Photo: Shutterstock / Anton Gvozdikov

Accommodation

There are several possibilities of finding accommodation for international students.

 

Dormitories

Most higher education institutions offer housing in dormitories. Their standards may differ. There are usually 2 – 4 students accommodated in one room, but rooms for a single student are also available. Rooms are furnished with beds, tables and wardrobes. Bathrooms are usually shared between two rooms, or there is a common bathroom for the whole floor.

Most dormitories have their dining hall or buffet, where meals are available for lower prices and usually are open during the academic year. Lunch or dinner costs from € 1.50 to €5. Some dormitories have their own gyms, swimming pools, fitness centres, etc.

The price per bed varies from dormitory to dormitory, depending on city, location and type of room. You can pay from € 45 per month up to € 140.

The majority of the rooms have internet access.

There are also self‑service laundries in dormitories in Slovakia (www.cent.skwww.pramako.sk/samoobsluzne-pracovne, in Slovak only; www.flipperwash.sk).

 

NOTE: Students who wish to study in the Slovak Republic outside the framework of bilateral agreements or exchange programmes cannot be guaranteed a place in a dormitory due to the limited capacity of each dormitory. If a student is interested in living in a dormitory, he/she should contact the university at least 3 months before commencing his/her studies or before the start of the respective academic year. Many universities provide information about their dormitories on their websites.

 

Renting a flat

The easiest way (except for staying in a hotel) is to rent a private apartment. In such cases, it is recommended to sign a lease with your future landlord defining precisely the terms and conditions of your stay in the apartment.

The apartments should be equipped with pots, dishes, linens, etc. Most apartments have washing machines, but automatic dryers are usually not used.

 

You can also find a shared room or flat via social networks or via www.flatmates.sk, www.spolubyvanie.sk – both websites in Slovak only. There are also Facebook groups dedicated to finding flatmates and flats to rent, or Facebook groups for international students in each city where it is easy to find yourself a flatmate.

 

Electrical Appliances and Computers

In Slovakia, a 230 V/50 Hz electrical system is used and appliances are designed for a round pin plug and receptacle (socket) with a male grounding pin.

For safety and to avoid damage to electrical appliances, it is important to bring equipment designed for the mentioned frequency and voltage, use dual voltage equipment or voltage converters/transformers. Moreover, a plug adapter will also be needed, if your device is constructed for other standards. For those bringing US standard equipment, an earthed (grounded) step-down transformer is necessary for computers, monitors and printers. Even with the most expensive transformers, one should always monitor the electrical supply.