There is a great concern with welcoming and integrating new students as best as possible, as older students are made aware of this issue. There are also a series of initiatives, such as visits, welcome sessions and others, meant to facilitate the initiation of students in academic life. One of the goals is to make the professor-student relationship as close and open as possible, as that makes for a decisively better learning process.

In this context, it is important to point out the various cultural, associative and sports activites developed by students through their students' groups, tunas [musical group of university students], folk music, poetry and fado, among many others. The UMinho Students' Union is also responsible for the organisation of large academic events, such as the Welcome Week for new students and the Enterro da Gata week.​

Students also have access to medical and psychological support, as well as over 40 different sports, such as aerobics, weight lifting, athletics, basketball, horseback riding, football, judo, climbing, swimming, water polo, rugby, tennis, karting, and many more.