The Center for Hispanic Studies helps foreign students to obtain visas and other documents they need before they arrive in Spain and, once they have settled into life in Tarragona, helps them to obtain their student residence card (NIE), town hall registration certificate or any other documents they need for the duration of their stay in Spain and the European Union.
All foreign students at the URV are considered full students of the URV. This means that they have full access to all the services and activities offered by the University to its students.
► Free transportation: all groups of 20 or more students are provided a free pick-up service from Barcelona airport to Tarragona.
► Free access to all welcome activities organized by the URV for international students on exchange programs such as: Erasmus Plus, Study Abroad, MOU (a mobility program for countries that are not members of the European Union) and Erasmus Mundus.
► Access to URV student services such as the Learning and Research Resource Center (CRAI), the URV Sports Service, the University Choir, the Film Group, the Art Group, the Theater Group, the Debating Society, the URV orchestra, the Hiking Group, URV Solidarity, and the URV student card, which offers various discounts and numerous other advantages.
► Accompanying students and helping them to obtain official documents such as their student residence card (NIE), which authorizes them to stay as students in Tarragona, and their town hall registration certificate, which they need to obtain their student residence card. Assistance is also given to book appointments for obtaining documents at official organisms. Students who wish to continue their studies at the URV are issued the certificates they need to obtain a return permit, student residence card or visa.
► Careers and employment advice
► Advice from the post-University guidance service on continuing studies at the postgraduate level.
► Medical care. If desired, students are accompanied to medical centers. In cases of grave illness, students are assigned interpreters to ensure that their symptoms are accurately interpreted and their illness is correctly diagnosed.
► Students are given support to help them settle into the city and the University. An institutional and cultural reception is given, during which students are taken around the various URV campuses so that they can get to know the institution and get settled in more quickly. Each student is given a welcome pack containing practical information about the University and the city of Tarragona.
► Students are introduced to Spanish culture, explained customs relating to coexistence and personal relationships, and provided information about festivities held in the city and country, timetables and schedules, and food and eating habits, etc.
► Students are given advice on how to purchase a cell phone and phone cards.
► Students are accompanied to a bank to help them open up a bank account.
► Students are given academic supervision, individual attention and personal support by their course tutor.
► Students are given help in finding accommodation at the Sant Jordi University Residence or in apartments shared with other students. The Sant Jordi University Residence is only five minutes' walk from Campus Catalunya. Those who wish to share accommodation with other students can use the services of the Accommodation Office[KPC1] , which can help them to find suitable accommodation close to the University's facilities. At Living at the URV, international students can find detailed information on accommodation, procedures, health matters, activities, etc. that will help them to find their way around Tarragona easily from the very first day. Students at the CEH can also enjoy reception services that have been prepared especially for them. 
The Sant Jordi University Residence provides several types of accommodation and has special offers for students of the CEH:
- Individual or shared rooms, with common leisure areas, a dining room, a laundry room, and a room-cleaning service.
- Shared fully furnished and equipped apartment with bedrooms, a living room, a balcony, a kitchen, a washing machine, and a scheduled cleaning service.
International students are advised to share with Spanish students in order to help them learn the language more effectively.
Supplementary information on rented accommodation
The cost of renting an apartment in Tarragona ranges from 400 to 700 euros per month, depending on the number of rooms, the location, and the quality of the amenities. To avoid problems that can occur when room-sharing, it is recommended that students have their own room. The cost of the accommodation is shared by those living in the apartment. Other costs to be considered are monthly electricity, water and gas bills, which vary depending on the level of consumption.
In Spain, contracts for rented accommodation stipulate that three months' rent must be paid the moment the contract is signed. This is to cover one month in advance, the current month, and one month as a deposit. The payments made for the month in advance and the month's deposit are returned to the renter of the accommodation at the end of the contract, provided no damage has been caused to the property. Otherwise, the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged articles will be discounted from the month's deposit.
♦ Detailed information about the URV, the University community, the range of courses, the environment and the necessary procedures can be consulted in Chinese here.
