Accommodation

National currency is Hryvnia (UHR). 1 USD = 5.2 Hryvnia (01/06/2005 ).

You can change foreign currency in banks, kiosks, in the international airport. In the airport the currency rate is the same as in other places.

Payment for purchasing and services is done in Hryvnias. Nevertheless, some companies take payments in US dollars.

You can use credit cards of international payment systems. They can be used in many of the shops, hotels, transport companies, clubs and restaurants. In cities the network of exchange machines is well developed including the most popular banks.

Here you can save money both in foreign currency and Ukrainian Hryvnia. Banks are situated in many regions of the country. It makes it easier to transfer money through companies like Western Union and others.

The international airport of Borispol is the air gate of the country, 36 km from Kiev. To get from the airport to Kiev you can take a taxi, shuttle-bus, bus. You can also order pick up service in the university.

Besides Borispol airport you can take international flights from Simferopol, Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk. International railway connections are with Bulgaria, Check, Slovak, Germany and Poland. International bus routes are from Poland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. By ship you can get from Turkey.

It is better to find out your own route to the university from the university itself or the agent.

Ukraine has a well developed transportation system. So there will be no problems to get to any part of the country. You can travel all over the country by train or bus. The fare for the distance of 500 km is about US$12-15.

Tickets on train you can buy in advance either at the railway station or in the city. On the day of departure a ticket can be bought on the station only.

For air travel within the country you can buy tickets from the local companies. Flight cost for a distance of 500 km is about US$50.

Local transport includes buses, trolleybuses, trams and taxis. The fare is US$0.15. You can buy tickets from the conductor or in yellow kiosks at stops.

The fare for taxis is $US1 + US$0.20 per 1 km.

In Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk you can take the underground, paying at the entrance a ticket of US$0.12 (without time and destination limits!).

During warm periods a water transport is quite comfortable: on the Dnieper river or by the Black sea.

Electricity

The standard electrical voltage throughout Ukraine is 220 volts.

Some outlets operate on 127 volts, but these are very rare. You may need a converter as well as an Eastern European plug adapter if you are bringing electrical appliances. You should be aware that there are frequent power surges, and other irregularities in the electrical supply. You may want to consider brining a surge protector (stabilizer).

Food

Ukraine is a big agricultural country with different cooking traditions. Different food can be bought in shops, supermarkets and agricultural markets. Cafeterias, restaurants and fast food restaurants propose different cuisine.

Communications

UKRTELECOM company, the sponsor of the Guide, provides excellent telephone communications both in Ukraine and all over the world.

Most of the universities provide access to Internet for their students. There are also a lot of Internet-cafes.

You can use services of fast mail, represented by DHL, Federal Express, UPS, TNT and other companies.

Medical Services

Most of the state Universities provide free medical service in students hospitals. Students can also go to state and private hospitals, where medical services is to be paid.

Holidays

Climate

Climate is mostly continental. The average temperature in January is 1°C, in November +5°C, in July +22°C.