s
To facilitate your first steps in our university, the URV International Center has prepared this brochure, which describes step by step in simple words the process that every incoming student must go through.
Among other things, it gives you information about the academic calendar, university life, accommodation and other things.
We hope that the information contained in this guide will help every foreign student to become a student of Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Table of Contents
6 8 12 14 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38 Visa Welcome Cost of living Costof Programme Mentor Accommodation Health insuranc e Health Before youBefore come... General information General Faculties andSchools Faculties Applicationprocedure Academic coordinators Academic About the Universitat Rovira i Virgili i Rovira AboutUniversitat the Language courses for exchange students Language for courses 43 46 47 50 51 58 62 Once you arrive ... you Once arrive ... something for fun for something ...... somethng fo the bodythe somethng fo ...... something for the mind for something ... How to get to Tarragona ... Tarragona to get to How Tell the I. Center your arrival date yourarrival Center I. the Tell The Universitat Rovira i Virgili offers ... offers Virgili i Rovira The Universitat
Welcome
"On behalf of the Rovira i Virgili University (URV), we are glad that you are interested in studying at our university, a modern mediterranean university that is at the service of the dynamic southern regions of Catalonia.
Many years of experience with international cooperation have led us to think about the Lifelong Learning Programme not only in relation to education. We realize that study abroad provides above all academic knowledge, but we are also conscious that real life experiences can be an incentive to study in a foreign country.
At the URV we firmly believe in the harmonious development of society by generating knowledge and training professionals and citizens who defend the values of humanism, public-spiritedness and respect for the environment. We are also highly committed to the process of convergence towards the European Areas of Higher Education and Research, and thus we are glad you have chosen the URV for your mobility experience.
For all these reasons, I hope you enjoy your time at the URV and that we will become good travelling companions."
Josep Anton Ferré Vidal Rector of the University 6
General information
Name of the host institution: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Institutional Erasmus code: E TARRAGO01
Website: www.urv.cat
Unit responsible for exchange programmes: International Center
8 Postal address: Universitat Rovira i Virgili International Center Av. Països Catalans, 17-19 43007 Tarragona Spain
Phone/Fax: 0034 / 977 55 81 29 0034 / 977 20 18 64
Contact e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Website for exchange students: www.urv.cat/international
9 Application deadlines: 1st semester/full academic course: 15th June 2017 2nd semester: 15th November 2017
Academic calendar: 1st semester (Winter Semester) 6th September 2017 - 4th February 2018 (exams between January and February)
2nd semester (Spring Semester) 5th February 2018 - 2nd June 2018 (exams during May, resit exams 1st and 22nd June)
Holidays: Christmas: 23rd December 2017 - 7th January 2018 Easter: 26th March - 02nd April 2018
10
About the Universitat Rovira i Virgili
The URV was created in 1991 by the Parliament of Catalonia from the already existing university faculties and schools. In this way the Tarragona University of the 16th century was restored. From the very first day its aim has been very clear: to place knowledge at the service of society so as to contribute to the social and economic development of its environment, which has gradually transformed over time.
Social and cultural changes have opened the doors to a new framework in which our students and future workers are obliged to interact in Europe. At the URV we train professionals under the precepts of European harmonization, a key factor for opening the doors to a world of work without frontiers. And we do so by providing programmes of study in a wide variety of knowledge areas for over 12.000 students.
The data show that the URV is not only one of the leading universities in Catalonia but also one of the leading universities in the European area for the quality of its teaching, its commitment to continuous training and the excellence of its research, development and innovation.
12 The URV has 12 centres of its own and two associates which between them teach about 50 first- and second-cycle. They also offer postgraduate diplomas, doctorates and masters’ degrees. All this is made possible by the work done by the technical and university faculties and schools. They organise the courses and academic, administrative and management processes which ensure that our students receive top- quality training. Mention should also be made of the more than 20 departments who design the various courses and are responsible for organising the activities of the teaching and research community.
Another field which is of fundamental importance at our university is research. To achieve a high level of quality in this area, the URV supports research institutes and innovation centres, which, like hospitals, are of key importance for technology transfer.
13 Faculties and Schools
Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology. Tarragona
Postal address: Carretera de Valls s/n Campus Sescelades 43007 Tarragona Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 55 80 98
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fcep.urv.cat
14 Faculty of Arts. Tarragona
Postal address: Avinguda Catalunya, 35 Campus Catalunya 43002 Tarragona Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 55 83 82
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.urv.cat/centres/lletres
15 Faculty of Chemistry. Tarragona
Postal address: C/ Marcel∙lí Domingo s/n Campus Sescelades 43007 Tarragona Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 55 95 16
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.quimica.urv.cat
16 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Reus
Postal address: C/ de Sant Llorenç, 21 43201 Reus Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 75 93 05
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fmcs.urv.net/mic
17 Faculty of Legal Sciences. Tarragona
Postal address: Avinguda Catalunya, 35 Campus Catalunya 43002 Tarragona Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 55 83 00
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fcj.urv.cat
18 Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences. Reus
Postal address: Avinguda de la Universitat, 1 Campus Bellissens 43204 Reus Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 75 98 01
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.dge.urv.es
19 Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences. Tortosa
Postal address: Camí de Betània, 5 Campus Terres de l'Ebre 43500 Tortosa Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 44 11 44
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fcee.urv.cat
20 Faculty of Oenology. Tarragona
Postal address: C/ Marcel∙lí Domingo s/n Campus Sescelades 43007 Tarragona Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 55 86 00
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fe.urv.cat
21 Technical School of Engineering. Tarragona
Postal address: Avinguda Països Catalans, 26 Campus Sescelades 43007 Tarragona Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 55 97 00
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.etse.urv.cat
22 Technical School of Chemical Engineering. Tarragona
Postal address: Avinguda Països Catalans, 26 Campus Sescelades 43007 Tarragona Spain
Phone/Fax: 0034 / 977 55 96 00
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.etseq.urv.cat
23 Higher Technical School of Architecture. Reus
Postal address: Avinguda de la Universitat, 1 Campus Bellissens 43204 Reus Spain
Phone/Fax: 0034 / 977 75 98 80
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.etsa.urv.cat
24 Nursing Faculty. Tarragona
Postal address: Avinguda Catalunya, 35 Campus Catalunya 43002 Tarragona Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 55 83 82
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.eui.urv.cat
25 Nursing Faculty. Tortosa
Postal address: C/ de les Esplanetes, 14 Campus Terres de l'Ebre 43500 Tortosa Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 51 91 45
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.eui.urv.cat
26 Nursing Faculty. El Vendrell
Postal address: Avinguda Palfuriana, 104 43880 Coma-ruga (El Vendrell) Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 68 49 49
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.eui.urv.cat
27 Faculty of Tourism and Geography. Vila-seca
Postal address: C/ Joanot Martorell, 15 43480 Vila-seca Spain
Phone: 0034 / 977 93 52 94
Contact e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.euto.urv.cat
28 Application procedure
Once your home university officially informs us that you will be an exchange student at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili within a mobility programme, you will receive an e-mail which will explain you all the application procedure, which you will find on our website: http://www.urv.cat/international/movilidad/en_tramites.html
The application process is on-line and it is compulsory to upload several personal documents to it to complete the process. Once you complete it, we will send it to your academic coordinator in the URV to get your official admission. Students who are accepted will receive our confirmation of admission by e-mail.
If you need to consult our study programmes in order to complete your learning agreement,you should check the list of available subjects for international students, that can be found on our international website: www.urv.cat/international/movilidad/en_coordinadores-movilidad.html
30 Accommodation
The URV can help you to find accommodation during your stay. Before you start looking for accommodation we recommend that you make a provisional reservation at a student residence for your first days in Tarragona, Reus, Vila-Seca or Tortosa.
You can choose from among the following options in Tarragona:
Sant Jordi Hall of Residence Located in Tarragona City centre, next to the Plaça Imperial Tàrraco and just a few minutes from the URV campuses the residence can provide you with double and single rooms. It has been recently refurbished and can allocate 175 persons. It also provides a variety of services to make your stay more comfortable. The price depends on how long you wish to stay and the type of bedroom you choose. Information and booking: [email protected]
For more residences in Tarragona, Reus or Tortosa you can look up the list at: IUUQXXXVSWDBUFODBNQVTMJGFTFSWJDFTBDDPNNPEBUJPOPGGJDF
31 Housing Service
Should students prefer to live in an apartment or share a flat, we advise them to reserve a room in a hotel or guest house for their first days in Tarragona, Reus, Vila-Seca or Tortosa. Here you are some recommendations for exchange students: IUUQXXXVSWDBUFODBNQVTMJGFTFSWJDFTBDDPNNPEBUJPOPGGJDFFTUSBOHFST
Once you have a place to stay for the first days, the Accommodation Office provides you with constantly updated database containing a wide range of accommodation to rent: flats, rooms in houses or bed sits.
Here you are the link to the database here: IUUQTSFEPUSJVSWDBUIBCJUBUHFFTUVEJBOUTJOEFY@BIUNM :PVXJMMCFSFRVJSFEUPFOUFSUIFGPMMPXJOHQBTTXPSECIPPV
32 Academic coordinators
Because of the importance of arranging your learning agreement correctly, we offer our incoming exchange students the help of the academic coordinators, all of whom are lecturers at the university. Each field of study has a different coordinator who is in charge of your academic supervision while you are studying at the URV. He /she should also check and sign your learning agreement, enrol your learning agreement in the secretary's faculty and certify your qualifications at the end of your mobility.
Coordinators are available to discuss any issue connected with study programmes and faculty administrative problems.
Please check the list of academic coordinators for your field of study: http://www.urv.cat/international/movilidad/en_coordinadores-movilidad.html
33 Language courses for exchange students
For students who do not speak Catalan or Spanish, for those wish to improve their Catalan or Spanish or for those who speak it quite well, the Language Service organises a variety of courses throughout the academic year. We recommend that all exchange students participate in some of the semester-long language courses which are designed specially for them. Students who are on a mobility programme will pay a highly subsidized price for Spanish courses and will receive tuition in beginners' Catalan for free. At the Language Service you can also learn or perfect your English, French, Italian, and Chinese in courses of various lengths (throughout the academic year or intensively during the summer). There is a variety of groups and levels and as far as possible the times of the courses fit the student's timetable.
To register for a course or get more information you should visit: http://www.linguistic.urv.cat or e-mail [email protected].
34 Visa
Students who are citizens of the European Union or European Economic Area do not need a visa when entering Spain.
Students from non-EU countries are required to possess a visa, a copy of which should be shown in our office upon arrival. It should be issued by a competent domestic authority before your arrival to Spain. If you need an acceptance letter, please write to this address: [email protected] . The type of visa you need will depend on the length of your stay in Spain. A short-term visa entitles you to stay in Spain for up to 3 months; a long term visa for up to one year. Students who have a visa do not need to legalize their stay in Spain. Information: http://www.maec.es/en/MenuPpal/Consulares/ServiciosConsulares/ InformacionaExtranjeros/Visados/Paginas/visas2010EN.aspx
35 Health Insurance
If you are from a EUcountry, you should get an European Health Insurance Card before you arrive at the URV. This card is a personal and nontransferable document that gives you the right to health benefits while in Spain. It is valid in all the countries of the European Community.
The URV wants to ensure your safety during your stay in our university and wishes to inform all incoming students and all partners universities that anyone planning to participate in a mobility programme at the URV must be in possession of a valid insurance policy covering health care and accidents. If you are unable to prove that you are suitably covered on arrival, you will be informed of an insurance police that you will be able to contract directly by sending an e-mail to: [email protected] . You will then have to provide proof of having done so at the International Center.
Should you choose to ignore this recommendation, the URV will not be held responsible for any possible liabilities.
36 Mentor Programme
We give great value to promote that incoming students get in touch with locals and to help them to get acclimatized to the different cities where our campuses are located. Thus, the URV created the Mentor Programme, with which a group of URV students help their "international buddies" integrate faster.
Many years of experience have shown that foreign students need both the professional advice offered by both the staff of the International Center and the academic coordinators and also friendly hints from Catalan students of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Before you take your first steps in the city, we can provide you with a local mentor who can help you with your initial questions.
Please, contact [email protected] for further information.
37 Cost of living
Your monthly expenses will depend on your habits and needs. Below you will find approximate calculations.
Rent 250 - 350 euros
Approximate monthly cost of living 300 - 400 euros
Monthly ticket for public transport 16.50 euros (under 25) 30 euros
Single ticket for public transport 1.50 euros
Cinema ticket 6.50 euros
Lunch at the URV canteen 7.70 euros
Cup of coffee 1.20 euros
38 Beer 1 euro (in the shop) 3 euros (in a pub)
Loaf of bread 1 euro
Small bottle of mineral water 0.50 euros (in a shop) 3 euros (in a pub)
Photocopy in our faculties 0.03 euros
Newspaper 1.50 euros
39 Useful words
Catalan: Spanish: English:
Si us plau Por favor Please
Gràcies Gracias Thank you
Perdó Perdone Excuse me
Bon dia Buenos días Good morning
Adéu Adiós Good bye
Residència d'estudiants Residencia de estudiantes Student hostel
Targeta de l'estudiant Tarjeta de estudiante Student card
Deganat Decanato Dean's office 40
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How to get to Tarragona
By train The railway station is in the centre of Tarragona. In front of the station there is a bus stop (take line 2 for the Plaça Imperial Tàrraco) and a taxi rank. As well as this station, there is a station for the AVE -the high speed train- about 15 minutes outside the city. The rail system in Tarragona is good and you can travel to many of the surrounding areas by train. The service between Tarragona and Barcelona is excellent (with Regional Express, Catalunya Express and Delta trains). The frequency of trains and the length of the journey can vary but, generally speaking, there is a train every half an hour and it takes about 75 minutes to get to Barcelona. If you are interested in the timetable, you can find it on the following website: www.renfe.es
By car The A7 motorway links Tarragona to Barcelona and the north of Europe. The trip from Barcelona to Tarragona usually takes about an hour. The C32 motorway links Barcelona and Tarragona, passing through El Vendrell along the Catalan coast.
43
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Around Tarragona
EMT is the company that provides the city of Tarragona with public transport. A fleet of buses connects the city centre with all the outlying areas and educational complexes of the city. There are a range of top-up cards to choose from, with big discounts for the under 25s. Check routes and fares at: emtanemambtu.cat
The ATM is the Regional Mobility Authority of the Tarragona region and it enables travellers to use one card to travel to all the towns and cities in the Tarragona region where URV faculties and schools are located (El Vendrell, Reus, Salou, Vila-seca) From the Central Bus Station in the Plaça Imperial Tàrraco in Tarragona, you can travel to most of the cities in the peninsula. You will find more information at: www.atmcamptarragona.cat / www.reustransport.com / www.hife.es / www.alsa.es
The cities also have numerous taxi ranks. Depending on where you are and the time, you will be in easy reach of a taxi. However, we warn you that you will pay a lot of money for it. Even if you need to take a taxi we recommend that you call a taxi by phoning one of the following numbers: 0034 / 977 22 21 22 (Tàrraco Taxis Association) or 0034 / 977 22 14 14 (Tarragona Radio-Taxis Group). 45 Tell the International Center your arrival date
The International Center organizes 4 welcome sessions each beginning of semester in order to host all the exchange students that have recently arrived. Before you arrive, we will send you an e-mail in order that you confirm your attendance. In the welcome sessions we will provide you the contact of your academic coordinator, your student card and the URV on-line access codes to student e-mail, intranet, Moodle and Wi-Fi. It is very important that you complete the on- line application process before the deadline. On the contrary, we can not guarantee to have the on-line services ready for you on time. For deadlines and application procedure info please, check pages 10 and 30 of this guide. 47
If you are not sure if you will arrive on time to attend one of these welcome sessions please, as soon as you get your date of arrival, inform us of it by e-mail ([email protected]). The International Center will answer your e-mail with a date, time and place for a personal welcome meeting where we will provide you all the documents you need and help you to get acquainted with your new university.
48 Certificate of TUBZ
This document states your date of arrival and will be issued when you arrive at the URV. Either if you attend a welcome sessions or if you come to the International Center directly, you have to submit this document (if your home university already provided it to you) and we will stamp and sign it with your date of arrival. Once it has been signed and stamped we will send a copy by fax or mail to your university.
The International Center will keep this document during your all your exchange period. Before leaving the URV you must come back to the International Center and we will sign and stamp it again with your date of departure and give it to you.
This document is a proof of your mobility period at the URV and you will provably have to submit it in your home university when you will come back home.
49
The Universitat Rovira i Virgili offers ... Students coming within the frame of a [ bilateral agreement have access to the same services as Catalan students of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Below please find a list of some services which may be [ of interest for you. ... something for the mind
Libraries If you feel you do not have enough information or if you need to know more and more, there is nothing easier than visiting one of our libraries. The CRAI is the place where all members of the university community can find the resources and support they need for learning, teaching, research, etc. If you need help with documentation, information or the information technologies, this is the place you should visit.
Learning and Research Resources Centres (CRAI)
Addresses: CRAI Campus Catalunya Avinguda Catalunya, 2 43002 Tarragona CRAI Campus Sescelades Avda. Països Catalans, 26 43007 Tarragona CRAI Campus Terres de l'Ebre Av. Remolins, 13-15 43500 Tortosa
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
51 You can find libraries in the faculties, institutes or departments. Opening and closing hours vary from library to library: it is necessary to check this with each individual library. When you attend the meeting after you arrive you must bring an original ID photo so that you can be given a personalized URV Student card which will be delivered to you in a few days. This student ID card must be shown for access and borrowing procedures.
If you do not find what you are looking for in the university libraries you may go to the public libraries in town. They are usually located in the center of the town and you can enter and consult the library resources freely.
For further information consult: http://www.urv.cat/crai
52
El Vendrell public library
Address: Carrer Major, 8 43700 El Vendrell
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday:13.30 a.m. - 8.30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9.30 p.m. - 1.30 p.m. 3.30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
For further information see: http://www.bibliotecaspublicas.es/vendrell
53
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Reus Reading Center
Address: Carrer Major, 15 43201 Reus
Opening hours: Monday/Friday : 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
For further information see: http://centrelectura.org
55 Tarragona Public Library
Address: Carrer Fortuny, 30 43001 Tarragona
Opening hours: Monday: 3p.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday/Thursday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday/Friday : 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
For further information see: http://www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/Biblioteques
56 Vila-seca Public Library
Address: Carrer Tarragona, 7 43480 Vila-seca
Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday:10 a.m. - 1.30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
For further information see: http://www.bibliotecaspublicas.es/vila-seca/servicios.html
57 ... something for the body
Sports Students wishing to practice sports can go to EsportsURV. EsportsURV aims to promote physical activity and sport at the university in areas as diverse as tennis, padel, indoor football, pitch and putt, judo, basketball and skiing among others. Sports URV also allows the university community to take part in competitions such as university leagues for indoor football and seven-a-side football and the University Championships.
Every year we offer beginners’ courses worth 2 free choice credits in golf, equestrianism, diving, tai-chi, archery, sailing, capoeira and yoga. These courses have both theoretical and practical parts. The classes are led by professionals in the sport and the courses have a total length of 20 hours. You can check the list of beginners' courses offered on the Sports URV web site.
At the same time, the URV has signed agreements with gymnasiums, club, sporting entities and shops among others, who will provide offers and discounts on their services for Sports URV members.
58 SportsURV
Address: Avinguda Països Catalans, 5-7 43007 Tarragona
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 10 p.m. - 1.30 p.m. Monday afternoon: 4 p.m. - 6.30 p.m.
Phone: 0034 / 977 55 88 33
E-mail: [email protected]
For further information see: http://www.urv.cat/esports/en_index.html
59
Meals Student canteens are located close to university buildings and serve very good meals. The price of a meal is between 3,70 and 8 euros. Persons with food allergies or other special eating needs will find some options for them.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Meals: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Phone: 0034 / 977 22 74 35
61 ... something for fun
It is obvious that student life consists not only of learning but also of other leisure activities.
Trekking URV Get to know the country and its history by walking through the countryside along signposted footpaths.
Contact details: 0034 / 977 25 65 81 [email protected] www.urv.cat/senderisme
Cinema Group The Cinema Group organises films and discussion forums, courses, seminars and other activities related to the cinema.
Contact details: 0034 / 977 55 95 88 or 0034 / 977 25 65 81 [email protected]
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Theatre Group The URV’s Theatre Group is made up of students and staff. If you are interested in the performing arts, setting up theatrical workshops and taking part in creative activities, contact us.
Contact details: 0034 / 686 97 23 48 or 0034 / 977 25 65 81 [email protected]
URV Orchestra The Orchestra is made up of various groups from within the URV, under the direction of Tomàs Grau. If you like symphonic music and have some musical ability, you will be interested in joining.
Contact details: 0034 / 977 25 65 81 [email protected]
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Volunteers’ Office If you want to help others in your free time, at the Volunteers’ Office you will find people like you committed to solidarity projects.
Contact details: 0034 / 977 55 87 37 or 0034 / 977 55 80 55 [email protected]
67
Special Festivals
Tarragona special festivals 15 - 19 August - Sant Magí 14 - 24 September - Santa Tecla
Reus special festivals 24 - 29 June - Sant Pere 21 - 25 September - Verge de la Misericòrdia
Tortosa special festivals 22 - 25 July - Renaixement 3 - 11 September - Verge de la Cinta
Vila-seca special festivals 24 Juliol - 03 August - Summer Festival 15 - 24 January - Sant Antoni
Coma-ruga special festivals 11 - 15 August - Summer Festival
69 Welcome to our University. We are very proud that you have chosen to come here for your LLP/Erasmus. We sincerely wish you a great stay with us.
International Center Team
"For the fortunate man all the countries are his homeland"
Erasmus of Rotterdam