International Exchange
The Tischner European University is exchanging students and staff with many universities abroad. The geographical area covered and the number of our partner institutions is growing every year. Today we collaborate with 34 institutions from 17 countries, including USA.
Since 2004 Tischner European University has been a proud holder of an Erasmus University Charter, entitling it to participation in the EU-founded Erasmus programme, which supports Higher Education Institutions and since 2007 constitutes an element of the Lifelong Learning Program developed on the European level. Every year we successfully apply for Erasmus grants, which give significant administrative and financial support to those students who wish to study for a semester or complete an internship abroad. Every year we also host students from our partner institutions, or individuals coming as "visiting students".
Besides spending one or two semester abroad on Erasmus programme, TEU students have possibility to participate in many short-term programmes, which is a great chance to meet new friends, taste other cultures and take part in serious, multinational debates. International students willing to learn more about Poland and Central Europe in a short period of time, come to TEU for a few weeks to participate in summer schools, or to take part in projects organized by student associations, some co-funded by the EU programme "Youth in Action".
Exchanges, study trips and intensive programs involving local and international students, are complemented by lectures offered by professors from abroad, open meetings with distinguished guests and conferences gathering speakers from all over the world.
Jose Maria Aznar, former Prime Minister of Spain; Rocco Butigilione, Italian Minister of European Politics; Prof. Clyde Wilcox from the Georgetown University (USA); Prof. Anjoo Sharan Upadhyaya from the Banaras Hindu University in India; Gyaliong Tsetrin, former political prisoner from Tibet - these are just a few of those who have visited us up till now.
Banks
Every student can open a bank account in any bank in Krakow. Usually, you will be able to open a student bank account on the basis of a passport and a student ID. The fee for opening and running the student account is either very low (few PLN per month) or it is free of charge. The issue of a Maestro or Visa Electron card costs only few PLN and it enables payment in many points of sale in Krakow and drawing cash from ATMs (free of charge at your bank’s ATMs, a few PLN at other ATMs). The bank which has the largest number of ATMs in Krakow is BPH Bank.
A certain inconvenience is the question of depositing cash, as a direct deposit demands a written statement about the source of the deposited money. For your convenience you should try to make all deposits by means of bank transfer, but one has to keep in mind the high costs of international bank transfers.
All credit cards which you bring are usually accepted in stores, restaurants and in Krakow ATMs (Visa and Mastercard/Eurocard, less frequently American Express), but you cannot take it for granted. Moreover, using them you will lose on the currency exchange rate and fees for the pay out of cash. That is why we advise you to open a bank account in a Polish bank.
ATTENTION: Non-Polish regular TEU students, in order to legalise their temporary residence in Poland, are strongly advised to open the bank account in Poland. Transferring the money into that account is the most suitable way to fulfil the formal requirement of proving that you do have so-called “neccessary financial means to study in Poland”.
● Addresses of outlets located in the city centre
ING Bank Śląski (where TEU has its account):
ul. Królewska 57
ul. Zwierzyniecka 29
ul. Św. Tomasza 20
Bank BPH – a few dozen outlets in the whole city, among others:
ul. Grodzka 44
Rynek Główny 47
ul. Karmelicka 27
If you want to change foreign currency to PLN you can do it in one of the several dozen exchange offices (KANTOR).
In the old town the largest number of exchange offices is on ul. Floriańska.
