Mobility specification

Country:Norway

Institution:University of Agder

City:Kristiansand

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Education / Department of Primary Education

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

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The teachers were very helpful, friendly. They helped with any problem. The teaching itself was also interesting, interactive, we even had a residential excursion with my subject.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, there is an ESN society that organizes a lot of events - be it a party, a movie night, a Sunday hike, a weekly get-together with free waffles,...
Orientation week was also held, we were divided into groups. Each group had two 'buddies' who are already studying at the university. Part of the orientation week included a walk around the city and recommendations for shops or advice about the university and life in Kristiansand.

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

💸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

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Cheap shops - Kiwi, Rema 2000, Extra (some of the products). Affordable shop for cosmetics and toiletries - Normal.
For air travel in Norway, people under 26 get a discount (at least with Norweigian Airlines) - you need to enter the campaign code - UNDER26
TooGoodToGo app - however shops give baked goods the most often, which can then pile up

🗺 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?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Within Agder - AKT Billet (tickets), AKT Reise (timetables).
Tickets can only be bought in the app, NOT from the driver (at least within Kristiansand transport, but it's very widespread). The student discount is only applied from the "longer fare", not the "single ticket".
Electronic scooters - Ryde, Voi
Getting to Oslo - Flixbus, train, plane... Within Oslo - Ruter app

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?Overall nature, right behind the university is a forest with lots of lakes. There's also a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
Stupetårnet i Bertes - beach by the sea.
Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement park.
Nord Café - they hold regular events (quizzes, gingerbread decorating, poetry reading...).

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Direct bus from Kristiansand - waterfall at Bygland.
Preikestolen + Stavanger.
I highly recommend heading north - Tromsø.

Share your best experience:We went to Tromsø for 5 days, the best experience was feeding the reindeer under the auspices of the Sami, the indigenous people of Norway. We also experienced the Christmas market, a proper winter with lots of snow (even in the city), a cable car ride to Fjellheisen and much more.

💅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 about 15km from the city (30 min by bus) - but the university has its own bus for those who arrive on time.
If one decides to drive, one has to be careful about the speed limit (e.g. the highway in Norway has a limit of 110km/h, outside the village 80km/h).

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Either bring some kitchen equipment (plate, pot...) - but allow for the extra weight, or buy it at IKEA.
Take a blanket and something under your head to sleep on the first night - there won't be time to go to IKEA.

🥳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?Less stress with university commitments and the opportunity to visit unique places which are at every turn. Lots of friendly and open-minded people, even the most introverted introvert can't make friends :).