Mobility specification

Country:Norway

Institution:University of Bergen

City:Bergen

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of Political Science

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?More attention is paid to student input into lesson discussion - group discussion among students is encouraged. Several minutes are set aside for conversation in each lesson. Lessons also have breaks, usually fifteen minutes - depending on the length of the subject (if a lesson is, for example, 3 hours long, there are two breaks).

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?UiB has an orientation week lasting 3 days, where student societies present themselves and then organize various events (quizzes, parties, debates...) for most of the semester, and the dorms have their own events as well.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:16500 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?The most expensive things here are food and shopping (everything is estimated to cost at least twice as much as in the Czech Republic), but even accommodation can go up to higher amounts - it depends on the dorm you choose. I was surprised by the very expensive public transport - 5000 CZK for a 6-month student ticket.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The best way is to download a discount app (something like Etilbudsavis) and keep track of what's worth buying at which stores. In general, Rema and Kiwi are the cheapest (but sometimes Bunnpris is worth it too). Then the 2Good2Go app for uneaten food or meals and baked goods (40-100NOK for a surprise bag). Of the clothing stores, the best second hand is Fretex available almost everywhere, Sports Outlet with big discounts on sports stuff, XXL Sport & Villmark, JYSK, Clas Ohlson. If a student wants to go out to eat, the most worthwhile are the UiB student canteens - functioning as a buffet and payment by weight (about 40-90NOK). You can't get accounts in discount stores without Norwegian ID. As a non-profit, BUA provides a lot of free stuff to borrow - from clothes for hiking, to tents, bikes, skates to skis - there are plenty of shops all over Norway.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Through the Skyss Billett app, one enters the necessary info to process the ticket (for a student it is probably worth a six-month ticket at most, but it depends on preference) and then it needs to be activated (activation takes about 2min - the reviewers are dressed in reflective vests and always move in a group:)). After that, routes can be searched in the Skyss app for public transport in Bergen. As the times there are rather approximate, I only search for routes via Google Maps. For trains there is the VY app. There are also several urban scooter apps - for example Voi, where you can register, search for a scooter, ride and pay according to the route and time.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?7founders of Bergen (which supposedly change every year:)). Join student societies, silent discos, quizzes. Downtown +Bryggen. Green-kayaking. Nordnes sauna and swimming in the North Sea/floating sauna. Free figure skating. Bryggen museum.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Waterfall in Norheimsund. Bekhilderen Cave. Lofoten, if there is an opportunity. Instead of Oslo go to Troms or Stavanger. Take the train to Voss (you can ski here).

Share your best experience:The best experience was a trip to Lofoten - a sightseeing tour by car lasting 80 hours, and camping in a beach camp. The hikes can be done at night as the sun doesn't set and it's clear all night. I would recommend Kvalvika beach, Reinebringen hill and the hill above Heningsvaer. The trip itself is not expensive (you can rent equipment for tents from BUA for free), nor are the toll fees or charging the electric car. The most expensive was the car itself - which can be avoided if one plans the trip and arranges the car well in advance. It was great to organise a trip towards the end of the stay, as this way one checks who they really want to go with and has such an epic trip to look forward to during their stay. We also experienced the open sea ferries, saw whales, moose, reindeer and watched dolphins almost from our tent. However, driving for a few days is tiring, and you have to take turns - to keep both the driver and fellow passengers fresh.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The airport is an hour from the city by tram/shuttle - no need to deal with taxis, buses (that's how they catch tourists), and we as students have a cheaper transport ticket, so if someone buys a 6-month ticket, transport is included.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Warm clothes, good hiking boots (possibly snow boots). A hat, scarf and gloves are always useful. An umbrella or raincoat is also a must - it rains and blows a lot in Bergen. However, everything can be bought here as well.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Norway offers not only the Scandinavian school model but also beautiful nature, the opportunity to play sports and a super student programme.