Useful information for incoming students

How to get to Hungary?

It’s possible to fly from all over the world to Budapest or get the train or bus from many other cities in Europe. If driving to Budapest, Hungary is within the Schengen borders so it’s not necessary to show passport or ID cards at most Hungarian borders unless specially requested. Document checks still occur at the Croatian and Romanian borders. Non-European Union citizens should check they have a valid visa for the Schengen Area when visiting Hungary.
Budapest’s airport is the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. International trains arrive at the Déli, Keleti, or Nyugati Railway Stations. The international bus station is at Népliget Bus Station. 
The easiest way is the long-distance direct bus between Budapest and Baja, which is about 3 hours. You can find more information about the timetable on the following website: www. menetrendek.hu

Holidays in Hungary

January 1: New Year 
Mach 15: National holiday 
Religious holidays: Easter Monday, Pentecost Monday 
May 1: Labour Day 
August 20: Constitution Day, St. Stephen's day 
October 23: Proclamation of the Republic 
November 1: All Saints day 
December 25-26: Christmas

Student programs

Freshers’ Week:
For all first-year students, a week of activities is organized in Baja and Magyaregregy before the academic year begins. A whole week of fun and games, where students can get to know each other and learn about College life.
Freshers’ Ball: 
A formal evening ball is organized for first-year students in the main Hall of the Engineering and Economics Faculty. All students take the ‘Fresher’s Oath’ which is then followed by music and dancing.
Halloween Pentathlon:
Near the end of November, teams of students and lecturers compete against each other in five different sports: table tennis, table football, floorball, volleyball, and football. The college organizes this nightly sport event each year, which is becoming more and more popular every year.
Student Day:
A day which students and their lecturers spend together without any formal learning. During the day, community programs, games, and sports activities are organized, followed by music and concerts in the evening.

Sports activities
Students can choose from many different sports activities.

Cultural programmes
As part of the curriculum, students can participate in drama and/or singing and music classes. The College has its own choir.

Student Card

What is the student card and why is this card good for you?
The student card (in Hungarian: diákigazolvány) is a document that proves that you are officially a student at EJC. With this document, you can get student discounts. For example, if you want to travel, you can buy a bus or train ticket at half price with this card.
How to obtain a new student card?
To get a new student card, you must have an official photo taken and give your official signature at „Központi Okmányiroda”. Don't forget to take your residence permit and passport with you. The officer will give you a NEK (Nemzeti Egységes Kártyarendszer) datasheet. This form has a 16-character identification number in the upper right corner. Please bring the NEK datasheet to the Student Office. You can start the request for the student card on your Neptun site.

Sport facilities and sport card

Students can choose from many different sports activities. The College has its own Dragon Boat Team and Handball Team. In addition, the Student Council organizes the College Footie Championship each semester. The College has won funding under the “Sport in Higher Education” program, with the result that our students can take part in the following organized sport activities free of charge: yoga, volleyball, football, running, floorball, dragon boating, hiking, bicycle tours.
Eötvös József College offers sportscard to its students and staff to support healthy living. Cardholders can participate in several sports events for free, organized by the school every week. These sport events are dance, yoga, aerobics, basketball, badminton, and volleyball. Above this, the swimming pool is free for students two times a week.
This card has got a fee, which is 2000 HUF and the card is valid for half a year.

Practical information

Electricity
Voltage in Hungary is 230 volts, and plugs are of the two-pin continental type.

Water
Water is drinkable and of high quality in the public water supply system throughout the country.

Emergency
- International emergency call centre: 112
- Ambulance: 104 
- Fire Department: 105 
- Police: 107 
The above phone numbers can be called free of charge.

Weather and temperatures
The climate of Hungary is continental, with cold winters and warm summers, sometimes hot. Spring and autumn are mild, but there are frequent changes in temperature, especially in spring.

Time zone
Budapest is in the Central European Time Zone. In the winter months, this means clocks are set at GMT + 1 hour and in the summer (March to the end of October) GMT + 2 hours.

Exchange money
The forint (HUF, Ft) is the currency in Hungary. There are coins of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 forints. Banknotes have denominations of 500, 1 000, 2 000, 5 000, 10 000 and 20 000 forint.
Banks are generally open to the public between 8 am and 4 pm. You may change foreign currency in forint at all banks. In money exchange offices, the exchange rate is somewhat more favorable and the service is generally faster.

Smoking ban in Hungary
There is a smoking ban in Hungary, making it illegal to smoke in all enclosed public places and workplaces in Hungary.
PLACES WHERE YOU CAN'T SMOKE
According to the regulations, it is against the law to smoke in:
- pubs, bars, and nightclubs, cafés, and restaurants
- indoor shopping centers
- offices and factories
- public transport
- playgrounds, courtyards/gardens of schools (nursery, primary & secondary)
- train platforms, bus stops, subways/pedestrian underpasses
Indoor smoking rooms are no longer allowed, so anyone who wants to smoke has to go outside.