HelMSIC Exchanges

I attended General-Surgery in the capital of Greece,Athens.I stayed in an apartment,where we were two girls in the room,four in the flat.The flat washuge,with air-condition,the centreand th medical school was so close-I liked it!!The hospital was 10-15 minutes on foot,very easy way.About the boarding,we got lunch and dinner for free were delicious.
About my clerkship,I would like to help in the operation rooms,the doctors didn’t want students to help.I only followed the doctors on ward rounds.I gained overall impression of the foreign medical system,but not so much theoretical and practical knowedge.
About social program,I enjoyed staying in the city of Athens,because Athens never sleeps.I Came in contact with other exchange students and local students and people.

SCOPE Exchange Conditions

Level of studies
All students applying for a professional exchange must be clinical.

Type of Clerkship
Clinical. Please bring your white coat and stethoscope with you.

Languages
English is required according to IFMSA regulations.
Adequate level of understanding / speaking English or Greek is required, otherwise the Local Committee has the right to interrupt the clerkship.
In some clinics other languages are also used. 

Duration of Clerkship
4 weeks, this period is not expandable.
CALENDAR MONTHS ONLY , IF NOT ELSE SPECIFIED.

Periods & Towns
1. Athens and around locations: All year round, except August, April and May
2. Thessaloniki: all year round, except June, September, December, January and February
3. Patra : June, July, September, October, November, March, April and May
4. Crete:10 July - 10 August
5. Ioannina: March, August, October, November, December
6. Kavala: 15th July – 15th August
7. Alexandroupoli : July
8. Larissa : All year round, except June,July,August

Students are recommended to make at least 3 choices on the AF, since the first choice cannot always be provided.
If you fill in only one choice, this does not mean that you will be placed in that city, but that you agree to any city, if the one chosen is not available.

Application documents & deadline
All documents are required to be in ELECTRONIC FORM and must be sent until the 15th of MARCH!!!

All the documents for exchanges untill September must be send until the 15th of March.
for exchanges from October and after the documents must be send 3 months prior to the exchange.
*the e-AF MUST be stend until the 15th of MARCH!!* 

The application must include:

• Application Form (AF) of the IFMSA (filled in through e-exchange)
• 4 photos (passport size)
• Enclosed with your form a typed letter of motivation
• A proof of enrolment (certified by the University that the student attends). For those who have already been graduated the proof of enrolment must be valid until 6 months after having taken the degree, so that graduated students are accepted ONLY 6 months after the graduation.
  
• Valid Insurance Certificate.
• The student is required to fill in the rules form, which can be downloaded from the following link: www.helmsic.gr
• Proof of vaccination/immunisation status as required from the following form: www.helmsic.gr

NOTES 

• The vaccination/immunisation form must be filled in and STAMPED by a doctor.
• OFFICIAL National or International Certificate of English level (NOT signed by NEO)
• All documents must be in English
• If the student has not sent a CC 4 weeks before the clerkship starts the clerkship will be cancelled
• The vaccination/ immunisation form, the rules form and the health insurance must be sent 1 MONTH before the beginning of the clerkship along with the CC
• All the above documents must be sent on time, otherwise the Local Officers have the right to cancel the clerkship.

Insurance
Health insurance is required and must be arranged by the student and a certificate must be sent along with CC. Students without insurance will not be accepted.

Social Program
Provided by each local committee in each city , depending on the time of the year and the availability of the members of the LC.

Visas
Some Non-EU countries require visa
Please check with the local Greek Embassy and inform us so an invitation letter will be sent to the student

AFTER THE INVITATION LETTER IS SENT, NO CHANGE IN PERIOD OR SUBSTITUTION CAN BE ACCEPTED

Special Remarks

• At the beggining of the exchange, the student MUST pay an amount of 70 euros as a deposit, which will be returned by the end of the clerkship, if no damages are made
• As stated in the SCOPE bylaws, any damages made in the place of lodging by the incoming srudent MUST be paid by him/her
• Board and lodging is provided only for students with CAs, this is not provided for friends and relatives. If the exchangee takes advantage of the board and lodging offered by the committee to host another person,his/her clerkship will be interrupted.
• Pets are not allowed.
• Clerkships may be automatically cancelled if the Local Committee receives claims from the hospital or the dormitories. In case of lodging in an apartment the student is required to pay a guarantee defined from the LC, which will be returned at the end of the clerkship.
• Picking up the students is offered only during day. The Local Committee cannot guarantee that there will be someone available to pick you up during the night.
• People coming in the winter: please bring with you warm clothes.
• Students are supposed to arrive to Greece on or after the date that clerkship starts, due to complications with lodging if they arrive earlier. Also, the student is required to arrive within 4 days from the start of the clerkship.

These remarks are very important to us and any student not following them will make us cancel his/ her clerkship.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT HELMSIC MEMBERS ARE WORKING ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS AND ARE MEDICAL STUDENTS LIKE YOU.

SCORE Exchange Conditions

Deadline for application (months in advance)

 3 months

Documents required

Digital Documents ONLY!

• CV and Motivation Letter (included in eAF)
• OFFICIAL Language Certificate (NOT signed by NEO/NORE)
• 4 passport photos
• Immunization form (www.helmsic.gr) and Health insurance to be sent latest 1 month before the exchange.
• In the AF all three choices should be written (at least two different Local Committees)
• The students are accepted only in calendar months (1st-31st month, if not differently specified by the project)

Special Requirements

eAFs & documents should be sent by the end of each year's March Meeting for incoming students for months April - September.

eAFs & documents for incomings October - March should be sent until the 10th of September.

Available Universities / Cities for Incoming Students

University of Athens (Athens): all months except April,May and August
University of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki): all months except June, September, December, January, February
University of Patras (Patras): July, September, October, November

University of Crete (Heraklion): 10 July - 10 August

University of Ioannina (Ioannina): March, October, November, December
Demokritus University of Thrace (Alexandroupolis): July
University of Thessaly (Larissa): all except August

You can access Crete by air or by boat.

There are three airports in Crete

Heraklion and Chania are international airports, Sitia airport is currently receiving domestic flights only (charter flights are expected to start in the future).

There are regular buses between Heraklion airport and Eleftherias square (the centre); tickets should be bought before boarding and cost 1 euros to the centre. A taxi into the town takes 10-15 minutes and costs 12-14 euros.

[There is an official charge, included in the above estimates, when a taxi takes you to or from an airport or port. Luggage can be charged extra].

Parking: Has paid parking, just across the road, opposite the airport entrance.

Airport facilities: Cash/ATM machines for cash advances and withdrawals, exchange booth. Coffee and snacks are available, as well as a sit-down cafe/restaurant. "Duty-free" shop and giftshops. Left luggage.

Tel: 2810-397129, 397136 (info 24hrs).

At Chania airport there are only a few, infrequent, buses - a taxi is the best option if you are not renting a car. A taxi into the town takes 20 minutes and costs 14-16 euros.

Parking: There is paid (quite expensive) parking, running in front of the airport building. Long term (lower cost) parking is available a few hundred metres before the airport gates. The long term rental place offers pick up when you arrive service, taking you with their van to the parking lot.

Airport facilities: Cash/ATM machine for cash advances and withdrawal. Coffee and snacks are available. "Duty-free" shop and giftshops.

Tel: 28210-63245, 83800.

by taxi or car. 5-10 minutes to town.

Parking: You can park at the airport without a fee.

Airport facilities: None.

Tel: 28430-24424, 22671.

Charter flights are few in the winter, but there are many from end of March/April to the end of October. Charter flights to Chania and Heraklion from most European countries operate in this peak period, summer sun attracts! The number of charter flights to Heraklion is greater than to Chania. When the new airport at Sitia is upgraded in the future, some direct flights will then make access to the east of Crete that much easier.

To help you in your search of direct charter flights to Crete, we give you below a list of websites that offer these, with online booking.

WeGoLo.com ~ Find flights to Crete, Greece and other destinations.

Avro.co.uk ~ Offering only Monarch flights - but there are many

Flightline.co.uk ~ Flights to most destinations from the UK.

Alternativeairlines.com ~ Flights from anywhere to Crete, including scheduled, charter and low cost airlines.

Justtheflight.co.uk ~ Flights from the UK and from Ireland to Crete - good system and clear booking layout...wide variety of flights.

Charterflights.co.uk ~ Again a good booking system and good flight selection.

Cheapestflights.co.uk ~ Also easy to use and selection is good.

Airlinedestinations.co.uk ~ Shows flights from all UK airports, listing flights by airport region.

Thomsonfly.com ~ Heraklion to Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle. Chania to London Gatwick, Manchester.

Jet2.com ~ Budget airline flies direct from Leeds/Bradford airport to Heraklion.

Budgetair.ie ~ Flights from Ireland (Cork, Dublin, Shannon) to Heraklion.

EasyJet flying directly from the UK to Crete.

EasyJet has acquired the British Airways subsidiary GBAirways, and is now operating direct flights from the UK to Heraklion (March to October). There are 4-7 scheduled flights a week from London Gatwick to Heraklion and 2 flights a week (Tuesday, Friday) from Manchester to Heraklion. Operates normally from 30 March to 25 October. You can book these online on their website.

Charter flights are also available to Crete from most other European countries, Russia, Israel and elsewhere - in some cases these can be obtained from local travel agents and online via various websites in each country.

(Most of these flights are available only in the summer, i.e. end of March/April to end of October)

Transavia ~ Flights from Netherlands (Amsterdam) to Heraklion.

Arkia ~ Sundor and Arkia flights from Israel to Heraklion.

Travemaker.co.il ~ El Al flights from Israel to Heraklion.

Air Berlin ~ Flights from Germany & Austria to Heraklion and Chania.

Condor ~ Flights from Germany to Heraklion and Chania.

German Wings ~ Flights from Germany (Cologne/Bonn) to Heraklion ("low-cost" airline).

EasyJet ~ Flights from Germany (Berlin) to Heraklion.

Aegean Airlines ~ scheduled flights Italy (Rome) and Germany (Düsseldorf, Munich) to Heraklion.

NeosAir ~ Flights from Italy (Rome, Milan, Verona, Bologna) to Heraklion and Chania.

Luxair ~ Flights from Luxembourg to Heraklion and Chania.

Sterling ~ Flights from Scandinavia (Sweden-Stockholm, Denmark-Copenhagen, Norway-Oslo) to Chania.

Scandinavian ~ Flights from Norway (Oslo) to Chania.

Norwegian Air Shuttle ~ Flights from Norway (Oslo) to Heraklion ("low-cost" airline).

Wizzair ~ Flights from Hungary (Budapest) and Poland (Katowice) to Heraklion ("low-cost" airline).

Belair ~ (site in German & French) Flights from Switzerland to Heraklion (Airlines: Belair, Edelweiss air, Swiss).

SmartWings ~ Flights from Czech Republic (Prague) to Heraklion and Chania ("low-cost" airline).

Alternativeairlines.com ~ Flights from anywhere to Crete, including scheduled, charter and low cost airlines.

 

Flying to Crete via Athens

All flights to and from Athens arrive and depart from "Eleftherios Venizelos" Athens airport at Spata, to the north-east of Athens.

And the Athens airport website with useful information about airlines, real-time arrivals/departures, parking. Tel. 210- 3530000.

 

Athens - Flights to/from the UK:

EasyJet: Bookable online, the further in advance, the cheaper it is.

2 flights every day from Luton airport and 1 flight every day from Gatwick

British Airways and Olympic Air: Both have regular scheduled flights every day.

EasyJet ~ Berlin (Schoenefeld) to Athens

German Wings ~ Flights from Germany (Cologne/Bonn) to Athens (and Heraklion).

Aegean Airlines flies from Athens to the UK (London Gatwick), Germany (Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Hannover) & Italy (Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, Genoa, Trieste, Turin, Catania, Lamezia, Bari) and Netherlands (Amsterdam), France (Paris), Belgium (Brussels), Portugal (Lisbon), Bulgaria (Sofia), Romania (Bucharest), Egypt (Cairo).

Virgin Express (or Brussels Airlines) flies Brussels to Athens

EasyJet flies daily Paris to Athens

Centralwings ~ Flights from Poland (Krakow) to Athens.

Europebyair.com - Especially good for non-European residents*, offers FlightPass, allowing low-cost air travel within Europe. Now also offers flight queries and bookings worldwide.

* USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South America, Japan, South Africa, Israel residents.

See also Alternativeairlines.com for flights from anywhere to Crete.

Delta Airlines:

Daily direct flights Atlanta (ATL) to Athens & New York (Newark - EWR) to Athens

Continental Airlines:

Flights New York (Newark - EWR) to Athens

US Airways:

Flights New York & Philadelphia to Athens

Of course, Olympic Air also flies Athens to USA (New York) and Canada (Montreal).

 

By boat:

 

Ferryboat from Piraeus

There is a regular ferryboat service from the port of Piraeus to Heraklion and Chania.

 

The main company is Anek lines a company created in the 60s by Cretans who wanted better and safer service to and from the mainland of Greece. and runs daily between Piraeus, Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion. Another company, Minoan Lines sails every day to Heraklion. Rethymnon Lines run ferries to Rethymnon in the summer. And there is also SuperFast Ferries company.

 

Ferryboat from Italy

Several shipping companies connect Italy (Venice, Trieste, Ancona, Bari, Brindisi) with the mainland of Greece (Patras and Igoumenitsa). The fastest service to Patras is provided by SuperFast Ferries. It is slightly more expensive than other companies. It is preferable to book your passage in advance in the summer season

 

Ferryboat from the Peloponnese and the Cyclades

ANEN Lines run a service connecting the South Peloponnese (Gythion, Neapolis or Kalamata) to Kastelli (45 km west of Chania).

From April to October you can also get boats from Santorini (and other Cycladic islands) to Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos.

Patra is located 216 kilometres west of Athens, on the north-western coast of Peloponnese, at the foot of the Panachaiko mountain and on the coast of the Gulf of Patra.

Driving from Athens take the Korinthos/Patra National Road.

Upon entering Patra (1st exit after the tolls), stay on the right lane that heads to the Centre of Patra, Port.

The distance from Athens to Patra is approximately 216 kilometres.

Upon leaving the Athens International Airport drive along the "Attiki Odos" headed to Elefsina.

Upon exiting the "Attiki Odos" highway you find yourselves on the national road towards Korinthos/Patra.

If you wish to travel by public transport from the Athens International Airport, board the Express Line bus E93 from outside the airport's main building (gates 4-5) and get off at the Kifisos Interurban Bus Station.

Patra is connected to Sterea Ellada by the Rio-Antirio Bridge.

(Distance from Thessaloniki: 490 km)

The New National Road Patra - Korinthos - Athens serves traffic to and from Athens as well as to and from Korinthos, Nafplio, Tripoli, Epidaurus and the rest of the Peloponnese regions.

Special care should be taken when driving along this road because for the greatest part of it there is no barrier separating the two directions.

In Achaia entry and exit junctions for the New National Road are located:

* On the 148th km. (coming from Athens) for Aigeira and Akrata..

* On the 159th Km for Diakofto and Kalavrita.

* On the 172nd km for Aigio.

* On the 182nd km for Loggos.

* On the 206th km for Rio.

The New Patra-Pyrgos National Road leads to Pyrgos, Ancient Olympia, Kyllini (from where you can board the ferry for Kefallonia, Ithaki, Zakynthos) and also to Kalamata.

This road also needs special care because there is no barrier separating the lanes but also because of frequent junctions with local agricultural roads.

Entry/exit junctions for the New Patra -Pyrgos National Road:

* On the 16th km, for the Industrial Area and the Municipality of Vrachnaika.

* On the 20th km, for the Municipality of Olenia.

* On the 23rd km for lower Achaia and the coastal area of Western Achaia.

* On the 30th km for Agios Nikolaos in Spata.

* On the 35.5.th km for Araxos Airport, Metochi and Kalogrias Beach.

The national road "111" connects Achaia with Arkadia (Tripolis) whilst in the Prefecture's interior there is a good road network of asphalt roads to all the villages.

Patra is connected by rail to Athens and Piraeus as well as to Pyrgos and Kalamata.

If you board the train from Piraeus/Kiato (proastiakos) you will need to change at Kiato.

The journey by train from Athens lasts about 3.5-4 hours

The train terminal in Athens is called "Larissa station" (Stathmos Larissis).

A one way ticket costs approximately 10 Euro.

For information about the timetable of the trains that leave from Athens or Patras please visit the official website of Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) http://www.ose.gr/

1. You can use the metro from the Airport to Syntagma. It leaves every half hour.

When you get to Syntagma you change metro line, from blue line to red line and you get down at Larissa Rail Station (Stathmos Larissis)

The ticket costs about 6 euros and you need about 45 minutes to get there.

2. You can use the bus X95 from the Airport to the city center (Syntagma Square) and then you take the metro (red line) to Larissa Rail Station (Stathmos Larissis).

The bus ticket cost about 3,50 euros and you can use the same ticket for the metro. You need about 1 hour for Larissa Rail Station (depends on the traffic)

For more information:

ΟSΕ Athens: 210 5131601, 5297777

ΟSΕ Patra: 2610 639108-9

Patra is connected to almost the entire Greek territory by interurban buses (KTEL).

In Athens the buses depart from the Kifissos Bus Station and the terminal is called KTEL Peloponissou.

From there you can board buses that go directly to Patra every half hour between 05:00 - 22:00.

A one way ticket costs approximately 12 Euro.

If you decide to reach Patras by bus from Athens, you should go from Athens airport to the Athens central long-distance bus station (Kifissos Bus Station).

You may either get a taxi (costs about 30 Euros) or use the X93 express bus line (costs about 3,50 euros).

For more information visit here

Peloponnese KTEL: Kifisou 100, Athens Tel : 210 5124911

Thessalonica KTEL: 2310 595433

Patras KTEL: 2610 623887

The Port of Patra is connected by a number of daily routes to the following cities:

Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, Venice

Kerkira, Igoumenitsa

Zakynthos

Kefallonia

Regular trips by the following companies:

For more information:

Patra Port Authorities: 2610 341002

Patra is served by domestic and international flights by the Araxos Airport, located 45kms from Patra.

There are flights to and from Herakleion (Crete) and Thessalonica as well as International charter flights (especially during the summer months).

Charter flights frequently organised by the following companies:

Araxos National Airport

Tel: 26930-23598, 26930-51524, 26930-51037

BY AIR: There are frequent charter flights from most European countries (see the following table) to Corfu and then directly to Patras by seaplane (40').

Tel. 0030 2610620462

3 flights per day to Patras (http://www.airsealines.com/).

Pandair (England, Holland, Malta, German, Austria )

0030 2661036595

Meander (England,Holland, Belgium, Serbia-Montenegro, Finland, Sweden, Spain,Czech)

0030 2661044953

Interservice (Czech, German, France, Austria, Slovakia)

0030 2661028703

Aviareps (German, England, Belgium, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Finland, France, Switzerland, Italy)

0030 2661022588

You can find more information about Access to Patras, at the following websites: