Details

• Norway
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

When planning your trip, keep in mind that there are no direct flights from Vienna to Bergen. Also, because of the route and distance, opting for "green travel" (such as taking the train) is almost impossible. Once you arrive, getting around is very straightforward, as you can buy public transport tickets directly through the local app. For housing, I applied through Sammen. I initially applied for rooms in the city center but did not get one. From talking to many other students, it seems almost guaranteed that if you study at NHH, you will be placed at the Hatleberg student residence. There, no bedding, duvet, or towels are provided, so keep in mind to either bring them or look for options to buy them straight away on your arrival day. For me, I already looked up what I wanted before arriving and took the bus to IKEA, which is only about a 20-minute ride. When packing, waterproof clothing is absolutely essential. It really rains a lot, and hiking will be one of the things you do most during your time there. I also recommend packing for the sauna! Finally, be prepared for the high cost of living in Norway. To manage your daily expenses effectively, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with discount supermarkets like Kiwi or Rema 1000 right from the start.

2. Accommodation

I chose a student residence through Sammen and lived at Hatleberg, which is where almost all NHH exchange students end up. I was lucky enough to get placed in Block F, which is newly renovated and has a sea view in almost every room. Block F is reserved for exchange students, so I lived exclusively with other international students. I had my own room and bathroom, but the kitchen was shared. The location is incredibly convenient as it is situated right next to the university, making it just a short 5-minute walk to classes. The area feels very safe and secure, which is true for Bergen in general.

3. Academic life at host university

Compared to the massive campus of WU Vienna, the NHH campus is much more compact and easier to navigate. The facilities are modern and offer plenty of great study spaces and group rooms, which I used frequently. For me, a major highlight was the beautiful location right by the water and the mountains, which makes spending time on campus very pleasant. The academic culture in Norway is noticeably different from WU. The hierarchy is much flatter, and the environment is highly informal. The professors were all extremely helpful and nice, making the student-teacher relationship feel very personal. For my courses, there was absolutely no mandatory attendance, except on days when we had to give presentations. However, I strongly recommend attending the classes in person anyway. The teaching style is a strong contrast to the large, anonymous lectures at WU - it is highly interactive, rich in discussions, and generally very relaxed. Also, I had no traditional exams in any of my courses like we usually know from WU. Instead, the final assessments consisted of written reports or projects that we worked on over the course of several weeks. While this form of continuous assessment still requires a lot of work throughout the semester, it is way more relaxed than cramming for one massive final exam at the very end. I took three courses during my spring semester (each worth 7.5 ECTS), and I can highly recommend all of them: 1. Managing Projects in the Digital Age (SOL11) 2. Management Consulting (SOL12) 3. Artificial Intelligence for Business Communication (KOM10)

5. Every day life in the host country

I found the public transport system in Bergen to be excellent and very reliable. I mostly used the buses and the light rail to get between the NHH campus, my room at Hatleberg, and the city center. Getting around was very straightforward for me, as I just bought my tickets and checked schedules directly through the local transport app (Skyss). In general, I always felt incredibly safe in Bergen. Whether I was walking home late at night or exploring the surrounding nature, the secure atmosphere was something I really appreciated about living in Norway. My everyday life quickly became heavily focused on the outdoors. Hiking was definitely one of the things I did most with my friends, as exploring the surrounding mountains is just part of the Bergen experience. Another major highlight for me was going to the floating saunas by the fjord, which I highly recommend trying! I also found it very easy to socialize and meet new people, as the student organizations at NHH are super active and host lots of events, gatherings, and cabin trips. I highly recommend checking out the gyms operated by the student welfare organization (Sammen). They offer discounted memberships for students (about 45€ per month), where you also have the possibility to join lots of courses like yoga, pilates, and HIIT workouts as well. NHH also has a wide variety of student sports clubs you can join.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester in Bergen was an unforgettable experience, shaped most of all by the breathtaking Norwegian nature and the countless hiking trips with friends. Academically, I really enjoyed the interactive, discussion-based teaching style at NHH, which was a refreshing and much more relaxed contrast to my usual studies at WU. Ultimately, living at the Hatleberg residence created an incredibly tight-knit international community, making everything from fjord saunas to everyday life truly special.