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10. ARRIVAL
10.1 Planning Your Arrival
Winter Semester (Sept. 2007 - Feb. 2008)
Teaching in the Winter Semester 2007-2008 begins on Monday 1st October 2007. The Faculty will be running an Orientation Programme for incoming ERASMUS students in the week beginning Monday 24th September 2007. At Orientation we are planning to deal with many of the practical aspects of your studies here (registration, student ID card, city transport passes, e-mail access, etc.) Professors from our teaching departments will also be on hand for consultations. We therefore strongly recommend that students try to be here for Orientation week.
More precise details of Orientation, and the date on which you can move into your dorm, will be sent in advance of your arrival.
When you get to Prague, do the following:
Late arrivals should do the same as above, but instead of Orientation, they should come to the International Office at the Faculty as soon as possible for further instructions.
When you come to Orientation, please remember to bring 2 passport-sized photographs (for student ID etc.)
Summer Semester (Feb. 2008 – June 2008)
We anticipate that teaching in the Summer Semester 2007-2008 will begin on Monday 18th February 2008, and that there will be an Orientation programme preceding this. Details will be announced as soon as possible.
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10.2 Arriving by Air
All international flights arrive at Prague Ruzyně Airport, approximately 20 km to the Northwest of the city centre. You can get into town by catching a city bus Nos. 119 or 179, or the dedicated Airport Express (AE) bus service, or by catching the airport shuttle minibus. All three bus services are run by the Prague Public Transit Co., while the minibus shuttle is run by a private company called CEDAZ. You will see their white vans waiting outside the terminal. There are also two rival taxi services run by the companies AAA Taxi and Airport Cars FIX. There are four ways you can get from the airport to the dormitory:
For general information on Prague Ruzyně airport, see: http://www.prg.aero/en , which includes full details of transport to the airport by city bus, minibus and taxi (in English).
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10.3 Arriving by Train or Bus
Most international trains arrive either at Prague Main Station ("Hlavní nádraží") or at Holešovice Station ("Nádraží Holešovice") to the north of the city. Both stations are on Metro line C (the red line). International buses usually arrive at a Bus Station Florenc (on Metro lines B and C, yellow and red) or at Bus Station Želivského (on Metro line A, the green line). To get to the dorm, you will first of all have to find where you are on a map of the Metro. Then join the routes described in section 10.4 at an appropriate point
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10.4 Getting to your Dorm by Public Transport
Charles University has a number of dormitory residences scattered through various parts of the city. Visiting students are usually housed in one of the following five dormitories: Kolej Hvězda, Kolej Kajetánka, Kolej Komenského and Kolej Větrník (all in Prague 6),or Kolej Hostivař in Prague 10 (see 10.5 below). Students are automatically assigned a dormitory by the European Office when they are sent their Letter of Acceptance.
General information
For all the following journeys, we recommend that you buy at least two Kč 20 tickets before you set off (one for the journey, one in reserve). Tickets are widely available in the airport lounge, in the hall of Holešovice Station and Prague Main Station, at news-stands and kiosks, and from ticket machines at the entrance to the Metro, but please remember that you must validate the ticket by date-stamping it before starting your journey (see 11.4 below). In most cases, one Kč 20 ticket should be enough to cover the whole of your journey. Please note, however, that there is a time limit of 75 minutes on the use of transfer tickets during the day on Monday-Friday (90 minutes in the evening or weekends). If you are running short of time, date-stamp a second ticket. You do not have to date-stamp your ticket a second time when you transfer between bus and tram or Metro.
Kolej Hostivař
From the airport:: Take city bus 119 to Metro station "Dejvická" (by the Diplomat Hotel). Then transfer to tram no. 26 in the direction "Nadraží Hostivař". Get off at the final stop.
From the railway station or bus station: Take the Metro to "I.P.Pavlova" station (on line C, the red line). Then transfer to tram no. 22 in the direction "Nadraží Hostivař". Get off at the final stop.
Kolej Hvězda
From the airport: Take city bus 179, which runs direct to the Hvězda dormitory. This is the cheapest and perhaps the best option if you arrive before 7.00 p.m. For Hvězda, get off at "Nad Markétkou" stop (ask the driver to tell you where to get off).
From the railway station or bus station: Take the Metro to "Hradčanská" station (on line A, the green line). Then change to city tram no. 1 or 18 in the direction "Petřiny". Get off at "Větrník" stop. The dorm is a short walk downhill to your left.
Kolej Kajetánka
From the airport:: Take city bus 179. This is the cheapest and perhaps the best option if you arrive before 7.00 p.m. For Kajetánka, get off at "Vypich" (generally the 15th stop, about 24 minutes journey), and transfer to city bus 108, 174 or 180; then get off at "Na Petynce" (ask the driver to tell you when to get off).
From the railway station or bus station: Take the Metro to "Hradčanská" station (on line A, the green line). Then take city bus 108 or 174 and get off at "Kajetanka" – the third stop. To get to the bus stop, turn left at the top of the station's escalators and head for the exit on the right – the bus stop is located next to a flea market
Kolej Komenského
From the airport (route 1):: Take city bus 179. This is the cheapest and perhaps the best option if you arrive before 7.00 p.m. For Kolej Komenského, get off at "Vypich" (generally the 15th stop, about 24 minutes journey). Change there to city tram no. 15 (in the direction Strelnicna) or tram no. 25 (in the direction Vozovna Kobylisy). Get off at "Hladkov" (the 7th stop, about 10 minutes journey). The dorm is to the left of the tracks, and will be visible from the tram stop.
From the airport (route 2):: Take city bus 119 to Metro station "Dejvická" (by the Diplomat Hotel). Then transfer to city tram no. 20 (in the direction Smichovské Nádraží/Sídliště Barrandov) or to tram no. 26 (in the direction Nádraží Hostivař). Go just two stops, and get off at "Hradčanská". Walk back along the tramlines, down into the vestibule of the Metro, and back up to the trams running in the opposite direction. Change here to city tram no. 15 (in the direction Vypich) or tram no. 25 (in the direction Bílá Hora). Get off at "Hladkov" (the 3rd stop, about 6 minutes journey). The dorm is to the right of the tracks, and will be visible from the tram stop.
From the railway station or bus station: Take the Metro to "Hradčanská" station (on line A, the green line). Then change to city tram no. 15 (in the direction Vypich) or tram no. 25 (in the direction Bílá Hora). Get off at "Hladkov" (the 3rd stop, about 6 minutes journey). The dorm is to the right of the tracks, and will be visible from the tram stop.
Kolej Větrník
From the airport (route 1):: Take city bus 179. This is the cheapest and perhaps the best option if you arrive before 7.00 p.m. Get off at "Větrník" (generally the 15th stop, about 24 minutes journey). The dorm is visible from the tram stop.
From the airport (route 2):: Take city bus 119 to Metro station "Dejvická" (by the Diplomat Hotel). Then transfer to city tram no. 20 (in the direction Smíchovské Nádraží/Sídliště Barrandov) or to tram no. 26 (in the direction Nádraží Hostivař). Go just two stops, and get off at "Hradčanská". Walk back along the tramlines, down into the vestibule of the Metro, and back up to the trams running in the opposite direction. Change here to city tram no. 1 or 18 (in the direction Petřiny). Get off at "Větrník" (the 7th stop, about 11 minutes journey). The dorm is just off the main road, across the tracks.
From the railway station or bus station: Take the Metro to "Hradčanská" station (on line A, the green line). Change here to city tram no. 1 or 18 (in the direction Petřiny). Get off at "Větrník" (the 7th stop, about 11 minutes journey). The dorm is just off the main road, across the tracks.
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10.5 Accommodation
Accommodation is provided in Charles University Halls of Residence. Students are housed in double-occupancy rooms with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Single rooms are not available.
All university dormitories are constructed on one of two basic models:
Bedding and bed linen are provided, towels and kitchen utensils are not.
Dormitories are assigned to students automatically by the University Housing Office. We regret it is not possible for students to choose their dorm. The date of arrival from which the room is available will be written on your Letter of Acceptance and your Accommodation Voucher. Students who wish to arrive earlier must find their own accommodation.
To check-in you need: your passport, the original of your Accommodation Voucher, and one photograph. Students who arrive after office hours will be housed for the night, and register the next working day.
Rent is paid monthly, in cash, direct to the accommodation office at your hall of residence. You should make your first payment when you arrive, and subsequent payments each month, at least five days before the beginning of the month in question.
| Charles University dormitories used for the ERASMUS programme | ||
| Address | Phone number | |
| Kolej Hvězda | Zvoníčkova 5, 162 08 Praha 6 | 00420-235361504 or 00420-235365150 |
| Kolej Hostivař | Weilova 1128, 100 00 Praha 10 | 00420-267215205 or 00420-267215211 |
| Kolej Kajetánka | Radimova 12, 160 00 Praha 6 | 00420-233095103 |
| Kolej Komenského | Parléřova 6, 160 00 Praha 6 | 00420-220516816 |
| Kolej Větrník | Na Větrníku 1932, 162 00 Praha 6 | 00420-220402217 or 00420-220612213 |
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10.6 Private Accommodation
It is not difficult to find private accommodation in Prague. For a three-room flat (two rooms and kitchen) in the centre of Prague you can typically pay about Kč 15,000 per month. The tourist zone is much more expensive than this. The city suburbs are sometimes cheaper.
Charles University cannot arrange private housing for incoming students in advance, but the following is a selection of agencies and web-pages currently offering private housing in Prague. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and we include it only as a rough guide. The inclusion of an agency below does not necessarily imply that we endorse their services.
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10.7 Catering
Charles University has a number of student cafeterias and restaurants at different University locations. In addition to the canteens at the dormitories, the following cafeterias may be convenient for lunch. The Faculty International Office will provide the student with subsidised meal tickets at the registration.
| CAFETERIAS | |
| Name | Address |
| Menza Jednota | Opletalova 38, Praha 1 |
| Menza Právnická | nám. Curieových 7, Praha 1 |
| Menza Arnošta z Pardubic | Voršilská 1, Praha 1 |
| Menza Albertov | Albertov 7, Praha 2 |
| Menza Jinonice | U kříže 10, Praha 5 |
| Menza Kajetánka | Praha 6, Radimova 6 |
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10.8 Medical Care
Since the Czech Republic's entry into the EU, all EU nationals should now be able to cover the cost of standard medical treatment through their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), through form E111, or through a Provisional Certificate. However, in order to obtain treatment under the provisions of European regulations, you must make sure you contact a medical institution that has a contract with the Czech public health insurance system (most of them have, but some institutions are purely private). Also, you must take your EHIC or form E111 with you. Otherwise, the physician can insist on cash payment. (See section 9.4. above for further information on health insurance.)
Medical and dental care is provided to all students at the University Medical Centre at Spálená 12, Praha 1. Tel.: 00420-224949035. However, not all their medical staff are fluent in foreign languages, and they cannot always guarantee the presence of an English-speaking physician.
If you have an emergency, the Na Homolce Hospital at Roentgenova 2, Praha 5, has a foreigner's clinic that will be able to provide medical care in several languages. Tel. 00420-257272144 or 00420-257272146 (8.00 a.m.–4.00 p.m.). Tel. 00420-257211111 (after-hours emergency). Web-site: http://www.homolka.cz
The DC Mediscan diagnostic centre can also provide a foreign-language service at V Celnici 5, Praha 1. Tel. 00420-221775111 or 00420-221775112. Web-site: http://www.mediscan.cz
If your medical problem isn't an emergency, Prague has several clinics that cater to English-speaking clients that can provide a network of services from a basic examination to accompanying a patient to the hospital. Please note, however, that these are usually commercial operations which may charge you a high fee. The inclusion of a clinic in the following selective list does not necessarily imply that we endorse their services.
| Private clinics with English-language services | ||
| Address | Phone number | |
| American Dental Associates | Praha 1, V Celnici 4 | 00420-221181121 | GHC Clinic Czech Republic | Praha 1, Krakovská 8 | 00420-222211206 |
| Medicover CZ | Praha 2, Tylovo nám. 3 | 00420-224254487 Tel. 1221 (24-hour call centre) http://www.medicover.cz |
| Canadian Medical Centre | Praha 6, Veleslavínská 1 | 0420-235360133, 0420-724300301 after hours http://cmc.praha.cz |
| Unicare, s.r.o. | Praha 6, Na Dlouhém lánu 11 | 00420-235356553 00420-608103060 (24 hours) http://www.unicare.cz |
Emergency First Aid (První pomoc)
Overnight and round-the-clock services, possibly only in Czech:
Dental Emergencies
Overnight and round-the-clock services, possibly only in Czech:
Pharmacies
In the Czech republic, non-prescription drugs and medicines are sold only in pharmacies. They are not available at supermarkets, as in many West European countries. Pharmacies may be recognised by the prominent green cross displayed over the shop-front. Many have staff who can speak English or German, and are used to offering advice to tourists (especially in the city centre). A round-the-clock service is available at the following addresses:
| Pharmacies with a 24-hour service | ||
| Address | Phone number | |
| Praha 1, Nové Město | Palackého 5 | 224946982 |
| Praha 2, Vinohrady | Belgická 37 | 224920765 or 222519731 |
| Praha 4 | Vídeňská 800 (in Thomayer Hospital) | 261084019 |
| Praha 5, Motol | V úvalu 84 (by the hospital) | 224435736 |
| Praha 5, Smíchov | Štefánikova 6 | 257320918 |
| Praha 6, Dejvice | Vítězné nám. 13 | 261084019 |
| Praha 7 | Fr. Křižíka 22 | 233375599 |
| Praha 10, Malešice | Plaňanská 1 | 274778901 |
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10.9 Psychological Counselling Centre for International Students
This new initiative, run under the auspices of the Charles University Information and Advisory Centre (see 1.3 above), aims to provide a quality service to help get you through the challenges that you may face in emotional, interpersonal, and academic/career-choice situations, while you are in Prague
The psychologist is Mgr. Kateřina Brejchová of the Charles University Department of Psychology, and is open weekly, on Tuesdays, from 15.00 – 16.00, at Školská 13A, 110 00 Praha 1. To make an appointment, please e-mail: katerina.brejchova@ff.cuni.cz or counsel@ruk.cuni.cz
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10.10 Safety
Prague is a relatively safe city, and most students will spend a perfectly happy semester here without running into any trouble. Students should be aware, however, that Prague has a nasty reputation for pickpockets, especially in the tourist zone. Wallets, purses, and foreign passports are desirable targets for pickpockets, so please be careful when you are out and about in places where tourists gather (such as Old Town Square, Prague Castle, and Charles Bridge). Be especially alert when boarding and disembarking trams and metros, and look out for groups of people who are shoving or appear to be having a loud argument - this is often a distraction to the victim and a guise for the pickpocket's accomplices. Most pickpockets work in gangs of three or more to lower the risk of discovery. Quite possibly, your wallet will have passed through several hands before you even notice it's gone. Suggestions for safety are as follows:
Another common scam is the plain-clothes "police officer", who approaches tourists, waves a badge, and asks to control their foreign currency exchange transactions. He then returns their wallet with part of their cash missing. If approached by someone claiming to be a plain-clothes police officer, make sure they display proper identification. If in doubt, call the uniformed police.
Finally, be aware that beggars are frequently used as lookout points by pickpockets, who use them to find out where tourists keep their money. Do not give your hiding places away.
Dorm Security
Unfortunately, thefts can also occur at the university and at the dorm. It is therefore essential that students take good care of their money and their personal valuables, even when they are on university property. In particular: do not leave your bags or coats unattended when you go to lectures. Do not leave your bags unattended in the corridors. Be aware of the visitors whom you (or your room-mate) invite back to your dorm room. Do not leave your valuables at the dorm in plain view, and do not leave your valuables in your room unattended. Always lock your dorm room when you go out, even if you plan to be back in a few minutes.
These warnings are not intended to scare you off coming to Prague. Most visitors have a great time and never run into any trouble. However, minor carelessness will result in unnecessary rewards for Prague's many petty thieves.
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