Identification Card
Each student enrolled in the Technical University of Łódź is issued a picture identification card. The card verifies that the holder is eligible to receive University library and certain other campus privileges and services. It also entitles a student to discounts on train, bus and tram fares, as well as museum, theatre and cinema tickets. Neither the card nor its privileges may be transferred.
International Student Cards
ISIC is the most popular international student card for people under 26 authorising its holder for discount while visiting museums, at cinemas, for transport, night’s rest etc. The ISIC card costs 57 PLN and it is valid for one year.
Euro<26 is another very popular card for students. It can be bought by people younger than 26 years old. It entitles the holder to have both health insurance and discounts. It costs 60 PLN and is valid for one year.
Climate
The Polish climate can be very changeable. The Summer (June to August) may be warm, sometimes really hot with temperatures above 25º C. In Autumn, from September to November, it can be cold and wet. In Winter, at least between December and March, Southern Poland is always covered with snow. In December, January and February there can be heavy snowfalls with temperatures below◦ freezing, sometimes down to –15ºC. Spring comes in April/ May. Rainfall may occur during all seasons, especially in Autumn and Spring.
The number of hours of daylight varies from 7,5 at the Winter solstice, in December, to17 hours at the Summer solstice, in June.
Clothing
Staying in Poland for one semester or one year requires different kinds of clothes. Make sure that you have clothes that will protect you in all types of weather. Sweaters and a warm coat or anorak are essential for the winter months. If possible, have one waterproof coat for rainy days and have sturdy shoes. You will need winter clothes from October/November until March.
Smoking and drugs
Nowadays in Poland, smoking is prohibited in most public places. This applies also to the Technical University of Łódź. Soft and heavy drugs are strictly prohibited. The use of drugs is illegal and leads to prosecution if one is caught.
Banking
If you want to open a bank account in Poland you can do it either on the spot or via Internet prior to your arrival. The bank which offers such a possibility is mbank and its website is: www.mbank.com.pl.
There are several banks near the University including branches of the biggest banks of Poland: Bank PKO BP, Bank PEKAO SA. A few small branches are open in the hall of the building of the Faculty of Chemistry and in the hall of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Banking hours are normally 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday.
You have two choices of bank accounts in Poland Current account
Most people have current accounts, which will provide you with a card for obtain-
ing cash from the cash points. At regular intervals you will receive a statement
showing any transactions on your account. This is a useful way of keeping your money.
Deposit account
You can use it having a current account or independent on it. It is useful if you have other funds you do not need to use immediately and which can therefore earn interest in the meantime.
All you need is your passport and a letter from the International Office of the University confirming your student status and the amount of your scholarship.
Currency bank accounts
You can open a bank account either in Polish or in foreign currency. You are required to deliver a passport and a letter from the receiving institution that you are staying in Poland for a period longer than 3 months. The letter will be issued by the Technical University of Łódź, the International Relations Office on your arrival once requested.
Credit Cards
In Poland it is possible to pay by credit cards (VISA, American Express etc.). They are widely accepted in hotels, tourist offices and some shops in all large Polish cities. But so far it has been less popular than in European Union countries.
Money exchange
Banks and many private offices (Kantor) provide money exchange in the city centre. Some of them take a commission.
Shopping hours
Shops are usually open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Shops are mostly closed on Sundays. These opening hours are the standard to which there are many exceptions. Most grocery stores are open much longer than the hours mentioned above e.g. Monday-Friday 6 a.m. (or 7 a.m. ) – 7 p.m. (or 8 p.m.). Outside these opening hours it is possible to buy some products at night shops and filling stations. Some of these are open 24 hours a day.In Łódź there are many supermarkets opened seven days a week like Tesco, Carrefour, Biedronka.
Transport
Łódź has an extensive tram and bus network, all available for the same price and with the same tickets. City transport begins operation around 5 a.m. and continues till 11 p.m. There are a few night buses lines as well. You need to purchase tickets from a newspaper stand –kiosk (RUCH) in advance and must validate it on the tram or bus using one of the „punchers”. You can purchase a daily, weekly or monthly pass. One ticket costs 2,20 PLN. The monthly pass for unlimited travel on city transportation is 78 PLN – normal fare and 31.5 PLN – students’ fare (July 2003).
Use only taxis with a TAXI sign on the roof and a meter. The less expensive are the taxis marked with 919 or six digit phone number. Insist on the meter being turned on. If not, you can be sure of being overcharged.
There are two mainline Polish Railway (PKP) stations in Łódź  (Łódź Fabryczna, Łódź Kaliska ), and two mainline bus station.
The student ID card authorises the holder to buy half-fare tickets in Poland for local and train transportation with 30% discount.
Telephones
Telephones in Poland are handled by the state-run Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. Public telephones require special tokens or magnetic cards you can buy at any post office (Poczta) or a newspaper stand – kiosk (RUCH). You can also use different cards called “ tele2”, “telepin” or “ dzwoneczek” which cab be purchased in newsagents RELAY and INMEDIO. You can make international calls from most phones. In the telephone directory you will find a lot of useful information such as area codes, how to call long distance etc. It is cheaper to use telephone during the off-peak hours – typically after 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays and Sundays.
Local calls – dial the seven-digit local number.
Long Distance Calls within Poland – dial 0 – wait for the constant tone – then dial the area code and a number (Łódź area code is 42).
International Calls – dial 0 – wait for the constant code – dial 0 again – then dial the country code + area code and local number.
Emergency Services:
 fire
 police
 ambulance
 can be dialled from all Polish mobile phones. It is an integrated system of help.
There is no charge for these calls.
Service numbers:
 information 911
 information on local number 913
 operator of international calls 901
 claims on international calls 908
Postal service
Most post offices (Poczta Polska) offer a wide range of services. The main post office in Łódź is situated at 38 Tuwima Street. There are two post offices at the University (building of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and in the student hostel at Al. Politechniki 5).
Post offices are open from Monday to Friday, usually 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., and selected ones open also on Saturday. The main post office opens 24 hours a day.
You can buy post stamps and postcards, send telegrams, faxes, or make telephone calls there.
Standard postal services
 Priority Economical
Domestic post cards and letters ( 20 g) 1,80 PLN 1,20 PLN
International postcards and letters ( 20 g) 2,60 PLN 2,10 PLN