THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND EUROPEAN STUDIES INFO PACKAGE for ERASMUS+ STUDENTS 1 1 December 2015; Information is provisional and we reserve all rights for possible changes.
Dear student, The Graduate School of Government and European Studies (GSG) is an independent private professional academic institution, established and owned by the private Institute for Legal Counseling and the Institute for Constitutional Organization and Human Rights in August 2000 and is located at Brdo near Kranj. It has been developing dynamically from its very beginning and, despite its "young age", has become a leading school in the region. As the quality of teaching is a priority at our school, classes are held with the use of modern teaching techniques and with modern technology. Our teaching complexes are modern and adapted for the students with special needs. All grades received during the studies at GSG are evaluated also in ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) points. We have been awarded the first Erasmus Standard Charter in December 2012 and will be continuing the mobility of the individuals also in the Erasmus+ programme. GSG information for the Erasmus+ programme 263076-EPP-1-2014-1-SI-EPPKA3-ECHE PIC code: 947971204 Erasmus ID code: SI KRANJ03 2
CAREER CENTRE One of the goals of the Graduate School of Government and European Studies is also to advise its graduates on their decisions regarding their professional career and further studies. Knowing what to do after you graduate is not easy. The Graduate School of Government and European Studies provides their current and future students with help when looking for their first job or continuing on their career path. The school offers its support when making professional and academic decisions. The school endeavours to increase the employability of their graduates both in the private and public sectors with various activities. Among the members of the academic assembly of the Graduate School of Government and European Studies there are many individuals who have, in one way or another, decided to take various career paths, which is why they can help graduates in making their own career decisions. The Academic Advising Office of the Graduate School of Government and European Studies is located on the school premises in Brdo pri Kranju. The Academic Advising Office is also available at kaja.godec@fds.si. The school s career centre also keeps in touch with the students after they finish their studies and contributes to the better recognition of the faculty. The school organises an annual meeting of its graduates. All graduates are invited to the monthly meetng of the faculty Academic Forum. ACADEMIC YEAR Academic year 2015/2016 is officially divided into winter (fall) and summer (spring) semester. Academic Calendar In accordance with Article 37 of the Slovenian Higher Education Act (ZViS), the academic year lasts from 1st October to 30th September of the current year. 1st semester 2nd semester Period of lectures and tutorials Examination period Period of lectures and tutorials October January February March May Summer holidays Fall Examination period Summer school Examination June July period July August August September September Exact dates are published on the website of the Faculty 3
Application procedure for exchange students: Your home university should nominate you to the GSG. The nominations should be sent to kaja.godec@fds.si. Nominated students will be asked to submit: a confirmation of nomination for the Erasmus mobility programme, a preliminary Learning Agreement, a Transcript of Records in English, a copy of their passport, a photograph (sent electronically, passport size). A B2 level of language proficiency is recommended. After we have received your application and GSG has approved your application and acceptance, the GSG will send you an Acceptance letter. Application deadlines: 15 May 2015 - for the winter semester/full academic year 15 November 2015 - for the summer semester STUDY PROGRAMMES First degree: Administrative Law - Undergraduate study Public Administration - Undergraduate study Second degree: Public Administration - Professional master's degree International and Diplomatic Studies - Professional master's degree Third Degree: Public Administration - Doctoral study International and Diplomatic Studies - Doctoral study PRACTICAL INFORMATION How to get to Kranj? BY AIR: Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is the main airport of the country. It is located 9 km of Kranj and has good connections with other European cities. Different options of public transport take you from the airport to Kranj. http://www.lju-airport.si/en/passengers-and-visitors/getting-here 4
BY TRAIN: The railway station in Kranj is situated between Ljubljana and Jesenice, which is good for other railway connections from Kranj to its surroundings, other towns and also with abroad. Train travel within Slovenia is convenient and inexpensive. For more information please see: http://en.slo-zeleznice.si/en/passengers/slovenia. BY BUS: The bus is one possible means of reaching Kranj. How to get from Kranj to Predoslje and for more information see: http://www.alpetour.si/index.php?page=vozni_redi&item=13&lang=eng. ABOUT KRANJ Kranj is the fourth-largest city in Slovenia. It is located approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest of Ljubljana. The nucleus of the city is a well-preserved medieval old town, built at the confluence of the Kokra and Sava rivers. The city is served by the Kranj railway station on the route from Ljubljana to Munich, Germany (via Jesenice and Villach, Austria) and a highway. Slovenia's national airport, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (in Brnik) is also very close to Kranj, considerably more so than its nominal client, Ljubljana. More useful information about Kranj: http://www.tourism-kranj.si/en 5
FIRST RESIDENCE PERMIT (EU CITIZEN) As from May 1st 2004 any citizen from the EU member state can enter Slovenia with a valid identity card or a valid passport, without a special entrance permit (i.e. a visa or residence permit). This holds true no matter what the purpose of entry and stay in Slovenia is. For the first three months of stay in Slovenia the person does not need a residence permit. The residence permit can be obtained from the administrative office within the residential district (for Kranj: Office for Personal Legal Statuses and Migration/Referat za osebna stanja in migracije, Slovenski trg 1, Kranj). The residence permit will be issued in accordance to the conditions set by the EU. In order to issue the residence permit to a citizen from an EU member state country for the purpose of study the following conditions have to be met: - A valid identity card or passport, - Evidence of enrolment at an educational institution, - Health insurance covering all risks in the host member state, - Sufficient means for living (higher than the level under which the host country approves social aid to its citizen). According to the practice of the EU`s court a statement handed in writing and signed by the student as to his means is sufficient. According to the states directive the residence permit is granted for the period of studies or at the most for one year and can be extended in the event that the studies last for over a year. FIRST RESIDENCE PERMIT AND MEDICAL INSURANCE (NON EU CITIZEN) At your nearest Diplomatic or Consular representative office of the Republic of Slovenia you have to submit an application for First Residence Permit before your arrival. For more information please contact the Slovene Embassy directly. The list of Slovene Embassies is available on: http://www.mzz.gov.si/en/representations_abroad/. 6
WORKING IN SLOVENIA Students wishing to seek for a long-term employment in Slovenia need to obtain a work permit. Exchange students, however, do not need a work permit. The easiest way for foreign students to obtain part-time jobs is at so-called Študentski servis (ŠS) a service providing information about part time jobs for students. The ŠS is a mediator between companies and students and with the help of ŠS, you usually get less demanding, non-professional jobs (e.g. teachers/instructors for foreign languages or music, computer programmers and translators). To get a job you are required to obtain a Slovene tax number (Tax Office Kranj, Koroška cesta 21, Kranj; Office hours: Monday 8.00-12.00 and 13.00-15.00, Tuesday 8.00-12.00 and 13.00-15.00, Wednesday 8.00-12.00 and 13.00-17.00 and Friday 8.00-13.00) and a bank account in one of the Slovene banks. ESN - ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK Many important information regarding your stay in Slovenia as an Erasmus student you may also find on http://www.sou-lj.si/sl/international-office/esn.html. 7
CONTACTS The Graduate School of Government and European Studies Predoslje 39, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia Erasmus academic coordinator doc. Gorazd Justinek, PhD E-mail: Gorazd.Justinek@fds.si Kaja Godec Erasmus coordinator E-mail: Kaja.Godec@fds.si Telephone number: +386 40 740 500 Fax number: +386 4 260 18 55 Web site: www.fds.si or www.fds.si/index.php/en Incoming students are placed in close contact with Erasmus coordinator. She provides support in any administrative, immigration or social issue. Information support is provided also to find housing. 8
ABOUT SLOVENIA Slovenia is the only country in Europe that combines the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain and the Karst. The changing landscape is constantly surprising, time and again. You can have one eye on the sea, then look in the other direction and be surrounded by high mountains. Heading up into the forests, you can see the green plains below you. From upland meadows your view stretches into river gorges. This proximity of opposites and contrasts is a hallmark of the country. Full name: Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) Inhabitants: 2,060,663 (1 October 2013) Capital: Ljubljana (270,000) State: Democratic parliamentary republic since 25 June 1991, Member of the European Union since 1 May 2004 Currency: Euro Official languages: Slovene; in ethnically mixed border areas also Hungarian and Italian Other languages: English, German, Croatian, Serbian Largest cities: Maribor, Kranj, Celje, Koper, Novo mesto, Velenje Religion: Roman Catholic (58%, 2002 census); together there are 43 religious communities registered in Slovenia; among the oldest is the Evangelical Church, most widely spread in the northeastern part of Slovenia Area: 20,273 km² Length of borders / 1,370 km: with Austria 318 km, with Italy 280 km, with Hungary 102 km, with Croatia 670 km) Length of coastline: 46.6 km Relief: The territory of Slovenia is geographically divided into four basic types of landscape - Alpine in the north, (42.1%), Mediterranean in the south-west (8.6%), Dinaric in the south (28.1%), and Pannonian in the east (21.2%) Climate: Alpine, Continental, Mediterranean Forests: almost 58% of the Slovenia territory Highest mountain: Triglav 2,864 m Largest protected area: Triglavski narodni park: 83,807 ha (4% of the territory of Slovenia) Largest underground cave: Postojnska jama - 19.5 km Largest lake: Cerknica Lake (intermittent) - 26 km2 9
Longest river: Sava - 221 km You can find all information about Slovenia here: http://www.slovenia.info/en/home.htm?home=0&lng=2 http://www.slovenia.si 10