What do you need to do before and after your arrival to Prague?
Primary tabs
This article describes what you should do after your arrival to the Czech Republic as an Erasmus student of the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague.
It will be updated continuously. Last updated on the 24th February 2012 by Zuzka K.
If you miss any information you would like to know, please ask us. We will do our best to help you.
Before arrival
Charles University will send you an information brochure by post. There you will find much important information.
Application for accommodation is part of the application procedure. Some of the dormitories offer tourist accommodation, so if you arrive earlier, you can arrange temporary accommodation there.
After arrival
First you need to check in to your dormitory where you are going to live.
The next step is to visit the Erasmus Office of the Faculty of Science.
The office is on the 2nd floor at Na Slupi street nr. 16. The building is in Botanical Garden - location on a map. The office hours are Monday and Wednesday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
In the office you will fill out some forms to enroll at the faculty and you will get your student’s record book (2 passport photos required). In this office they will also arrange your admission to subjects in the Student Information System (based on your Learning agreement).
Apart from visiting the Erasmus office of the Faculty of Science you will need to arrange:
Student ID card
There are three Issue Centres of ID Cards in Prague, the nearest to the Faculty of Science is at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (address: Ke Karlovu 3). You don’t need to have a photo, they will take a photo of you on the spot. You'll receive your card immediatelly on the spot.
There are two types of student ID cards and you can choose, which type do you want to have:
1) The basic card, which is issued without ISIC licence, is free of charge and entitle the holder to all student discounts on admission, to buy discounted public transport pass etc.
2) The card with ISIC licence costs CZK 190. It serves as the basic student ID and moreover it entitles its holder to many ISIC discounts all over the world.
Detailed information regarding the ID cards http://www.cuni.cz/UK-2046.html and http://www.cuni.cz/UK-2918.html.
The validity of the student ID card is proved by enclosed annual faculty coupon, which you will receive at the Erasmus Office of the Faculty of Science.
Your student ID card serves as an ID card in the Charles University and Faculty of Science libraries (though you need to register in each library when you first use it), a card for payment in the university canteens and for payment of printing in the faculty computer rooms (two separate accounts) and as an ID card, which enables you to get discounted student travel pass for public transport in Prague. Read more about computer rooms and libraries.
Travel pass for public transport in Prague
If you already have your student ID card, you just buy a travel pass (paper coupon to be enclosed to the card) at one of the sale offices of the Prague Public Transport Company. The main sale office (address: Na Bojišti 5) is only half a kilometer far from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics' Issue Center of ID Cards. You can buy your travel pass on the next day after issuing your student ID card.
Until you have arranged your student ID card, you don't have any student discounts for public transport, so you must buy single or short-term valid tickets (like the 24h valid ticket). More information about transport in Prague can be found in this article.
If you are 26 years old or older, you are no more entitled for student discount in public trasportation in Prague. Your student ID card can´t be used for buying public transportation passes an you have to arrange so called "Opencard". It's a smart (chip) card used as the transport pass for passengers in Prague. You'll need to fill in some forms and bring 1 photo http://opencard.praha.eu/jnp/en/how_to/issue.html. You can choose between issuing the card on the spot (for a CZK 250 fee, only in Palác Adria and Škodův palác, near metro station Národní třída) or sending your card to your address in Prague (after approx. 14 days from application, for free). List of the issuing centres. After you obtain the card, you can buy the electronic transport pass either in person at several offices or on-line. After buying the pass on-line you have to validate it in a special validator.
Registration at foreign police
1) Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland can stay temporarily in the territory of the Czech Republic without any special permission and only on the basis of a travel document or identity card. They are obliged to report their stay in the event that the length of the intended stay in the Czech Republic is longer than 30 days:
Students living in dormitories are registered at the Foreign Police by the dormitory. They don’t have to visit Foreign Police in person, because their accommodation provider (i. e. the dormitory) is reporting their stay to the Foreign Police.
Students not living in dormitories or students who moved out of the dormitory are obliged to register at this Foreign Police office.
If they intend to reside in the Czech Republic for a period of more than 3 months, they have the right to request the issuance of a certificate of temporary residence.
2) Other citizens may need a visa.
For more information read the information brochure and information on the university website. If you have to visit foreign police, ask your buddy for help.
Health insurance
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles its holder for the “urgent medical care” (acute illness). However, it is recommended to register at a Czech health insurance company, otherwise the doctor may ask the patient for payment of the treatment on the spot and the patient then have to ask his home insurance company for the reimbursement by himself.
EHIC holders registered at a Czech health insurance company will be given their Czech insurance number and a document proving their registration. This paper document may be requested by the doctor and he may want to keep a copy of it.
To get registered you need just your ID and your EHIC card. Branch of VZP (the biggest Czech insurance company) in the center of Prague.
For more information read the information brochure, the information on the Charles University website and on the website of the Centre for International Reimbursements.
Useful links
Information for incoming students
Basic data about Faculty of Science
Academic calendar of Charles University
Accommodation in dormitories: Information for students - academic year 2011/2012
Accommodation in dormitories: Information for students - academic year 2010/2011
Information brochure 2011/2012
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Add new comment