Erasmus Mundus Action 2 SALAM General Information @ UAlg€¦ · UAlg General Information – EMA2...

Erasmus Mundus Action 2

SALAM

General Information @ UAlg

University of the Algarve (UAlg) / International Relations Office (IRO) / Erasmus Mundus team, 2014/15

UAlg General Information – EMA2 SALAM

University of the Algarve - International Relations Office 2

Visas and Residence Permits

Each of the Grantees will apply for a Portuguese Study Visa at the nearest Portuguese Consulate1;

- Grantees from Iran will to go to Tehran

- Grantees from Yemen will have to go to Riyadh

To apply for such visa, grantees will need a proof of travel insurance, ticket booking2 (provided by the

Programme Coordinator), and an official Certificate for Visa Application (provided by the University of

Algarve).

Attention: a Portuguese Study Visa does not give the right to travel within the Schengen Area. Therefore, grantees must obtain a valid authorization of residence/specific visa before they can visit other EU countries, as otherwise they may be deported from those countries with all ensuing legal consequences. Upon arrival, grantees that will stay in Faro longer than their Visa allows will have to apply for an Authorization for Residence at SEF (Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras / Immigration and Borders Service). The International Relations Office (IRO) will make an appointment and give you all necessary information on the procedures and documents required.

Portuguese Consulate in Tehran, Iran Darrous, Av. Hedaiat, Rouzbeh Street, 13 Tehran, Iran Phone: (21) 22 54 32 37 (Visas) | Fax: (21) 22 55 26 68 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday: 08.30am/4.00pm Portuguese Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Pension Public Agency Complex Office S-14 (ground Floor) - Al-fazari Square - Diplomatic Quarter P.O.Box 94328, Riyadh 11693 Telf: 00966 11 482 69 64| Fax: (009661) 482 6981 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

1 If you need to write them an e-mail message, be sure to mention the title of the Programme (Erasmus Mundus Action 2), our University (Universidade do Algarve), your full name in correct order (<name <surname>, your nationality (citizenship), date of birth, passport number and place of residence.

2 You will only need the booking, not the ticket! Ticket booking is sufficient for visa purposes. Do not purchase tickets until you have your visa issued, and the arrival date established with the Host University.



Travel and insurance

The Programme Coordinator is responsible for insurance for the whole grant period;

The Coordinators will also book international airline tickets (e-tickets).

Grantees are obliged to contact the Coordinator in questions regarding these topics, prior to their studies.

IBAN Bank Account

Upon arrival, Grantees will open an account at the bank, which they will use to receive the monthly

subsistence allowance. For this purpose, Portuguese banks require a document to make proof of address in

home country, duly translated into Portuguese (or English) and stamped by the Portuguese Embassy. Make

sure to carry such document with you.

Authenticated documents

Grantees who plan to receive a degree (degree student) from UAlg MUST provide copies of the documents

proving their previous studies, namely, Diploma of BSc/MSc/PhD, and Transcript of Records (if applicable)

carrying a Hague Apostille3 issued by the competent authorities of their home country.

Additionally, the official translated copy (into English, Portuguese, French or Spanish) is required.

Grantees must carry the authenticated documents with them, and hand them to IRO upon arrival.

Do not send such documentation by post!

Housing

UAlg has Halls of Residence for international students, and some rooms for academic staff, at nominal fees.

However, due to the high number of incoming exchange students and staff it’s not always possible to

guarantee a place for all. Booking should be requested in advance and is subject to confirmation from the

University Social Services.

Rooms are double; kitchen, bathroom and other common spaces are shared. All halls of residence have

household equipment, cutlery, and appliances. Bed linen and cleaning service are provided. Water, electricity

and gas expenses are included in the rental fee.

It’s advisable to book a room for 1 week only, during which the Grantee will decide whether to continue in

the hall of residence, or not. Regardless the decision, that 1 week will be paid in advance and will not be

refunded.

3 According to the Hague Convention of 5th October 1961, Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documentation. If your country is not signatory of the Hauge Apostile please be clearly informe about the procedures to legalise official documents by the relevant foreign authority in your country.



Applied fees on 2013/14 - each year fees are updated to account for inflation:

Undergraduate students: 121,25€ per month;

Master students: 130,95€ per month

Doctoral students and Staff: 180,00€ per month (shared room); 240,00€ per month (private room)

For more information and booking, please contact Miss Ana Nunes at [email protected]

On the other hand, you can rent an apartment on your own. Prices varies depending on several aspects (i.e,

location, number of rooms, number of tenants, expenses included/excluded, etc). You may find a single room

from 140,00 up to 300,00 monthly rent. As to a deposit, it is common practice to pay 2 months in advance.

NB: Be aware that accommodation expenses are not included in the Grant.

When to arrive

September 1-5 will be an orientation week, with registration and orientation activities the rest of the week.

You are strongly advised to participate in the orientation week. Around 10-12% of University of the Algarve

students are not Portuguese, so this is a great opportunity to meet students from around the world (60-70

nationalities), and to get a first experience of Portugal.

Classes will start Monday, September 8. So, you should aim at arriving at the end of August so that you can

take part in the orientation week and take care of housing.

Arrivals

Grantees must communicate their arrival details (exact date and time of arrival) to the EM team

([email protected] and [email protected]) as soon as flight tickets are purchased. A copy of the

e-ticket should be sent by email.

- Arriving at Lisbon Airport: train or bus from Lisbon to Faro takes between 4 to 5 hours and costs ca. 30

Euros.

Bus schedules and tickets: http://www.eva-bus.com/ or

http://www.rede-expressos.pt/default.aspx

Train schedules and tickets:

http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?vgnextoid=87cbd5abe2a74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD&lang=

en

- Arriving at Faro Airport: the airport is 10km away from Faro; a taxi from the airport to Faro costs about 15

Euros; taxis have meters, therefore, make sure the driver has put the meter on. Also, you can take a bus from

the airport to downtown Faro during daytime.



NB: Weekend or late arrivals: Grantees should book a place to stay at least for 1 or 2 nights4, and address

IRO on the following working day.

The University of Algarve has an Erasmus Student Network (ESN Section) and their main objective is to help

incoming students in questions related to their arrival (pick up, private accommodation, practical questions).

If you would like their support please contact them through the email [email protected] .

You can also add yourself to their Facebook page:

https://facebook.com/groups/ErasmusUalgWinterSemester2014.2015/?frf=ts

Enrolment:

Upon arrival you must address the IRO for registration procedures, and take with you:

- Passport - visa - 3 photos - Health insurance - Academic documents authenticated and translated (full degree students) - Proof of residence in home country (if you want to open a bank account in Portugal) Portuguese Language Courses

As a rule, courses are lectured in Portuguese language, with textbooks and tutoring available in English

language. On the other hand, reports, assessments or exams can be performed in English, depending on the

professor’s agreement.

UAlg provides a Portuguese Language course per semester (PLE-Anual). It’s a 90-hour course during the

whole semester; classes are twice a week, 2 hours per day. Classes are structured in different levels,

according to students’ command of the language. Upon arrival, Grantee should ask to be enrolled in the

course, and include it in the Learning Agreement (when applicable).

Reporting

Grantees will provide progress reports to UAlg during the mobility period, when requested by the EM team

and a final report to be handed at the end of the mobility period.

4 Faro’s Youth Hostel (Pousada da Juventude) http://www.pousadasdejuventude.com (choose language - click Portugal - Faro). Hostels in Faro http://www.hostelworld.com/findabed.php/ChosenCity.Faro/ChosenCountry.Portugal



Holidays and absences

UAlg ceases academic activity during the month of August. Besides this period there are academic breaks

during the year, such as Christmas, Carnival, Easter and Academic week. Grantees must notify the EM team

in all cases of absence, informing the motive, exact duration of absence, date of departure and date of return.

All Grantees must seek the permission to leave from both the University’s coordinator and the

Programme Coordinator. The permission must be sought in all cases of leave during the grant period, except

for travels during the periods of regular holidays of the UAlg. This information is of enormous importance,

namely in what comes to the insurance, academic performance and grant payment.

Be aware that the period of absence must be compensated at the end of the mobility, thus postponing

the departure to home country.

NB: Scholarship payments may be interrupted.

End of the mobility period

- Travel details: Grantees are required to send to IRO a soft copy of the e-ticket 3 weeks before departure,

the very latest. The return travel must take place on the formal ending date of the mobility period. Regarding

itineraries, Grantees must travel directly from host to home country.

- Bank Account in Portugal: Before leaving grantees must formalize the closing of the IBAN bank account and

change postal address (if necessary). There is specific paperwork to be taken care of. Note that withdrawing

the money does not mean closing the account. Banks charge maintenance commissions if you leave it open,

even with 0,00€ balance!

- Lodging expenses: Grantees that have been lodged in the Halls of Residence must go the Social Services

Office 1 week before departure for the check-out procedures;

- Academic issues: Prior to departure, Grantees must address IRO to formalize their departure.

- Undergraduate and MSc students: up to 2 weeks before departure must confirm the list of all courses

attended;

- PhD exchange students: must ask their supervisor a statement describing their work. The original

document might be kept with you, and a copy must be handed to the Office.

All Grantees must:

Send the e-ticket to IRO 2 weeks before departure

Submit the final report 1 week before departure;

Collect the letter of confirmation 2 days before departure.



********

Contacts

UAlg project coordinator:

Hamid Reza Shahbazkia, PhD, Prof. Hab. ([email protected] ; [email protected] )

IRO - International Relations Office

EM team: [email protected]

Tel: +351 289 800 003 / Fax: +351 289 800 025

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 12.30pm / 2.00pm – 4.30pm

Address: Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, building 5, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

Erasmus Student Network (ESN Section)

email [email protected] .

Facebook page https://facebook.com/groups/ErasmusUalgWinterSemester2014.2015/?frf=ts

Social Services: management of the halls of residence

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 12.30pm

Address: Universidade do Algarve, Campus da Penha, building 7, 1st floor, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

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