Novi Sad is the capital of Vojvodina. It is the second largest city in Serbia with its population of 300 000 inhabitants. It is located on the river Danube.

Do not forget to send us confirmation that you accept the exchange 4 weeks before the exchange!

How to arrive in Novi Sad:

You can come by plain, by bus or by train to Belgrade, and than take bus or train to Novi Sad. Your contact person, most probably other than the one you have in your CA (for emergency contact), will wait for you on the bus or train station in Novi Sad, at the precise time when you arrive. So it is very important to inform your contact person about the exact time and place of your arrival.

Belgrade has one airport called “Nikola Tesla” and one main train and bus station. However sometimes international bus lines do have alternative bus stops in the city other than the main bus station, so you might as well check it out with the agency or the driver where will the bus stop in the city.

Your contact person will show you around the city and point out a couple of places which we call “meeting spots” for the social gatherings.

You will also receive the “Welcome package” with some maps and brochures of the city as a regard from the IFMSA-Serbia.

Clinics and working conditions:

You will probably start working in the clinic the first day after your arrival. The clinics are mostly located near each other in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina (In Serbian language it is “Klinicki Centar Vojvodine”) close to the city center. Some clinics such as Department of Cardio-Vascular Diseases and Pulmology are in Sremska Kamenica, a place near Novi Sad, 20 minutes away by bus.

The clinic expects you to arrive punctually. Show interest in the work and be active yourself. Ask as much as you wish - remember, it will all be for your own benefit! The tutors and doctors speak English, but the patients only occasionally.

You are expected to work from 8 or 9 a.m. until about 12 p.m. If you try to ask politely, a day or two off is possible. You will have to take your own white coat and a stethoscope. If you have your clerkship in Neurology take your own hammer and a light.

Lodging:

You will most probably stay in hostel for students. It is surrounded with cafes, photocopy stores, internet cafes and all the other facilities that a student needs. It is about 40 minutes walk from the Clinical Center, or 15 minutes by bus.

Two students of the same sex share a room. We advise you to bring your own towel, because the dormitories do not provide them. There are frequent buses from hostel to other parts of the city.

Near hostel is a canteen where the meals for students are served, so you will have your board there, as in the hospitals we do not have lunch breaks.

We also have Serbian students who offer to host some of exchange students.

IFMSA-Serbia offers you the apartment ONLY for the dates you are accepted in Novi Sad. So if you plan to come earlier or to stay extra you should be prepared to arrange your lodging on your own. IFMSA-Serbia can help you with this, of course.

Social program:

We organize social program every month and it doesn’t depend on the number of the participants on exchange in the city. We formed an enthusiastic team of students who would like to help you to plunge into Serbian culture and lifestyle and have a good time. On your arrival you will get the exact program with the dates when you’ll have specific activities, such as visits to other cities and monuments.

Unfortunately we cannot organize free excursions for you, so you will have to pay for all the trips yourself, but Serbia is much cheaper country than other countries in Western Europe, so we think you will be able to follow our program.

City traffic:

In Novi Sad we have only buses. As a foreigner you are not able to have a monthly card, so you will have to buy single ticket for each ride. The single ticket bought in the bus costs 30 dinars.

Weather

Weather in Novi Sad during the summer can be sunny and warm, but recently it started to be quite rainy. The temperature can vary anywhere from under +15 to over +32 degrees Celsius. You should bring your umbrella but don’t forget your sunglasses either. During spring and autumn the temperature can vary anywhere from 0 degrees to +15 degrees Celsius and it can rain a lot. In the winter it is snowy and quite cold (-20 to +5 degrees).

Prices

The currency in Serbia is “dinar” and the smaller unit is “para”

1 euro = 80 dinars. Generally the prices are lower than in the countries of European Union. 1 L of milk is 50 dinars, a beer in a pub is 100 dinars, coffee 70 dinars.

Our exchange team in Novi Sad: