Mobility specification

Country:Norway

Institution:University of South-Eastern Norway

City:Kongsberg

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2021/2022

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?it's alright

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I was surprised by the activity of the students which the teachers required of us. They constantly encouraged debate and I really liked that, it taught us to think creatively. We also did a lot of reflection and evaluation of everything we experienced, which I also found very useful.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, it did! Sports, swimming pool with sauna, community events, trips... there was a lot. Even though the campus is really small and so is the town.

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
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:15000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I was surprised by the price of public transport. Luckily we didn't have to use it much, we walked, through nature.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Dumpster diving! And also second-hand shops and hunting for the cheapest tickets.

🗺 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?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?In Norway they have an app for buses and trains, it's called VY. So you can buy tickets for almost all longer journeys, including airport transfers.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?neutral

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Notodden is small, but still offers beautiful places. For me the most beautiful is probably Lake Tinnemyra, then the sauna on Lake Heddalsvatnet and a tour of the hydroelectric power station.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?For me, if you get the chance - go on a trip through the Telemark mountains. There are hardly any people there, you will find beautiful places and it's not that expensive if you have a car. Specifically, I would recommend seeing Ravnejuv Lookout (the second largest chasm after Preikestolen), Stavkirke in Heddal, Stavkirke in Eidsborg with a tour, the beautiful sauna in Bandak on the fjord, and the cottage bakery with the WORLDS BEST cinnamon rolls in Vinje.

Share your best experience:It's impossible to choose the best moment, but the top ones would probably be: conquering the Gaustatoppen peak on foot and riding down on plastic bags, a trip to the WCH in Biathlon at Holmenkollen, a trip to Bergen, or basically every barbecue on public grills at Lake Tinnemyra with an overnight stay in a hammock.

💅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
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Price of transport from the airport. Notodden (and also Bo) are smaller towns where you have to take the train and bus from the airport. It is good to buy tickets in advance, because then such one trip can go up to 1700 CZK (more expensive than a plane ticket).

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?This tip isn't material, but it sure is necesary to download Revolut and pay with your phone. They have terminals everywhere and I haven't used cash at all. Otherwise, I recommend gaitors if you're going in winter and to buy some good quality wool underwear locally. For summer, sturdy shoes that are comfortable to walk in.

🥳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 changed my life for the better. It's something I still live from up to today, so I think you should go too!