The true horrors of university life: scares that even Halloween can’t beat!

Lisbon University Centre

Porto University Centre

The Real University Horrors: Scares that Even Halloween Can’t Beat!

Between Lisbon and Porto, we went looking for the biggest nightmares faced by university students — and the truth is, the monsters of academic life are far scarier than any creature of the night.

For many, the horror begins first thing in the morning, when the alarm goes off and it’s time to get out of bed after a night out. The battle between sleep and compulsory attendance could easily star in a suspense film — and, of course, it never ends well. Others shudder just thinking about oral presentations, that terrifying moment when your heart races faster than any horror soundtrack while every pair of eyes is fixed on you.

Group projects are another nightmare: there’s always that one “ghost” classmate who never shows up. And surprise tests? A scare worthy of any horror film! For some, the resit exam is the final monster — the one that returns to haunt those who thought they were finally safe.

Between cold coffees, sleepless nights and looming deadlines, students face true horror stories every semester.

So, can you relate to any of these scares?

Tell us: what’s your biggest academic nightmare?

The Lusófona University team wishes you a Happy Halloween — may the only scares this semester be the fun kind!