Mobility specification

Country:Norway

Institution:Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

City:Bergen

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Sports Studies

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?no

Does the university offer enough courses in English?they have tons

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I don't know if it was the subjects or the specific teachers, but I found the teaching more interactive. We often talked about the topics taught in groups or even solved tasks or mini-projects on our own. I found that we discussed the studies more. Together with the teacher we looked at them critically and then discussed and formed an opinion on the subject. (Of course, this could have been just a character for the subjects). It seemed to me that the boundary between student and teacher was weaker. I would even say that at times it tended towards a camaraderie between students and teachers. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much space, freedom and responsibility the teachers allowed us. I was very pleased and surprised at how much of the teaching consisted of field trips and that it was common to go outside to learn.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, each foreign class has a home student who is always willing to help and advise. The first week was an orientation week, in which different student societies were presented (the Sports Games Society, the Outdoor Activities Society - climbing/surf/trips and others, the Water Activities Society and the Society that organized various parties and music events. For a fee we could join these clubs, which had a number of benefits (especially discounts on events and free equipment hire).

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Crisis intervention
I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:22800 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Definitely cook, don't go to restaurants. Don't buy alcoholic drinks (they are very expensive in the supermarket and the price is doubled in the restaurant or bar). In Sogndal, where I've been, there are student accommodations by Sammen. These have a dedicated one room (Swap-room) where you can put unnecessary stuff or take whatever is there. Students leave various household equipment there, especially things for the kitchen. If you know how to fish, I think it's worth investing in a rod (second-hand or Sportoutlet shops are very cheap). In the fjord you can fish for free and if you are lucky you have free food.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I used the website www.skyss.no, tickets are bought from the driver (you can use a card).

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?Sogndal is a nice and quite small town, so you can explore the whole place in the length of your stay. I would recommend a run or walk on the trail around the fjord, check out the outdoor athletic stadium and the red wooden church Stedje kyrkje.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I would recommend going anywhere in the countryside for a trip. The surrounding countryside is beautiful. I think whatever area/trail/peak you choose, you will always have a unique experience. For example, I've been on trips to Jotunheimen National Park, Breheimen and the Molladalen area. If you are interested in climbing I highly recommend the Kvam and Beachen (Loen) area.

Share your best experience:There are a lot of experiences, especially from our own trips and excursions within our outdoor education course. I would highlight a hike during which we got above the cloud level just before the summit. So after a morning of fog and humidity, we stood at the top of the hill, seeing the sun, the distant peaks of the Jotunheimen mountains, and the clouds below us. Other things worth mentioning include accidentally finding a waterfall and then showering, board and pizza nights, and sitting and chatting around a campfire in nature.

💅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
Train
Other

Transport means - Other:Ferry (the return trip was by car with a friend to Oslo and two buses to Brno).

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Sufficient time to move between connections.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Personal medication for the length of stay.

🥳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?A unique experience that allowed me to make new friendships, discover the local culture, nature and learn to frieluftsliv.