focused in Unfamiliar Environments: Students may encounter unfamiliar situations such as navigating airports, public transportation, or crowded cities. The ability to stay calm and focused is important.
• Ability to Identify and Cope with Personal Stressors: Understanding one’s own stressors (e.g., travel fatigue, group dynamics) and employing coping mechanisms is essential for a smooth experience.
• Ability to Adjust to Language Barriers: Students should be open to learning key phrases in the local language (e.g., ordering food, asking for directions).
• Openness to Embrace Group Dynamics and Teamwork: Programs often involve group work, requiring openness to grow as a team member, listen to others, and share responsibilities.
• Willingness to Broaden Perspectives: A core part of the experience is expanding one’s worldview. Students must be willing to broaden their perspectives and learn about new cultures, even if it challenges their existing beliefs.