ECTS INFORMATION PACKAGE

INTRODUCTION

What is ECTS ? Main characteristics of ECTS What are ECTS credits ?

GENERAL INFORMATION

SLOVAKIA - THE HOST COUNTRY P. J. ŠAFÁRIK UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SCIENCE INSTITUTES AND DEPARTMENTS

STUDY PROGRAMMES

ECTS DOCUMENTS

Learning agreement Student application form Transcript of records

INTRODUCTION

The ECTS Information Package was prepared and published as the main output of the TEMPUS UM_JEP 13050-98 „Credit-based System at Faculties of Science in Slovakia“ in order to promote institutional reform of higher education at Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice and other partner institutions in Slovakia and opening up of the SOCRATES/ERASMUS programme. Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University was involved in the SOCRATES/ERASMUS programme in 1998-2001 under the institutional contract No 67055-IC-2-98-1-SK-ERASMUS. The first version of ECTS Information Package was prepared under the leadership of Prof. Eva Čellárová, PhD. Now you obtain the new updated version of this one, which gather the new study programmes accreditated in 2004.

What is ECTS?

The European Community promotes inter-university co-operation as a means of improving the quality of education for the benefit of students and higher education institutions, and student mobility is a predominant element of that inter-university co-operation. The Erasmus programme clearly demonstrates that studying abroad can be a particularly valuable experience as it is not only the best way to learn about other countries, ideas, languages and cultures;

increasingly it is also an important element in academic and professional career development. The recognition of studies and diplomas is a prerequisite for the creation of an Open European area of education and training where students and teachers can move without obstacles. That is why the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) was developed in a pilot scheme established within the Erasmus programme as a means of improving academic recognition for study abroad. The external evaluation of ECTS has demonstrated the potential of the system and the European Commission has decided to include ECTS in its proposal for the Socrates programme, in particular in Chapter I on higher education (Erasmus). ECTS is now moving from its restricted pilot stage towards a much wider use as an element of the European dimension in higher education. ECTS provides an instrument to create transparency, to build bridges between institutions and to widen the choices available to students. The system makes it easier for institutions to recognise the learning achievements of students through the use of commonly understood measurements - credits and grades - and it also provides a means to interpret national systems of higher education. ECTS is based on three core elements: information (on study programmes and student achievement), mutual agreement (between the partner institutions and the student) and the use of ECTS credits (to indicate student workload).

Main Characteristics of ECTS As stated in the introduction, ECTS system is based on three core elements: information (on study programmes and student achievement), mutual agreement (between the partner institutions and the student) and the use of ECTS credits (to indicate student workload). These three core elements are made operational through the use of three key documents: the information package, the application form/learning agreement and the transcript of records. Most of all, ECTS is made operational by students, teachers and institutions who want to make study abroad an integral part of the educational experience. In itself, ECTS in no way regulates the content, structure or equivalence of study programmes. These are issues of quality, which have to be determined by the higher education institutions themselves when establishing a satisfactory basis for co-operation agreements, bilaterally or multilaterally. The code of good

practice called ECTS provides those actors with tools to create transparency and to facilitate academic recognition. Full academic recognition is a conditio sine qua non for student mobility in the framework of the Socrates/Erasmus programmes. Full academic recognition means that the study period abroad (including examinations or other forms of assessment) replaces a comparable period of study at the home university (including examinations or other forms of assessment), though the content of the agreed study programme may differ. The use of ECTS is voluntary and is based on mutual trust and confidence in the academic performance of partner institutions. Each institution selects its own partners. ECTS provides transparency through the following means: ECTS credits, which are a numerical value allocated to course units to describe the student workload required to complete them (see the section on ”ECTS credits”); The information package which supplies written information to students and staff on institutions, departments/faculties, the organisation and structure of studies and course units (see the section on ”Information package”); The transcript of records which shows students’ learning achievements in a way which is comprehensive, commonly understood and easily transferable from one institution to another (see the section on ”Transcript of records”); The learning agreement covering the programme of study to be taken and the ECTS credits to be awarded for their satisfactory completion, committing both home and host institutions, as well as the student (see the section on ”Student application form/Learning agreement”). Good communication and flexibility are also needed to facilitate the academic recognition of studies completed or taken abroad. In this respect the ECTS co-ordinators have an important role to play as their main tasks are to deal with the academic and administrative aspects of ECTS (see the section on ”ECTS co-ordinators”). The full range of course units of the department/faculty/institution using ECTS should in principle be made available to the mobile student, including taught doctorate course units. Students should

be enabled to follow regular course units - and not courses specifically designed for them - and should not be precluded from the possibility of fulfilling the host institution’s requirements for a degree or diploma. ECTS also enables further studies abroad. With ECTS, a student will not necessarily go back to the home institution after the study period abroad; he/she may prefer to stay at the host institution - possibly to gain a degree - or even move to a third institution. The institutions themselves decide whether or not this is acceptable and what conditions the student must fulfil to obtain a diploma or transfer registration. The transcript of records is particularly useful in this context as it provides a history of the students’ academic achievements, which will help institutions to make these decisions.

What are ECTS credits? ECTS credits are a numerical value (between 1 and 60) allocated to course units to describe the student workload required to complete them. They reflect the quantity of work each course unit requires in relation to the total quantity of work necessary to complete a full year of academic study at the institution, that is, lectures, practicals, seminars, tutorials, fieldwork, private study - in the library or at home - and examinations or other assessment activities. ECTS is thus based on a full student workload and not limited to contact hours only. ECTS credits are a relative rather than an absolute measure of student workload. They only specify how much of a year’s workload a course unit represents at the institution or department allocating the credits. In ECTS, 60 credits represent the workload of an academic year of study and normally 30 credits for a semester and 20 credits for a term. ECTS credits ensure that the programme will be reasonable in terms of workload for the period of study abroad.  

GENERAL INFORMATION

SLOVAKIA – The host country

Welcome to Slovakia Brief history Geography Climate Principal cities Administration Economic development Education and science

Host country formalities Košice - past and present Getting to Košice Cost of living Accommodation Health and insurance Study facilities Other practical information Leisure actvities

Welcome to Slovakia The Slovak Republic is located in the heart of Europe. It is the youngest state in central Europe, established on 1st January 1993 after the split of former Czechoslovakia.

Brief history Archaeology has demonstrated the existence of man in the territory of Slovakia from the Middle Palaeolithic Era that lasted from 200 000 - 35 000 B.C. Slovakia was settled by the Slavic Slovaks in the 6th or 7th century. The first important state organisation among the western Slavs was the Empire of Samo that emerged in 623 and ruled the territory for 35 years before being incorporated into Great Moravia which included also part of Bohemia, southern part of Poland and western part of modern Hungary. In 828 the Prince of Nitra Pribina had a stone church in Nitra consecrated by the Archbishop of Salzburg. In 863 two Thessaloniki missionaries, brothers Cyril and Methodius, arrived in

Great Moravia at the invitation of Prince Rastislav who desired to free himself from the Frankish influence. Cyril created the first Slavonic alphabet, the Hlaholic, the forerunner of contemporary Cyrillic and translated liturgical books as well. Pope Hadrian II approved the use of Old Slavonic as a liturgical language alongside Latin, and consecrated Methodius as an Archbishop of Rome. In 1467 the Academia Istropolitana University began instruction in Bratislava, founded according to the model of the University of Bologna by King Mathias Corvinius, a propagator of the new ideas of renaissance humanism in Hungary. Due to the efforts of Benedict Kischdy, the Hungarian bishop of Eger, the University of Košice was founded in 1657. In 1763 Maria Theresa established the College for training mining, foundry and forestry specialists in Banská Štiavnica in central Slovakia, as in the Middle Ages mining represented an important branch of economy in Slovakia. At the beginning of 20th century, in 1919, the Comenius University in Bratislava was founded. In 1787 Anton Bernolák first codified Slovak as a literary language which was used only among Catholics and in 1843 it was legalised. The Slovak cultural institution Matica Slovenská was founded in 1863. The first Czechoslovak Republic was declared in 1918. The second Czechoslovak Republic was established after the World Word II in 1945. In 1969 the Decree on Czecho-Slovak Federation was signed, according to which Czechoslovakia became a federal state. The Velvet revolution in 1989 started the transformation of the community. The independent Slovak Republic was established in January 1993.

Geography The relief of the country is characterised by great difference in height. In northern and central Slovakia the countryside is hilly - covered with the Carpathian mountain range. In the south the hills slope down to join the Danube and east Slovakian Plains which are both important agricultural areas. The Danube is the most important river, creating a waterway connecting Slovakia with the Black Sea ports and, through the Rhine - Main - Danube channel, also with the west European ones. Nowadays Slovakia is becoming a crossroad of economic and trade routs between the East and the West.

These are several geographical facts: Highest peak: Gerlach in the High Tatras, 2.655 m (8.708 ft) above sea level Lowest point: village of Streda nad Bodrogom, 95 m (312 ft) above sea level Longest river: the Váh Largest lake:Velké Hincovo pleso in the High Tatras, 0,179 sq. km (0,07 sq. mil) Longest cave: Demänovská jaskyna - system of caverns in the Low Tatras, 22 km (13,75 mil) Most caves: in the Low Tatras, over 400 Largest animal: Bison, 2 m (6,6 ft) high, 3,5 m (11,5 ft) long, weight 1,3 tonnes Largest bird: Bustard, 1 m (3,28 ft) height, weight 18 kg and has a 2 m (6,6 ft) wingspan The highest lying settlement: Štrbské pleso, 1.355 m (4,444 ft) above sea level Deepest geothermal borehole: Stará Lesná in the High Tatras, 3.750 m (12.300 ft)

Climate Slovakia has a continental climate, with four distinct seasons. Winters are typically cold and dry, while summers tend to be hot and humid. The average daily temperature range is -3° to 2° C (27° to 36° F) in January and 16° to 26° C (61° to 79° F) in July, temperatures tend to be cooler in the mountains. Slovakia receives an average of about 650 mm (about 26 inch.) of rainfall annually. In areas of high altitude, snow is often present for as many as 130 days each year.

Principal cities Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital and largest city, had an estimated population of almost 500000. Other important cities include Košice, an industrial city; Nitra, a food-processing centre; Prešov,

known for electrical engineering; Banská Bystrica in a mining and manufacturing area; and Žilina, a business centre.

Administration Official name: Slovenská republika (Slovak Republic) short name: Slovensko (Slovakia) ISO 2-letter code: SK, 3-letter code: SVK IATA code: OM Area: 49.036 sq. km (18.921 sq. miles) Population: 5 380 053 (2003) Population density: 109 per sq. km Nationalities: Slovak 85,7%, Hungarian 10,6%, Czech 1,0%, Gypsy 1,4%, Ruthenian 0,3%, Ukrainian 0,3%, German 0,1%, Polish 0,1% and the others.

Official language: Slovak, a language of the West Slavic subgroup of Slavic languages. Other languages spoken in Slovakia include Hungarian, Czech, Ukrainian, and Gypsy. Most members of minority ethnic groups speak Slovak in addition to their own native languages. National anthem: Nad Tatrou sa blýska Type of institution: Parliamentary democracy Parliament: National Council of the Slovak Republic, located near Bratislava Castle, has one chamber with 150 members elected to four-year terms by popular vote. All citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote in the Slovak Republic. Executive: The Slovak Republic has both a president and a prime minister. The president is elected directly by the voters for a five-year term. The prime minister is to head the government. Under the advice of the prime minister, the president also appoints a cabinet.

Judiciary: The Slovak Republic has a Constitutional Court composed of ten judges. These judges are appointed to seven-year terms by the president. The country’s judicial system also includes the Supreme Court, Military Court and several regional and district courts. Religion: About 60 percent of Slovaks are Roman Catholics. According to the number of believers, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, Greek Catholic Church, Reformed Christian Church, Orthodox Church, and Jewry should be mentioned. Religion plays a major role in everyday life in Slovakia, with 73 percent of Slovaks claiming Church membership.

Economic development Slovakia has been developing its market economy since 1989. The industrial and agricultural feature of the country is based on its natural and human resources. Slovakia is rich in forest and mineral sources as copper, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, magnesium and lignite. Slovakia has developed mining and heavy industry, including the production of metal, steel and machinery, weapons, coke, gas, oil and nuclear fuel. Other important industrial products are chemicals and manmade fibres, rubber products, electrical and optical apparatus, textiles, paper, earthenware and ceramics. The structure of the Slovakian economy has allowed Slovakia to obtain market shares worldwide by taking advantage of the foreign trade. Imports include crude oil, natural gas, machinery and transport equipment. Slovak main exports are machinery and transport equipment, intermediate manufactured goods, chemicals, raw materials, wood, steel and weapons. Although the industry is promoted as the Slovakia's principal economic activity, the agriculture has important role in Slovak economy as more than one-third of land in Slovakia is arable. The Slovak agriculture consists of growing grains, potatoes, maize, sugar beets, fruit, grapes for wine production, and the breeding of livestock including cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry. Much of Slovakia's energy supply is imported, particularly oil and gas. There are nuclear-power stations at Jaslovské Bohunice and Mochovce and hydroelectric power plants located on the rivers Váh, Orava, Slaná and Hornád and Gabcíkovo dams on the Danube.

Slovakia is a member of more than 50 international organisations, e.g. United Nations Organisation, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Bank for International Settlements, Council of Europe. From May 1st 2004 Slovakia is a member of the European Union and from April 2nd, 2004 a member of NATO.

Education and science Among all the higher education institutions the most significant are Comenius University in Bratislava, P.J. Šafárik University in Košice, Technical Universities in Bratislava and Košice, and others http://www.braintrack.com/linknav.htm?pprevid=36&level=3&sp=5. Research institutions of the Slovak Academy of Sciences also represent a strong scientific background http://www.savba.sk.

Host country formalities According to the Law 48/2002 Coll. of laws about residence of the foreigners on the territory of the Slovak Republic dated from 2nd

February 2002, effective from 1st April 2002, it is necessary that the application for the entry visa and for the long-term stay on the territory of the Slovak Republic will be lodged personally by the applicant even before travelling to Slovak Republic in the seat of the representative office of the Slovak Republic that has the competence for his native country. For the contact points of the Slovak Republic embassies please see http://www.foreign.gov.sk web page. The long-term stay is permitted for the period necessary for attainment of its purpose, but the longest for one-year period. This period may be repeatedly extended at the applicant's request at the longest of 3 years. All the information on documents necessary for the application for the long-term stay is available on http://www.foreign.gov.sk web page.

Košice - Past and Present Košice, the second largest city in Slovakia, is an important administrative, economical and cultural centre. It is situated in the valley of the Hornád River and the Košická Basin and is bordered

by the Cierna hora Mountains in the north and the Slovenské rudohorie Mountains and the Volovské vrchy Hills in the west, and the Slanské vrchy Hills in the east. Košice has warm, rather dry climate. The average January temperature ranges from -2 °C to -4 °C, the average July temperature ranges from 18,5 °C to 20 °C and the average annual rainfall is 600-700 mm.

Košice's coat of arms

The settlements in the valley of the Hornád River belong to the oldest on the Slovakian territory. Archaeological findings date them as far back as the Older Stone Age, e.g. about 100 000 B.C. The oldest Palaeolithic settlement in Europe, more than 80 000 years old, was discovered in Barca near Košice. There is no historical document referring to the origin of the settlement of Košice. But it is evident that the territory was settled much earlier than it is mentioned in the first written document dated from 1230 when the Hungarian King Andrew reigned. Košice is mentioned in this document as Villa Cassa.

Since 1342 the town had privileges, which increased its importance. On 28th July 1347 Košice was granted further privileges by the King Louis the Great, which enjoyed till then only the inhabitants of Buda, so that Košice became the second most important town in Hungary. The same king in 1369 granted the town its coat of arms. It was for the first time in the European history that a town was granted coat of arms based on a royal decree. In 1657, due to the economical, administrative, and political importance of the city, the Jesuitical University was established, comprised of philosophical, theological, and linguistic faculties. The University was changed into a Royal Academy in 1776 and later only the Faculty of Law had the character of the college. At the beginning of the 18th century Košice saw a decline of economy as a consequence of the absolutist government and centralising of the decisive rights to Vienna which did not last long. The development of industry gave Košice a new impulse, especially in a form of arising of manufactories and later industrial plants, accelerated mainly by the building of the East Slovak Iron and Steel Works. Nowadays the city has a well developed

metallurgical, engineering, food and clothing industry, building trade, and is a centre of transport and information technology. The history is closely tied up with the beautifully reconstructed buildings in the downtown core of Košice that make this eastern Slovak regional capital a truly memorable destination. St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, St. Michael's Chapel, Urban's Tower, East Slovak Theatre, Immaculate Statue "The Plague Column", Levoča House, Rákozci Palace, Mikluš Prison, District House, East Slovak Museum, Slovak Technical Museum, Pseudo-gothic Jakab's Palace, Town Ramparts, Executioner's Bastion, Singing Fountain Park, Town Hall, Archbishop's Palace and Constitutional Court Building are just a few significant sights to be admired in this historical core with a spindle-shaped square and pedestrian zone along the Main street. Several different Churches, e.g. Dominican Church, Church on Calvary, Evangelic Church, Church of Sisters Ursulines, Franciscan Church, Premonstratensian Church, Greek-Catholic Church, Synagogues, and Calvinist Church mark existence of religion. On the 7th May 1369 the armorial warrant was granted to Košice by Louis the Great. To remind this important date a new tradition was created - Days of Košice. During the first May week, Košice changes to a celebrating city with a lot of cultural and sport events like presentations of traditional crafts and guilds, floating on the boats, eating of 600 metres long cake, conquering the old castle, and battle with a pirate crew to get back the stolen Košice treasure. International Peace Marathon was established in 1924 as the Marathon of Košice. Its tradition has been lasting to the present, so that this is the oldest European marathon, which each year in October hosts the best runners from all around the world. Košice Music Spring in April, International Organ Festival in September in St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Festival of Spiritual Arts, International Folk Festival, International Water Skiing competition, tennis tournament VSŽ Slovak Open Challenger in June are just to be mentioned. Excellent conditions for the relaxation can be found in Košice suburbs and surroundings. Attractive skiing centres like Kavecany, Jahodná and Kojšov provide good conditions for downhill and cross-country skiing. In Kavecany the ZOO and bobsleigh track are located and easily accessible by local city busses. Bankov and Alpinka are popular centres of tourism and hiking. The only cold

geyser on the European continent, geyser in Herlany, found in 1875, spurts water every 32-34 hours for about 25 minutes up to 15 metres. Zádiel Valley with nearby Krásna Hôrka Castle and Betliar House; the water reservoir of Ružín; and some caves are further tips for weekend.

Higher education and science institutions In Košice the following universities, attended by about 15 000 students together, are situated: P. J. Šafárik University, Technical University, University of Veterinary Medicine, and Military Air Force University. The Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice comprises the following 9 institutes: Institute of Experimental Physics, Institute of Materials Research, Institute of Geotechnics, Institute of Neurobiology, Parasitological Institute, Institute of Animal Physiology, Mathematical Institute, Institute of Zoology, and Institute of Social Sciences. Please see http://www.saske.sk for more information about this academy.

Getting to Košice Košice is easily reached by plane, train, and bus as well as by car. The city lies on main roads running from the north (Poland) to the south (Hungary) and from the west (Bratislava, capital of Slovakia) to the east (Ukraine). There is an international airport in Košice-Barca, located 6 km south from the city centre, which is the destination of daily regular flights from Prague, Vienna, and Bratislava. Useful links for the above mentioned airports: KSC   Košice, Slovakia KOŠICE AIRPORT FLIGHT INFORMATION:    General Enquiries: ++421-55-683 21 00, ++421-55-622 10 93 VIE   Vienna (Wien-Schwechat), 50 km (60-90 min) to Bratislava    (Vienna has direct links to over 190 destinations, Austrian Airlines operate shuttle bus between    VIE-BTS, and these can be reserved in the same way as flights) VIENNA AIRPORT FLIGHT INFORMATION:    General Enquiries: ++43-1-700 70

PRG  Prague (Ruzynĕ Airport) PRAGUE AIRPORT FLIGHT INFORMATION:    General Enquiries: ++42-2-20 11 11 11 BUD Budapest (Ferihegy), 260 km to Košice BUDAPEST AIRPORT FLIGHT INFORMATION:    General Enquiries: ++36-1-296 70 00 BTS Bratislava (M. R. Štefánik Airport) ZRG Bratislava (Bratislava-City Bus Shuttle, Hotel Danube)    (bus line BTS-VIE airport, operated by Austrian) BRATISLAVA AIRPORT FLIGHT INFORMATION:    General Enquiries: ++421-2-48 57 11 11 / 43 42 12 49 / 43 42 00 36 /48 57 33 53

International trains connect the city with a number of major cities in neighbouring countries, including Prague (Czech Republic), Warsaw (Poland), Moscow (Russia), Kiev (Ukraine) and Budapest (Hungary) and Wien (Austria). Commonly used domestic route Bratislava-Žilina-Poprad-Košice by IC takes about 5 hours. For detailed information, please see the web page http://www.zsr.sk/english/p-euzeleznice.html. The best bus direct service from all over the Europe to Bratislava Main Bus Station is offered by Eurolines, http://www.eurolines.com.

All the information on car rental agencies can be found in telephone directory under the entry "AUTOMOBILY-POŽIČOVNE" and taxi companies under the entry "TAXISLUŽBA". Student, youth, teacher and independent travel from Košice to the whole world is organised by "CKM 2000 TRAVEL", http://www.ckm.sk, e-mail: ckm2000@ckm.sk, Hlavná 58, 040 01 Košice, tel.: ++421-55-625 77 67, fax: ++421-55-625 77 73, opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Cost of living The following average monthly budget (May 2004) might help you to have an idea of how much you need when arriving in Košice

Accommodation 300 - 2.000 Sk/per nightFood 3.000 SkInsurance and medical care:

1.260-2.000 Sk

Literature and course material:

300 Sk

Notebook: 60.000 SkTelephone and newspaper:

600 Sk

Local city transport:

390 Sk

Clothing: T-shirt 500 Sk, jeans up to 1.500 Sk, shoes up to 2.000 Sk

Drug store: handkerchiefs 25 Sk, tooth-paste 20-50 Sk, anti-leak pads up to 50 Sk, towel up to 300 Sk, bed clothing 600 Sk

Leisure: cinema ticket up to 100 Sk, theatre ticket up to 150 Sk, museum entrance fee 30 Sk, swimming pool 55 Sk/hour, tennis 100 Sk/hour, squash 70-170 Sk/half an hour, gymnasium renting 250 Sk/hour and a half, sauna 60 Sk/entrance, fitness 30-50 Sk/entrance,

massage 160-190 Sk/hour

Accommodation The P. J. Šafárik University has several halls of residence, which are available for the students of the Faculty of Science. The halls consist of units of bedrooms with shared bathroom facilities and a kitchen. The social centres with television, game rooms, computers, etc. are freely accessible. Some students may prefer to live in rented apartments, which are also available. For plenty of hotels in the area of town, cca. 20, with reasonable prices providing rooms ranging from single to apartments, please browse on one of the following web pages:

http://www.kosice.sk/icmk/ubytovanie.htmhttp://www.kosice.sk/info/hotels/index.htm,

http://www.hotel.sk/enghot/mkosice/mkosice.htm, http://www.napri.sk/www/mic/hotang.htm

or contact Ing. Zuzana Martinová from the International Relations Office, Moyzesova 16, 041 54 Košice, tel.:++421-55-622 21 21, ext. 153, fax: ++421-55-622 21 24, e-mail: martinz@upjs.sk , Mgr. Lenka Čengeriová from the International Relations Office, Šrobárova 2, 041 80 Košice, tel.: ++421-55-622 44 17, fax: ++421-55-622 44 17, e-mail: zahrodd@kosice.upjs.sk

Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., where you can obtain advice and help in finding suitable accommodation.

Health and insurance Students within an exchange programme should check with the Health Authorities in their home country before leaving. Those applying for the long-term residence can obtain the contractual insurance of treatment costs on the territory of Slovakia from "Vzájomná životná poistovna, a.s.", Štúrova 7, 043 25 Košice, tel.: ++421-55-623 22 42, 623 00 21, fax: ++421-55 - 622 13 49, e-mail: vzpke@ke.psg.sk, opening hours: Monday from 8 to 12 a.m., Wednesday from 8 to 12 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m., Friday from 8 to 12 a.m.

For the hospitals, health centres, general practitioners, specialists, dentists, and psychological centres, please see the telephone directory under the entry "ZDRAVOTNÍCTVO" and "LEKÁRNE" for pharmacies. Contacts to the services for special needs students:

Union of physically handicapped youth Pražská 11, 816 36 Bratislava

tel./fax: ++421-7-52 44 47 10-1 e-mail: ima-ztpm@changenet.sk

Sportinvalid Šoltésovej 7, 040 01 Košice

tel.: ++421-55-76 00 49, fax: ++421-55-76 09 74 Independent life - organisation of physically handicapped

"Košická organizácia vozickárov - Nezávislý život" Talinská 1, 040 12 Košice

tel.: ++421-55-74 94 29, fax: ++421-55-74 75 88 e-mail: kov@changenet.sk

Study facilities Several libraries in the city are freely accessible to the students. The University Library comprises a collection of documents, books, textbooks, and periodicals and provides online computer searches and CD-ROMs for reference purposes. In addition, there are sections of the University Library within most of the Faculty department, which are accessible to students. The Austria Library, which belongs to the University Library, is a study centre of the Austrian literature and culture. The Medical Library, which belongs to the University Library, is situated within the complex of the Faculty of Medicine and a Faculty hospital. It has particularly strong holdings of medical and biological books and periodicals and a good reference service. The Law Libraryis located at the Faculty of Law. There are some other libraries in the city, which serve the students and the public. Among them the most attended are The State Science Library which is located in the centre of the city and is the largest scientific library in Košice offering a good study conditions with a high proportion of individual working places, The Veterinary Medicine Library which is located in the campus of the University of Veterinary Medicine and contributes to the library service in science and agriculture, The University Library of the

Technical University of Košiceis a centralised library and information provider that servers and satisfies the information needs of university workers, students, and other users outside the University, The Public Librarywhich is spread out downtown and provides books and magazines in foreign languages or on music, and some other public libraries. For more information please browse on http://www.nts.sk/www/Kultinfo.nsf/public web page. Computing facilities are available in the University Computing Centre, which provides all computer network services at the University, including the Internet services. Several laboratories equipped with the Pentium PCs have been established and are available for students as well as laboratories at institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and part of teaching activities in Computer Science is realised in the computer laboratory of IBM Košice.  

Other practical information Time zone: Central European Time (CET) which is: GMT+1 (London), EST+6 (New York) PST+9 (Los Angeles), summer time (MET DST) + 1 hour: between last Sun of March - last Sun of September Country telephone code: ++421 Local telephone calls: Public phones charge 5 Sk a unit, but most public phones require telephone cards, which can be bought at post offices, railway stations, big department stores, kiosks and hotels. Card phones are available in 50 or 100 units. Emergency phone numbers

Fire department, Ambulance, Police

112 Gas 622 19 15

City police 159 Drinking water 642 75 07

Directory Inquiries - Domestic

1181 City Information Centre - Dargov store

16 186

Directory Inquiries - International

12 149 City Information Centre - Hlavná 59

625 88 88

Telegrams 12 127 Bus station 625 16 19

Electricity 0800 16 63 99

Train station 613 21 75

Airport 683 21 00

Holidays

Jan. 1 New Year's Day July 5 Introduction of Christianity

Jan. 6 The Three Wise Men

Aug. 29 Slovak National Uprising of 1944

March/April Easter Friday Sept. 1 Constitution Day

March/April Easter Monday Sept. 15 St Maria's Day

May 1 May Day Nov. 1 All Saints Day

May 8 Victory Dec. 24, 25, 26

Christmas Holiday Break

Currency: Slovak unit of currency is Slovak crown (Slovenská koruna), local code Sk, and international code SKK, which is divided into 100 hellers (halier). Coins come in denominations of 50 hellers, and 1, 2, 5 and 10 Sk. Bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 Sk.

1000 Sk bill

Credit cards: Eurocard/MasterCard - accepted in General Credit Banks and Slovak Savings Bank. Banks also accept VISA, American Express, and Eurocheque. In the General Credit Bank the daily Eurocheque draft is limited to the maximum of 6.500 Sk. Big hotels and hotels of international network accept credit cards of all sorts. Exchange offices (zmenáren) are in all branches of banks and of savings banks, in larger stores, hotels, in post offices and in travel agencies. All free convertible currencies can be exchanged. Exchange rates: For the actual exchange rates in different banks please browse on http://kurzy.vsk.sk web page. Banks and Exchange offices in Košice (in alphabetical order)

Name Address Contact

Citibank (Slovakia), a.s. Werferova 3 643 04 08

Československá obchodná banka, a.s. (3 branches)

Nám. osloboditelov 5

611 11 11

Dexia banka Slovensko, a.s. (2 branches)

Hlavná 7 611 71 11

HVB Bank Slovakia, a.s. (2 branches) Mlynská 7 728 19 00

Istrobanka, a.s. ( 2 branches) Hlavná 4 623 19 61

Komerční banka Bratislava, a.s. Strojárenská 9 632 29 60

Národná banka Slovenska Slovenskej jednoty 14

616 38 01

OTP Banka Slovensko, a. s. (3 branches) Alžbetina 2 681 13 60

Poštová banka, a.s. ( 2 branches) Moldavská cesta 10

641 71 00

Slovenská záručná a rozvojová banka, a.s.

Roosveltova 10 729 86 81-83

Tatra banka, a.s. ( 11 branches) Štúrova 28 0850 111 100

Volksbank, a.s. (2 branches) Mlynská 29 720 42 11

Všeobecná úverová banka ( 10 branches)

Strojárenská 11 681 81 11

Slovenská sporitelna,a.s. (11 branches) Mlynská 5 681 22 02

Opening hours: Shopping hours are usually from 9 a.m. to 6 or 10 p.m. On Saturdays, most stores close by noon, and few are open on Sundays. Closing time of several banks differs during the week, it can be from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Voltage: 220 V/50 Hz Tipping customs: round the bills up by about 10%

Speed limits:    4-lane highway: 130 kph (81 mph)    Open roads: 90 kph (56 mph)    Build-up areas: 60 kph (38 mph)

City public transport system in Košice

T I M E T R A V E L T I C K E T STicket I.

zoneII.

zone I. + II. zone24 hours 40,- Sk - -7 days 140,- Sk - -month 390,-Sk 220,- Sk 590,- SkPrice reduction month ticket 195,- Sk 110,- Sk 295,- Sk3 months ticket 1070,- Sk 600,- Sk 1600,- SkPrice reduction 3 months ticket 535,- Sk 300,- Sk 800,- Sk

S I N G L E T R A V E L T I C K E T S

Ticket I.zone

II. zone

I.+ II.zone

basic ticket 12,- Sk 7,- Sk 19,- Skprice reduction ticket 6,- Sk 3,- Sk 9,- Skdriver’s ticket 14,- Sk 8,- Sk 22,- Sknight ticket 24,- Sk 14,- Sk 38,- Skdriver‘s night ticket 28,- Sk 16,- Sk 44,- Skluggage or animal 12,- Sk 7,- Sk 19,- Sk

I. zone = central part of town without surroundingsII. zone = surroundings

Leisure activities In addition to the sporting facilities, which are located in the area of the residential halls, there are many opportunities for summer and winter sports in the city and surroundings. All of them are easily accessible by car or public transport. On the web page http://www.kamdomesta.sk you can easily find all the information on ski centres, tennis courts, golf, skittles, water ski-tow, bobsleigh track, swimming pools, internet clubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, concerts, discos, events going on, and some more. One of the greatest events in the students' life is the Days of Faculty, which are organised by the students' community every year in the spring. Traditional sport competitions between

students and teachers, Student's Scientific Conference, but also a conference where scientific problems are presented from a non-scientific point of view and vice versa and some other performances are always very much expected.

  P. J. Šafárik University

Address and contact numbers General description of the University

Address and contact numbers Address: Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Šrobárova 2, 041 80 Košice, Slovakia tel.: ++421-55-622 26 02/622 26 10/622 26 15 fax: ++421-55-76 69 59 e-mail: rektor@kosice.upjs.sk web page: http://www.upjs.sk

General description of the University The tradition of higher education in Košice is connected with the foundation of University "Academia Cassoviensis" as early as in 1657 by the bishop Benedict Kisdy. The Golden Bull issued on August 6th, 1660 by the Roman emperor Leopold I. had granted the University similar privileges to those of universities in Vienna, Prague and other European cities. The University in its modified character, first of all as Royal, later Law Academy, lasted until the year 1921. The University in Košice in its modern form was established in 1959 as the second university in Slovakia. It was an important contribution to the development of the educational and research activities in the city. University is named after an outstanding personality of the Slovak history, Pavol Jozef Šafárik (1795-1861) who was a scientist, poet, linguist, ethnographer, archaeologist and educator. At the time of its foundation the University consisted of the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Philosophy. Gradually, other faculties were created in Košice and nearby Prešov: Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Education, Greek Catholic Faculty and Faculty of Orthodox Theology. Although on January 1st, 1997, the P. J. Šafárik University was split into two independent universities - University of Prešov and P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, the academic mission of faculties has

continued. At present the P. J. Šafárik University in Košice consists of four faculties: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Public Administration. Faculty of Medicine provides 6-year General Medicine and 6-year Dentistry courses being awarded the degree Doctor of General Medicine (the equivalent to the M.D. degree). There is also the possibility of taking 3-year Bachelor degree courses in Nursing. The total number of medical students in the academic year 2003/2004 was 2055. For the general information on the Faculty of Science please see the chapter I.3. The total number of students taking courses in all branches of science was 1935 in the academic year 2003/2004. Faculty of Law provides 5-year Mgr. degree study in the field of law. In the academic year 2003/2004 there was 1075 students at the Faculty of Law altogether. The new founded Faculty of Public Administration provides 5-year Mgr. degree study in the field of public administration. In the academic year 2003/2004 there was 704 students at the Faculty. The university also comprises of following centres: The Computer Centre, The University Library, The Botanical Garden, The Department of Foreign Languages, The Department of Physical Education, The University Printing and Publishing Centre, The University Halls of Residence, and several outside recreation and training centres.

Faculty of Science

Address and contact numbers General description of the Faculty ECTS co-ordinators International Relations Office Academic calendar Registration procedures Degree structure Academic system Credits Grading The language Academic information system

Address and contact numbers

Address: Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University, Moyzesova 16, 041 54 Košice, Slovakia tel.: ++421-55-622 76 65 fax: ++421-55-622 21 24 e-mail: pfsekret@upjs.sk web page: http://www.science.upjs.sk

  General description of the Faculty Faculty of Science offers both Single (one-subject) and Joint (two-subject) degree programmes. Undergraduates admitted to the Faculty are internal students that read for their BSc. degree (Bachelor of Science) which lasts three years followed by two years Mgr. degree study (Magister, equivalent to Master of Science). Postgraduate students undertake research and courses leading to the award of the Ph.D. degree (Doctor of Philosophy) that are three-year internal and five-year external form. Beginning the academic year 1998/1999, credit-based system in line with the European standard ECTS has been implemented. This activity is supported by Tempus University Management Joint European project "Credit based system at Faculties of Science in Slovakia". All this was done in order to provide flexibility and mobility. The flexibility is embodied in making study more flexible, providing available choices, promoting interdisciplinary study and development of students' professional career according to their needs and preferences. The latter mentioned enables mobility not only within the Faculty, Slovakia, but also promoting East-West and West-East student flows, notably opening up to Socrates/Erasmus programme. Faculty of Science follows first of all the guiding principles of the Sorbonne Declaration of May 25th, 1998 in order to encourage changes in the architecture of higher education system. Then World Declaration on Higher Education for the 21st century of October 9th, 1998 and finally the Joint Declaration of the European Ministers of Education convened in Bologna on June 19th, 1999. The Faculty priorities are as following: autonomy and high academic standards, high level of education in line with European principles, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach, high quality research in connection with effective research organisations and institutions, and service to the community.

Talking about missions and actions of the Faculty, the most significant are international dimension, exchange of knowledge, interactive networking, mobility of teachers and students, and international research projects.

ECTS CO-ORDINATORS CONTACT ON THE SOCRATES / ERASMUS PROGRAMME CO-

ORDINATORS:

BiologyAssoc. Prof. Beňadik Šmajda, PhD.

Institute of Biology and EcologyAddress: Moyzesova 11, 040 01 Košice

tel.: +421-55-234-1181e-mail: benadik.smajda@upjs.sk

–––––––––––––

ChemistryAssist. Prof. Viktor Víglaský, PhD.

Institute of ChemistryAddress: Moyzesova 11, 040 01 Košice

tel.: +421-55-234-1227e-mail: viglasky@upjs.sk

––––––––––––––

PhysicsAssoc. Prof. Jozef Uličný, PhD.

Institute of PhysicsAddress: Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice

tel.: + 421-55-234-6243e-mail: ulicny@bioflab.upjs.sk

––––––––––––––––––––

InformaticsAssist. Prof. Jozef Jirásek, PhD.

Institute of Computer Science

Address: Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košicetel.: + 421-55-234-6109e-mail: jirasek@science.upjs.sk

–––––––––––––––––

MathematicsAssoc. Prof. Katarína Cechlárová, PhD.

Institute of MathematicsAddress: Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice

tel.: + 421-55-234-6159e-mail: katarina.cechlarova@upjs.sk

––––––––––––––––

GeographyMSc. Anton Fogaš

Institute of GeographyAddress: Jesenná 5, 040 01 Košice

tel: + 421-55-234-6254e-mail: anton.fogas@post.sk

–––––––––––––

Social ScienceMSc. Mária Šléšková

Institute of Social ScienceAddress: Moyzesova 16, 040 01 Košice

tel.: + 421-55-234-2127e-mail: sleskova@science.upjs.sk

–––––––––––––

International Relations Office CONTACT PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATION

AND ADMINISTRATION OF IN - AND OUTGOING ERASMUS STUDENTS:

Mgr. Lenka Čengeriová Rectorate of P. J. Šafárik University

International Relations Office

Address: Šrobárova 2, 040 80 Košice, Slovakia tel.: +421-55-622 44 17 fax: ++421-55-622 44 17

e-mail: zahrodd@kosice.upjs.sk

Ing. Zuzana Martinová Dean's office of Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University

International Relations and Scientific Research OfficeAddress: Moyzesova 16, 041 54 Košice, Slovakia

tel.: +421-55-622 21 21, ext. 153 fax: ++421-55-622 21 24 e-mail: martinz@upjs.sk

Please, to avoid the waiting, for personal meeting ask for an appointment via email.

  ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Duration of the Academic year 2004/2005 September 1, 2005 - August 31, 2006

   Winter semester: September 19, 2005 - December 23, 2005Winter break: December 27, 2005 - January 5, 2006Examination period: January 9, 2006 - February 10, 2006Summer semester: February 13, 2006 - May 19, 2006Days of Faculty: April 22, 2006 – April 28, 2006Students' Scientific Conference: in April within the Days of FacultyExamination period: May 22, 2006 - June 30, 2006Entrance examinations: June 14, 2006 – June 16, 2006Graduation ceremony: June 27, 2006Summer break July 3, 2006 - August 31, 2006

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES The application deadlines for the exchange students differ according to the dates of arrival. For those incoming for the Winter Term, or the whole academic year the application deadline (ECTS Student Application Form and Learning Agreement, Housing Request Form ) is July 31st,

and for those incoming for the Summer Term it is January 15th. Late applications will be considered, but accommodation may be more difficult to arrange on a short notice. The registration and admission deadlines for the exchange students incoming for the Winter Term, or the whole academic year is October 15th, and for the Summer Term it is February 28th. The registration takes place at the International Relations Office. The briefing session is held upon the students' arrival in Košice individually. Please contact the responsible officer at the Faculty before.

DEGREE STRUCTURE Faculty of Science provides higher education in two main cycles, three-year Bachelor's as a part of five-year Magister's (equivalent to Master of Science) study, as well as the doctoral degree study (Ph.D. )

Bachelor ’s study

The Faculty offers the following one-subject Bachelor's studies:

Biology Chemistry Ecology Physics Geography Informatics Mathematics

The Bachelor´s degree study for teacher-training is organised in the form of inter-branch study of two academic subjects; the Bachelor degree student continues in his study on the Magister degree.

The Bachelor study takes three years. After the successfully completed bachelor exam the student obtains the degree of "Bachelor" (Bc.).

Magister‘s studyMagister's study (equivalent to Master's study) is provided in the following one-subject branches:

Biology with study programmes in Cell and Molecular Biology and GeneticsBotany and Plant PhysiologyZoology and Animal Physiology

Chemistry with study programmes inBiochemistryInorganic ChemistryOrganic ChemistryChemistry with specialisations in- Physical and Analytical Chemistry- Bioinorganic Chemistry- Biorganic Chemistry

Ecology with study programme in General Ecology and Ecology of Individuals and Populations

Informatics with study programme inInformatics

Mathematics with study programmes in Economical and Financial Mathematics MathematicsMathematical Informatics Mathematical Management

Physics with study programmes in Biophysics Nuclear and Subnuclear PhysicsPhysics of Condensed MatterPhysics with specialisations in - Astronomy and Astrophysics- Physical Engineering of Materials- Computer Physics - General Physics and Mathematical Physics

The study takes two years. It is finished with a state final exam and submission of a thesis. Graduates obtain the degree of "Magister", which is equivalent to the degree Master of Science (M.Sc.)". The Bachelor and Magister study programs start usually in the middle of September. The academic year 2005/2006 starts on 19th September.

Doctoral study (PhD.)

Doctoral study (PhD.) aims at providing a stream of specialized and highly trained researchers, which are able to undertake basic as well as applied research and development. The study is carried out in the following subjects:

Animal PhysiologyBiochemistryBiophysicsCondensed Matter Physics and AcousticsDiscrete MathematicsGeneral Physics and Mathematical PhysicsGeneticsInorganic ChemistryNuclear and Sub-nuclear PhysicsOrganic ChemistryInformatics Theory of Teaching MathematicsTheory of Teaching Physics

Internal form of the study takes generally 3-4 years and external form takes 5 years. For obtaining the degree of "Philosophiae doctor - PhD." passing special exams and submission of a doctoral thesis is necessary. The doctoral study usually starts on October 1st, but different starting date is acceptable.

ACADEMIC SYSTEM The study system is mainly based on lecture courses that can be replaced by individual study within the framework of degree programmes the students can decide on the contents of their studies.

CREDITS The unit by which the study workload is measured is ECTS credit. Student impact for a credit may include lectures, practicals, seminars, fieldwork, or independent study and research. After completion of one semester full-time studies a student receives 30 ECTS credits, but at least 20 ECTS credits. Credits can be earned by taking an exam based on lecture series, written assignments or take-home exams.

GRADING

ECTS Grade Definition

A EXCELLENT - outstanding performance with only minor errors

B VERY GOOD - above the average standard but with some errors

C GOOD - generally sound work with a number of notable errors

D SATISFACTORY - fair but with significant shortcomings

E SUFFICIENT - performance meets the minimum criteria

FX FAIL - some more work required before the credit can be awarded

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT All the courses are provided in the Slovak language. Teaching for foreign students is provided parallel in English. For those applying for a long-term residence there is a possibility to follow classes of the Slovak language at the Department of Foreign Languages. Under the request we can provide short intensive Slovak language programme for students incoming within the exchange programmes, its possible to apply for the ILPC language

preparatory courses within the Socrates/Erasmus Programme.

ACADEMIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (AIS) Academic information system for the administration of student affairs and interactive networking concerning all kind of communication between the students and Student Administration Office is available at the Faculty. For access to the AIS ask the administrator of the Centre of Applied Computer Science.

Updated: April 2005, Ing. Zuzana Martinová (martinz@upjs.sk)