f a l l
2018
survival guide
TABLE OF
contents 3
Message from the Mascot
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About ESN
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Contacts
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ESNcard
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Tandem Program
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Events
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Academic Calendar
10 Corvinus University of Budapest 10 Buildings 11 Library 11 Offices 12 Highlights of Budapest 13 Highlights of Hungary 14 Money 15 Housing 15 Where to Shop 16 Public Transport 19 Everyday Life 20 Public Holidays 21 Useful Phrases 22 Fun Facts 23 Bucketlist
message from the mascot Benő
Welcome to Budapest and Corvinus University of Budapest! First, let me introduce myself: I’m Benő, a Hungarian raven and the official mascot of ESN Corvinus. Do not hesitate to greet me on the ESN events, as I'm present most of the time (I'm a real party animal, you see), and I also have a Facebook profile (facebook.com/benocorvin), so let's be friends! You have made the perfect choice by coming to Budapest, where every day can be interesting and entertaining, and it's just so easy to feel at home. Still, it's inevitable to be homesick sometimes, and that's when your Erasmus mates become your family. Because you might be away from home, but you never get lonely in Budapest. Our goal at ESN Corvinus is to create longlasting relationships and memorable experiences during your stay. We made this guide in hope to help you survive the first few days in the city, and to help you experience the ultimate Budapest student life. And if you have any more questions, do not worry; you automatically have local friends in the ESN Corvinus volunteers. So to sum up, you are in good hands, your only task is to enjoy every minute of your stay in Budapest! With great love, Benő and the members of ESN Corvinus 3
about ESN
Erasmus Student Network
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is the biggest student association in Europe. The network is present in more than 900 higher education institutions from 40 countries. The volunteers of ESN work in the interest of international students, therefore we offer help during the academic, social and practical integration process of international students.
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ESN Corvinus is one of the 10 sections operating in Budapest. With around 50 volunteers from the student body of Corvinus University, we work to make this semester in Hungary unforgettable for you. Besides helping you guys any way we can, we offer several programmes throughout the semester. Alongside all the partying and drinking we also organise various cultural, social, and sports events.
contacts Our office is open for every international student who needs any information or help, or if you are interested in our events and our community. You can also buy the ESNcard and tickets to our programmes and trips here.
Address: 8 Fővám Square (main building), office E.7 Opening hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30–15:30
esncorvinus@esncorvinus.com corvinus.esn.hu /esncorvinus @esncorvinus ESN Corvinus /esncorvinus
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ESNcard ESNcard is a partnership program which provides benefits and discounts from local, national and international companies.
Just to mention a few examples:
More info and all of our partners can be found at esncard.org With ESNcard you can also buy tickets for a reduced price for our trips and events! You can buy the card in our office.
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tandem program Aimed to help your integration into the new environment, you can apply for the Tandem Program and receive a local CUB student as your buddy, to whom you can turn for help whenever you face a problem regarding your life and integration in Hungary
A buddy is someone who can help you with finding accomodation give you a tour around Budapest help with academic stuff and official issues show you really cool, not so tourist oriented places be there for you if you feel totally lost in a totally new country! The program is also a great way to forge lasting international friendships, as many Tandem partners keep in touch for years after their exchange semesters. So buddy up and make friendships which last for a lifetime.
In order to receive a Tandem buddy sign up here: esncorvinus.broaddy.com/login 7
events During the semester ESN Corvinus organizes several events to help incoming students to get to know each other, Budapest, Hungary and the Hungarian culture. Some great examples: Hostel Week (27 August – 2 September) Orientation Day & Week (3–9 September) Fresh Camp (15–16 September) Prague Trip (28–30 September) Slovenia Trip (26–28 October) AND ALSO More events in Budapest, like pubcrawls and karaoke night Daytrips in Hungary Cultural programmes, such as international dinner, movie and/or quiz night, museum and theatre visits Social events, like dog walking and food sharing Sport and outdoor activities (and not just beeryoga and beerpong) And of course lots of parties!!!
Stay tuned on our Facebook page to get information about our latest event offers
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academic calendar 2018 fall
3 September – Orientation Day 3–7 September – Enrolment week 4 September – First day to add and drop courses 10 September – First day of classes 16 September – Last day to add and drop courses 29 October – 4 November – Fall break 14 December – Last day of classes 17–21 December and 2–26 January – Exam period
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Corvinus University of Budapest CUB operates with three faculties: Corvinus Business School, Corvinus School of Economics, and the Faculty of Social Sciences and International Relations. The name and structure of the university had changed many times over the years but economic studies have been around for almost 70 years. The mission of the university is to maintain an international standard of creating and transmitting values in the form of teaching, research and consulting activities, all in the context of academic freedom.
buildings The campus of Corvinus has three buildings, marked as E, S and C (there is logic here, but only in Hungarian). ’E’ is the old buiding right next to Fővám square and the metro station. Besides the classrooms you can find most of the teachers’ and student organisations’ offices (e.g. ESN office), the International Office, ISP Office, the main hall (which holds several programmes during the semester) and four big lecture halls. In the basement you can also find a canteen and chill place for you to relax in the afternoon. ‘S’ is the smallest building, just a few steps away from the Danube. In this building you can find mostly computer labs, so if you are in a desperate need of a computer, usually there are some open classrooms in the afternoon. ‘C’ is the newest building. Besides lots of classrooms, the library takes place in the building as well. If you go to the fourth floor you will also find a huge balcony to relax or study a bit. You will also find a canteen (with great coffee) on the right side of the building. Cafeteria and cloakrooms can be found in the buildings E and C. In the latter you can use the lockers next to the cafeteria as well.
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library Good to know
With your student card you can ask for a Borrowers Card with which you can use all of the library services. It’s prohibited to eat in the halls, except from in the sandwich room (top floor of the library). It’s not allowed to wear big coats or bags, so you should use the lockers or the cloakroom to store them. There are also baskets which you can use to hold your things. You can book study rooms for solving projects with fellow students (3-6 people). Reservations are accepted up to one week in advance until 7AM on the day of the reservation. You can ask for a VPN in the ’S’ building to reach certain databases (online documents, essays or newspapers) from your own electronic devices, and also from outside of school.
If you’d like to know more about the library, you can find information on their website: www.lib.uni-corvinus.hu/eng
offices International office
ESN office
E building room 25 Monday and Thursday 09.00–12.00 intoffice@uni-corvinus.hu
E building room 7 Monday-Thursday 11.30–15.30 esncorvinus@esncorvinus.com
Coordinators Corvinus School of Economics Ms Erika Szalontai erika.szalontai@uni-corvinus.hu E building room 185A
Corvinus Business School Ms Orsolya Bánfalvi orsolya.banfalvi@uni-corvinus.hu E building room 159
Faculty of Social Sciences and International Relations Ms Esztella Varga esztella.varga@uni-corvinus.hu C building room 506 For information about office hours check the website
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highlights of Budapest
Budapest is the capital and the most populous city of Hungary with approximately 1,760,000 inhabitants, over a land area of about 525 square kilometres (203 square miles). So it would be quite difficult to list every interesting sight in such a short guide, therefore we selected the totally must-see places, the rest is waiting for you to discover by yourself (or just come to our annual sightseeing tour).
Buda Castle Fisherman's Bastion Matthias Church Royal Garden Pavilion Gellért Hill Liberty Statue Gellért Bath Great Market Hall Margaret Island
Parliament St Stephen's Basilica Dohány Street Synagogue Andrássy Avenue Opera Heroes' Square City Park Vajdahunyad Castle Széchenyi Bath
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highlights of Hungary
Hungary is so much more than Budapest! There is life outside of ruin pubs and segway tours, so we advise you to explore as much of the country as you can. Here we suggest some places ought to be visited, but ask your tandem partner, maybe they know some hidden gems as well. Good news that the Hungarian train network is pretty developed (even if delays are often, oops) and all lines go through Budapest, so the capital is a good place to start.
Szentendre Hollókő Vác Visegrád Gödöllő Eger Pécs Sopron Szeged Kecskemét Győr Esztergom Tokaj
Lake Balaton Tihany Hévíz Lillafüred Pannonhalma Bükk National Park Mátra Mountains Aggtelek National Park Mecsek Hortobágyi National Park Őrség Badacsony Hill
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useful informations To make life a little bit easier in the first few weeks, we collected some good-to-know info for being a resident of Budapest.
money Hungary’s currency is the Hungarian Forint. This is either shortened to the code HUF or the symbol Ft. More touristy places might accept Euros with the store’s exchange rate displayed on the counter, but change is likely to be given in Forints. Nowadays you can pay by card in more and more restaurants and stores, but many places still don’t take bankcards so it’s worth having some cash on you.
About the Forint Valid coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 Valid banknotes: 500, 1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000, 20.000
Exchange rates for HUF EUR: around 320 HUF/EUR USD: around 280 HUF/USD
Good to know Do not exchange at: airport, hotels, main streets Do exchange at: currency exchange offices If you have a chance to choose between HUF and any other currency, choose Forint Withdraw money from ATMs. Most ATMs accept foreign bankcards and ATMs are very easy to find throughout Budapest, with most open 24 hours a day. If you have the chance, use your own bank, if they are not present in Hungary, choose e.g. OTP, K-&H, CIB, but we advise you to avoid Euronet ATMs because of extra costs Tips are always appreciated but never mandatory, although in several circumstances tips are more commonly expected (like in restaurants or taxis). The standard tip is 10%, but many restaurants include service charge (“szervízdíj” in Hungarian) in the total.
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housing Unfortunately Corvinus can't offer dormitory places for international students, so it's best to find a room in a shared flat. We recommend looking for housing and roommates in Facebook groups, but you can always ask your tandem partner for help. The average rent is around 250-300€/month/person. If you don't have accommodation when you first arrive to Budapest, we suggest you first stay in a hostel, and don't worry: according to our experiences, everyone finds a flat in their first weeks in Budapest.
where to shop Supermarkets Fastest and most cost effective way to get your everyday goods e.g. ALDI, Lidl, Spar, CBA, Tesco Express Closest hypermarkets: Pest side: TESCO in Aréna Plaza (Kerepesi út 9-11.) Buda side: TESCO in Újbuda Center (Hengermalom utca 19-21.)
Markets Recommended: Market Hall at Fővám square (rigth next to the University): Traditional Hungarian goods straight from the producer Diners on the first level Beautiful building, popular tourist attraction Prices are on the higher end Farmers' Market: Every Sunday from 9-14 at Szimplakert Like a mini festival
Malls Close to the university: Corvin Plaza (Futó utca 37.) ALLEE (Október huszonharmadika utca 8-10.) Westend (Váci út 3.)
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public transport Airport - city centre
Public transport Bus number: 100E Ticket price: 900 HUF (3 €) – no other types of tickets or passes are valid. Takes you straight to the city centre (Kálvin square, Astoria, Deák square) in 30-40 minutes. Taxi On arrival you can book a cab at the terminals' entrance. According to the Hungarian regulation the price of the taxis are at a fixed tariff of 280 HUF/km (0.95 EUR/km) in addition to the one-off basic fee of 450 HUF (1.50 EUR). A ride to the city center should typically cost around 6.500 HUF (22 EUR) depending on traffic conditions. Shuttle bus Recommended: MiniBud (www.minibud.hu/en) Takes you straight to the address.
Inside the city Single ticket price: 350 HUF Block of 10 tickets: 3.000 HUF Monthly student pass: 3.450 HUF Semester pass for students: 16.200 HUF Where to buy: ticket machines (can be found in metro stations, and some bus and tram stops) and BKK customer service points. It is also possible to purchase a ticket from the bus driver for 450 HUF (but they don't always have them, and sometimes they don't have change, so it's better to buy it before).
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Metro lines
M1 (yellow line), the Millennium Underground was the first on the European mainland, so it has a nostalgic feeling attached to it. Notable stops: Deák Ferenc Square, Hungarian State Opera, Oktogon intersection, Heroes’ Square
M2 (red line) was the first metro line to cross the River Danube and reach Buda. Notable stops: Eastern Railway Station (Keleti Pályaudvar), Astoria (Corvinus is 2 tram stops away), Deák Ferenc Square, Kossuth Lajos Square (here’s the Parliament), Southern Railway Station (Déli Pályaudvar)
M3 (blue line) is the longest metro line, currently under construction, so replacement buses are common. Notable stops: Deák Ferenc Square, Kálvin Sqaure (3 minutes walking from Corvinus), Western Railway Station (Nyugati Pályaudvar)
M4 (green line) is the newest metro line in Budapest. Each station is architecturally unique. Oh, and the metro cars are running driverless. Notable stops: Fővám tér (right next to Corvinus), Eastern Railway Station (Keleti Pályaudvar)
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Tram lines
Budapest has more than 30 tram lines, you can recognize them by their yellow colour. Notable lines - Tram line 2 This tram runs a pretty picturesque route alongside the Danube. The scenic trip provides great views over the Buda Hills and many other close-up views of city life, making the journey feel like an inexpensive sightseeing trip. The tram has a stop at Fővám tér, right next to the university. - Tram line 4–6 Tram lines 4 and 6 follow almost exactly the same route along Budapest’s Grand Boulevard, only diverging for two stops in south Buda. Major stops include Margaret Island, Nyugati Railway Station, Oktogon, Király Street, Blaha Lujza Square and Corvin Quarter. Tram line 6 operates around the clock. - Tram lines 47 and 49 These trams start at Deák Ferenc Square, with the first stop at Astoria, followed by Kálvin Square and Fővám Square before crossing the Liberty Bridge to stop at Szent Gellért Square, and then roll along to Móricz Zsigmond Square, where the two lines split.
Bus service
Budapest has a very extensive bus route system. There are some parts of the city which can be reached only by buses. BKK buses are recognizable after the blue colour of the vehicles. There are also 14 trolley bus lines in Budapest. Trolleys are red coloured. - Buses nearby the university: 9, 15, 115, 83 (trolley)
Metros and trams run until about midnight and restart at around 5am (except for tram 6 which is 24/7). A comprehensive system of night buses operates from stops marked with the owl symbol. Night bus numbers have three digits from 900-999. 18
everyday life Healthcare
General practitioner's office close to the university: Medomix Háziorvosi rendelő Address: 1093 Budapest, Lónyay utca 19. Other options: International Medical Center (1062 Budapest, Dózsa György út 112.) International Medical Service (1138 Budapest, Váci út 184.) Medicover (1062 Budapest, Teréz krt. 55-57.) Pharmacy next to the university: Corvinus Gyógyszertár Address: 1093 Budapest, Közraktár u. 2/a
Emergency contacts
104 – Ambulance 105 – Fire service 107 – Police 112 – Central help number
Recommended places around Corvinus Lunch places Canteen in E building Opus Jazz Club 39 Studium Étterem Kicsi Mama Konyhája Andreas Bisztró
Cafés Coffeeshop Company Tamp and Pull Budapest Baristas OneCup Espresso Bar Fekete
Clubs Fogas Corvin Club Morrison’s 2 Ötkert Fröccsterasz
Pubs Trapéz Mézes Egyetem Presszó For Sale Pub Könyvtár Klub
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holidays
Public holidays in Hungary (2018)
1 January: New Year’s Day 15 March: 1848 Revolution Memorial Day 30 March: Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday) 1 April: Easter Sunday 2 April: Easter Monday 1 May: Labour day 20 May: Pentecost Sunday 21 May: Pentecost Monday 20 August: Saint Stephen’s Day/State Foundation Day 23 October: 1956 Revolution Memorial Day 1 November: All Saints Day 25 December: Christmas 26 December: Second Day of Christmas
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useful phrases Igen – Yes Nem – No Szia! – Hi/hello! Egészségedre! – Cheers!/Bless you! Jó étvágyat! – Bon appetit! Jó reggelt! – Good morning! Jó napot! – Good afternoon! (formal hello) Jó estét! – Good evening! Jó éjt! – Good night! Viszlát/Szia! – Goodbye! Puszi/csók – Kiss Köszönöm/köszi – Thank you/thanks Szívesen – You’re welcome Bocsi/Bocsánat – Sorry Hogy vagy? – How are you? Jól, köszönöm. – Fine, thanks. Mi a neved? – What’s your name? A nevem… – My name is... Nem beszélek magyarul. – I don’t speak Hungarian. Nem értem. – I don’t understand. Szeretnék egy… – I would like a ... Egy, kettő, három sört/bort/pálinkát kérek! – I’d like 1, 2, 3 beers/wine/pálinka. Hol van a Deák tér? – Where is the Deák square? Szeretnél táncolni velem? – Would you like to dance with me? Csinos/helyes vagy. – You’re pretty/handsome. Szeretlek – I love you
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fun facts
The name “Hungary” may very well come from the Medieval Latin Hungaria, which translates as “Land of the Huns.” Hungarians refer to themselves and their language as Magyar, which is the direct descendant of the language spoken by the Huns. The Hungarian language is part of the Finno-Ugrian language family and thought to be one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn. In Hungary we use our last name first. That is the official format. Hungary has produced 13 Nobel laureates to date - more per capita than the likes of Finland, Spain, Canada and Australia - bagging every category except peace. Only six countries (U.S., Russia, U.K., China, France and Italy) have won more Summer Olympic gold medals than Hungary. Hungarians won gold medals at every summer Olympics except Antwerp 1920 and Los Angeles 1984 when they did not compete. Soccer is Hungary’s most popular sport, and Hungarians still refer to the match of the century in 1953 when Hungary beat England 6-3 at Wembley Stadium in England, marking the first time the English had ever lost to a continental team on home soil. Paprika (red pepper powder) is Hungary’s most popular spice and a symbol of its cuisine. It is made out of ground dried peppers, which refuse to grow anywhere other than Hungary. Hungarians never clink their glasses or bottles of beer, because according to legend, when 13 Hungarian generals were executed after the Revolution of 1848-1849, Austrians clinked their beer glasses after each execution. Therefore we refuse to clink glasses as a way to honor the generals’ memory. Pálinka is the absolute solution! Have a headache? Pálinka. Menstrual pains? Pálinka. Feeling nervous? Pálinka. As the saying goes: “Palinka in small amounts is a medicine, in large amounts a remedy”.
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bucketlist Visit a thermal bath Eat lรกngos in the Great Market Hall Climb up to the top of St Stephen's Basilica Visit another Hungarian city besides Budapest Go to an ESN trip Make friends from at least 3 different continents Learn Hungarian (at least a few words) Drink at a ruin bar Try pรกlinka Party with Benล Dance all night Host a dinner party Watch a Hungarian movie Take a selfie with a professor Ace your exams Kiss a Hungarian
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ESN Corvinus 1093 Budapest, Fล vรกm Square 8. Building E, room 7 www.corvinus.esn.hu