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Steps to study abroad at the Academy of Fine Arts

Visa and Travel Information

Students accepted to study at AVU should meet with the Global Programs Office immediately upon acceptance to begin the student visa process.

Housing

AVU does not offer any student housing. To discuss your housing options, contact the Global Programs Office.

Czech Currency

The Czech crown (Koruna česká, or Kč) is divided into 100 hellers or haléřů (h). Banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000Kč. Coins are of 50h and one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50Kč.

You should keep small change handy for use in public toilets and tram-ticket machines, and try to keep some small-denomination notes for shops, cafés, and bars. Using larger bills can sometimes prove problematic.

Changing Money

The easiest and least expensive way to carry money is in the form of a debit card from your bank, which you can use to withdraw cash either from an ATM or over the counter in a bank. Using an ATM will result in your home bank charging a fee (you should verify what this is prior to leaving the U.S.) but you'll receive the best exchange rate. Be sure to check with your bank about transaction fees and withdrawal limits.

The main Czech banks (Komerční banka, Česká spořitelna, Československá obchodní banka (ČSOB) and Živnostenská banka) are the best places to change money. They usually charge 2% commission with a 50Kč minimum (but always verify, as commissions can vary from branch to branch). They will usually provide a cash advance on Visa or MasterCard without commission.

Credit cards

Many mid-range and top-end hotels and restaurants accept credit cards. You can use a card to get a cash advance in a bank or to withdraw money from ATMs, but charges will be higher than with a debit card.

You can report lost credit cards (or travelers checks) to the following:

American Express (222.800.222)

Diners Club (267.197.450)

MasterCard/Eurocard and Visa (272.771.111)

COURSE REGISTRATION AT AVU

Please contact the Global Programs Office for details on course registration.

For more information see the AVU website.