GUIDE FOR INCOMING STUDENTS

1. GUIDE FOR INCOMING STUDENTS 2009/2010

2. Welcome

3. INVATION TO POLAND • The Poland is a country in the very heart of Europe • Poland is borders on Germany, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. Its northern border – runs along the Baltic Sea coast • The capital city is Warsaw • Poland has a moderate climate with both martime and continental elements • Generally, in northern and western Poland the climate is predominartly martime, while the eastern part of the country has a distinctly continental climate with harsh winters and hotter drier summers

4. Katowice – the major city of Silesia • You cannot get bored in Katowice • The city vibrates with social, cultural, and first of all, night life • Everybody will find something for themselves • Katowice offers a lot to night life enthusiasts • There are many places where the fun goes on till the morning • Polish bars are commonly called “pubs”, although beside the name they have little in common with the traditional, English ones • They are stylised after Irish or Scottish pubs, but each one has its own unique décor and atmosphere • They serve exquisite beer and close when the last guest leaves, which means the fun can last until the early morning • Dance lovers may “have their fling” in discos to the rhythms of techno, hip-hop or rock music

5. Silesian School of Economics and Language • Silesian School of Economics and Languages in Katowice is the largest non-public higher school in Upper Silesia • The School was awarded the title of the best non-public higher school in Upper Silesia by the Chapter of Polish Ranking of Higher schools announced by “Rzeczpospolita” and “Perspektywy” • Silesian School of Economics and Languages has very rich educational facilities covering the area of 20 thousand square meters • They comprise state of the art equipment of lecture rooms, computer work rooms and air-conditioned auditorium

6. Silesian School of Economics and Language • The School facilities also include • the Academic Computer Centre • 500 desktops serving for educational and research purposes • as well as 40 thousand volumes of the school library • 15 thousand students are educated in these friendly conditions, at the faculties: • Management and Marketing • and Languages • School offers • bachelor’s, • master graduation • and complementary master graduation studies – intramural and extramural • The school has • a status of TELC/ICC examination centre • and a British Council examination centre • The students also have the possibility to obtain computer science certificates – ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence)

7. We have been closely cooperating with the: • Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes • University of Extremadura • Universidad Autonoma de Madrid • Universidad Sek Segovia • Universidad de Castilla – La Mancha • University of Aarhus, Institute of Business and Technology • Fachhochschule Wurzburg-Schweinfurt • University of Applied Sciences Worms • Universitaet Siegen • Universitatea Din Oradea • Maltepe University • Fh Joanneum Gesellschaft • Hochschule Bremerhaven • Fachhochschule Ludwigshafen am Rhein • Stredocesky vysokoskolsky institut

8. GENERAL INFORMATION • Name of the host institution • Silesian School of Economics and Languages • Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania Marketingowego i Języków Obcych w Katowicach • Erasmus Institutional Code • PL KATOWIC10 • Adress • International Office • 12, Gallusa Street • 40 – 594 Katowice • Phone: + 48 32 20 79 228 • Fax: + 48 32 20 79 228

9. ACCOMODATION • Foreign students may find accommodation at the student hostel • School offers single and double rooms, all with bathroom and some also with kitchen • Kitchen, laundry, television rooms are for general use • We offer a double room for one person • Students who decide to stay in this kind of room will have to pay an extra charge • The price for room include: accommodation, water, electricity and internet connection • Even if you decide to come for spring semester we have to be informed about your accommodation requirements no later than 15th September! We have to book a room early otherwise we do not guarantee free rooms • We do not offer any apartments to let. • There is a possibility to let a flat through the estate agency and monthly rent is around 1500 PLN in the centre of Katowice • The estate agency charge is equal to one month rent • A student hostel is called a “ Dom Studenta” • Adress:12, Ondraszka Street,40-594 Katowice, • Phone:+ 48323595803

10. COST OF LIVING • Living expenses in Poland will vary according to personal requirements and standards. The required minimum is 300 – 350 PLN/month, excluding accommodation • Approximate average prices of basic products: • Loaf of bread: 3 zł • Bottle of mineral water: 2 zł • Cup of coffe: 5 zł • Butter: 3,5 zł • Beer: 5 zł • Apples ( 1 kg): 3 zł • Ham ( 1 kg): 25 zł • Cheese ( 1 kg): 30 zł • Milk ( 1 l): 2.5 zł • Chocolate: 5 zł • There is a University canteen for student where you can buy cheep dinner • Otherwise there are many restaurants in Katowice, which vary in standard and thus prices as well • There is however a very range of international cuisine

11. ORGANISATION OF ACADEMIC YEAR • The academic year is divided into two terms • The winter semester starts on the 1st of October and lasts until mid-January when the exam session starts • The summer semester starts in mid February and lasts until the beginning of June • There are short breaks at the end of December (from Christmas till New Year) and during Easter • There is practically no teaching from mid-June to the end of September • Public Holiday • All Saint’s Day – 1 st November • Independence Day – 11 th November • Christmas Day – 25 th December • Boxing Day – 26 th December • New Year’s Day – 1 st January • Easter Sunday – 4 th April • State Holiday – 1 th May • Constitution Day – 3 rd May • Corpus Christi – 3 rd June • Feast of the Assumption – 15 th August

12. HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE • The institution responsible for health care in Poland is the National Health Fund – Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia (NFZ) • To get treatment by a general practitioner you should go to a doctor who has a contract with NFZ and show your European Health Insurance Card or a replacement certificate • To get treatment by a specialist, such as an obstetrician, dentist, dermatologist, venerologist, oncologist, eye specialist or psychiatrist you don’t need a referd. To go to any other specialist you need to go a general practitioner first • In case of emergency call 999 or 112 • Detailed information concerning health care in Poland can be found at: http://www.nfz.gov.pl/ue/

13. LEGALIZATION OF STAY • Students who are the citizens of the European Union or European Economic Area do not a visa when entering Poland • However, for stays longer than 3 months, students should obtain a temporary residence permit at Silesian Voivodeship Office • Documents required to obtain temporary residence permit: • European Health Insurance Card • Passport or other official document which confirms the personal date and enables entry to Poland (identity card) • Confirmation or financial means (minimum 150 euro per month)- it is enough to have a photocopy of a credit card and statement written in Polish in which you declare that you have adequate money to stay in Poland without taking social benefits • Confirmation of temporary registration issued by local government offices of the place of residence (registration for students staying at the student hostels will be done by hostel’s office) • A letter form the Silesian School of Economics and Languages confirming studies within the LLP/Erasmus programme and the planned period of stay • In addition, you have to fill in an application form, which is available at the Voivodeship Office

14. PUBLIC TRANSPORT • Local transport • in Katowice one reduce price ticket costs 1.20 zł, full price – 2.40 zł. • However if you know you will be using the public transportation many times within the day or weekend you can buy more economical tickets, valid for a given period of time, eg.: 24 hours, 3 days, 30 days, 90 days • More information are available at KZK GOP:http://www.kzkgop.com.pl/english • Taxis • Taxis are not difficult to find because of the many small taxi companies competing with each other, especially in the city area. • We suggest not to take the taxi from the train and bus station, because they are far more expensive than from other companies. • Phone number for the cheapest taxi companies in the area are for example: • Radio Taxi - 9191; • Halo Taxi - 96 29 • How to get to the school • By bus: From the main railway station in Katowice: stand nos. 10; the buses going along Mikołowska street ( the 3rd stop: Brynów, W. Pola Street; the landmark – the “Wujek” mine)

15. FREE EMERGENCY TELEPHONES • Police: 997 • Fire brigade: 998 • Ambulance: 999 • Calling from mobile dial: 112

16. DICTIONARY • apteka – pharmacy • bilety – tickets • kantor – exchange • na lewo – on the left • na prawo – on the right • poczta – post office • szpital – hospital • uwaga – attention! • woda – water • zakaz palenia – no smoking • znaczki – stamps • kino – cinema • dzień dobry – good morning • dobry wieczór – good evening • do widzenia – goodbye • dobranoc – good night • dziękuję – thank you • proszę – please • jak masz na imię? – what’s your name? • Mam na imię… - My name is… • Jak się masz? – how are you? • Nie rozumiem – I don’t understand • Zajęcia – classes • Egzamin – exam • Podręcznik – textbook • Biblioteka - library