Libertas International University. Erasmus plus student guide

Dear incoming exchange student,

This brochure has been designed for you by students of Tourism and Hotel Management at the Libertas International University to welcome you to the city of Zagreb. We wish to make your student life in Zagreb easier and exciting, so the students have selected some of their favourite places, which they would visit themselves if they wanted to relax, eat out, go out, study or experience some culture. In this brochure you will not read about museums and landmarks of significant historical and cultural heritage – it is even better! Here you can get their inside information on the best spots to hang out in the city and just enjoy yourself. We are very proud that the texts you will read and the photographs you will see have all been written and taken by the students themselves. We hope you will enjoy your stay to the fullest and take home the best memories of our lovely city of Zagreb!

Academic year & teaching periods for Erasmus students

National Holidays

Student registration

Upon arrival in Zagreb you should contact International Relation Office, located at the address Trg J.F.Kennedy 6b, Registration takes place on the first working day following your arrival in Zagreb. IR Office regular working hours are Monday – Friday 10.00 – 15.00. Within your registration at the IR Office you will be given further instructions about enrolment procedure and you will be assisted in further steps concerning other formalities.

Welcome Day & Orientation day

IR Office will organize a Welcome event for all incoming students, aiming to establish relations among all incoming exchange students and their ESN friends. You will be informed about the Welcome Day program well in advance via e-mail, as well as after registration at our Office. To help you get settled during your first days in Zagreb and to learn more about our university we have designed a special orientation programme with information, tips and lots of opportunities to meet you professors and fellow students.

Student Identity Card – The X Card

Exchange students at LibertasUniversity are entitled to hold a student identity card, the so called X Card. It is a sort of a pre-paid card used in students’ cafeterias and restaurants. It is not only a “licence to eat”, but also a card that proves your student status, so you can get some tickets and services at a reduced price.

Grading system

The Croatian national grading system consists of five grades with numerical equivalents:

• Excellent (izvrstan) - 5 Note: highest grade
• Very good (vrlo dobar) - 4
• Good (dobar) - 3
• Sufficient (dovoljan) - 2 Note: minimum pass grade
• Fail (nedovoljan) - 1

Note: requires student to retake exam/resubmit work

In addition to grades, higher education institutions in Croatia award ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System), as a part of the Bologna system. Although there is no national regulation on this issue, it is common for 1 ECTS credit to be equivalent to approx. 30 student working hours. Credits are awarded when a course has been completed and all required examinations have been successfully taken. 60 ECTS credits represent the workload of one year of study and 30 ECTS credits represent workload of one semester. Grades and ECTS credits are recorded in each student’s Student Transcript Book (known as the “Indeks”), which all students receive upon enrolment and which contains basic information on courses taken. It is therefore useful to carry the “Indeks” during the last four weeks of the semester when professors certify attendance at the courses with their signature. When a student passes an exam, the professor will write the grade and ECTS obtained by student into the student’s “Indeks” and will sign it one more time.

Health insurance

All exchange students must have health insurance during their stay in Croatia. There are several options for regulating your health insurance.

• Students may use the health care services upon presentation of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
• If you are coming from a country that has closed an interantional agreement on health security with the Republic of Croatia, you are entitled to use the emergency health care services during your temporary stay in Croatia. Before coming to Croatia, you should check with your health insurance provider at home under which conditions you can use your home health insurance in Croatia. If possible, your health insurance provider will issue a relevant document, which you should bring with you to Osijek. Upon arrival you will be assisted in contacting the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance, in order to replace the certificate attesting your right to use the health care with a paperbased health insurance record card.
• You should possess international travel and health insurance issued by an insurance company in your home country that is valid in Croatia. Such insurance must include repatriation coverage (the cost of the healthcare service is covered by the student, who will later be refunded by the insurance company

Accommodation for students

Students coming to study at the Libertas International University as freemover students should make a reservation for their accommodation by themselves. You can check website Erasmus student housing where available apartments are listed: Additionally, you can check „Home in Zagreb“ (www.homeinzagreb.com) and many hostels in Zagreb..

If you rent an apartament, it's very important that you sign a contract with the homeowner!

ESTIMATED MONTHLY LIVING EXPENSES

Your living expenses will vary according to individual needs and the ability to budget and manage your finances. Of course, if you want to travel a lot and take the full advantage of available cultural and social opportunities, expenses will be higher. The estimates below are therefore only a very general guide.

*This is only a rough guide and students may actually spend more or less than these amounts.

ABOUT ZAGREB

Zagreb might not be Rome or London, but it is certainly rich in culture, art, music, architecture, gastronomy, nightlife and all other features of an exciting metropolis. Mysterious, bustling and romantic – Zagreb shows a unique character due to its historical heritage and is a great choice for your stay abroad. After meeting new and fun people at your host institution, you can spend your afternoons drinking coffee with them in one of the numerous and very busy cafes. You can also check out museums and galleries or relax in the beautiful parks or by the river Sava and Jarun lake. Nightlife enthusiasts can dance the nights away in the numerous clubs, while the pubs, spread all over the town, invite you to taste local dishes and homebrew beer. Zagreb is a fantastic destination for shopping, concerts and theatres, but also do not forget your sports clothes because you will be dragged on to the top of the Medvednica Mountain or to a barbecue weekend in a forest cottage at least once. So embark upon an adventure of a lifetime and let Zagreb amaze you!

PERFORMANCE ARTS AND STUDYING

LIBRARIES

For anyone who likes to take a time-out to read or just study in a peaceful environment, Zagreb has plenty of city and university libraries. They are modern and well-organized and the staff are always ready to help. Among all the different faculty libraries, the largest and maybe most important one in a student's life is the National and University Library, where numerous students and book enthusiasts gather to exchange ideas, write, read and study. There you should be able to find almost any book that interests you and before going there you can use their online library catalogue. For more information you can visit the official website of Zagreb city libraries www.kgz.hr or visit www.nsk.hr for more information about the National and University Library.

MOVIES

What is better on a Saturday night than enjoying a great movie in front of a big screen! Zagreb offers many modern and comfortable cinemas where it is easy to have a great time and the majority of movies are in English with Croatian subtitles. The cinemas offer student discounts as well with the most popular ones being Cinestar cinemas located in the Arena Centar and Novi Zagreb in Avenue Mall. There are also Cineplexx cinemas in Centar Kaptol and City Centar One, while other smaller cinemas host European productions or film cycles; Art Movie theatre Grič, KIC Art, Movie theatre Europa and Tuškanac. A night out spent in one of these is never a waste of time and the popcorn is always fresh and perfectly salted, so bring a friend and enjoy!

THEATRES

Even though theatres might be less popular among the younger crowd, they are definitely worth a visit and you get to experience something new. An opera or a ballet performance, contemporary performance, musical or a comedy - the choice is yours, but an unusual and fulfilling experience is guaranteed! The spectacular Croatian National Theatre is definitely worth visiting and experiencing but also other smaller theatres which are a bit more “cosy” such as Exit, Mala Scena, The Gavella City Drama, Zagreb Youth Theatre and Zagreb Puppet Theatre to name but a few. The theatres Mala Scena and Zagreb Youth Theatre have plays in English as well, so not knowing Croatian is no excuse for the theatre lover or the curious! During the Queer Zagreb Festival you can also enjoy plays in Italian, Spanish, French and German. In the manner of a famous saying “the world is a stage”, explore to see if there is any truth in that and enter a world of the performing arts and entertainment!

EATING OUT

Being a newcomer in a city can be really frustrating at times, especially when hunger kicks in, finding yourself both lost and hungry. Trying to find an inexpensive yet good place to eat can almost turn into a treasure hunt. Zagreb has many affordable restaurants and fast food restaurants but plenty of those can leave a bad taste in your mouth, literally. So, to help you spend, not waste time, we checked out and picked out some places that will satisfy all your needs (regarding food of course) and will not break the bank.

OUTDOOR FUN

Zagreb is a true gem when it comes to outdoor and fresh-air activities. Among the many different areas which are known for their exquisite aspects throughout the seasons, we have selected a few must-see landmarks of natural beauty in the city:

Bundek

Close to the banks of the river Sava, Bundek is a charming park area with an artificial lake, a popular city spot in summer for those who love sunbathing and swimming. Its paths offer an ideal setting for long walks, roller-skating and cycling. A perfect place for a BBQ with friends and recreational sports activities. In May Bundek transforms into a huge and beautiful flower garden as it hosts the Florart flower exhibition. From time to time it becomes a stage for rock and pop concerts as well as classical music events combining the beauty of the park with the sound of the classics.

Jarun Lake

Located only a few tram stops from the city centre, Jarun is a very nice, cosy and clean open area with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. It is a perfect escape in summer with its artificial lakes and beaches. It is a place where you can jog, skate, swim, row, sunbathe, play football, basketball or beach volleyball or just enjoy walking around. There is also a picnic area with BBQs for lazy afternoons, plenty of bars and restaurants with open terraces and nightclubs to suit everyone.

Maksimir

Medvednica Nature Park offers the opportunity to experience nature without being too far from the city centre. It is a huge forest area with numerous hiking trails, natural landscapes and mountain huts with authentic Croatian food. There is also a small ski resort, if you haven't got enough fun filled days . From the top of the mountain the views are spectacular and you can also enjoy a great panoramic view of Zagreb from Medvedgrad, an old medieval fortification built in the 13th century, located on the southern slopes of the mountain.

GETTING AROUND

Zagreb has a very good public transport system - ZET offers low-fare tram and bus tickets for students. The trams and buses connect the heart of the city with the suburbs, but if you are in a rush there are three taxi companies and several private taxis that you can get a hold of and use in a matter of minutes. While there is one price for a public transport ticket, taxi fares vary from company to company, with the most expensive ones being private cabbies. It would not hurt to ask the locals which company to use and the prices available

RENT-A-BIKE

Probably the most practical and quickest way to discover the beauty of the city is to rent a bike. Zagreb offers several possibilities and we recommend Blue Bike Zagreb, a small company that organizes a wide range of city tours throughout the year. (http://www.zagrebbybike.com/).

However, if you prefer to explore the city on your own, you can use the services of Nextbike. Nextbike is a rental service that is offered in several European cities and which enables the renting of bikes any time you want. There are several stations all over the city (main train station, Kvaternikov trg, Nacionalna sveučilišna knjižnica, Tehnički muzej, at the crossing of Gundulićeva Street and Varšavska Street as well as at the crossing of Petrinjska Street and Amruševa Street) and the rental service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To rent a bike, all you need to do is register on the website, download the mobile app or register directly at one of the stations. To activate the account, you need a credit or debit card with at least 79 HRK, which can then be spent entirely on cycling. After registration, you get a code to unlock the padlock and after your bike tour you can return it to any of the stations. On the website www.nextbike.hr you can get more information about how many bikes are available on each station and where you can park for free.

CLUBBING

When it comes to clubs and nightlife Zagreb offers a variety of exciting and entertaining places to visit. Young people in Zagreb usually kick off the night by hanging out with friends at home or going to some of the many bars or pubs to get ready for the night. On summer evenings many students prefer to hang out in some of the city’s parks before going to clubs. Among the plenitude of clubs offering different kinds of entertainment and music, we have made a list of the must-sees in relation to types of music they mostly offer. Most of the clubs are open until 6 a.m. with drinks served throughout the night.

USEFUL LINKS

The following are websites that we recommend to every foreign student in Zagreb. They contain useful information on studying, foreign student services and everything you might need during your stay in Zagreb.

Zagreb Tourist Board - http://www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr/?l=e

Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes - http://www.mobilnost.hr/en/

Study in Croatia - http://www.studyincroatia.hr/

Erasmusu (Zagreb) - http://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-zagreb

International Cooperation Office of the University of Zagreb - https://international.unizg.hr/international_students/exchange_students/living_in_zagreb

Life as Erasmus Students in Zagreb (Article) - http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/news-andevents/blog/molly-sander-katie-shearston-and-daisy-mcmurdo/life-as-erasmus-students-inzagreb/

Comparison of study programmes - http://www.studij.hr/?page=index&lang=eng

Contacts: MSc Ksenija KECA, Head of International Office Libertas International University, Trg J.F.Kennedy 6B, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia, kkeca@libertas.hr Dina GUGO, International Office Assistant, dgugo1@libertas.hr

Phone: +385 1 56 33 151

This brochure is the result of the professional project of the English language course for Tourism and Hotel Management at the Libertas International University.

Texts by: Doris Barić, student Daria Domitrović, student Nikolina Pavić, student, Dina Gugo, student Hana Pehilj, student Adnan Kulenović, student Mia Štimac, student Nina Branković, student Kristijan Ivić, student Photo: Doris Barić, student

Project coordinator: Martina Pokupec, M.Ed.

Assistant project coordinator: Doris Barić, student

Contributors: Mara Schwab, student Ana Guberina, student Mihovil Žokvić, student

Language revision: Mark Osbourne

Review: Ksenija Keča, MSc Višnja Špiljak, PhD

Publisher: Libertas International University

Source