Universitat Jaume I - UJI - Castello

Checklist and other useful information

Tasks to be done before leaving:

The first few days in Castelló:

Useful information

International Student Identity Card

You can apply for an International Student Identity Card in your home country. This entitles you to discounts on public transport, in museums, monuments and cinemas.

Carnet Joven (Youth Card)

Overseas students can get a "Carnet Joven" on opening a bank account. This card entitles its holder to a series of discounts and advantages aimed specifically at young people. You are advised to ask for it when you open your bank account.

Cinema card

Every year, Universitat Jaume I and the Universitat Jaume I Business Foundation offer students the chance to obtain a cinema card (carnet de cine). With this card students are entitled to a discount of about 1.20 € in some of the cinemas in the town of Castelló. A cinema card can be obtained from the University Business

Foundation offices on submitting a passport size photo, a photocopy of the enrolment form and two euros (roughly).

Bank account

In order to open a bank account in any bank in Spain, students will need their passport and a non-residence certificate, which is proof that they are only staying in Spain temporarily for study purposes. Their Erasmus student certificate from their home university or a confirmation of enrolment form will be sufficient for this purpose. There is a branch of Bancaja/Bancaixa on the Riu Sec campus near the Rectorate building.

Changing currency

The official currency in Spain is the Euro. Money can be changed in banks.

Fiestas

The local fiestas in Castelló are the "Fiestas de la Magdalena", which are held in March and last for 9 days. Among the features that distinguish the town of Castelló perhaps two of the most notable are a deep respect for its traditions and, above all, a special sense of awareness of its history that reaches its highest form of expression in the Fiestas de la Magdalena. The parades, cavalcades and processions all enjoy a long tradition, the most outstanding being the "Romeria de les Canyes" (the Pilgrimage of the Reeds), held on the third Sunday of Lent. This involves an annual return to the old site of the Castell Vell (Old Castle), a pilgrimage to the Hermitage of the Magdalena (5 km from Castelló), the site where the ancient settlement was founded.

This is a young, Mediterranean fiesta that people take part in, and which can be felt in each street and in every nook and cranny of the town. The typical colles and gaiates (kinds of social clubs), the verbenes (open-air dances), music and fireworks all contribute to the special festive atmosphere.

For over a week, the town becomes a pedestrian area for everyone to enjoy.

In the Grao, which is Castelló's port district, the festes de Sant Pere (Saint Peter's fiestas) are held in June and Carnival is celebrated in February.

Expenses

A student's expenses for a month are about 360 €, which includes accommodation, upkeep and transport. Students also have the advantage of cut-price bus fares on public transport around the town and cheaper prices in the refectories and cafes at the University.

Shopping hours

Generally speaking, business hours are from 10am to 2pm and from 5pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday. Many department stores and supermarkets, however, stay open from 9 in the morning till 8 in the evening or even later. Banks are usually open from 9am to 2pm, Monday to Friday.

Office hours at the University

Offices at the University are usually open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 3pm, except the Health Centre, the Library, the Self-Access Language Centre, the Sports Service, the PIAC (Information and Advice Points) and the Reprographic Service, which are all open in the afternoon too.

The Campus is open from Monday to Friday, 8am-10pm, and Saturday 9am-2pm.

IVAJ ? TURIVAJ (Valencian Youth Institute's Travel Service)

This Office is devoted solely and exclusively to students. There you can find a vast assortment of trips at economical prices, and you can also apply for all kinds of cards, such as the International Student Identity Card, the International Youth Hostel card, and so on. This office is located in calle Orfebre Santalínea, 2. You can call them on 964 246664.

Tourist Office

The tourist office is in Plaza María Agustina and offers all kinds of information, mainly about the province of Castelló and the Valencian region. You can also find out about planned outings and visits.

Telephoning

To call abroad from Spain you have to first dial the international code 00 and then the country code + the town/regional code + the phone number you want to contact.

The cheapest time to ring is from 10 at night to 8 in the morning on weekdays, after 2 in the afternoon on Saturday, and all day Sunday and (national) bank holidays.

For calls from abroad, you have to dial the international code for the country you are in, the code for Spain (34) and then the number .

Reprographic services - Photocopiers

The Reprographic Service is one of the most frequently visited services in the whole University.

There you can get the documents members of the teaching staff leave as reference texts for their classes. The timetables of the different courses are also available there.

There is a Reprographic Service in the central block of each school or faculty.

Office Hours: Monday to Friday, open all day from 8am to 8pm, and Saturday from 9am to 2pm. They have shorter opening hours during holiday periods.

Liability insurance

The University has liability insurance to cover the economic consequences of any harm suffered or caused by students when under the care or responsibility of the University, both on the University premises themselves and on excursions, cultural visits or in the course of any sports activities it may organize.

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