Survival Guide 2015
Survival Guide 2015
Survival Guide 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WELCOME TO BI
BI at a glance
PRACTICALITIES13
Business hours
Groceries
Things for your room
Electricity
Post packages to Norway
Public holidays
Norwegian law
HOUSING6
STUDENT LIFE
PRE-DEPARTURE PREPARATIONS 45
7
89
Checklist on arrival
Student card
Registration scheme EU/EEA
Non-EU citizens
National Registry
General Practitioner
Tuberculosis test
Work permit and tax deduction card
Open a bank account
Mobile phone
15
Workload
Course descriptions
Coursework requirements
Continuous assessment
Course registration
Academic calendar
Examinations
Student portal @BI
Tuition fees
Norwegian language course
Student Partner
Guidance and counselling
University Chaplain
Binner International dinner
Room of faith and reflection
Special needs
GET INVOLVED
ACADEMICS1011
ON-CAMPUS FACILITIES
14
12
DISCOVER OSLO
16
EXPLORE NORWAY
17
NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE
18
CULTURAL ADVICE
19
Addressing people
Being late
Social convention
Common courtesy
Service charge
Climate and clothing
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
20
WELCOME TO BI
Congratulations on your decision to study at BI Norwegian Business School!
Whether you are coming to Oslo for one semester or several years, we sincerely hope you will enjoy your stay.
We will be here to support you along the way, but we leave it to you to make the most of it. Besides your studies, we encourage you to be active - participate in student associations, get to know Oslo and
explore the rest of Norway as well.
In this Survival Guide you will find practical information about studying at BI, as well as advice and guidelines
for living in Norway.
- The International Office, the Bachelor Department and the MSc Department
BI AT A GLANCE
Four study locations across Norway and close to 20 000 students make
BI one of the largest higher education institutions in the
country. All international programmes are situated in Oslo.
PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
I have
q checked that my personal information is correct in the
Admission Letter (as written in my passport)
q signed and returned my Study Contract (degree seeking
students)
q deposited money into the BI bank account (non-EU/EEA
degree seeking students) (p.5)
q applied for a study permit (if applicable) (this page)
q submitted the Pre-Application for Housing (if applicable) (p.6)
q signed and returned the housing contract to BSN/SiO
q registered for courses (exchange students) (p. 10)
q booked a flight to Oslo!
q valid health and travel insurance (p. 5)
q signed up for the Arrival Service at Oslo Central Station
q notified BI of my late arrival (if applicable)
q started practicing my Norwegian (p. 18)
NON-EU/EEA CITIZENS
Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA area must apply for a study
permit (and entry visa is applicable) for Norway in advance. It is your
responsibility to obtain the correct study permit (and entry visa). Case
processing time is up to three months, so you are advised to apply as
soon as possible after receiving your Admission Letter/Study Contract
from BI.
Visit udi.no to learn about the application process. Please note that the
procedures differ according to your
country of citizenship as well as your current country of residence. Use
the Application Guide to find out how to apply for the correct permit.
When you arrive in Norway you must report to the Police. Read more
about the procedures on p. 8 (On Arrival Registrations)
4
BANK TRANSFER TO BI
Mandatory
Degree seeking students from non-EU/EEA countries must deposit a
given amount into the BI bank account for immigration purposes. Consult your Study Contract for further information.
Remember to mark the payment with your full name and BI study programme (MSc, BBA, Double Degree or Exchange).
The SWIFT code and IBAN code can be used for electronic payments.
Contact your local bank for details. Your bank must confirm that the
funds are personal, including your name on the transfer documents,
and are to cover expenses related to your study period at BI Norwegian
Business School.
Voluntary
The possibility to transfer money to the BI bank account is avail-able
to other international students as well. Please contact the International
Office for further information on this opportunity.
The money will be available for you upon arrival in Norway. It can be
withdrawn by contacting your programme administration in C3, or
transferred to a Norwegian bank account.
You must have valid health insurance for the total duration of your stay
in Norway (European Health Insurance Card or equivalent). You are
advised to have valid travel insurance from your home country covering
the same period.
Please note that you are only covered in Norway not while travelling
to and from Norway, or on travels abroad. Dental care and medicines
or treatment of illnesses contracted before arrival in Norway are not
covered.
The European Health Insurance Card entitles you to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare under the same conditions and at the
same cost as Norwegian citizens. You are not entitled to reimbursement
of medical fees. Please note that you are only covered in
Norway not while travelling to or from Norway, nor on travels abroad
during your stay. Dental care and medicines or treatment of illnesses
contracted before arrival in Norway are not covered.
BSN Nydalen
HOUSING
BI Norwegian Business School assists exchange students and first year
international degree seeking students with finding student accommodation. To benefit from BIs assistance, you must fill in a pre-application
for housing at bi.edu/housing. Please read all the information carefully
before submitting the pre-application form.
You will have to bring your own duvet, pillow, bed sheets and towels.
In addition, you will have to buy pots, pans and cutlery. Sometimes
there are leftover kitchen utilities etc. from previous students in your
room. See p. 13 for information on where to purchase necessary items
for your room.
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION
Private accommodation is usually more expensive than student dormitories, and can be difficult to find. The price for renting a one-bedroom
apartment in Oslo is minimum NOK 7 000-10 000. Many students
choose to share a flat with other students (usually 2-4 people). Expect
to pay NOK 5 0007 000 per month for a decent room.
BSN Nydalen
BSN Nydalen is located only a few minutes walk from campus, and offers housing primarily for BI students. On-site facilities include a squash
court, a roof terrace, broadband Internet and cable-TV connection.
WHERE IS BI LOCATED?
SIO VS BSN
Website
Location
Rent
Deposit
Electricity
Furniture
Kitchenware
Bed linen,
pillows & blankets
Rooms
Internet
SiO
sio.no/housing
315 minutes by public
transport from campus
NOK 2 500 7 500
per month
NOK 3 000 5 000
Fixed or as consumed
BSN
bsn.no/en
A 7 minute walk
from campus
NOK 4.700
Bed, closets,
chair and desk
Not provided
Not provided
Private bedrooms.
Private or shared
bathroom and kitchen
NOK 4.700
As consumed + fixed
amount for hot water
(NOK 120 per month)
T-bane Metro
T-bane Metro
Frognerseteren
1
Forbindelser Connections
Voksenkollen
Lillevann
Sognsvann
6
Voksenlia
Holmenkollen
Besserud
Lijordet
sjordet
Bjrnsletta
13
Jar
Ringstabekk
142 143
Under ombygging,
Kolss 2014
Under reconstruction,
Kolss 2014
Kolss
sj
Tyen
Bekkestua
Gjnnes
Stortinget
20
Grnland
2
Gjnnes
Tveita
69 76
23
Hyenhall
Godlia
Manglerud
Skyensen
Ryen
Oppsal
Brattlikollen
Ulsrud
Karlsrud
Bler
Munch-museet
11
12
19
20
Nationaltheatret 13
19
31
54
30
32
21
37
Haugerud
ru
en
rg
Ullernsen
sters
Furuset
Trosterud
17 20 21 31
ng
ek
Bo
23
Montebello
401 65
Lindeberg
Carl Berners plass
Majorstuen
32
Eiksmarka
Ellingsrudsen
Hasle
Blindern
llb
ta
es
Sm
en
re
lm
ak
Ho
et
vs
Ho
Ek
ra
ve
ie
er
ke
Forskningsparken
17 18
Ellingsrudsen
1
2
Rislkka
kern
lle
Fren
23
21
He
Steinerud
23
31
301
se
Vinderen
Sinsen
3
Storo
fy
23
Storo
11 12 13
23 56
Ullevl stadion
37
yn
Gaustad
Veitvet
Linderud
Vollebekk
Br
Nydalen
Ris
5
sters
Ringen
6
4
Tsen
Berg
Slemdal
ls
34 23
Grkammen
23
11 31 Jernbanetorget (Oslo S)
12 37
13 54
17 34
18
Sentrum 19
City centre
Bergkrystallen
11
17
18
Lambertseter
Bogerud
Munkelia
Skullerud
4
Bergkrystallen
71
Mortensrud
3
Mortensrud
Metro (T-bane): Metro is the easiest way to reach BI from the city
centre. Lines 3 Storo and 4 Ringen take you to Nydalen in approx. 12
minutes. Cross the street, and you will find yourself in front of the main
entrance of BI.
A single ticket within Oslo is valid for one hour and costs NOK 30
(NOK 50 if purchased on board). A 24 hour ticket is NOK 90. Prices are
subject to change. Remember to validate your ticket at the beginning
of the journey!
Lrenskog
Stovner
STUDENT TICKET
Ammerud
Kalbakken
He
Gullersen
Romss
Rdtvet
sthorn
En
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Rommen
Grorud
Holstein
Vettakollen
Kringsj
Skdalen
Stovner
361
63
62
31
20 Hyfrekvent bybusslinje
High frequency city bus line
Sognsvann
Midtstuen
Vestli
12 Trikkelinje
Tram line
Skogen
Public transport is the most convenient way to travel within Oslo. The
extensive but easily maneuvered transport system includes trains,
buses, ferries, trams (trikk) and metro (T-bane). With a valid ticket, you
can switch between the means of transport as you please within a given
period of time. The whole metro network is located within zone 1.
Vestli
5
Tog
Railway
Frognerseteren
Kolss
A monthly student travel pass costs NOK 410, and is available for 30
days from the first validation. The ticket is only valid when used
together with your valid student ID card (see p. 8 for information
about the student ID card). The age limit is 30. Students below 20 can
purchase a monthly youth ticket for NOK 340.
T1
T2
T9
2A
11 31
12 37
13 54
17 ++
18
19
11
12
19
20 +
BIKING
Please be aware that there are periodic controls on all public transportation. If you are caught without a valid ticked the fine is NOK 950 if you
pay on the spot or NOK 1.150 if you need an invoice to be sent to you.
For a minor seasonal fee (NOK 100-150), the blue Oslo City Bikes
(bysykkel) are available to you at more than 60 different locations in
and around the city centre. You can use any bike for up to three hours
between 06:00-24:00 every day. Pick it up at one location and return it
at another as you please.
HOW TO GET TO BI
ON ARRIVAL REGISTRATIONS
Please submit the following documents within the given deadline:
Copy of valid EU identity card or passport (both sides)
European Health Insurance Card (both sides) or private health
insurance documentation that is valid for the whole duration of your
stay in Norway
hand written personal declaration stating that you have sufficient
funds/financial means to support yourself during your stay in
Norway
ON ARRIVAL CHECKLIST
q Register with the immigration authorities (p. 4 and this page)
q Staying for more than six months?
- Register your move to Norway from abroad and obtain a
Norwegian identity number (fdselsnummer) (p. 9)
- Choose a General Practitioner (p. 9)
q Have your picture taken for your student ID card (this page)
q Update your address and mobile phone number on @BI
Late arrivers: If you did not submit your documents to the study
administration within the deadline, you must go to the Service Centre
for Foreign Workers in person (address below). You must book an
appointment in advance by choosing the Service Centre for Foreign
Workers in Oslo at the end of your online registration. Bring your BI
Admission Letter in addition to the documents listed above to
your appointment.
(p. 11)
q Attend the welcome and information meetings
q Check your schedule on @BI (p.11)
q Log on to @BI to access your interactive classrooms on
Its Learning (p. 11)
q Take the mandatory Tuberculosis test (citizens of certain
NON-EU/EEA CITIZENS
You must report to the Police in person when you arrive in Norway.
To do so you need to book an appointment. The Oslo Police will be
present at BI on a given day in the Introduction Week to help you with
the booking. At your appointment they will take your picture and finger
prints for your Residence Card, which will be sent to BI, where you can
pick it up.
STUDENT ID CARD
The card is only valid with the correct semester tag. Please note that
the student ID card is not valid as proof of identity outside of BI.
Have your picture taken for your student ID card in the Student
Service Centre in U1 on your first day at BI.
SKATT ST
Utlendingsavsnittet.
Address: Schweigaardsgate 15 B
Phone: +47 22 34 21 00 (open Mon-Thurs 09:00-13:00 local time)
If you get a job, your employer will expect you to have a Norwegian
bank account, into which they can transfer your salary. It is customary
to give your bank account number to your employer upon employment.
All students staying in Norway for more than 6 months must register
with the National Registry (Folkeregisteret) once their Residence Card
(non-EU/EEA) or Registration Certificate (EU/EEA) has been issued:
Fill out the form Notification of move to Norway from abroad (Available online or from the BI Student Reception area in C3)
Go to Skatt st (address below), and submit the following:
- the form Notification of move to Norway from abroad
- BI Admission Letter
- Residence Card (non-EU/EEA) or Registration Certificate (EU/EEA)
- Housing contract
In Norway for one semester only? You may open a bank account if
you are staying in Norway for less than six months as well. However,
the procedure is time-consuming, and it may be easier to use your card
from home. Before leaving for Norway, make sure you check the conditions for using your card abroad.
GENERAL PRACTITIONER
Only applicable to students staying more than six months. After registering with the National Registry you will also receive a letter from
HELFO (in Norwegian), requesting you to choose a General Practitioner (doctor, GP, fastlege). If you choose the Student Health Services in
Oslo (SiO) as your GP, you may be eligible for a refund of certain medical expenses. Read more on www.sio.no/health
To open a bank account, you must wait until you have your
Residence Card or Registration Confirmation. The bank must apply for a
D-number for you in order to take you on as a customer. It
normally takes three to four weeks until your bank account is activated.
In addition, you may have a challenge finding a bank that is
willing to go through this application process. We recommend Nordea.
Remember to bring your Residence Card/Registration
Certificate and your passport.
Norwegian law requires citizens of certain countries with high occurrence of tuberculosis who will reside in Norway for more than three
months to take a tuberculosis test and chest x-ray within two weeks of
arrival. The examination is free of charge. Further information will be
provided upon arrival.
MOBILE PHONE
If you have an unlocked GSM mobile phone, you can bring it with you
and purchase a Norwegian SIM card.
You are required to have a tax deduction card when you work in
Norway. The tax deduction card shows how much your employer
should deduct from your salary.You can request a tax card from Skatt
st (Oslo Tax Office) once you have a job offer, by bringing your work
contract and your Residence Card/Registration Certificate to their office. Contact details: see p. 8.
ACADEMICS
WORK LOAD
Lectures are the most common way of teaching at BI. Students will experience varying degrees of interaction between the Professor/lecturer
(who is commonly addressed by his/her first name) and the students
during the lectures. Classes normally meet once or twice a week, in 2 or
3 x 45 minute long lecturers. Classes vary in size.
Coursework requirements
Most Bachelor level courses have assignments or tasks to be submitted during the semester. The right to take an examination depends on
fulfilled coursework requirements. You forfeit the right to take an examination if the required coursework has not been completed and submitted by the set deadline, or if the papers handed in are not approved.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Continuous assessment
Exchange students are required to read the course descriptions for each
course carefully, and make sure they fulfil the prerequisites before signing up for a course.
COURSE REGISTRATION
Degree-seeking students
All courses are mandatory in the first year of the programme (Bachelor/
Master), and students are registered for courses automatically.
Exchange students
You can choose freely from the list of courses offered to exchange students (available on @BI), as long as you fulfill the prerequisites. You
register for courses online before the semester starts. You will receive
detailed information about this from the International Office.
10
The online student portal @BI is your main source of information at BI.
You will receive a personal username and password. Log in to
access:
your BI student e-mail
your personal course list
your schedule
your interactive class rooms (its learning see below)
exam enrolment, dates and status
your grades
important information from the administration
EXAMINATIONS
ITS LEARNING
TUITION FEES
CALCULATOR
Degree seeking students will receive an invoice for the autumn semester tuition fees in August/September. The invoice for the spring
semester is issued in December. Exchange Students do not pay tuition
fees to BI.
GRADING SCALE
BI uses the ECTS grading system. The grade scale is A (highest) through
F (fail), with E as the lowest passing grade. Some examinations are
graded with Pass/Fail. The evaluation terms used for the grading scale
are as follows:
Registration is done online at the beginning of the semester, and requires the online payment of a course fee of NOK 1800 (subject to
change). There are limited seats available.
A Excellent
B Very good
C Good
D Satisfactory
E Sufficient
F Failed
Teaching time is 2 hours and 45 minutes twice a week for eight weeks.
The course is conluded with an oral and written exam.
More information about the Norwegian language course will be
provided at the beginning of the semester.
ON-CAMPUS FACILITIES
FOOD AND DRINK
BI does not offer a meal plan, but on-campus kiosks, coffee shops, a
large canteen and vending machines will help battle your hunger and
thirst: August 2015 sees the opening of a brand new student canteen
offering fresh, healthy and affordable food all day long.
To locate your destination, the first letter (A, B, C or D) and the following number (0-7) will help you: For example, the BI study administration (including the International Office, Bachelor- and Master
administration, Exam Office and Careers Service) can be found in C3
meaning C-block, 3rd floor.
Since October 2013 Kroa has been the hang out and meeting place of
BI students. It is the perfect place for a break after a long day of studies.
Kroa is also the place for frequent Coffee Hours, Language Tandem
Nights as well as other social gatherings.
BOOKSHOP
The Student Service Centre (SSC) is located in U1 (in Oasen). The SSC
can help you with:
Student ID card
information about SiO (the Student Welfare Organisation in Oslo),
preliminary transcripts of grades
submissions of term papers, projects and thesis
password and username
general student information
ATM
BI CAREERS SERVICE
IT SERVICES
THE LIBRARY
BIs library occupies 6500 sqare meters in the 5th and 6th floors of the
BI building. The 1400 study places include group rooms with AV equipment, as well as comfortable chairs where you can relax and admire the
view over Oslo.
12
PRACTICALITIES
BUSINESS HOURS
Please note that Norway is not part of the EU and goods bought online
from any country and shipped to Norway can be subject to custom
charges and 25% tax on top of the purchase price. Goods with a value
under NOK 200 and books of any value are exempt from tax and customs.
Shops are closed on Sundays and on public holidays, with the exception of some smaller food stores and convenience stores/kiosks like
7-Eleven, Narvesen and Deli de Luca.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
Norwegian national holidays may differ slightly from what you are used
to. On these days most commercial businesses are closed, no newspapers are printed and you can expect to struggle with irregular public
transport schedules.
New Years Day
Palm Sunday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
Labour day
Ascension Day
Constitution Day
Whit Sunday
Whit Monday
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
GROCERIES
The least expensive grocery stores are Rema 1000 and Kiwi. They offer
a basic selection of groceries, toiletries, etc. Head for Grnland, east of
the city centre, to find Turkish, Pakistani and south-east Asian grocery
stores with good selections of vegetables, fruit and international food
at a low-price.
IKEA is the largest and cheapest place to buy furniture, bed linen, decorations, kitchenware, textiles and more. There are two IKEA in the
Oslo area Furuset and Slependen. Furuset is most convenient. A free
shuttle bus service is available from the Central Station.
2015 2016
1 January
19 March
20 March
2 April
24 March
3 April
25 March
5 April
27 March
6 April
28 Marchl
1 May
14 May
5 May
17 May
24 May
15 May
25 May
16 May
25 December
26 December
SMOKING
In Norway the law restricts smoking. The law prohibits smoking in all
public buildings like the BI Campus, cinemas, municipal offices, railway
stations etc. It is also prohibited to smoke in restaurants, bars and cafs
all over Norway. Do not expect to be reminded by signs.
ELECTRICITY
European continental style two-pin plugs are standard in Norway. Voltage is 220 V AC, 50 Hz. Appliances rated US 110V need a transformer.
Packages sent to Norway must have your accurate address with your
street name, house number, flat/room number and preferably a phone
number where you can be reached written on it. If you live together
with someone the address must include c/o and this persons name as
indicated on the mailbox.
The age limit for buying beer and wine is 18. For buying hard liquors
the minimum age requirement is 20. If you are under 25, you are expected to show your ID without being requested when buying alcohol.
DRUGS
STUDENT LIFE
Being a student is not only about your studies! The
student environment at BI and in Oslo is active,
inspiring and including. We encourage you to participate! It will not only enrichen your Norwegian experience, but we believe it will make you a better student
as well.
SPECIAL NEEDS
Do you have a disability, illness or injury that requires special on-campus adaptations? Please contact Student Partner as early as possible,
and we will help you find the best solution to cover your needs.
STUDENT PARTNER
UNIVERSITY CHAPLAIN
Feelings, future, past and faith are all important parts of life. If you
want to reflect upon your life, the University Chaplain is here for you
regardless of faith. He knows about the different faith communities in
Oslo and can help you find yours while you are here.
You can make an appointment by e-mail: [email protected].
Initiated by the University Chaplain in his private apartment, the international dinner BI-nner has quickly grown into a successful tradition
at BI. Once a month, we now offer a free meal for up to 350 international and Norwegian students! Volunteers cook the meal, which we then
enjoy together. We invite you to like the page BI-nner on Facebook
to receive updates about upcoming BI-nner events
14
GET INVOLVED
The best way to get to know local students, is by
joining a student society. Norwegians tend to
socialize through organized activitites. Therefore,
you may not get to know people on the bus, but
you will definitely get to know someone if you join
a club or association.
GSS contributes to the social and academic life of Master of Science degree seeking and -exchange students at BI. GSS arranges various social
events for students to get acquainted with each other, build friendships
and have fun during their stay at BI. They also provide opportunities to
meet the Norwegian business community through business presentation events.
The MSc study programmes each have their own programme association as well.
The BI student union, SBIO, is created for and by students, and consists
of a wide range of sub-groups and associations, including academic
associations (one for each study programme), interest committees
(sports, politics, business, finance, hunting, outdoor life), special projects and events (career events, sports events, Buddy programme for
new students) and much more. Many associations are open for international students. Read more about SBIO online: sbio.no
BBA
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
CHATEAU NEUF
STUDENT SPORTS
The large concrete buidling situated at Majorstuen is home to the Norwegian Student Society (DNS).Chateau Neuf is open Monday through
Saturday, and offers food and beverages as well as concerts, plays, parties, debates, movies and much more at student friendly prices. Active
members can join more than 30 associations and subgroups.
BI Athletics is part of SBIO, and offers a range of sports related activities for
BI students. BI Athletics represents BI in various student championships
and they have active teams in sports like lacrosse, rowing, football,
basketball and activities like dancing, kiting and scuba diving.
OSI is an overall sports association for Oslo students. Whichever sports
activity you are interested in, you will find a sub-group to join.
See osi.no for further information.
15
DISCOVER OSLO
Situated between the forest and the fjord, Oslo offers a great variety
of activities and scenery. You can start the day eating breakfast on the
beach while watching the sunrise, enjoy the throbbing city life and vast
arrays of cafs, restaurants, galleries and shopping facilities downtown
during the day, and at night sit around a bonfire with your friends in
the woods overlooking the city.
Palace. The area surrounding it is home to other sights like the Akershus Fortress, the Cathedral, Nobel Peace Centre and the National Gallery. It is also a good place for people-watching and shopping.
Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen
Aker Brygge and adjacent up-and-coming Tjuvholmen are the most
expensive parts of town. An old industrial area, it is lovely for an evening stroll, people watching or a swim (there is a city beach at the
very end!), and for visiting the brand new Astrup Fearnley Museum of
Contemporary Art, but go somewhere else for lunch/dinner/drinks to
afford the rest of your stay
Oslo is big enough for all this to happen, but still small enough for you
to do it all in a day!
The capital of Norway is home to some 60 000 students, and offers
the perfect backdrop for you to lead an exciting and fulfilling student
life. Whatever your passion, you will find other students with the same
interests. Or maybe you want to take this opportunity to engage in something completely new and different?
Grnerlkka
Hip Grnerlkka is the place to go for a night out; with more than 60
restaurants, bars and cafees, the area attracts a lot of students. Grnerlkka is also the place to look out for small independent shops, as well
as second-hand shops. Some of the them are even open on Sundays
(including a flea market in Birkelunden and a handicraft/design market
at Bl in Brenneriveien).
If you enjoy live music, Oslo is definitely the city for you! Any day of
the week is a good day for a musical experience in this capital of music.
Enjoy international acclaimed artists or discover new talents within any
genre. Different concert venues are located across the city. Check out
venues like Parkteatret, Bl, Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Rockefeller
and the Norwegian Academy of Music.
www.billettservice.no is a good page for tickets. Oslo is also a great city
for festivals.
Grnland
Head to Grnland (east of the city centre) to find international shops
with fresh fruits and vegetables at lower prices. These shops may also
have items from your home country, which may not be available in the
main grocery stores.
RECREATIONAL AREAS
Nordmarka
This is where the inhabitants of Oslo find their peace. Explore this vast
forest area surrounding Oslo by foot, bike or on skis. Enjoy the view
from Vettakollen or Frognerseteren, or have a picnic by one of the
lakes. You are even allowed to spend the night under the skies if you
want to.
URBAN AREAS
Nydalen
BI campus is located in Nydalen, an old industrial area located next
to the river Akerselva, North of the city centre. Today it is an up-andcoming part of the city with modern architecture, thriving businesses
and vast possibilities for shopping and leisure. Storo Shopping Centre,
only a few minutes walk from BI, has a range of shops to cover all your
needs.
Parks
As soon as the sun appears in spring, Norwegians flock to the many
parks across the city. Nice ones include St.Hanshaugen (sometimes
with concerts on the open-air stage), Torshovparken, Frognerparken
(with the sculptural park Vigelandsparken) and Sofienbergparken.
A forty minute stroll along the mentioned Akerselva will take you
through charming neighbourhoods down to the Oslo Fjord in the city
centre. Within a ten minutes walk in the opposite direction lies the beautiful Nordmarka, the forest area surrounding Oslo to the North.
Islands
Your student ticket is also valid on public ferryboats, great for islandhopping in the summer season. Jump on and off charming little islands
at your own pace. Water temperatures can reach 22 degrees in summer.
City Centre
The main street, Karl Johans gate, runs East-West from the Central
Station past the Parliament, City Hall and National Theatre to the Royal
16
EXPLORE NORWAY
Friendly, down-to-earth people, unique scenery, summer nights bright as day and delightful snowy winters make Norway a very special country.
TRAIN
Trains are a comfortable way to travel in Norway. They can take you as
far north as Bod, by the island group of Lofoten. The train ride from
Oslo to Bergen is particularly beautiful, and well worth your time. Relax
and enjoy the view along the way, as the train takes you up and over
the mountains and down through the narrow valleys.
For the cheapest tickets, plan ahead and look for minipris tickets at
nsb.no. Minipris are non-refundable, but often cheaper than discounted student tickets.
Shipping, oil and gas, pulp and paper products, chemicals, shipbuilding and fishing are the most significant industries. Employment rates
remain currently high, and the prospects for economic growth are encouraging. International students are allowed to work part-time during
their studies.
AIRPLANE
Stretching 1 800 km from the South to the North, it may not come as a
surprise that Norway has one of the highest number of domestic flights
in the world. Between the mountains and the fjords, many towns are
served with a small airport.
Norway is a very safe country to live in. Its crime rate is amongst the
lowest in the world, and its environment and air are amongst the cleanest. A healthy living style is widely encouraged and promoted.
At the same time, the rest of Europe is never far away: if you need
some new impulses during your stay, you can fly to Berlin in 1,5 hours;
London in 2 hours; Rome in 4 hours Low-fare airlines provide relatively cheap tickets.
DRIVING IN NORWAY
EU citizens can use their original driving license while in Norway. NonEU citizens are allowed to use a foreign driving license for up to three
months before exchanging it for a Norwegian licence. Students who
bring their own car must get a driving permission from the customs.
Read more: toll.no and vegvesen.no/en/home
NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE
NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE
English is widely spoken and you can manage quite well in Norway
without knowing any Norwegian. However, knowing a few words and
phrases may be useful. The most important word is takk thank
you.
If you are invited to lunch or dinner it is customary to thank the host
for the meal when you leave the table. The phrase Takk for maten
means Thank you for the food.
Hello Hei
Goodbye
Ha det bra
Yes Ja
No Nei
Please
Vr s snill
Thanks
(Tusen) takk
You are welcome
Vrsgod
How are you?
Hvordan har du det?
Im fine
Bra takk
My name is
Jeg heter
Where is?
Hvor er?
Sorry
Unnskyld
Excuse me
Unnskyld meg
Cheers Skl
Im a vegetarian
Jeg er vegetarianer
How much is it?
Hvor mye kostedet?
I dont understand
Jeg forstr ikke
Do you speak English? Snakker du engelsk?
Can you help me?
Kan du hjelpe meg?
Numbers
1 En
2 To
3 Tre
4 Fire
5 Fem
6 Seks
7 Syv
8 tte
9
Ni
10 Ti
50 Femti
100 Hundre
1000 Tusen
18
CULTURAL ADVICE
ADDRESSING PEOPLE
You might find that some Norwegians may not agree with or follow
these guidelines. However, generally observing these will help you integrate into Norwegian culture.
SERVICE CHARGE
Service charge and tips are included in restaurant bills and taxi fares.
Tipping is not expected, but around 10% might be given if you are
pleased with the service given. In bars and cafes people will often leave
some change.
BEING LATE
Oslo and Norway have four distinct seasons. The weather is constantly
changing, but normally winters (Dec March) are cold, summers (June
August) are considered warm (according to Norwegian standards),
while spring and autumn connect the two in between. Parallel to the
seasons, the number of daylight hours varies from 6 hours in mid-December to 20 hours in mid-June.
SOCIAL CONVENTION
Norwegians are friendly, but you may find them reserved. However,
you will often get a positive response if you initiate contact
Norwegians are also known for their directness. Some find this rude,
but this is not intentional.
The egalitarian values at the root of the welfare state also manifest
themselves throughout Norwegian society in many ways for
instance in the field of gender equality. Women expect to be
treated with a more gender neutral attitude than in many other parts
of the world. Also, be aware that what some might consider
a light dress code is not necessarily meant to attract attention.
COMMON COURTESY
In March, the days are already noticeably longer, and you can feel the
warmth of the sun on good days. The first sign of spring is Norwegians
taking to the streets, enjoying the sunshine. This is the time when Oslo
comes alive again after its winter sleep. Outdoor cafs will be packed
with people as soon as the temperatures rise above the freezing point.
19
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Outside campus: +47 22 93 22 93
(Emergency ward Legevakten. Address: Storgata 40)
Exchange students:
International Office
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +47 46 41 02 27
Ambulance: 113
Tannlegevakt: +47 22 56 40 00 (Majorstua), +47 22 65 33 88 (rvoll)
Open all days 08:00-18:00
oslotannlegevakt.no (in Norwegian only)
Fire: 110 Police: 112 Ambulance: 113
March 2015