Norway is the land of the sailors, land of the conquerors and great explorers, the birthplace of the Vikings, and has for centuries been the starting place of great human adventurers that have notably lead the first Europeans to the American coasts five centuries before Christopher Columbus. Still today, Norway is a country which extracts the majority of its resources come from the sea: exploitation of oil from off shore companies since the beginning of the 70s has lead Norway into a new adventure, that of black gold. Today, this country of mountains and ice is one of the largest producers of crude oil and natural gas in the world... at the same level of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait!
The manna of oil quickly profited the entire country and allowed for a great development based equally on the fishing industry, heavy industry and forestry. A high standard of living has followed with high investments in the education and health sectors, all taken care of by the government.
Norway represents a true El Dorado, with a very high level of education and a high demand for a qualified workforce. In addition to these facts, Norway is a magnificent country of snowy mountains interrupted by enormous fjords, and wild forest with a quality of life without equal, where the towns are at the human scale, far from the stress and population of large cities that have the same advantages.
Looking for a society where the story around the hearth cohabited with the highest modernity, where the Aurora Borealis transforms the sky into a bridge towards paradise and where the sun does not set for a number of days, you can adopt the soul of the Viking adventurers and Norway will become your conquest.
Local Information:
Number of inhabitants: 4,360,000 Principal cities and their population:
Oslo 502,867 (Capital)
Bergen 227,276
Trondheim 147,187
Stavanger 108,019
Baerum 100,773
Kristiansand 71,498
Fredrikstad 67,415
Tromso 58,121
Drammen 54,361
Sandnes 52,077
Skien 49,498
Asker 48,397
Student population in 1998/1999: 184,000 and 82 higher education establishments Number of foreign students: around 9,000 Note: Norway is not a member of the European Union.
Local information Norwegians are very attached to a lifestyle geared towards the outside. Strolls, down hill skiing and ice skating are part of the more appreciated activities. Furthermore, Norwegians are nice and kind and many speak English which makes communication easier. The night life is not very active: the cold of winter and the high prices in the bars are reasons to stay at home during the evenings. In Oslo, there are bars and pubs fitted out according to the taste of the people: in fact the interior arrangement is very important in all Scandinavian countries, the decorations are very designer, whether it is for the furniture or for paintings and decorations. Wood is very present in Norwegian architecture and there are very few large buildings.
Aside from Oslo, there is not a city where the student life is very notable. On the other hand one can find a number of bars and night clubs where students go to in the capital. Climate and season:
Norway is not as cold as one thinks: the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean that borders the entire length of the country moderates the winters. From spring, in April, nature is reborn and in summer it can even be quite hot. However, one must not get illusions, it is very cold in Norway, and it is covered in snow from November to April. The latitude evidently plays a large role and in Oslo it is not as cold in the winter than in Lillehammer, the Olympic city further north. In Oslo the temperatures can very between 10 and 25°C in the summer and -5°C to -20°C in the winter.
One can admire the sun at midnight in the north of Norway during a short period, from mid-May until the end of July, during this time the sun never sets and remains on the horizon during the long hours of an incredible spectacle. Distances: Norway is a country spread out through 1,700 km from south to north with a large part above the polar circle. Thus the distances are significant. It is particularly difficult to travel here and there, especially because of the fjords and glaciers, however the road system is well maintained, but there are no highways. It is thus recommended that when travelling long distances to take a plane. The train system works well and is comfortable, but expensive. It is possible to travel around by boat and it is often this occasion that one can discover the carved out coasts of Norway, the sea is free of ice through out the year due to the Gulf Stream that touches the west coast of the country. Useful information:
Currency: Norwegian Kroner (NKR)
exchange rate (June 2001) 1 NKR = US $0.108 = 0.13 Euro
Telephone : 00 47
Cost of Living :
Be careful, prices are very high in Norway and to begin with, it can cool the eagerness. However, there is a time for adaptation and one always ends up finding a small restaurant or a bar that has prices a bit more modest than the national average. On the other hand and notably an advantage, the studies are practically free.
The University of Oslo considers a budget of 6,000 NKR (US $600) per month as a minimum to live. To give you an idea, here are some useful prices:
Rent of an apartment in Oslo: 6000 NKR per month (US $600)
Rent for a room in university residence: 2500 NKR per month (US $250)
Bus ticket: 20 NKR (US $2.20)
Hamburger: 50 NKR (US $5.50)
Coca cola: 18 NKR (US $1.90)
Loaf of bread: 20 NKR (US $2.20)
Cinema ticket: 60 NKR (US $6.60)
Organization :
Norway has four state universities in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromso. In addition to these establishments, there are colleges that offer professional education. These institutions are accessible after having successfully passed the secondary education diploma. They offer specialized education for a duration of two or four years in the areas of sciences, business, journalism, architecture, social sciences, agriculture, etc... University calendar: the academic year is divided in two semesters: the fall (autumn) semester is from August to December and the spring semester is from January to June.
The Norwegian education system does not correspond to the Anglo-Saxon system. For a description of the university diplomas refer to the heading "Degrees / diplomas". However, the Norwegian universities offer "profession" diplomas: profesjonsstudier in the areas of theology, law, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, psychology, pedagogy and economics. These courses directly lead to a profession in Norway and are for this reason not open to foreign students. The subject areas of psychology, pedagogy, and economics are equally taught in the framework of university courses which are accessible to foreigners.
Tution & Fees :
Higher education is partially taken care of by the State, each student must pay school fees every semester of 370 NKR (US $37). These fees must be payed no later than three days before registration for the academic semester. Students participating in bilateral exchange programs, ERASMUS and NORDPLUS pay their fees at their home university.
Main schools and universities
The University of Oslo is the largest and the oldest in Norway with 33,000 students registered in 1998.
The list below can help you choose your future establishment in Norway: Universities:
University of Oslo
University of Bergen
Norwegian University of Sciences and Technology of Trondheim
University of Tromso
Institutions of Specialized Education:
Agricultural University of Norway in As
School of Economic and Business Administration of Norway in Bergen
Oslo:
Norwegian State Academy of Music
The Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education
Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences
Oslo School of Architecture
National Institute of the Fine Arts
National Institute of Art of Bergen
Art Academy of Oslo
The universities as well as the "university colleges" are all involved in teaching and research. They offer courses up until the Doctorate. The website of the Norwegian Council of Higher Education can help in the search: www.siu.no/vev.nsf/start/English (it is only in English).
Admission Requirements:
Foreign students registering in a Norwegian university outside an exchange program must take several exams. First, you must prove that your have received a secondary education diploma (equivalent to the British A-Levels). For students wishing to take a Master’s degree, you must prove that you have already received a Bachelor’s degree that is equivalent to the British (3 years of studies after the A-Level).
In addition, for certain subjects you will need to pass a preliminary exam which is to evaluate your knowledge of the subject you wish to study. Students registering to take classes, like a Norwegian student, must also pass the "Examen Philosophicum/Examen Facultatum". To prepare for this obligatory exam, you must take one semester of classes intended to give you the basics in philosophy that is necessary to take classes at the university. Level of the language:
Norwegian universities insist on a minimum level of Norwegian and for the international subjects a minimum level of English. Therefore you should take a test for each language (or take the TOEFL/IELTS for English). If, when arriving to Norway, your level in these two languages is insufficient, you will need to take Norwegian language classes and Norwegian civilization classes. These special classes for foreigners have a duration of two semesters.
ERASMUS students and those registered with a bilateral program do not need to fulfill these conditions.
Visa Information:
Student visa
Students who are citizens of the following countries do not need a visa: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR-passport), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau (SAR-passport), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, NORWAY, Republic of San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela. Procedures to follow:
You must contact the closest Norwegian embassy and start the application process for a residence permit for studies.
To get this permit, you will need to supply the letter of acceptance that was sent by the Norwegian university (this must be recognized by the Norwegian authorities) for the pursuit of full-time studies and specifying the contents of the anticipated course. The applicant must prove that they have sufficient financial resources to provide for their needs. Equally, one must supply a Norwegian address of residence for the duration of the studies. (It is therefore necessary to contact the international students office in advance to get accommodation).
You must return to your country once your studies in Norway have finished, and to prove this you must show that you have a return ticket or at least the financial means to pay for one.
In addition you will need to supply a valid passport at the time of your application and your arrival into Norway. Only citizens of Scandinavian countries do not need to fulfill this obligation.
Two to four months are necessary to receive a residence permit. If you get one, you will receive a seven day visa that will allow you to re-enter Norwegian territory.
Note: Norway is part of the Schengen agreement, everybody who has received a visa for one of the member countries can stay in Norway for six months without having to re-apply for a visa. Have a look at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration for more information:
Norway is the land of the sailors, land of the conquerors and great explorers, the birthplace of the Vikings, and has for centuries been the starting place of great human adventurers that have notably lead the first Europeans to the American coasts five centuries before Christopher Columbus. Still today, Norway is a country which extracts the majority of its resources come from the sea: exploitation of oil from off shore companies since the beginning of the 70s has lead Norway into a new adventure, that of black gold. Today, this country of mountains and ice is one of the largest producers of crude oil and natural gas in the world... at the same level of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait!
Norwegians are very attached to a lifestyle geared towards the outside. Strolls, down hill skiing and ice skating are part of the more appreciated activities. Furthermore, Norwegians are nice and kind and many speak English which makes communication easier. The night life is not very active: the cold of winter and the high prices in the bars are reasons to stay at home during the evenings. In Oslo, there are bars and pubs fitted out according to the taste of the people: in fact the interior arrangement is very important in all Scandinavian countries, the decorations are very designer, whether it is for the furniture or for paintings and decorations. Wood is very present in Norwegian architecture and there are very few large buildings.
Norway has four state universities in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromso. In addition to these establishments, there are colleges that offer professional education. These institutions are accessible after having successfully passed the secondary education diploma. They offer specialized education for a duration of two or four years in the areas of sciences, business, journalism, architecture, social sciences, agriculture, etc...