Belarus Statistics

Capital:  Minsk

Area:  207,600 sq km

Climate:  cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime

Population:  9,577,552 (July 2011 est.)

Languages:  Belarusian (official) 36.7%, Russian (official) 62.8%, other 0.5% (includes small Polish- and Ukrain

Government-Economy

Government type: republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship Independence: 25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)National holiday: Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet UnionCurrency: Belarusian Roubles (BYB) ; 1 USD= 3,025.61 BYR
GDP: $128.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP): $13,400 (2010 est.)

Information for Foreign Students in Belarus Obtaining a Visa
Visas are required to enter or travel through Belarus, including on popular train routes such as Warsaw-Moscow and St. Petersburg-Kiev.

You must register your stay with the Belarus authorities if you intend to remain in the country for more than three days. Travellers should register with the local police office in the district in which they are staying. If they are staying in a hotel, this will be arranged by the hotel. i they are visiting somenone, this will have to be arranged by their host.

Here is a site that gives further information: http://www.belintourist.com/eng/services/visa_support/

Housing The Belarusian State Medical University offers room for its students, the price is relatively cheap: $180 for one place per year (when it is not included in the tuition fees). Accommodation provided by the Belarusian State University: http://www.bsu.by/en/main.aspx?guid=3001

HealthVaccination against hepatitis B and tuberculosis is sometimes advised. There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Hospital treatment, some dental treatment and some other medical treatment is normally free. Visitors can expect to pay for prescribed medicines. A UK passport must be shown to receive medical treatment. Medical insurance is compulsory for all travellers to Belarus. Foreign visitors are usually required to pay medical insurance starting from €1 (up to 10 days) to €85 (up to one year). It is also advisable to carry an adequate supply of prescribed medicines which may be unobtainable in Belarus. Comprehensive travel insurance is advised for all nationals (including UK travellers).

Money
Major international credit and debit cards, including American Express, Cirrus, Electron, MasterCard, Maestro and Visa are accepted in some larger hotels and at foreign currency shops and restaurants. There are a numerous cash machines in central Minsk.