Details

• Norway
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

In my opinion, the application process at WU for exchange semesters are conclusively explained. Besides all the information available online, the International Office offers support and can also be reached by phone. In general, before you decide on universities you want to apply, make sure you fulfill all required prerequisites. Some universities require a minimum GPA as well as proof of language proficiency. Moreover, make sure to rank your universities in a meaningful way to increase your chances. After receiving confirmation of my stay abroad I checked out the webpage of my host university. The university provided a detailed schedule for incoming students, which included all relevant information. In addition, I would highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the housing situation, as this is a central aspect of your time there. Lastly, websites like “studybergen” are great resources for guidance and helpful information.

2. Accommodation

If you are an exchange student in Bergen, you are guaranteed student housing from the Student Welfare Organisation in Bergen (Sammen). Therefore, I never considered to get accommodation on the private market, since it is also very challenging and more expensive. Sammen has multiple student houses across the whole city. During your application process you are able to state three preferences regarding the location and room size. I was allocated to Grønneviksøren even though it was not on my preference list. At first, I was disappointed because all my fellow colleagues from WU were in Hatleberg, which is the student house next to the university. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, since I had a private room (no bunk bed compared to Hatleberg) and only shared the kitchen with two others (compared to 23 others in Hatleberg). Furthermore, living close to the city centre instead of near the campus enriched my experience, as I got to witness the daily life of Bergen every time I left my student house. Another upside of Grønneviksøren was the newly renovated common house right next to the student house. In addition to weekly game and movie nights, parties were held to which everyone from Grønneviksøren was invited. The duration to get from Grønneviksøren to NHH is around 25 minutes. Finally, it is safe to say that Norway is an exceptionally safe country, and at no point during my exchange did I feel unsafe. If I were to apply again, I would certainly list Grønneviksøren as my top choice, followed by student housing in the Nygård area.

3. Academic life at host university

The NHH campus is smaller compared to WU with less auditoriums and a smaller library. Unusually, talking was permitted in the library, which meant that you had to go to study halls if you wanted to study in silence. When walking through the building you will notice that there are many small study rooms, which can be booked in advance. Since group work is widespread at NHH, these are usually very busy. Every course has 7.5 ECTS and you can switch courses after they commenced. This gives you the chance to attend to the first lectures and still make changes within the deadline if not fully satisfied. In general, the teaching style is less theoretical and group term papers and presentations are common. Another difference is the length of a class, which is typically 1 hour and 45 minutes with a 15-minute break. At NHH, attendance requirements are not as strict as at WU, which results in a high degree of autonomy in terms of semester planning. Furthermore, Norway’s low-hierarchy culture made the teaching experience very pleasant. Everyone, including the teacher, is addressed by their first name, which created a relaxed and open atmosphere during class.

5. Every day life in the host country

Bergen has a lot to offer. While the city itself is not very big but charming, it is the surrounding area which makes it special. Next to the infamous seven mountains, which are located around the city, there are countless beautiful hikes and fjords close by. Busses depart regularly from Bergen and are comparably cheap. It was not uncommon for bus journeys to include ferry crossings, which gave passengers the opportunity to view the landscape from a different perspective. If you need outdoor equipment, you can rent gear at “BUA” for free. Keep in mind that they only have a limited supply so be quick. Moreover, Sammen offers a semester gym membership for approximately 140 Euros, which is a very good price for Norwegian standards. My closest gym was in Kronstad and around 10 minutes away. This membership covers all Sammen gyms in Bergen, as well as the city-centre swimming pool. Within the city public transport is not necessarily needed. If you live at Grønneviksøren you can get to the city centre by tram in a few minutes. Buses are also available, though I tended to avoid them as they are sometimes delayed because of traffic. Norway is a very safe country, and I never felt uneasy during my stay. At NHH, social and sports clubs play a significant role in the study culture, with clubs available for almost every interest imaginable. While some of them are free to join, most are private. I would highly recommend going to as many tryouts as possible and try to make it into a team. If you would like to get in touch with Norwegians, social clubs are the way to do it. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to get selected if you don’t speak Norwegian or stay for only one semester. Furthermore, I recommend everyone to participate in the welcome week. On one hand, the student organisation plans several exciting events to kick off the semester. On the other hand, I made most of my friends from university in these first days. Charge your social battery before this week because you will need it!

6. Testimonial

Every time I think back on my semester abroad, I have a smile on my face. There is not one single reason why it was so special to me, it’s the big picture, which made it so unique. The university, the students from all around the world, my flatmates, the fun events at the common house, the welcome week, the beautiful nature, the city of Bergen, the trips all over Norway and so much more made my stay so memorable. On top of that, since I mostly surrounded myself with other international students, I not only improved my language skills but also had the opportunity to explore different cultures and habits, other than the Norwegian ones. If I had the chance to go back and relive my exchange semester, I would do it in a heartbeat.