About the University

The Medical school of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (UPJS) is located in the second largest town in Slovakia. Košice, with its rich history offering many cultural and sport events and activities for a multicultural student community. The University in its modern form was established in 1959 as the second university in Slovakia. It has made an important contribution to the development of educational and research activities in Slovakia.   

The university is named after an outstanding character in Slovak history, Pavol Jozef Šafárik (1795 – 1861), a scientist, poet, linguist, ethnographer, archaeologist and educator. At present UPJS consists of four faculties: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Public Administration.

The Faculty of Medicine was established in 1948 as a branch of the Faculty of Medicine of the Slovak University, later named Comenius University in Bratislava. Then in 1959, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Philosophy merged. This led to the foundation of a new University in Eastern Slovakia, called Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. The Faculty of Medicine at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice closely cooperates with many significant universities and institutions in the following cities: Prague, Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Padova, Essen, Giessen, Düsseldorf, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Zürich, Turku, Oulu, Salamanca, Krakow and others.

The Faculty of Medicine trains physicians and surgeons to attain broader medical education, aimed at the preventive aspects of providing care and aid. Vocational training is based on the latest knowledge in medical science and students are given the possibility to achieve the background for scientific activity as well.

Students acquire specialized knowledge in theoretical, pre-clinical and clinical subjects through lectures, seminars clerkships, specialized practice and consultations. The Faculty of Medicine has several significant partners - the Faculty Hospital of L. Pasteur in Košice and six other medical facilities, in which the faculty provides students with training.  

Cost of Living

Since its introduction into the European Union in 2005, Slovakia has been undergoing significant economic reform. The result is that the quality of life is rising while prices remain stable. The cost of living in Košice is cheap by European standards. Students can enjoy a comfortable life at a very modest price.

*These expenses are based on past average monthly expenses that students incurred for one academic year. These expenses exclude, among others, personal needs, university admission fees, flights, visas, insurance.

Housing

The university provides students with accommodation in the university dormitories in single rooms for €115 per month (cost includes water, heating, electricity and internet). Rooms include a sofa, desk, cupboard and refrigerator. A phone is optional. Every two rooms share a bathroom (shower and toilet). The dormitories are located approximately 400 to 500 meters from the campus. In the dormitories, there is a central kitchen (for every five rooms) and dining room where it is possible to prepare dinner. Part of the kitchen is reserved for buffet meals. It is also possible to rent an apartment in the city. 

Leisure and Sport Facilities  

You can have a lot of fun in Košice! There are  Movies, Theatre/Opera, Museums, Swimming pool, water skiing, Tennis, Fitness Centre, Horse riding, hiking the Tatra Mountains, cycling etc.

Travel expenses 

Travel expenses vary depending on where and how often the students travel. The means of transport, whether by plane, rail or bus, will also have an impact on overall costs. We recommend the following websites to help you calculate your travel costs:

Low-cost air carrier Sky Europe: www.skyeurope.com
Eurolines long distance bus: www.eurolines.com
National Slovak railway:  www.zsr.sk/english/p-euzeleznice.html   

Star Travel, s.r.o.: www.startravel.sk
Dunajská 4
811 08 Bratislava
Slovak Republic
Tel:  +421 2 52 63 28 54
Fax: +421 2 52 63 28 55
E-mail: startravel@startravel.sk

STA Travel Worldwide:  www.statravelgroup.com

STA Travel Košice:   http://www.ckm.sk
CKM 2000 Travel
Hlavna 58
04001 Košice, Slovakia
Tel: +421 (0) 55 6257 767
Fax: +421 (0) 55 6257 773
E-mail: ckm2000-ksc@ckm.sk   

Arrival to Košice

By airplane: The Košice International Airport is served by its national airlines, Air Slovakia (www.airslovakia.sk) and Slovak Airlines (www.slovakairlines.sk). Low cost airlines Sky Europe (www.skyeurope.com) and Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) also fly to Slovakia. Košice airport is situated about 3 kilometers outside the city. There is limited bus service to town, so it is best to take a taxi upon arrival.

By train and bus: Both trains and busses arrive at Hlavna stanica (Main Station). For long-haul information, see Euro lines for bus (www.eurolines.com) and the Slovak National Railway for train information (www.zsr.sk/english/p-euzeleznice.html). Once at the station there is a good network of public transport.  

For more information about UPJS and the Faculty of Medicine please visit www.lf.upjs.sk.

To contact IMS