Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie

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Information for Incoming Students and Visitors

Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland

LLP / ERASMUS and US STUDENT EXCHANGE SCHEMES
The deadlines for sending the application forms/Learning Agreement/study plans are:
1st semester - 31 May
Academic year - 31 May
2nd semester - 30th October

The application form and learning agreement ( course request information) should be filled in, signed by the Student and by the Co-ordinator of your University and sent to UMCS Lublin as soon as possible so that we may process it and reply to you with the formal acceptance and approval of the learning agreement (course request) proposed in due time.
Students should get in touch with the faculty co-ordinator at Maria Curie-Sklodowska University to discuss the courses available and planned to be taken in Lublin. The list of faculty co-ordinators is available HERE. After the student has been accepted by UMCS and the application process is completed an acceptacne letter is sent to the student with information on the conditions of acceptance and address of the prebooked place of residence.

We offer accommodation in the University halls of residence (rooms to share with another student); you should bear in mind that each year we receive many more requests for accommodation than the number of places available for international mobility students. For that reason the booking is done on the "first come first served" basis.
Students can apply for accommodation in the University's halls of residence through the Erasmus faculty co-ordinator in their application form. On tips on how to travel to Lublin, accommodation, insurance, please read more in our Erasmus Guide for International Students and information attached. In-coming students are strongly advised to read it very carefully before coming to Lublin.

The minimum English language skills requirement for international students coming to Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (PL LUBLIN01) is: TELC B2 level, Cambridge FCE, TOEFL 500 point (paper exam) or other equivalent.

TIPS FOR OVERSEAS IN-COMING STUDENTS

1. When does the semester begin and end?
For the First (Fall/Winter) semester come just 3-4 days before 1 October; the semester terminates at the end of January. During that time students have two breaks for: Independence Day 11 November and two weeks for Christmas and the New Year's holidays.
For the Second (Spring/Summer) semester come just 3-4 days before the semester begins as residence halls may be not available much earlier; the Second semester terminates at the beginning of June while final examinations last until the end of June.

2. Is there a date the student should report for orientation?
Orientation is a 3-4 days' programme offered to overseas students just before the commencement of the semester. The orientation programme includes information general issues re. study procedures, conduct, registration, accommodation, IDs, study advice, courses, student mentoring activities and a day's tour of the city of Lublin.

3. The recommended travel plan, i.e., designated airport to Lublin?

Arriving by air
Lublin can be reached easily from the Lublin Airport or Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport, the main international airport in Poland, by coach, train or car. Most aeroplane arrivals are handled at Terminal 2.of the Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport.

http://www.polish-airports.com

Students are advised to exchange about fifty euros into Polish currency (about 200 złoty) on their arrival for immediate expenses (tickets, telephone cards, snacks, taxis). Currency exchange points - Kantor - are located at the Warsaw Airport.

Continue by minibus /coach
Students can then use minibus / coach service departing from Frederic Chopin Airport Terminal 2 coach bay (in Polish: Warszawa Lotnisko) which is just across the Arrivals Hall level exit - walk along the zebra crossing, the bus stop is on the left. The coach fare from Warsaw to Lublin (about 50 zloty - the ticket can be also bought from the driver). The departures are at different times of the day.

Alternatively, students could reach Lublin by coach or train leaving from the Warsaw main railway station Dworzec Centralny. At the F.Chopin Airport take a 175 bus (buy your bus ticket in a newsagents at the airport - price: about 2.80 zł). After about 30 min. on 175 bus get off at Dworzec Centralny bus stop, go under Jerozolimskie street (subway), walk through the railway station concourse to the north and after about 300 yards reach the coach stop (for Polonus Wschod Express coaches) located just next to the train station at ul. Jana Pawła street or walk further on to reach the minibus stop located at ul. Jana Pawła street, corner of Sienna street.

The journey by coach or minibus usually takes up to 3 hours.In Lublin minibuses have a few stops on the way to their destination at Lublin Coach Station near the Lublin Castle. In Lublin students may get off at the stop just behind the roundabout at ul. Warszawska (it is best to tell the driver at the beginning of the journey where you want to get off in Lublin). From there students can take a taxi to their residence at UMCS campus - it is about 10 minutes' drive at the cost of about 20 zloty. To hire a taxi you may wave your hand at a passing taxi in a street or call a taxi company (licenced taxis in Lublin: tel. (mobile) +48506506557, tel. (landline) +48 81 7435000, +48 81 7441666, +48 81 5111111.

Continue by train
From Frederic ChopinAirport in Warsaw students can take a 175 bus, (or N32 night bus service) to get to the Warsaw main railway station Dworzec Centralny (buy your bus ticket in a newsagents at the airport - about 2.80 zł); after about 30 min. get off at Dworzec Centralny bus stop, walk under Jerozolimskie street (subway) to the train tickets hall (Kasy biletowe) where you can buy a train ticket for your journey to Lublin.

Alternatively, to get to the train station use one of the licensed taxis at the airport (for example: licenced taxis in Warsaw: MPT Radio Taxi, phone: (+48) 22 19191 Ele taxi, phone: (+48) 228111111, Merc Taxi, phone: (+48) 226777777, Sawa Taxi ( +48) 226444444), .

There is a train connection between Dworzec Centralny Warsaw main railway station and Lublin with fast trains departing nearly every two hours. Please consult: http://www.rozklad.pkp.pl
When at the train tickets hall (Kasy biletowe) buy a one-way ticket to Lublin, (first class fast train fare is about 50 zloty, no student reduction for this journey); most departures for Lublin are from Platform 1 or 2 ("Peron 2"). The train journey to Lublin takes about 2.5 hours.

After arrival at the Lublin train station you can take a bus route 13 or trolleybus route 150 running to the UMCS campus (fare about 2 zloty; tickets can be bought at newsagent kiosks), or a taxi (fare about 20 zloty).

Night arrivals
If you arrive in Warsaw late in the evening you should know there is no recommended public transportation (train or coach) to Lublin after 9.00 PM. You should either stay for a night in a nearby hotel (there is information about the hotels at the airport arrivals section); there is a hotel at the airport for transfer passengers but that can be taken only before crossing the Polish border (it's about 60 euro/night); the best thing would be to ask the aeroplane crew on late arrival. Alternatively, if in a group, the students could share the cost of a taxi to Lublin, which will be negotiable with the driver and should not amount to more than 250 euros. Licensed radio taxis are recommended (above).

4. Where will the students live?
The students will have shared accommodation in double rooms at the JOWISZ, BABILON, FEMINA, HELIOS students residence halls at the university campus. Accommodation cost is 400-450 zloty (100-115 euros) per person in a shared double-occupancy room per month depending on the quality standard of the residence.

5. When can we expect the invitation? How do you obtain a Polish visa?
UMCS sends letters of invitation/acceptance to overseas students who are accepted for the exchange program; the students are accepted after submitting ( about 8 weeks before arrival):
1. application form signed by the Erasmus coordinator
2. Learning Agreement form / course study plan
The acceptance letters from UMCS can be submitted at Immigration on arrival.

6. Health insurance

Students from non-EU/EEA member countries
Non EU/EEA students do not participate in the Polish national health care system. On the basis of state bilateral agreements they can be attended free of charge only in cases of emergency. However, the costs of medical care in hospital and appointments to general physicians will have to be paid for by the students. Therefore, they should purchase health care and accident insurance for the period of their visit to Poland while still in their home countries.
Students without valid health care insurance will have to purchase one immediately upon their arrival in Poland or be prepared to cover the costs of medical treatment themselves.

7. Polish language courses
Erasmus students are welcome to join a course of elementary Polish during their studies at UMCS; the 60 hours' course lasts one semester; participation for Erasmus students is free of charge.

List of courses available in English at faculties is HERE.

List of contact person able to assist with the academic programme at the relevant department is HERE.

More information on Poland, higher education and living in Poland: www.frse.org.pl (Erasmus - Information for Foreign Students).