Objectives:
The aim of the study is to determine the level and to compare the physical activity of students of the Medical University (MU) in Lublin and the University of Technology (BUT) in Bialystok, Poland, and the University of Beira Interior (UBI) in Covilhã, Portugal.

Material and methods:
A group of 823 people were examined: 108 students of the Medical University of Lublin, 118 students of Bialystok University of Technology, and 597 students of the University of Beira Interior in Covilhã. The study examined the level of student activity using the IPAQ questionnaire.

Results:
With reference to people (both women and men) studying at the MU in Lublin and at UBI in Portugal, the activity level was high, 60.2% and 51.8% respectively. In the group of BUT students sufficient activity prevailed – 30.5% of the respondents. Insufficient activity level was characterized by 2.8% of MU students, 23.7% of BUT students and 12.7% of surveyed Portuguese students. Considering the gender of respondents, statistically significant differences in activity levels among Portuguese students were observed. A sufficient level of physical activity was characterized by a higher percentage of men than women, 37.5% and 33.8%, respectively.

Conclusions:
Students of the Medical University (MU), as well as Portuguese students, were characterized by a high level of physical activity, while students of the Bialystok University of Technology (BUT) had an adequate level of physical activity. Among women studying at MU, BUT and UBI in Portugal, the highest average energy expenditure values were related to walking effort. Among both women and men studying at MU, BUT and at UBI in Portugal, the lowest average values of energy consumption were for moderate activity. Students from MU spent less time sitting during one working day than BUT andUBI Portuguese students.