News

Dear student,

the UVMP in Košice is still confident that the epidemiological situation will only get better and that the new academic year 2020/2021 will start in its usual full-time attendance form according to the approved schedule. This confidence is based on the developments of situation with COVID-19 in Slovakia, which continues to be one of the best in the world with a low number of infected and active cases.

As the epidemiological situation is very unpredictable, Slovak Government and Health Care Authorities issue restrictions, regulations, recommendations and instructions only for an immediate future, with expected changes and updates every two weeks. Therefore, it is not possible to issue at the moment any final instructions regarding the registration and start of the semester. The UVMP in Košice will evaluate the situation again in the second half of August.

Right now, there are few countries, with which the free movement has been renewed. No special arrangements or quarantine are currently required for travelling between Slovakia and these countries other than to observe hygienic and preventive measures and monitor your health. However, by September, countries may be added or removed from the list.

Persons entering the territory of Slovakia from countries, which are not on the list of countries with renewed free movement, can enter Slovakia, but they are first obliged to submit to the Slovak Public Health Care Authority the result of a negative test, confirmation of the negative test in Slovak or English language of RT-PCR for COVID-19 disease not older than 96 hours upon entering, and then these persons are required to stay in self isolation until they receive another negative test result of a test completed no sooner than after the fifth day from their arrival in Slovakia. Also other persons staying in the same household must stay in self isolation.

These are current regulations here in Slovakia (last updated July 20, 2020) and neither further developments nor whether the restrictions will be tightened or loosened by September can be predicted. Students are obliged to follow and adhere to the valid preventive regulations and restrictions issued by the Slovak Government and Slovak Health Care Authorities at any given time and are responsible for any consequences resulting from behaving otherwise.

For entry to Slovakia from country with not renewed free movement, a registration or temporary residence/residency card may be required. You can apply not only at the Foreign Police Department in Slovakia but also at the Slovak Embassy in your home country. Read more in the following brochure https://www.saia.sk/_user/documents/publikacie/student-guide_web_2018.pdf

Although the UVMP in Košice would like to resume the full-time attendance form of teaching from the beginning of the new academic year, it prepares for both attendance form as well as online form of teaching, which will be carried out should the situation in Slovakia or individual situation of the student (official travel restrictions preventing the student from joining the attendance form of teaching at the university) require it. Online form of teaching will consist of all available approaches and systems (both active and self-study) including videoconferences, online streaming, presentations, etc.

All instructions regarding the actual registration and all connected necessities will be released closer to the date due to the unpredictable and unstable nature of the situation and we are asking everyone for understanding and patience. Timetables and connected guidance will be released as usual, during the first two weeks of September.

From the moment the universities are allowed by the Slovak Government and Health Care Authorities to resume the full-time attendance form of teaching, students not prevented by valid travel restrictions are expected to participate at their classes. Specific cases will be subject to the UVMP Management approval.

If there is a quarantine or self isolation required for a certain period of time upon student's entry to Slovakia, students are recommended to plan their arrival accordingly and enter Slovakia well in advance before the start of the teaching process.

Furthermore, students accommodated at the UVMP Dormitories should be aware that they will not be allowed to spend the quarantine or self isolation at the dormitories and are therefore required to plan accordingly as well and to seek another accommodation for the period of self isolation if necessary.

Among others, some information regarding valid restrictions and regulations in English language can be found on the following website of the European Union: https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/SVK

Contacts of the Slovak Public Health Authority in Košice are +421 918 389 841, +421 910 747 531, +421 902 187 390 and koronavirus@ruvzke.sk or epi@ruvzke.sk.

Thank you again for understanding and take care.

Last updated: July 20, 2020