Freshman's Survival Guide

THE ULTIMATE
CLUJ
SURVIVAL
GUIDE
FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL
FRESHMAN STUDENTS
by the English Medical Students’ Association
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© English Medical Students’ Association

Foreword
Hello and congratulations for being
accepted into one of the most
prestigious medical universities in
Eastern Europe! This is a guide to help
you settle into life in a foreign
country, all the while striving to learn
and attain self-actualisation.
We know that there’s a fair degree of
uncertainty about your first semester
thanks to the pandemic. Rest assured
that we in EMSA are working
tirelessly to make your transition to
higher education as smooth as
possible.
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EMSA CITY GUIDE
This is the QR code to our city guide that includes all the departments
that are relevant for your first semester as well as some points of
interest, the major hospitals and some shopping possibilities. The
information is constantly being updated and more points of interest
will be added soon.
The interactive map can also be accessed via the EMSA Homepage.
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CONTENTS
EMSA City Guide 4
The English Medical Student’s Association 6
Our Departments 7
What is the Mentoring Program? 10
What possibilities for academic development are there
outside of EMSA? 11
Renting an Apartment 16
Finding a place 16
Deposits and Guarantees 17
Rental Contracts in Romania 17
Rental Scams and Hustling 18
Services in Cluj 20
Life in Cluj 23
City Attractions 23
Events in Cluj 23
Surrounding Area 24
Restaurants & Pubs 24
Staying active 27
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 33
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THE ENGLISH MEDICAL STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION
Studying medicine has a reputation for being tough. This is not
without reason. Between confusing lectures and long sleepless nights
full of desperation during the exam session, it is easy to forget what
really matters and what motivated you in the first place.
Now, you came from another country and landed right in the heart
of Transylvania. New country, a new language, a new culture. This all
might be overwhelming. But this is why we are here: to provide you
guidance because we know how it is. We’ve been there ourselves.
We know you have a lot of questions and with time they will be
answered. This book was designed by our volunteers to help you
have an insight into what life in Cluj as a med student is and show
you what you can do here, but also of what to take care of.
Cluj-Napoca is an amazing city for students. You will learn to love it
very quickly and will see what we mean once you read this guide, but
you will truly understand only once you are here.
We consider ourselves part of the Cluj experience. Our organization
was built to not only have a student body representing us in front of
the university and each faculty but to provide students opportunities
for self-development. We are here to give you support, to guide you,
to have fun with you, and create unforgettable memories.
Naturally, these plans can’t be achieved without dedicated volunteers.
Joining one or more of our departments is an especially good way to
develop your organizational and teamwork skills and become part of
a family away from home. This complements your own learning very
well. We aren’t volunteering for entirely selfless reasons, although
building a community and helping your friends is very rewarding. We
want to challenge ourselves to become the best possible doctors we
can and we hope you do too.
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OUR DEPARTMENTS
MEDICAL EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
The primary goals of this
department are to deliver high
quality resources to supplement
and enhance student learning.
Basically, we are nerds providing
nerdy services for nerds. If you’re
smart, friendly and ambitious,
you’ll feel right at home here.
How do we do this?
The flagship projects of this
department are the student
workshops. These are very
thorough group revision sessions
which tackle the most difficult
subjects taught in the pre-clinical
years each semester. The fact
that the tutors in these workshops
are, most often, students in upper
years themselves means that the
information is presented in a
relatable, easily understood way.
This benefits the tutor too
because the best way to learn (or
not to forget!) is to teach. For the
academic year of 2020-2021
we’re expanding our repertoire
of workshops even further.
If you’re curious about what life
is like after graduation; this
department is also responsible
for organising alumni events
which enlist previous students
from the university to talk about
their
post-graduation
experiences. The English section
is an especially international
community, and our alumni
reflect the diversity of countries
and opportunities open to us.
As if this wasn’t enough: we run
the newsletter to keep students
up to date with information both
from the university and the
broader medical community. We
also are working on improving
the tandem project to make it
even easier to learn Romanian.
What’s the tandem project? You
want to learn Romanian;
Romanians want to learn English
(or French/German/Spanish
etc.). We couple you with a
buddy and a mutually beneficial
friendship (hopefully) forms of
the kind that can only happen in
Cluj!
We look forward to seeing you
soon!
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SOCIAL EVENTS
DEPART(Y)MENT
Studying and making academic
progress may be very important,
but let’s be honest – the best
stories will be written outside of
university while enjoying life with
friends and nice people!
We are here for making your stay
at UMF Cluj worthwhile.
Every year at the beginning of
the academic year, we organize
an epic Welcoming Trip for
everyone. Our party events range
from relaxed evenings in bars
(like e.g. the Beer Bachelor, Beer
Pong tournaments or bonfire
evenings) to legendary After
Session Parties.
We also organize regular “Rudi
Rockt” running dinners which are
always highlights of the semester
and the “MedRun”, where
students run for a good cause.
Be part of our depart(y)ment
family and make your visions a
reality. We are so looking forward
to working with you and partying
hard!
HEALTH AND HUMAN
RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
Our department’s name might
sound pretty complicated, but it’s
not that big of a mystery! We are
dedicated to raising awareness
about public health, mental
health and human trafficking. In
order to spread information and
knowledge our volunteers help
by: hosting fundraising events,
organizing interactive educational
workshops, and having social
media contests. Furthermore, we
support two important cancer
awareness campaigns: Pink
October and Movember. We are
particularly proud of these two
projects, as both are annual
events with a series of attractions
that are dedicated to raising
awareness about early screening,
tests and more.
Do you want to take part in some
exciting projects and meet likeminded
students? If you are
interested in public health, have
a bucket full of ideas and up for a
challenge; you should become
part of our team! We are a fairly
new department and have yet to
turn our ideas and dreams into
reality. Will you help us make a
difference?
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THE PANDA PROJECT
We within the Panda Project are
inspired by the idea of improving
the conditions of doctors,
patients as well as ourselves –
the students. Our main goal is to
donate missing material and
devices to the deprived hospitals
around Cluj. This is funded by
establishing charity events.
Previous ideas have included:
flea markets, yoga sessions and
charity concerts. Through this we
were able to connect students
from everywhere in the world.
We got to know each other
better, raise awareness for some
problems and collect donations
for a good cause.
We are constantly working on
ideas to support the hospitals
and create new projects. We
believe that even a slight change
can make a difference. Come and
be a part of this with us.
MERCHANDISE &
MARKETING
DEPARTMENT
When you’re a successful doctor
many years from now, you’ll
recline in a chair, sip a nice drink
and think about your time as a
student while gazing off wistfully
into the horizon. But it gets
harder to remember things when
you’re old, which is why our high
quality merchandise will be a
comfortable and stylish way to
jog your memory of the good
times at university.
The merchandise department is
one of the financial pillars of
EMSA. We are a non-profit
organization and our projects in
other departments need a budget
to carry out their valuable work.
We help make this possible. By
supporting this department you
can develop your business and
sales senses as well as your
creativity. We are always looking
for new ideas. Currently we are
not only doing two sweater sales
per year but also developing new
goodies, branding lab coats and
advertising for projects.
The marketing branch of our
department is very involved with
social media and aims to expand
our reach as an organization over
platforms such as Instagram,
Facebook and our website.
Merchandising may seem
unfamiliar to you, but it has the
capacity to create a sense of
community and belonging. We
are a home away from home.
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WHAT IS THE MENTORING PROGRAM?
We know that moving to a foreign
country can seem daunting. We
have been through this
experience ourselves. The
Mentoring Program exists to help
you settle in both academically
and socially at the UMF.
The mentoring program seeks to
keep you connected to other
people in your year and in sync
with changes at the university.
We do this by mixing up both
general medicine and dentistry
into small groups. Each group will
have an EMSA volunteer
appointed as a mentor. Think of
your mentor as a go-to-friend in
the upper years, because that is
what they are. If you’re reading
this survival guide then you may
have already been introduced.
Your mentor is your confidant.
They can relate to the stress of
your courses and are happy to
listen to you. Do not hesitate to
ask them any questions you may
have about life at the UMF.
Especially with the current
uncertainty relating to the
pandemic, they will help out in
some other key ways:
Regular meetings with you and
your group to talk about your
questions, problems and
concerns;
Provide you with tips and tricks
relating to your revision;
Organize some fun group
activities to help you relax.
We hope this project will help
you feel more comfortable in
Cluj, and that you might also
choose to become a mentor next
year.
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WHAT POSSIBILITIES FOR ACADEMIC
DEVELOPMENT ARE THERE OUTSIDE OF
EMSA?
ERASMUS
What is ERASMUS?
ERASMUS is the “European
Community Action Scheme for
the Mobility of University
Students”; a programm
established by the European
Union in 1987. Since its
conception it has given millions
of students from across Europe
the opportunity to spend part of
their university career in another
country whilst achieving credit
for their degree at home.
The intentions of the programm
are to give students the chance
to internationalize their degree,
improve their linguistic skills and
form personal and professional
networks across Europe. The
experience drives personal
development; challenging
yourself to become more
independent, adaptable and
confident.
The benefits of an ERASMUS
placement can be split into three
broad categories; cultural,
professional and personal.
Culturally there is a major benefit
to living in a different country: it
broadens your world view and
ERASMUS gives you a unique
opportunity to build networks
across the European continent.
As technology makes our world
smaller, this ability to work with
international partners is an
increasingly valuable skill.
Professionally, like any
opportunity to work in another
healthcare system, the experience
provides huge lessons to be
learnt and brought home. At a
more personal level, your
increased confidence and skill
will improve your quality of life.
Furthermore, you will have made
many new friends and memories.
Whilst there are many challenges,
they are very much outweighed
by the benefits of the experience.
When is the best time to go?
This is a very personal decision,
and therefore a complicated
question. Most ERASMUS
studies take place either in the
fourth or fifth year, many people
choose to do it in these years
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being that in these years you get
to benefit the most from what
medical school and international
placement has to offer. In the
sixth year medical students are
very busy working on their license
thesis, which makes ERASMUS
placements during this year
unpopular.
How to apply:
The application process for
exchange students consists of
two stages: the first stage being
the initial processing stage AKA
nomination, the second stage is
the formal application (nominated
students will be advised how to
apply). The nomination process is
a simple procedure here at UMF
Cluj-Napoca; you are required to
hand in an application file which
consists of a standard CV and
your transcript of records through
mail to the university’s ERASMUS
office. After that you will be
informed by email whether you
are accepted to the interview
stage. The process should take
about 2-3 months in total.
Links to further resources and
information:
https://www.erasmusplus.ro
http://www.umfcluj.ro/
universitate-ro/administratie-ro/
relatii-internationale/erasmus
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pmc/articles/PMC4847846/
SCOPE & SCORE
These projects promote student
exchanges not only through
medical practice (SCOPE –
Standing Committee on
Professional Exchange), but also
through medical research
(SCORE – Standing Committee
on Research Exchange).
Our team comes to life during
the summer by making sure that
incoming international students
benefit from medical activities, a
varied social programme which
consists of local and national
trips, intercultural activities and
gaining knowledge of Romanian
culture through training. We also
organise workshops, team
buildings and Erasmus intro
weeks during the year. Join our
team and be sure you will have a
great time and make new
connections with people from all
around the world!
STUDENT CIRCLES
Within the Romanian section
there are around 18 student

circles covering a diverse range
of topics and medical specialties.
The idea behind them is to
encourage the student to delve
deeper into a subject by providing
regular meetings with other
interested students, residents
and professors. This is a valuable
way to get to know other
colleagues in the field and
potentially form valuable
connections as well as developing
your own medical skills. These
connections may be useful for
when you decide upon your
subject and supervisor for your
license thesis.
The content of meetings depends
on the specific focuses of each
circle. Some will be predominantly
based around discussions and
presentations about interesting
developments in the field. Others
may participate more actively in
conducting research themselves
and presenting this at both
national and international
conferences. Finally there are
circles which focus heavily on
developing practical skills, be that
by practical simulations or extra
work experience at hospitals.
However, most student circles
will be a combination of the
three.
The frequency of meetings varies
depending on the student circle.
Some are weekly, others are
monthly. One small point worth
noting is that these student
circles predominantly take place
in Romanian language. While this
may seem like a daunting
challenge at first, another way of
looking at it is a productive way
to develop your language skills.
You can find some examples of
the largest student circles on the
next page!
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CIRCLE OF ANATOMY-
EMBRYOLOGY
• Available to students of all
years
• Student discussion/
presentation oriented
• Prides itself on its
interdisciplinary activity with
other student circles
• Facebook page: Cercul de
Anatomie
CIRCLE OF CARDIOLOGY AND
CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
• Available to students with an
understanding of cardiac clinical
pathology (3rd year+)
• Weekly meetings
• Balanced approach to
presentations, practical
simulations and extra work
experience at the Heart Institute
Cluj-Napoca
• Facebook page: Cercul de
Cardiologie si Chirurgie
Cardiovascular
CIRCLE OF MORPHOLOGICAL
SCIENCES
• Available to 2nd year students
and above with an interest in
histology and pathological
anatomy
• Monthly meetings
• Presentation focused
• Facebook page: Cercul
stiintific studentesc al-
Departmentul-de-Stiinte-
Morfologice
• Email: ghebanbogdan@yahoo.
com (Șef de lucrari Dr. Dan
Gheban)
CIRCLE OF CELLULAR AND
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
• Very strong focus on license
thesis
• Highly selective interview
process
• Email: hmatei@umfcluj.ro
(Conf. Dr. Horea Vladi Matei)
CIRCLE OF PHYSIOLOGY
• Open to students of all years
• Monthly meetings
• Major focus on research, both
in vitro and in vivo
• Email: adrianafilip33@yahoo.
com (Conf. Dr. Gabriela Adriana
Filip)
CIRCLE OF NEUROLOGY AND
NEUROSURGERY
• Open to students of all years
• Weekly meetings
• Balanced focus on
presentations, practical skills
and research conferences
• Website: www.cercneuro.
wordpress.com

CIRCLE OF OBSTETRICS,
GYNECOLOGY AND
NEONATOLOGY
• Born in 2006
• Monthly meetings
• Focus on presentations and
the license thesis
• Location: Amphitheatre for
Gynecology
• Email: raluca_cristina91@
yahoo.com (Raluca Moldovan)
CIRCLE OF ONCOLOGY AND
RADIOTHERAPY
• Focus on presentations and
the license thesis
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
with other student circles
• Email: pneumologie.studenti@
yahoo.com (Conf. Dr. Doina
Todea)
CIRCLE OF PSYCHIATRY
• Open to all students
• Focus on presentations about
clinical cases
CIRCLE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND
SELF-AWARENESS
• Open to all students
• Focus on group discussions
• Senior supervisor: Prof. Dr.
Doina Cozman
CIRCLE OF RADIOLOGY AND
IMAGISTICS
• Open to all students
• Monthly sessions
• Focus on discussion and
presentation of clinical cases
STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF
ROBOTIC UROLOGIC SURGERY
(SARUS)
• Meetings held once every two
months
• Greatly prioritizes
development of practical skills
and work experience as well as
medical congresses
• Email: dr.iuliapop@yahoo.com
(Dr. Iulia Madalina Pop)
CIRCLE OF UROLOGY AND
RENAL TRANSPLANTATION
• Open to all students
• Monthly meetings
• Website: www.austmr.ro
• Email: cerc-urologie@austmr.
ro (Asist. Univ. Dr. Mihai Suciu)
OTHER NOTABLE STUDENT
CIRCLES
• Circle of Nephrology
• Circle of Diabetes and
Nutritional Diseases
• Circle of Epidemiology
• Circle of Orthopedics
• Circle of Biophysics
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RENTING AN APARTMENT
It’s hard enough to find a new
place in your home country. It
can get much more difficult if you
are moving to a new country and
you don’t speak the language or
even know the “ins and outs” in
it. Here in this article, you will
gain some knowledge and
understanding of how renting
works in Cluj, what to avoid, and
some “do’s and don’ts” when it
comes to renting.
FINDING A PLACE
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Cluj-Napoca is split into several
different districts and
neighborhoods, which are
referred to as ‘Cartier’ in
Romanian. Having some
knowledge of Cluj neighborhoods
before renting will help you know
when a good deal is perfect, or
when the price could be a little
too high. On average the rent for
a 1 bedroom apartment in the
center of Cluj would be about
€230-€300 in the outer areas of
the region. Such rates however
do not reflect the expense of the
apartment’s services, furnishings,
and overall quality. These factors
can have a significant impact on
rental costs and the ability to
negotiate the price. A fast way to
calculate the fair price of a place
could be €6.6 up to €12.00 x m²
for the central parts of Cluj
(Centru) and €5.5 up to €6.6 x
m² for the outer neighborhoods
such as Zorilor. The most
preferred neighbourhoods, since
they are close to the center and
UMF, are Centru, Marasti,
Manastur, and Zorilor.
Some helpful websites and
Facebook pages which may be
helpful to find a place to rent:
www.OLX.ro
www.imobiliare.ro
Foreign Students Cluj-Napoca
FB
Apartments for rent in Cluj FB
Apartments for rent in Cluj-
Napoca Agency FB

DEPOSITS AND GUARANTEES
In the vast majority of agreements,
the deposit is paid before the
tenancy begins if you rent a
house, and is returned to the
tenant upon leaving. The deposit
sum is written into the contract
and the owner will send a receipt
to the tenant as soon as it is paid.
The conditions for the return of
the deposit are often generally
specified in the contract, but, if
the conditions are not stipulated
explicitly, the deposit will be
returned, provided that the
following are met:
• All bills are paid in full;
• No damage, other than
acceptable wear and tear;
• The tenant did not break the
contract by leaving early;
• The tenant did not breach
any other rules in the contract.
For further information please
visit: www.cluj-napoca.xyz/
deposits-and-guarantees/
RENTAL CONTRACTS IN ROMANIA
In Cluj rental contracts are usually
relatively stable. They are in place
to ensure that the property
owner has protection and
guarantees that you do not
misuse your right to remain at
their house, and to provide you
with a security net in terms of
your deposit and to prevent any
unexpected rent rises.
Nevertheless, when the contract
is registered at the financial
office, which is shown on the
contract by an official stamp, it
would legally signify that the
contract is just a piece of paper
that you signed as an agreement
between you and the property
owner.
Key Subjects to expect in the
contract:
• Both the names with the
CNP (Identification number) of
the owner;
• The address of the property
rented;
• The amount of the deposit;
• The monthly rent whether in
EUR or RON;
• Your responsibility to pay any
utilities;
• Terms for canceling the
contract;
• Terms for returning the
deposit;
• The Notification period in
case of major changes of
cancellation.
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RENTAL SCAMS AND HUSTLING
Scams can come in many different
ways, and the real estate market
can be one of them. Remember,
a scam doesn’t just mean that
someone is offering you
something and taking your
money without providing you
what was offered, it could easily
be a misleading or falsely
represented advertisement,
where the conditions don’t match
expectations, but you have
already signed a contract or paid
for the property.
When searching for/renting a
place:
ALWAYS
• Request photographs of every single part of the place;
• Request the fees and deposits;
• Request a receipt for any deposits of money paid;
• Ensure that the contract includes the terms of payments and
Reuters for deposits clearly;
• Ensure that the contract includes both the start and the end date
with clear cancellation or extension conditions;
• Negotiate.
NEVER
• Exchange funds without signing a contract;
• Pay a deposit to “secure” the place before signing a contract;
• Provide passports, full names, etc. without there being a legal
reason to do so;
• Rent without a signed contract with all conditions and terms
mentioned clearly;
• Pay debt remaining for the previous tenant for bills;
• Post your budget online or on social media while searching for a
place.
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For more information please
visit: www.cluj-napoca.xyz/
avoid-becoming-a-victim-of-arental-scam
All of this information and more
can be found on the website:
www.cluj-napoca.xyz/rentingin-cluj/
where you can find
helpful articles and, on the
homepage, some of the latest
news about Cluj in English!
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SERVICES IN CLUJ
POSTAL SERVICES
Besides the normal post service,
you might want to use Atlassib
when thinking about how to
move your stuff when coming/
leaving Cluj.
Atlassib is a coach company,
which operates throughout
Europe and gives you the
possibility to send packages for a
reasonable price from several
European countries (e.g. Italy,
France, Germany…) to Romania
and vice versa. It is frequently
used by students to get packages
from their families or when
moving to Cluj. The packages
take 3-4 days to arrive and you
have 2 weeks to pick them up
from the Atlassib Post Office
(Posta Atlassib). For more
information on packages pricing
and where you can find Atlassib
in your country go to https://
www.atlassib.ro/coletarie/
The Atlassib Post Office in Cluj:
Strada Iașilor 12, Cluj-Napoca.
STATE POST OFFICES
Post offices will have a red sign
that reads „Poşta”. You may go to
any of these in order to send or
receive packages or letters. If you
are expecting a package, you will
find a ticket in your mailbox
stating that your package has
arrived at the post office closest
to your address. You will find the
closest post office near you on
the following page: https://www.
posta-romana.ro/gaseste-oficiupostal.html
The Main Post Office is located
in 33 Regele Ferdinand St.
Open: Mon. - Sat. 12:00- 13:00,
Sun. closed.
Near the university, there is the
Post Office Nr. 4, on 6-8 Petru
Maior St.
Open: Mon. - Fri. 9:30-16:30,
Sat. and Sun. closed.
20

TRANSPORT SERVICES
TAXI
Taxis are an affordable and easy
way to commute in the city. They
are easy to order (arrives in 2-3
minutes after ordering it to your
location) via the “Free Now” App
as it uses GPS and can charge
your credit card. If you are more
old-school, you will find many
taxi stations throughout the
entire city, where you should
easily get a cab as well. The usual
taxi fares with major taxi
companies in Cluj are the
following:
• Start: 2.95 Lei;
• Price/km: 2.95 Lei/during the
day, and 3.25 Lei/during the
night;
Some general prices:
• Airport to City Center 30-40
Lei;
• Center to the mall: 20-25 Lei.
PUBLIC BUS AND TRAM
TRANSPORTATION
The public transportation
network in Cluj consists of buses
and trams.
A 2-ride ticket costs 5 lei. In order
to buy a ticket, you can either get
them at the machines located at
the bus stations or by texting the
BUS LINE NUMBER to 7479
(possible only with a Romanian
number). The confirmation text
you will receive will act as your
ticket (valid for 1 ride on the
indicated line for 45 minutes).
The total cost of the text: 0.5
Euro + VAT. The bus/tram
schedules and maps may be
found on the following website:
www.ctpcj.ro
Additionally, there is an app
called “Bus Cluj-Napoca” which
provides live updates on the
routes as well as timetables. If
you are a frequent user, you can
get a bus subscription (daily,
weekly or monthly). For more
information on the different
subscription available, please
visit this page: http://ctpcj.ro/
index.php/fr/tarife-fr/transporturban/abonamente-cu-pretredus/781
Students usually choose the 35
lei subscription which allows you
to go on 120 bus rides per month
which can be used in any bus
line.
In order to get a subscription you
need to go to the CFR
headquarter (the ticketing
centers can also be found on
their website).
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You will need to bring with you:
• Your carnet de student
(student ID);
• A student pass (Omnipass or
Studcard);
• An ID;
• A picture (ID/passport type, if
you don’t have one they can
take it there for you);
• 5 RON (to pay for the card).
COACHES
In order to travel from one city to
another within Romania (and to
other countries) you may choose
to take a coach. The maps and
connections for the different
cities can be found at www.
autogari.ro. The tickets are very
reasonably priced, and most
coaches leave from the bus
station called „Autogara Beta” or
„Autogara Fany” (the two are
right next to each other) located
on 1-3 Giordano Bruno Street.
www.infofer.ro.
In order to get a free train card,
you will need to go to your year’s
secretary and make a request for
a train card. This card allows you
to get train tickets for free at the
train stations.
For more information on how to
get free train tickets go on https://
www.cfrcalatori.ro/reduceripentru-elevi-si-studenti/
CAR RENTAL
If you wish to move freely
through Cluj or anywhere in
Romania and beyond, you may
opt to rent a car. Prices vary
based on the company and the
car chosen, but are usually
between 20-80 €/day. Some
companies offer services to bring
the car to your place and pick it
up from your residence.
22
TRAIN
In Romania, the trains are an
efficient and free way for students
to travel within the country, and
also offer the possibility to see
some incredible scenery in the
mountainous regions and the
countryside. The train schedules
and ticket prices can be found on

LIFE IN CLUJ
CITY ATTRACTIONS
Cluj is a big city that has a lot to
offer, especially for us students!
Here are a few spots worth going
to:
• The Botanical Garden
(Grădina Botanică Alexandru
Borza);
• Cetățuie, close to the city’s
parc, offers you a great
panorama of the city;
• The Central Parc (Parcul
Central) and the City’s Stadium;
• The Union Square (Piața
Unirii), The City Center’s most
famous square is where you’ll
find a lot of nice bars and
restaurants as well as the statue
of King Matei Corvin and St.
Michael’s Church.
EVENTS IN CLUJ
If you like to go out you’ll have
plenty of occasions to do so in
Cluj! Many events are organized
throughout the year, here are a
few of them:
Street Food Festivals, they are
organized multiple times a year
and are usually either in the
center of Cluj or in the Central
Park;
Electro Music Events: Mioritmic,
Hi Fi Fi, Alandala.
IN AUTUMN (EMSA events):
• Kick Off
• Welcoming Gala
• Welcoming Trip
• “Rudi rockt!”
IN WINTER
• Christmas Market on Piața
Unirii
IN SPRING
• Zilele Clujului
IN SUMMER
• TIFF – Transylvania
International Film Festival
• Jazz in the Park
• Untold
• Electric Castle
23

SURROUNDING AREA
• Salina Turda is an
underground salt mine you can
visit with plenty of activities
within like a ferris wheel,
bowling, and even boating.
• Tarnița Lake is a lake near
Cluj where many cabins are for
rent, plenty of camping sites,
and beautiful views for
swimming.
• Feleac Plateau a nearby
plateau with a beautiful view of
the city.
• Feleac Ski Resort
• Baisoara Ski Station
• Cheile Turzii - Hiking premade
paths made for people
with some experience to none
in hiking. A very beautiful
journey.
RESTAURANTS & PUBS
24
APPS
Where you can order food from
various participating restaurants
right to your door or lectures if you
are brave.
• Food Panda
• Glovo
TAKEAWAY
Quick and Near University
• Sandwich Shop (Piezisa) -
made to order sandwiches and
burgers. Fresh ingredients
cooked when ordered, you can
customize the veggies and some
in-house made sauces.
• Victor - Fresh To-Go a quick
stop to grab a coffee or a natural
juice. Small pastries and premade
sandwiches are available
too.
• Sandwicherie - mainly a togo
kind of place, has
customizable sandwiches and
salads. They also have soups of
the day that change often if you
enjoy variety.
• Piadina - a small window
near casa de cultura that has
sandwiches, piadina, and crepes.
• Marty To-Go - on the ground
floor of Marty, by our university,
there is a small stand where you
can grab a pre-made salad,
sandwich, or wrap. They have
cold drinks and coffee available
too.
• University Restaurant - daily
menu changes for a decent

price. Around the opening
hours, you might have to stand
in line. Food usually consists of
soups, main meals, side dishes
of different kinds, salads, and a
dessert: a slice of cake or pastry.
• Placinte - small little stands
next to the university where
you see in a window pastries
and pizzas. Can be a really good
and cheap snack between
classes.
SIT DOWN & DRINKS
• Klausenburger - rooftop
restaurant that serves a wide
variety of food and drinks.
Located on Strada Regele
Ferdinand 22, it is located
centerally and has a great place
for a view of the city.
• Makeba - near Casa de
Cultura. It is a bar, often used
for events as well as cozy meals
with friends.
• Che Guevara - very central, it
is located in Piata Unirii. A nice
place to sit down and grab some
drinks with friends.
• New Croco - near our
university, serves breakfast,
lunch and dinner. They serve
mainly an Italian cuisine.
• Varzarie - Romanian
restaurant. They are known for
their sarmale, but they serve
all sorts of Romanian food.
Located near Piata Unirii
• Trattoria Pineta - Italian
restaurant. Has a cozy
atmosphere and is good for a
night out. It is on Strada
Constantin Brâncuși.
• Indigo - popular Indian
restaurant that serves all the
classics. It is on Piezisa which
is near the university.
• Toskana - it is at the
intersection of Marinescu,
Pasteur, and Babes. They have
pizzas, pastas, and some
common Romanian dishes and
desserts. Service may take a
little longer here than you
would expect but a decent
place to relax after classes.
• Marhaba - popular among
arabic students. Meets many
religious requirements.
Located at Louis Pasteur 73.
• Awa Mohamed - offers
shawarma for a quick snack. It
has a daily menu which he
texts every morning. Students
on his text list can opt in to
pick up. Food is friendly with
cultural dietary restriction.
Located at Strada George
Baritiu 30.
• Nobori - Japanese cuisine.
Located at Strada Plopilor 62
25

• Storia - Italian cuisine. Brick
oven pizza. Located in Piata
Unirii.
• Samsara - named the best
restaurant in Cluj, serves only
vegetarian and vegan food at
the highest quality.
PUBS
• Piezișa - an entire street
between the student dorms in
Hasdeu that has a high number
of bars and restaurants.
• Old Shepherd - in Piata
Muzeului
• O’Peters - Irish Bar in Piata
Muzeului
• Londoner Pub - near Piata
Muzeului. Large number of
types of cocktails. Cozy vibes.
• Enigma Secret Garden
• Soviet
CLUBS
• Nest Of Angels (NOA) - in
Zorilor across the street from
the dorms, strada Republicii
109. Concert hall and table
service. Large location.
• Revolution - Weekly/
Monthly themed parties near
Piata Unirii, Strada
Memorandumului 13. Smaller
location.
• Euphoria - next to Platinia,
calea manastur 6. Concert hall.
• After 8 - Strada Brassai
Sámuel 12. Smaller location.
• Janis - Piata Unirii. Good
offers. Music requests.
• Caro - Piata Muzeului. Entry
deals. Large student presence.
• Phi18 - Observator Campus.
Student deals available.
• Form Space - at the stadium
• Flying Circus
26

STAYING ACTIVE
Now that you are a medical
student, you will have to accept
that you will spend many hours
of your day studying. Of course,
everybody copes and balances
these (sometimes) tremendous
workloads differently, but for
many, sports is the way to go.
Therefore we have listed some of
the numerous possibilities there
are:
FOOTBALL
University Football League
Dear UMF freshmen,
Welcome to Cluj, we have been
looking forward to meeting you!
If you like football and you are
interested in playing in a league,
competing with other great
football players and enjoying
good sports spirit, then you have
the chance to sign up for our
league. How can you do that?
Gather a team of 6-9 players for
our qualifying tournament.
Contact us via
universityfootballleague-cluj@
gmail.com your team name, the
number of players and the names
of your players and you’re on
board! If you and your team
manage to qualify for the league,
you will have weekly games
Saturday or Sunday in the early
evening playing against the other
teams.
Looking forward to hearing from
you! Good luck!
RUNNING
UMF Runners
Are you looking for a bit of (fun)
exercise to balance your workload
besides university? In that case
we believe you to be right for our
little group: the UMF Runners.
Since last year, we have been
meeting once a week for a quick
run starting in Central Park and
running alongside the river
Someș for about 5km with
everyone who is interested. We
constitute a small group of
runners of different years,
faculties, sections and levels,
from beginners to advanced. So
don’t be shy, join us next week
and not only work on that booty
but also get to know new people!
You can find us through our
Facebook group: https://www.
facebook.com/
groups/2432870720348269/
27

BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL,
AEROBICS
UMF sports hall
Training will take place weekly.
More information will be
provided from the University as
soon as the academic year
begins. Stay tuned. Yet the best
part is that you get the chance
to meet fellow students from
Romanian, English and French
sections of all years and
faculties.
TENNIS
• Winners Sports Club:
http://winners-tennis.ro
• Tennis club “Ciprian
Porumb”: https://de-de.
facebook.com/tenisclubcluj/
GYM
• World Class - at Iulius Mall:
https://www.worldclass.ro/
club/worldclass-cluj-iulius/
• GG Sport - good for classes,
Located in Zorilor: https://
www.worldclass.ro/club/
worldclass-cluj-iulius
• Burn Fitness - good for
weight lifting, located in
Zorilor & Manastur: https://
www.burncluj.ro/ro_RO/
• Bamboo Fitness & Spa - in
the centre: https://
bamboofitnesscluj.ro
HIKING
Adeona Wanderlust: It is the
best way to combine spending
time in the nature, making new
friends, and practicing your
Romanian!! https://www.
adeonatrips.ro/en/
If you prefer to hike without a
team, you can create your own
hiking plan. Just click on the
following link! https://www.
alltrails.com/romania/cluj
BIKING
For all you biking fans out there,
the link below contains all the
information you need: from
biking parks, to personalised
routes through the mountains,
and much more. Check it out!
https://www.trailforks.com/
region/cluj/
HORSE RIDING
• Echitatie Calarie Cluj:
https://www.
napocasporthorse.ro
• Wonderland Horse Riding:
https://www.wonderlandcluj.
ro/rad/echitatie/
• Salina Equines: http://
salinaequines.ro
28

SWIMMING
• Bazinul Olimpic - outdoor
and indoor: https://cluj.com/
locatii/bazinul-olimpic/
• Strand Clujana: https://cluj.
com/locatii/strandul-clujana/
• Iulius Mall - swimming pool:
https://www.worldclass.ro/
club/worldclass-cluj-iulius/
GOLF
• Transylvania Golf Club:
http://www.transilvaniagolf.ro
• Sungarden Golf and Spa:
https://sungardenresort.ro/
golf/Watersport
LAKE TARNIȚA
Aside from chilling at the lake,
you have the possibility to rent
kayaks, stand-up paddles,
sailing boats etc. The following
links will help you!
http://tarnita.ro/wordpress/
https://kayaktarnita.com/
tarife/
INDOOR:
CLIMBING
• SKAI Urban Crag: https://
skaiurbancrag.ro
• Free Wall (Rock Climbing
Gym): http://www.freewall.ro
• Central Climbing: https://
centraladeescalada.ro
• Gravity: https://www.
facebook.com/escalada.
gravity/
OUTDOOR:
• “The Crag” is a guide to rock
climbing areas, not only in
Romania, but all over the world.
The link below will send you
directly to the climbing areas in
Romania. Some of them are
really close to Cluj, very good
even for a one-day trip ( for
example: Cheile Turzii, Cheile
Turenilor): https://www.
thecrag.com/en/climbing/
romania/area/450710859
• Adrenalin Park Feleac – this
one is for the adrenaline
junkies! https://adrenalinpark.
ro/en/
DANCING
Romanians love to dance and
have therefore a variety of
dancing classes to offer. Find
the one which suits you best.
Here only a few examples:
• Urban Dance Lab: https://
www.facebook.com/
urbandancelabcluj/
• Crystal Dance: www.
crystaldance.ro
29

ART & CULTURE
Fabrica de pensule - a must-see
in Cluj
Fabrica de pensule (The
Paintbrush Factory) is a collective
space for contemporary arts. The
building used to be a paintbrush
factory, and now represents an
art studio, spaces for expositions
and shows, theatre shows,
debates, discussions and
meetings, movie projections, etc.
There are many events which
you can also join! Keep an eye on
their upcoming events on the
Facebook page: https://www.
facebook.com/pg/
FabricaDePensule/
events/?ref=page_internal, or on
their official site: https://
fabricadepensule.ro (English
version of the website is
available).
Ceramic Cafe
It’s an art cafe! You can paint
plates, cups, bowls, and many
more! Give your masterpieces as
a gift, or keep them for yourself.
All art material is provided; you
only need to bring your creativity.
https://www.facebook.com/
ceramicafecluj/
MUSEUMS
On the night of museums
(Noaptea muzeelor), happening
once a year, entrance to all
museums is free.
• Art Museum: https://www.
macluj.ro
• Zoology Museums: http://
www.visitclujnapoca.ro/en/
atractii-turistice/muzee/
page/3/the-zoologicalmuseum.html
• Ethnographical Museum of
Transylvania: http://www.
visitclujnapoca.ro/en/atractiituristice/muzee/theethnographic-museum-oftransylvania.html
• Muzeon - Storytelling Jewish
History Museum: https://
muzeon.ro/en/
Reactor
THEATER
Reactor comprises an
independent theatre, a concert
and exhibition venue, and also a
small library. It’s focusing on
supporting young artists and
contemporary dramaturgy, but
also on raising social awareness.
If you want to join their events,
check out their Facebook page or
their official website linked below:
30

Facebook: https://ro-ro.facebook.
com/ReactorCluj
Website: https://reactor-cluj.
com/en/home-page/
Teatrul Național + Opera
Națională
If you want to enjoy a theatre or
opera show from time to time,
you can check out the programme
below! You can practice your
Romanian, enjoy the architectural
beauty of the building, and you
even get a discount as a student!
Theater: https://www.
teatrulnationalcluj.ro/en/
Opera: https://operacluj.ro/en/
MUSIC
UMF Choir
The UMF choir is still very new
but we’re always looking for
people of all skill levels who love
to sing. Previous experience in
choirs is definitely good, but not
a requirement. We sing a variety
of music, both traditional and
modern, in a variety of languages.
We also perform in concerts at
the UMF. We’d be glad to have
you!
Contact: https://www.facebook.
com/corulumf
UMF Orchestra “Medstrings”
UMF Iuliu Hatieganu is the only
medical University from Romania
that has a students’ classical
orchestra, with a regular schedule
of rehearsals and concerts. If you
play a classical instrument, just
bring it with you and become a
part of our orchestra!
We usually rehearse once/twice
a week, we speak the language
of Music (and English, of course)
and we play at different medical
events in Cluj (and not only!).
What do you need? Your own
instrument (except for the piano
:)) because we have one), and
some musical background (to be
able to read musical notes
actually) and time to practice :))
The rest will be done at the
rehearsals. We are waiting for
you!
Contact: https://www.facebook.
com/medstrings
LAKES
The beauty of the Romanian
lakes and mountains are
breathtaking. The best part is
that you do not have to travel
long to reach these places. Our
recommendations are listed
below!
31

In Cluj
Lacul Chios
Iulius Mall Lake
Lacul Gheorgheni
Near Cluj
Lacul Tarnița + Watersport
Beliș-Fântânele
Laguna Albastră
Apuseni Mountains
The mountains are a great get
away for a weekend, where you
can walk, hike, run and, camp. It
is also great to enjoy the scenery
from one of the many cabins
there are to rent on the internet,
from small sized “cabanas” to
those that can house up to 30
people.
32

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(FAQ)
Where is the doctor’s office of
the UMF Cluj?
The university has a doctor’s
office which is free of charge for
any student of ours. Dr. Augustina
Burnete works on 13 Babes
Street, 2 floor (you can find it on
our map as well) and will be
available during her opening
hours (published in the beginning
of each year on the university’s
website). It is important to know
that you will have to pay for any
classes you were absent in, with
the exception of medically
excused/ motivated absences.
Since Dr. Burnete is the only
doctor endorsed by the UMF to
treat you for free, you should
visit her in case you are sick.
Recently the university has also
founded a Counselling Center,
which you can also visit if you
find yourself in need of
psychological help. Dr. Popescu
will try to assist you in problems
relating to adaptation to campus
and academic life, (inter)personal
problems, anxiety and career
guidance. You will be able to find
her on 13 Babes Street, 3rd floor,
room 301. To make an
appointment for a free
consultation, please contact Dr.
Popescu via E-Mail: cpopescu@
umfcluj.ro
My schedule tells me I have two
subjects at the same time, what
should I do?
This is generally not possible.
Unfortunately, it is quite difficult
to coordinate an entire university
and give each group their own
schedule without any mistakes to
happen. If you notice something
obviously wrong with your
scheduled classes, please talk to
your group representative (who
should then talk your year
representative). Ultimately, this
enables an organised and open
line of communication with the
university to, hopefully, resolve
all problems quickly and in
cooperation with your secretary.
How can I get a bus membership
in Cluj?
To get a bus subscription, you
need to request a certain
document from the secretary, as
well as copies of other documents
33

34
described again in the Calea
Moților 7. For more details,
please see our section on
transport.
When do we get the student
cards?
Be patient! This is one of the
things you need to learn very
quickly. Everyone is doing their
best to get you the fastest
everything you need. However,
the university administration is
often simultaneously dealing
with many other similar requests.
Rest assured, they will arrive
eventually.
What is a “numar matricol”?
The “numar matricol” is your
student identification number.
When you enroll, you will receive
this number and will keep it for
the reminder of your studies. This
number is very important for the
university, as every relevant
information, such as your grades,
application files, documents, etc.
will be sorted to that number.
Which books should I buy?
Which books can I borrow from
the library/print in the Xerox?
Please do not buy any book you
might hear about. You will receive
a list of recommended learning
materials from your professors at
the beginning of each semester.
Sometimes these lists change
from one year to the other, so it
is best to wait for official
information rather than word-ofmouth.
Many professors base
their Multiple Choice Questions
(MCQ) on these books and even
take phrases word-by-word for
the questions.
Please note that recommended
only means that: recommended.
Since, in the end, it is important
you can study well from the
material of your choosing and
how you prepare yourself for an
exam is up to you.
Where can I translate my
documents? How much is it?
Because an authenticated
transcript of record can be super
expensive, in the previous years
many students came to Cluj
earlier to get to know the city
and gather the remaining
documents for their application.
There are many translators in the
city center of Cluj and if you ask
in the decanat, they will also
recommend you a few
professionals. The translators
usually also take care of the
authentication, as they often
cooperate with public notary.

What should I write in my letter
of intent?
The letter of intent is a good
opportunity to show the
committee reviewing your
application file that, even though
your grades might not be perfect,
you will still make an excellent
student and future doctor. You
can write about experiences you
had, why you want to study
medicine, and why specifically so
at UMF Iuliu Hațieganu etc. This
is your time to become creative
and to stand out!
Which alternative airports could
I use?
Cluj is by far the most convenient,
as you can take a taxi to your
apartment for roughly 30-40 lei
depending on traffic. Of course,
there are other airports in
Romania, the closest being
Timișoara, Târgu Mureș, Sibiu
Oradea or maybe București. In
order to get to Cluj you could
take a coach or train.
What should I buy beforehand?
You do not need to buy particular
equipment and/or books before
coming to Cluj. In the beginning
of each semester, the professors
will give us a list with (mandatory)
material we need to have. As
soon as you get those, you can
go ahead and buy or borrow
these things. As to general things:
For all your laboratories (practical
classes) you will need a lab coat,
which you can buy best around
the university in one of the many
pharmacies for 70-100 Lei as
well as gloves, surgical masks and
a head piece.
Where can I get the medical
certificate from?
You can simply go to your General
Practitioner (GP) and ask him for
a simple confirmation that you
have been vaccinated, as well as
being in otherwise good health.
You do not need to go to multiple
specialists for each check-up.
Where can I get the psychological
certificate from?
We have a university psychologist,
Dr. Codruța Popescu, she will be
one of your professors in 1st year
and is super nice. She offers to
do the psychological evaluation
for a reasonable price, and will
send her results directly to the
university, which will sort it to
your application file. To get in
contact with her, write her an
email, and she will give you an
appointment: cpopescu@
umfcluj.ro
35

Can I get a scholarship? How
much is it?
Yes you can, but it will not be
granted to you based on your
previous grades from high school.
Every semester the university
evaluates every student and will
create a ranking based on your
grades. The best students, above
a weighted mean of 9.5, will
receive 50% of the tuition fees
back. Furthermore there are
several gradations for students
with smaller averages. Please
check the university’s website
sometime around the middle of
the next semester to see if you
are on the list!
Does UMF have university
sports teams?
Yes, we do have sports teams.
There are soccer, rugby,
basketball, handball, volleyball,
and gymnastics/ dance teams.
Furthermore, there are many
clubs outside university that are
worthwhile looking up. Please
check out the sports section for
more details.
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37

Students contributing to this book:
Leonie Ambrosius, Alaric Belmain, Jasmin Abu Arif, Alice Coudsy,
Lukas Schreiber, Till Rössler, Tudor Secasan, Gabriel Gazi and
Adriana Alupei
Thank you for your time and work!
38