International Students Survival Guide

BI NORWEGIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL
EFMD
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
SURVIVAL GUIDE
Academic year 2012/13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BEFORE YOU GO
4
• Checklist – before departure
• Applying for an entry visa and residence permit
• Bank transfer
• Health insurance
• Housing
TRANSPORTATION
• Public transport
• How to get to BI
• Driving in Norway
• Parking at BI
• Biking
14
ACADEMICS
• Checklist – after arrival
• ID card and ID number
• Communication channels
• Semester fees
• Courses and course registration
• Examinations
• Grading scale
• Norwegian language course
• Important dates
8
ATTRACTIONS, ACTIVITIES AND
URBAN AREAS
15
• Attractions in Oslo
• Oslo Public Library
• Cinemas
• Urban areas
• Places for activities and recreation
• Travelling in Norway
CAMPUS FACILITIES
• Student Service Centre
• IT services
• Library
• Bookshop
• Student canteen and coffee bars
• Public phone
• Bank and ATM
• Career Services
• Nydalen Athletica - Gym
• Student Health Services
• Student Partner
11
STUDENT ORGANISATIONS
• SBIO
• BI Athletics
• InSA – International Students Association
• GSS – Graduate Students’ Society
• BBA – Bachelor of Business Administration
13
PRACTICALITIES
• Working in Norway
• Bank account
• Mobile phone
• Business hours
• Groceries
• Service Charge
• Electricity
• Sending packages to Norway
• National holidays
• Climate and clothing
• Norwegian law
17
CULTURAL ADVICE
• Norwegian language
19
EMERGENCY
• Emergency contact
19
WELCOME TO BI NORWEGIAN
BUSINESS SCHOOL
We would like to congratulate you on your decision to become a student at BI Norwegian Business
School. This International Students Survival Guide will provide you with practical information, both as a
student at BI and as a new resident in Norway. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
The Student Administration and the International Office are responsible for the welfare of
international students during their stay at BI. Please contact us if you have any questions.
NORWAY
Friendly, down-to-earth people, unique scenery, summer nights bright as
day and delightful snowy winters make Norway a very special country.
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.
Norway’s wonderful nature and countryside simply invite to exciting
outdoor activities all year around: mountain hiking, climbing, hunting,
cycling, rafting, swimming, golf, sailing, skiing and more. Alternatively
you can relax and enjoy the view of breathtaking fjords and landscapes.
Each season has its own special features and charm. In the summer,
temperatures range between +15 and 25 Celsius.
It is easy for a foreigner to feel at home in Norway. English is widely
spoken and coping with day-to-day life in Norway doesn’t require
proficiency in Norwegian. There are just over 4.9 million Norwegians,
most of them living in urban areas.
ABOUT BI
BI Norwegian Business School is an internationally recognized and
accredited institution located in Oslo, the capital of Norway.
BI has one of Europe's largest and most productive academic
environments in the area of business economics and administration,
marketing and management.
BI is a school for students who want a wide scope, accessibility
and flexibility, as well as depth, specialization and international
perspective. It received EQUIS accreditation from the European
Foundation for Management Development in 1999 and was
reaccredited in 2005 and 2010.
• Equis accreditation since 1999 and reaccredited in 2005 and 2010
• Research oriented
• Wide range of educational programmes taught in English:
Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Shipping
Management, Master of Science, PhD and Executive MBA
programmes
• State-of-the-art learning and teaching facilities
• 9500 full-time students and 10400 part-time students
• Oslo Campus holds over 9000 undergraduate and postgraduate
students
OSLO
 A DIFFERENT EUROPEAN CAPITAL
Few other capitals can offer such a variety of activities and scenery as
Oslo. You may have breakfast at the beach watching the seagulls
following a fishing boat. Lunch you may choose to have at a downtown
café listening to the sounds of the metropolis. For dinner, you can
probably find a restaurant true to your taste, from whichever part of the
world you are. And at night you may choose to throw yourself into a
throbbing nightlife or sit around a bonfire with your friends in the woods
overlooking the city. Oslo is big enough for all this to happen, but still
small enough for you to do it all in a day!
Read more about BI at www.bi.edu/about-BI
3
BEFORE YOU GO
1. Citizens of an EU/EEA country – can enter Norway
on the basis of their Passport or EU Identity card
CHECKLIST  BEFORE DEPARTURE
❐ If you need a visa or residence permit prior to arrival;
After arriving in Norway, EU/EEA/EFTA citizens need to make a
registration online at https://selfservice.udi.no and schedule an
appointment at the Service Center for Foreign Workers in Oslo to show
the following documents:
• a valid EU identity card or passport
• BI admission letter
• private health insurance or European health insurance card
(valid for the whole period of your stay in Norway)
• personal declaration stating that you have sufficient funds/finances to
support yourself. For the year 2012/2013 the amount is NOK 9250,per month.
have you applied?
❐ Have you signed the housing contract?
❐ Do you have insurance?
❐ Have you submitted the course registration form?
ENTRY VISA AND
RESIDENCE PERMIT
Please read this section carefully and start the process as early as possible.
Please note that it is your responsibility to obtain the correct visa to enter
Norway.
Service Center for Foreign Workers (EU/EEA citizens)
Address: Schweigaardsgate 17, desks no. 22 to 25
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00-14:30
2. Citizens of the following countries can enter Norway
on the basis of their passport:
INFORMATION FOR ALL
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
A permit is required for all students intending to stay in Norway for more
than three months. The information below is not applicable for citizens of
Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland who do not need a permit to be
in Norway.
Andorra, Albania (holders of biometric passports), Argentina, Australia
Bermuda (BDTC passport), Bosnia and Herzegovina (holders of
biometric passports), Brazil, Brunei
Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR passports and BNO passports)
Israel
Japan
Republic of Korea
Macau (SAR passport), Macedonia (holders of biometric passports),
Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro (holders of biometric passports)
New Zealand, Nicaragua
Panama, Paraguay
San Marino, Serbia (holders of biometric passports), Singapore
Taiwan (holders of Taiwanese passports that contain an ID card
number)
Uruguay, the USA
The Vatican City State, Venezuela
Citizens of the counties listed above do not need a visa to enter
Norway but are advised to apply for a residence permit before coming
to Norway. Exchange students can enter Norway before the residence
permit has been granted or apply when they are already in Norway.
Degree seeking students cannot enter Norway before their residence
permit has been granted.
To apply, please go to https://selfservice.udi.no and fill in the online
application. After submitting the application, book an appointment at
the nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate to submit your
supporting documents.
The following supporting documents must be submitted
with the application:
a) BI admission letter
b) Copy of your passport (all pages)
c) If you are a degree seeking student you are required to deposit NOK
9250,- per month + tuition fee in BI’s bank account. The confirmation
of the money transfer must be enclosed. Bank transfer information can
be found on the next page.
Within five days after arriving in Norway, you need to make an
appointment at the Foreign Police in Oslo to receive your residence permit.
4
3. Citizens of all other countries - not mentioned in the categories 1
and 2 above – need an entry visa to travel to Norway (Schengen
Area) and cannot enter Norway (Schengen area) before the entry
visa has been issued. We strongly advise you to apply at least three
months in advance of your travel date.
OPEN DAY FOR REGISTRATION
WITH THE FOREIGN POLICE
Most visa applications can be done online through
https://selfservice.udi.no. After submitting the application, book an
appointment at the nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate to submit
your application supporting documents. Applicants who cannot yet
register their applications online must submit a paper application form to
the nearest embassy or consulate.
 SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AUTUMN 2012
On Saturday 18 August the Foreign Police will be open only for
students.
Citizens of all countries outside EU/EEA are invited to go
and show their documents on this day, even if this is later than
five days after arrival.
The processing time for your residence permit will be considerably
shorter if you register on this day.
The following supporting documents must be submitted
with the application:
a) BI admission letter
b) Copy of your passport (all pages)
c) If you are a degree seeking student you are required to deposit
NOK 9250,- per month + tuition fee in BI’s bank account.
The confirmation of the money transfer must be enclosed.
Bank transfer information can be found on the next page.
There is no open day for EU/EEA citizens. You must visit the Serivice
Center for Foreign Workers at your appointment time.
Within five days after arriving in Norway, you need to make an
appointment at the Foreign Police in Oslo to receive your residence permit.
Foreign Police (all other citizens)
Before visiting the Foreign Police office, an appointment must
be made by calling 22 34 21 00
Monday to Friday between 08:15 and 10:00.
Address :
Schweigaardsgate 15 B
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday, 08:15 – 15:00
ELECTRONIC BANK TRANSFER
(Applicable to degree seeking students or other international students
who need to transfer money to BI)
Please deposit the correct amount to the bank account of:
BI Norwegian Business School
Nydalsveien 37
0442 Oslo - Norway.
Account number 8200.01.39838
Swift-/BIC address: DNBANOKKXXX
IBAN: NO1182000139838.
Bank address:
DnBNOR Bank ASA
0021 Oslo, Norway
(Please mark the payment with, your name and MSc, BBA or exchange)
The swift address and IBAN code can be used to send payments
electronically. Contact your local bank for details.
Please make sure that your bank confirms that the funds:
- are personal, including your name on the transfer documents,
– are to cover your costs related to the expenses for your study period at
BI Norwegian Business School.
The money will be available for you and can be withdrawn at any time
from your programme administration, or transferred to a Norwegian bank
account after you arrive in Norway.
5
HEALTH INSURANCE
Students who live elsewhere must contact their local National
Insurance Office (NAV). It is important to keep in mind that under
the National Insurance Scheme, you are not covered when travelling
outside Norway. If you plan to travel around Europe during your stay
in Norway, we recommend you to purchase private insurance.
STUDENTS FROM EU/EEA COUNTRIES
Students from EU/EEA countries are required to have medical insurance
from their home country. Both the European Health Insurance Card and
private insurance are accepted as long as they cover the entire period of
your stay in Norway.
3. Students who do not fill in the Voluntary Membership application
during their stay in Norway, or students who stay in Norway less than
three months must have medical and travel insurance from their home
country.
STUDENTS FROM COUNTRIES OUTSIDE EU/EEA
1. If the duration of your stay in Norway is of more than 12 months, you
are automatically part of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
The scheme does not cover dental care and medical treatment of illness
contracted before arrival in Norway. Keep in mind that the insurance
offers coverage when travelling in the EU, but not outside the EU.
2. If the duration of your stay in Norway is more than 3 months
(and less than 12 months) we recommend you to apply for Voluntary
Membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. To apply
for Voluntary Membership, you need a copy of your residence permit,
a copy of your passport page and an “Application for insurance during
stay in Norway”. With these documents, you should visit one of the
NAV offices below, depending on the student housing you live in.
ADDRESSES OF THE LOCAL NORWEGIAN NATIONAL INSURANCE OFFICES
NAV:
FOR RESIDENTS AT KRINGSJÅ,
SOGN AND BSN
NAV Nordre Aker
Gullhaugveien 7, Oslo
P.B. 320, Alnabru, 0614 Oslo
Opening hours: 0800-1500
Tel: 21 06 67 00
FOR RESIDENTS AT BJØLSEN
NAV SAGENE
Thv. Meyersgate 9, Oslo
P.B. 305, Alnabru, 0614 Oslo
Opening hours: 0800-1500
Tel: 21 06 68 20
FOR RESIDENTS AT BJERKE
NAV BJERKE
Økern senteret, Økernveien 145
P.B. 319, Alnabru, 0614 Oslo
Opening hours: 0800-1500
Tel: 21 06 82 60
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HOUSING
SIO VS BSN
BI Norwegian Business School assists exchange students and first year
international degree seeking students in finding accommodation.
To benefit from BI’s assistance, you must fill in a pre-application for
housing at www.bi.edu/housing.
SiO
www.sio.no
BSN
www.bsn.no
Location
3-15 minutes by public
transport from campus
A 5 minute walk
from campus
Rent
Between NOK 1.700 - 7.500 NOK 4.120 (Please note that
per month
all rent has to be paid in
advance, including the deposit)
Deposit
NOK 3.000 - 5.000
NOK 4.100
Electricity
Fixed or as consumed
As consumed. Fixed amount for
hot water (120 NOK a month)
Furniture
Furnished with a bed,
closets, chair and desk
Furnished with a bed, closets,
bookshelf, chair and desk
Kitchenware
No
No
No
Bed linen,
pillows & blankets
No
Website
There are several dormitories for BI students. This is usually the cheapest
way to live in Oslo and a good way to meet other students. It is also
possible to find private accommodation, but rental prices are
comparatively higher.
We offer housing to our students through two partners:
BSN NYDALEN
BSN Nydalen is located a few minutes from campus. They offer a number
of different rooms and facilities like squash court, laundry room, roof
terrace, broadband Internet and cable TV.
SIO  THE FOUNDATION FOR STUDENT LIFE
IN OSLO AND AKERSHUS
SiO provides affordable housing for students in Oslo. The Foundation has
more than 7500 rooms and apartments at different rates around Oslo and
Akershus.
WHERE IS BI NORWEGIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL
LOCATED
Rooms
Private bedrooms.
Both private or shared
bathroom and kitchen.
Apartment with two private
bedrooms. Two people share
kitchen and bathroom.
Internet
Yes
Yes
Questions regarding housing can be directed to
BI’s housing office: housing@bi.no
T
T
You can also find useful information on
www.bi.edu/housing.
Holmenkollen
HOW ARE THE ROOMS EQUIPPED?
T
T
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.
T
Nydalen
Ullevål Stadion
T
T
T
Storo
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION
Blindern
Private accommodation is usually more expensive than dormitories.
T SinsenThe price for renting a one-bedroom apartment in Oslo is a minimum of
NOK 7000-10000. Many students choose to share a flat with other
students (usually 2-4 people).
Expect to pay NOK 5000 - 7000 for a room.
Majorstuen
Akerse
lva
T
T
Advertisements for private accommodation can be found in newspapers
and on the Internet. The ‘Aften’ evening paper and the following websites
are recommended sources.
Nationalteateret
T
The Royal Palace
www.finn.no
www.hybel.no
www.utleiemegleren.no
Stortinget
Oslo City Hall
T
Central
Station Oslo S
T
T
The Parliament
Aker Brygge
The
Norwegian
Opera
Vippetangen
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ACADEMICS
CHECKLIST  AFTER ARRIVAL
❐
❐
Get your Student ID card from the Student Service Centre
Attend the information meetings set up for your student
group/study programme
❐
❐
Check your time table (www.bi.edu/schedule)
Get an overview of compulsory literature for your
courses/study programme
❐
Register at the Foreign Police/Service Center for Foreign Workers
ID CARD AND ID NUMBER
All BI students get a personal student card at the start of the semester.
Your ID number is printed to the student card. On your first day at BI,
please go to the Student Service Centre in U1 to have your picture taken
and get the card processed. The card is used as proof of identity in BI as
well as for the public transportation authorities, as library card, on
vending machines, at the document centre and for copying and printing.
You can top up the card either by using cash at a machine inside the
Student Service Center, or by using your bank card at a terminal just
outside the Student Service Centre. In case you loose your card, you will
need to pay a replacement fee of NOK 150.
The student ID card is valid only with the semester tag on the back.
This tag should be attached to your ID card at the Student Service Center.
Please ask for it if the card does not have the tag.
OTHER COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
ONLINE COURSE SCHEDULE  WWW.BI.EDU/SCHEDULE
The online schedule contains information about all activities at BI in
Nydalen. Please note that the schedule also shows courses taught in
Norwegian. Bachelor students should be aware that courses taught in
English and Norwegian may have the same name in English.
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AT BI
We are currently in process of implementing a new one login
communication platform for students at BI. The implementation is
scheduled to be finalized in the end of August 2012.
In the meantime, we will continue to use the information channels below.
Please familiarize yourself with the various platforms as they are central
to your learning at BI. For safety reasons, many of them require a
username and password.
SMS MESSAGES
SMS messages are used for giving important information on short notice,
for instance if a lecture has been cancelled. The service is free of charge.
Please register your Norwegian mobile phone number (if you have one)
on Banner Student-Web.
Important! Make sure you register it as “mobile”, not as “private”.
BANNER STUDENTWEB  WWW.BI.EDU/BANNER
On Banner StudentWeb you can update your address, telephone number
and e-mail. You can access your personal schedule, and register for and
withdraw from exams. You will also find various student services, such as
your examination results and the preliminary examination protocol. Please
remember to always keep your contact information updated!
TUITION FEES
Degree seeking students will receive an invoice for payment of the
autumn semester fee in August/September. The invoice for the spring
semester is issued in December. Exchange Students do not pay semester
fees to BI.
IT’S LEARNING  HTTP://BI.ITSLEARNING.COM
BI uses “It’s learning” as a publication tool for lecture notes and information from the student administration. “It’s learning” also serves as a
student portal with access to electronic services and information about
IT services, library resources, student associations etc. Most of the
administrative and academic information for students is only accessible
via “It’s learning”.
COURSE REGISTRATION
EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Bachelor courses:
Deadline for course registration is July 20 for the autumn semester and 10
December for the spring semester. An add/drop period for those needing
to make changes will take place in the first week of the semesters:
Autumn add/drop: August 20 – 27
Spring add/drop: January 7 – 14
Master courses:
Deadline for course registration is July 1 for the autumn semester and
December 1 for the spring semester. An add/drop period for those
needing to make changes will follow:
Autumn add/drop: July 1 – August 1
Spring add/drop: December 1 - 15
Registration forms will be published online: www.bi.edu/incoming
ONLINE STUDENT HANDBOOK
www.bi.edu/studenthandbook
The Student Handbook contains syllabuses, course descriptions,
literature lists, regulations, exam information and other important
student information.
EMAIL  HTTP://WEBMAIL.STUDENT.BI.NO
As a student you will be given a personal e-mail address of this format:
Firstname.Lastname@student.bi.no. Important student information is
sent to this email address and you are obliged to check it regularly.
8
BACHELOR STUDENTS
All courses are mandatory in the first year of the programme and no
registration is required.
MASTER STUDENTS
All courses are mandatory in the first and second year of the programme
and no course registration is required.
AUTUMN 2012
• First year students are automatically registered for courses.
• Second year students are automatically registered for mandatory
courses.
Online registration of electives is available from 15 June – 1 July.
SPRING 2013
• First year students are automatically registered for courses.
• Second year students are automatically registered for
mandatory courses.
• Online registration of electives from 15 November – 1 December.
Registrations will not be accepted after the deadline. Please note that
MSc students who want to retake exams must sign up for the course at
the beginning of the semester, by 1 July for the autumn semester and 1
December for the spring semester.
EXAMINATIONS
Examinations are held in November/December (autumn semester) and in
May/June (spring semester). You will automatically be enrolled for the
exams to the courses you are signed up for. The examination plan for the
autumn semester is posted on the web in September. The plan for the
spring semester is normally available in December/January.
GRADING SCALE
The gradeing scale is based on the ECTS (European Credit Transfer
System) standard. Grades awarded for examinations, tests, evaluation of
papers or other forms of evaluation are either Passed/Failed or on a scale
of grades with five levels from A to E for passed and F for failed. The poorest pass grade for an examination is the grade E. The evaluation terms
used for the grading scale are as follows:
You can withdraw from, or change your examinations via Banner Student
Web. The deadline for making changes is week 40 in the autumn
semester and week 10 in the spring semester.
A Excellent
B Very good
C Good
D Satisfactory
E Sufficient
F Failed
PREVIOUS EXAMINATION PAPERS
Foer each course at BI previous exams and solutions are published in the
Student Handbook at www.bi.edu/studenthandbook - Previous
examinations.
CALCULATOR
In some courses, at the exam you will be allowed an advanced calculator.
The only accepted advanced calculator for examinations at BI is the Texas
Instruments (TI) model, BAII Plus. It can be bought at the Akademika
Bookshop on Campus and will cost about NOK 400. There are also
calculators on loan for Exchange students at the Student Service Centre.
NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE COURSE
BI offers Norwegian language courses to international students. Each
course costs NOK 1800 and must be paid upon registering for the course.
In addition, students will use the textbook "Norsk på 1-2-3" available for
purchase at the campus bookstore for approximately NOK 440. More information about the courses offered will be sent to you from the
International Office and will be posted online at www.bi.edu/incoming.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EXAMS:
www.bi.edu/exam
www.bi.edu/studenthandbook
NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE COURSE AUTUMN 2012
Norwegian Level One courses will be offered starting end of August. The
courses run for eight weeks, followed by an exam in the 9th week. There
are two lectures per week from 18:00 to 20:45.
NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE COURSE SPRING 2013
A Norwegian Level One course and one Norwegian Level Two course will
be offered starting the end of January. The second level uses the same
book and builds on knowledge accumulated in the level one course.
There are limited seats on each course and allocation is done on a first
come, first serve basis. The registration and payment form will be made
available via email.
The courses are not part of BI’s curriculum and do not give any credits.
The courses are conluded by a Norwegian language test. Students who
take the test receive a certificate.
9
IMPORTANT DATES
EXCHANGE STUDENTS
MSC STUDENTS
Autumn 2012
May 1
March 15
March 15
Application Deadline for Incoming Exchange
and double degree
May 1
Housing pre-application deadline
June 15 – July 1 Master course registration period
July 5 – July 20
Bachelor course registration period
July 1 – August 1 Add/drop period for master courses
August 1
Return the pick-up form with your arrival date,
time and flight number
August 10 – 13 Pick-up days
August 14 – 20 Introduction days
Social activities, General Information meeting,
and Intercultural Workshop.
August 20
Classes start
August 20 – 27 Add/Drop period for bachelor courses
Mid Nov – Dec 21 Final Exams
December 21
Last day of the semester.
NB! Do not book your return ticket until your exam dates have been
announced.
May 1
June 15 – July 1
August 10
August 14 – 17
August 20
Sept 17 – Oct 7
Scholarship application deadline
Application deadline. admission on a rolling
basis until semester start
Housing application deadline for
international students
Electronic Course registration for
the autumn semester
Final deadline for course registration for
exchange students
Introduction days with matriculation Ceremony,
Introduction Case, General information meeting,
Information meetings for the different master
programmes and Intercultural Workshop.
Classes start
Application for special arrangements in connection
with examinations
Mid Nov – Dec 21 Final exams
November 15
Electronic Course registration for the springsemester
December 1
Electronic Course registration ends (final deadline for
1st and 2nd year students)
December 21
Last day of the semester.
Spring 2013
October 1
Application deadline for Incoming Exchange
October 1
Housing pre-application deadline
Nov 15 – Dec 1 Master course registration period
Nov 15 – Dec 10 Bachelor course registration period
December 1 – 15 Add/drop period for master courses
January 4 – 10
Introduction days
January 7
Classes start
March 24 – April 1 Easter holiday
Mid April– June 14Final Exams
June 14 (tentative) Last day of the semester.
NB! Do not book your return ticket until your exam dates have been
announced.
Do not make any travel arrangements before your
exam dates have been announced!
January 7
February 1
Classes start
Deadline for applying for an exchange semester or
double degree for academic year 2012/2013
Feb 18 – March 10 Application for special arrangements in connection
with examinations
Late April – June Final exams
June 14
Last day of the semester (tentative date)
NB! Do not book your return ticket until your exam dates have been
announced.
BACHELOR STUDENTS
April 15
May 1
August 14 – 17
August 20
Sept 17 – Oct 07
Application Deadline
Housing Application Deadline
Introduction Week
Classes start
Exam registration period/Application for special
arrangements in connection with examinations
Mid Nov – Dec 21 Final Exams
December 21 Last day of the semester. Do not make any travel
arrangements before your exam dates have been
announced!
January 7
Classes start
February 1
Deadline for applying for an exchange
semester abroad
(applies to second year students)
Feb 18 – March 10 Exam registration period /Application for special
arrangements in connection with examinations
May – June
Final Exams
June 14
Last day of the semester.
NB! Do not book your return ticket until your exam dates have been
announced.
10
CAMPUS FACILITIES
THE STUDENT SERVICE CENTRE
The Student Service Centre (SSC) is located in U1 (opposite the cafeteria).
The SSC can help you with: ID cards, information about SiO, preliminary
transcripts of grades, various confirmations, submissions of term papers,
projects and thesis, various forms, password and username and general
information.
IT SERVICES
There are 200 workstations located in hallways and PC labs. In addition
there are 350 workstations in the library. All work stations are connected
to laser printers. Most areas have wireless network connections and you
will find it useful to bring your own laptop. You can connect a laptop to
BI’s network by wireless connection or a normal Ethernet card.
To use BI’s IT services you must be a registered user with a user identity
provided by BI. When logging onto the IT systems, you must always use
your own user identity and password. The user identity and password are
strictly confidential and must not be shared with others. Should you
nonetheless become aware of, or suspect, that a password has been made
available to others, please contact the IT department immediately. It is
forbidden to use other students’ identities and/or passwords.
OASEN STUDENT CAFETERIA AND COFFEE BARS
If you have any IT-related questions, feel free to contact the IT advisors in
BU1, (next to the Student Service Centre) or on Facebook – BIT support.
The cafeteria in U1 serves everything from sandwiches, pizza, noodles to
more traditional Norwegian dinners. There are also two coffee bars and a
convenience store on Campus.
THE LIBRARY
PUBLIC PHONE
BI’s library occupies 6500 sqare meters in the 5th and 6th floors of the BI
building. It offers 1400 study places, from group rooms with AV equipment
to confortable chairs where you can relax and admire the view over Oslo.
A public phone is located next to the Student Service Centre in BU1.
BANK AND ATM
Sparebank 1 is located on campus in Block D, 1st floor. ATMs can be
found outside the bank and in the Student Cafeteria in AU1.
THE LIBRARY OFFERS :
• Books, periodicals, papers and databases
• 480 individual reading places
• 320 open plan group workplaces for students
• 46 group rooms and 8 AV rooms
• 350 PC workplaces
• Social zones with 250 seats
• Accessable for disabled
BI CAREERS SERVICE
BI Careers Service offers comprehensive services to BI students, whether
they are in the process of applying for jobs or just curious on how to meet
the labour market at the end of their studies. Some of their services are
CV and application check, job search course, career counseling, career
days and more. The BI Careers Services is located in C3.
For more information see www.bi.edu/career.
Read more: www.bi.edu/library
GYM FOR STUDENTS  NYDALEN ATHLETICA
BOOKSHOP
You will find a large and well equipped gym in Block D, 2nd floor. The
price for a one-semester membership is NOK 1300 (prices may change).
See www.sio.no/english for more information.
There is a book shop, Akademika, on Campus. Akademika stocks all books
on the compulsory literature lists in addition to fiction, stationary,
periodicals, magazines and more.
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STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES AND STUDENT
COUNSELLING
STUDENT PARTNER
Student Health Services are located in block D, 2nd floor in the BI building and provide general health care and student social counselling. Clinical
psychology/psychiatry (tlf. 22 85 31 81 from 08.00 am – 3.00 pm )
and basic dental care (tlf 22 85 32 15 from 08.00 am till 09.00 am.)
are available to BI students at the University of Oslo, Blindern
( www.sio.no/english).
Students staying in Norway for longer than 6 months can register their
General Physician GP (Fastlege) at the Student Health Services provided
that they apply for a Norwegian Birth Number/Social Security Number. If
you are registered with your GP at the Student Health Services, you will
get some of the expenses from GP visits refunded. Refunding is not possible for e.g. blood tests, vaccinations and for health certificates that are
not related to ongoing studies. Please bring your Vaccination Card to
doctor appointments.
As a student, your main job is to grow academically. We believe you have
the ability to do better in your studies if you also grow as a person.
Student Partner aims to make your daily student life outside your lectures
as good as possible.
WELFARE OFFERS
Student Partner ensures that students have access to welfare services,
mainly through our partnership with SiO, the Foundation for Student Life
in Oslo. You are automatically a member as a BI-student. This gives you
access to services such as the fitness center, health care and student housing.
MASTERING YOUR STUDYING
Good study techniques can help you take control of your studies and
achieve more effective learning. Student Partner offers guidance to help
you do as well as possible during your studies at BI.
Students staying less than 6 months will not receive a Norwegian Birth
Number/Social Security Number and can not register for a GP in Norway.
According to legislation in Norway, consultation fees will be about 50%
higher in your case.
UNIVERSITY CHAPLAIN, NILS JØRAN RIEDL
Nils Jøran is here to be of support and assistance for students who want
someone to talk to. Conversations with the chaplain are confidential, and
you are welcome to contact him. Appointments can be made by sending
an SMS to: 0047 46 41 02 85 or an email to: studentprest@bi.no.
OPENING HOURS FOR THE STUDENTS HEALTH SERVICE AT BI:
Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 15:30.
FREE DINNER CLUB  BINNER
The University Chaplain is inviting all students to our mothly dinner-club,
BI-nner. We cook together and enjoy a free meal together once a month.
This is a great way to meet both Norwegian and international students.
For more information see www.bi.edu/binner
Read more: www.sio.no/english - health
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
The Emergency Service in Oslo (Legevakten) Tel: 22 93 22 93
Address: Legevakten, Storgata 40
ROOM OF FAITH AND REFLECTION
EMERGENCY/AMBULANCE:
Tel: 113
Students at BI have access to a Room of Faith and Reflection. This is a
quiet space which students can use for reflection, meditation or prayer.
EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE
Oslo Tannlegevakt provides urgent dental care
Tel: 22 56 40 00 (Majorstua), 22 65 33 88 (Årvoll)
Monday – Sunday 08.00-22.00
Read more: www.oslotannlegevakt.no (in Norwegian only).
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION
WITH YOUR STUDIES
Do you have a disability, illness or injury that requires special adaptations?
Please contact us so we can help you fint the most convenient solution.
We encourage you to make contact as early as possible and preferably
prior to the start of your studies.
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STUDENT ORGANISATIONS
SBIO  HTTP://SBIO.NO
BBA  BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINIST
RATION  HTTP://BBA.SBIO.NO
The BI student union, SBIO, has a wide range of activities and various
sub-groups, including sports, politics, business, events and more. We
encourage all students to contact the student union if they would like to
join one of the groups.
Bachelors of Business Administration and Shipping Management
students have their own student organisation called BBA.
The organisation is a liason between the administration and students.
They organise yearly trips, parties and activities for full time and
exchange students alike.
SBIO  FADDERULLAN  HTTP://SBIO.NO
Fadderullan is what we at BI call the Introduction Days for new students.
The purpose of Fadderullan is to ensure that all new students get a good
start to their studies, get to know other students and get a glimpse of the
BI culture. During Fadderullan, there will be parties, concerts and other
social activities to give all new students a flying start to their new student
life. As a new student you will be part of a buddy group with a dedicated
group of buddies who will be there for you all the ten days of
Fadderullan.
SBIO  BI ATHLETICS  HTTP://SBIO.NO
One of the most popular subgroups of SBIO is BI Athletics, offering
students a range of sports related activites and experiences. BI Athletics
represents BI in various student championships and they have active
teams in sports like lacrosse, rowing, football and basketball. Also on offer
are activities like dancing, kiting and scuba diving.
INSA  INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AS
SOCIATION  HTTP://INSA.SBIO.NO
InSA’s aim is to integrate international exchange students into the
Norwegian student environment. InSA is responsible for the social
programme, including the pick-up service for exchange students. InSA
has an extensive programme of events including trips, sightseeing,
parties, visits to museums and dinners for both international and
Norwegian students. Each semester, InSA creates two facebook groups
for exchange students called InSA @ BI Fall 2012 and InSA @ BI Spring
2013 which you are all invited to join.
GSS  GRADUATE STUDENTS’ SOCIETY 
HTTP://GSS.SBIO.NO
GSS’s main objective is to contribute to both the social and academic life
of Master of Science and master exchange students at BI. GSS arranges
various social events for students to get acquainted with eachother, build
friendships and have fun during their study time at BI, in addition to
providing opportunities to meet the business community.
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TRANSPORTATION
HOW TO GET TO BI FROM SOGN STUDENT VILLAGE
Subway 4 towards Ringen or Subway 5 towards Storo
From:
Ullevål stadion (T-bane)
To:
Nydalen (T-bane)
PUBLIC TRANSPORT  WWW.RUTER.NO
Oslo can easily be reached by car, ferry, train, bus or plane. All trains arrive
at Oslo Central Station (Oslo S), while buses to and from the airport and
other cities arrive at and leave from Oslo Bus Terminal. Public transport is
the most convenient way to travel within Oslo. There is an extensive
transportation system consisting of trains, buses, ferries, trams and subways.
HOW TO GET TO BI FROM BJERKE STUDENT HOUSE
Bus 58 towards Nydalen o/Bjerke
From:
Bjerke (the north side of Trondheimsveien)
To:
Gullhaugveien
TICKETS AND RATES
Tickets are bought from special ticket machines, convenience stores such
as Narvesen, 7 Eleven or Deli de Luca or from the driver on busses (not
on trams, trains, ferries or subway). A single ticket within Oslo, valid for
one hour, is NOK 30 if you buy it from a machine and NOK 50 if you buy
it from the driver. A 24 hour ticket is NOK 75 while a monthly student
travel pass is NOK 380.
HOW TO GET TO BI FROM PILESTREDET PARK
STUDENT HOUSE
Bus 37 towards Nydalen T
From:
Stensberggata
To:
Nydalen T
HOW TO GET TO BI FROM BJØLSEN STUDENT VILLAGE
The fastest way to get from Bjølsen Student Dormitory to BI is to walk.
Total journey time: Approximately 10 minutes. You can also walk to
Bjølsen bus stop in Bergensgata and take Bus 37 towards Nydalen T. It
takes 4 minutes by buss to get to BI from Bjølsen.
The monthly student travel pass can be bought from any ticket machine
or convenience store in Oslo. The pass is electronic and only valid when
used together with your student ID card. Please read about student ID
card in the section Academics on page 8.
After the month expires, you can top up the card with a new month. You
always have to scan the card the first time you use it after it has been
topped up. The travel pass can be used on all public transportation within
the city borders of Oslo, including the ferry to the Oslo Fjord Islands.
HOW TO GET TO BI FROM BSN
You can walk from BSN to BI in just five minutes.
DRIVING IN NORWAY
Please be aware that there are periodic controls on all public
transportation. If you are caught without a valid ticked the fine is
NOK 750 on the spot and NOK 900 if you are sent an invoice.
EU citizens can use their original driving license while in Norway. Non-EU
citizens are allowed to use the driving license obtained in their home
country 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: www.toll.no and
www.vegvesen.no/en/home
PARKING AT BI
There are 280 free parking spaces for students on Campus. The first come,
first served principle applies, and you enter by using your student card.
When all free parking spaces are taken, you will have to pay for parking
your car. Europark operates the parking house, and you need to respect
their parking regulations.
BIKING
Bicycles can be bought in all major sportswear stores and specialised
bicycle stores. You can also check www.finn.no for used bikes. Outside BI
there are bicycle racks where you can lock your bicycle during lectures.
Make sure to always lock your bike carefully as theft is common.
HOW TO GET TO BI
Subway: Line 4 Ringen and line 5 Storo take you to Nydalen Subway
Station, which is located right next to BI. It takes about 12 minutes to
travel to BI from downtown Oslo.
The city of Oslo has city-bikes you can borrow for up to three hours by
using a special city-bike card. The city bikes are stationed at more than 60
different places downtown and are available between 06:00 and 24:00
every day. The yearly fee is NOK 90 (2012). The city-bike card can be
ordered online at www.ruter.no.
Bus: Bus number 37 stops at BI’s main entrance and bus number 30 at the
eastern entrance. Both busses run to and from the city centre.
USEFUL WEBSITES:
Trams: Tram number 11, 12 and 13 take you to and from Storo, a five
minute walk from BI.
HOW TO GET TO BI FROM KRINGSJÅ STUDENT VILLAGE
Subway 3 towards Mortensrud
From:
Kringsjå (T-bane)
To:
Ullevål Stadion (T-bane)
Subway 4 towards Ringen or Subway 5 towards Storo
From:
Ullevål Stadion (T-bane)
To:
Nydalen (T-bane)
14
Oslo airports:
Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL)
Oslo Torp Airport (TRF):
Oslo Rygge Airport (RYG):
www.osl.no
www.torp.no
www.ryg.no
Other transportation
Norwegian Railways (NSB)
Airport express train
Public transportation in Oslo
www.nsb.no
www.flytoget.no
www.ruter.no
ATTRACTIONS, ACTIVITIES
AND URBAN AREAS
Along with the world class art that you would expect of a European
capital city, Oslo has sights that appeal to a broad range of interests: a
vibrant city life, fjords, forests and lakes that all can be reached by public
transportation.
THE CITY CENTRE AROUND KARL JOHAN STREET
The area is a pedestrian precinct with many clothing stores, restaurant, bars,
hotels and cinemas. Larger shopping malls and department stores in the
area are Oslo City, Byporten, Glassmagasinet, Steen & Strøm, Paleet and
Aker Brygge.
Oslo offers around 50 museums and several art galleries. Amongst the
internationally known attractions are the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the
Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum, Akershus Fortress, Holmenkollen ski jump, the Folk Museum and the newly opened Opera House.
Many museums and art galleries are free of charge or offer student
discounts.
GRÜNERLØKKA
At Grünerløkka you will find more than 60 restaurants, cafés and bars
serving all kinds of food. There are small shops run by non-native
Norwegians selling fruit, vegetables and low-priced food items.
Grünerløkka is also the place to look for small, independent shops with
clothes and handicrafts, as well a number of second hand shops.
USEFUL WEBSITES:
www.visitoslo.com
www.visitnorway.com
MAJORSTUA
In Bogstadveien and Hegdehaugsveien you will find a good mix from
exclusive up-market shopping to a more mid-price variety. There is also a
good selection of restaurants, cafés and bars. One Saturday a month there
is an outdoor market.
ATTRACTIONS IN OSLO
OSLO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Oslo Public Library is Norway’s largest public library. The library is
available for everyone and has many branches located across the city.
There are several specialised departments, such as The Multi-lingual Library. Their collection includes both fiction and non-fiction in 37
languages. At other branches you can choose from a large selection of
books in Nordic and other European languages, especially English and
German. The majority of branches also offer graphic novels, videos, DVDs
and audio books for circulation.
Read more: www.deichmanske-bibliotek.oslo.kommune.no/english
GRØNLAND
Grønland has a wide variety of shops and restaurants run by non-native
Norwegians. They offer Oslo’s best selection of fruits and vegetables. In
addition, you can get a good bargain on exotic textiles and gold. The
main streets are Grønlandsleiret and Smalgangen. Here you will find some
popular bars and cafés.
CINEMAS
Oslo Municipal Cinemas operates eight movie theatres in the city of Oslo.
Foreign films are normally screened in original versions with Norwegian
subtitles. Please note that features for children may be dubbed.
Norwegian films are generally not subtitled. Read more:
www.oslokino.no.
URBAN AREAS
Oslo is divided into several urban areas. Here are some of the more
popular ones for nightlife, shopping and dining. There are countless
restaurants, bars, cafés and nightclubs to choose from, and you will find
restaurants that serve dishes in every price category. There are many good
alternatives for student budgets. The many exotic restaurants are a good
option in this regard, and you will find them all over the city.
PLACES FOR ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION
PUBLIC PARKS
Oslo has many parks and outdoor areas open to the public. The parks are
nice places to meet for a barbeque, sports activities or just to relax. Some
of the most popular parks are Frognerparken (Vigeland Sculpture Park),
St. Hanshaugen, Sofienbergparken, Tøyen, Birkelunden and Torshov. It is
also very popular to walk along Akerselva river, which flows through the
city in the north-south direction.
NYDALEN
BI lies in the heart of Nydalen, which was originally an industrial area.
During the last twenty years the area has been in rapid development.
Today, Nydalen consists of thriving businesses, numerous service offerings, a hotel and apartment buildings.
The Akerselva river runs freely through the area accompanied by a
peaceful footpath. If you walk north it takes you up to a beautiful lake
and further into the forests surrounding Oslo, and if you head south the
path takes you through several charming neighbourhoods and ends up at
the Oslo fjord.
ISLANDS
Just outside of Oslo harbour there are 40 small islands, most of which are
open to the public for barbequing, sunbathing and swimming. The water
temperature is normally between 18 and 22 degrees in summer. To visit
the islands you need to go by ferries. Rates are the same as for other
public transportation, and you can use your monthly student pass.
Storo Shopping Centre, a few minutes walk from BI. Here you will find
several shops covering all your needs.
15
SOGNSVANN
Sognsvann is a freshwater lake located five minutes by foot from Kringsjå
Student House. There is a nice path around the lake where you can take a
walk or go for a run. The lake is also suitable for bathing, with a nice
beach, grassy fields and a small pier.
TRAVELLING IN NORWAY
Norway is a beautiful country of mountains, fjords and glaciers. City life
in Oslo is different from that of a coastal village in the west and north. If
you have the opportunity, it is nice to take a few days for travelling. We
recommend you to get a guidebook and to search the Internet for
information on destinations and sights. Travelling in Norway can be
expensive, but there are ways to travel on a budget.
NORDMARKA
The forest region north of Oslo city is called Nordmarka and has a size of
430 km2. There are several tour possibilities both in summer and winter.
In the summer you can find nice, blue-marked tracks for hiking, biking
routes and idyllic lakes for swimming. It is also possible to stay overnight,
or have a break at one of the many charming cabins. For further information check www.turistforeningen.no. Information is available in English
and German.
Norway is a country with great distances. Air travel is therefore the most
efficient way to get to most destinations on the west coast, or the north
of Norway. Norwegian, SAS and Widerøe fly to 50 different destinations
in Norway and if you book early, relatively cheap tickets are available.
The national rail system is good, though somewhat limited. It is a nice
way to travel, as most of the routes go through changing scenery along
the way. On regional trains, a low cost ticket (Minipris) costs NOK
199/299 for a single ticket, whatever the length of your journey. The offer
is available for a limited number of seats on NSB Regional departures, and
tickets can be purchased on the Internet. Norway also has an extensive
bus network, with routes connecting every main city as well as more remote areas.
SKIING AND ICE SKATING
In winter, Oslo boasts an exceptional ski experience within 30 minutes of
the city centre by subway. Over 2,600 km of well prepared and redmarked cross-country ski trails run deep into the Oslo forest (Nordmarka).
124 km of these trails are floodlit until 23:00 hours each day, and winter
cabins serve hot chocolate and freshly baked pastries deep in the forest.
Holmenkollen and Sognsvann are often the starting points for crosscountry.
There are a number of Youth Hostels all over Norway that offer relatively
cheap accommodation, especially if you stay in dormitories. As July is a
peak season you are advised to book ahead if you are planning to travel
over the summer.
You can try downhill skiing or snowboarding at Oslo Winter Park
Tryvann, 30 minutes by subway from the city centre. Here you will find
ski rental and slopes to fit all levels of skiers. Check the daily online ski
report for snow conditions. Read more: www.tryvann.no
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.norwegian.no
www.sas.no
www.wideroe.no
www.nsb.no
www.nor-way.no
www.visitnorway.com
www.hihostels.no/english
SKATING RINKS
If you like skating there is an ice rink with skate rental in the area between
the National Theatre and the Parliament in the winter. During a cold winter
you can also go skating at Frogner Stadion, on the fjord and various lakes.
SWIMMING POOL, TØYENBADET
The best public swimming pool in Oslo is located at Tøyen. It is open until
19:00 on weekdays and 15:00 on weekends. The easiest way to get to
Tøyenbadet is by taking the underground eastbound to Tøyen station.
Address: Helgesensgate 90.
16
PRACTICALITIES
WORKING IN NORWAY
MOBILE PHONE
WORK PERMIT AND TAX CARD
As a student you are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during the
semester and full time during holidays.
In Norway most people have a mobile phone. If you have brought your
own mobile phone to Norway, you can buy a pre-paid card or a
Norwegian subscription. Pre-paid cards are easily available in kiosks like
7Eleven and Narvesen. To buy a pre-paid card you need an ID card. A
monthly subscription requires that you have a Norwegian D-number.
You are required to have a tax card when working in Norway. The tax card
shows your employer how much to deduct from your pay check and this
is done before you are paid. You can obtain a tax card from Skatt Øst .
Basic phones with a subscription or a pre-paid card are readily available
for a fair price. Mobile phones can be bought in stores that sell electrical
equipment or in telecommunication stores.
Skatt Øst
OPENING HOURS:
15th of May – 14th of September Monday – Friday: 09.00 – 14.30
15th of September – 14th of May: Monday – Friday : 09.00 – 15.00
Remember to switch off your mobile phone during lectures, at the library
and when entering public buildings such as cinemas and theatres.
BUSINESS HOURS
ADRESS:
Schweigaards gate 17
Food stores are normally open from 08:00 or 09:00 until 22:00 on
weekdays and 20:00 on Saturdays. Shops in major shopping streets like
Karl Johan and Bogstadveien, are open until around 18:00 on weekdays
(some have longer opening hours on Thursdays) and until 16:00 – 18:00
on Saturdays. Shopping malls are normally open until 20:00 on weekdays
and 18:00 on Saturdays. Shops are closed on Sundays and on public
holidays, with the exception of some smaller food stores.
HOW TO GET THERE
Take any subway to Jernbanetorget and from there it is a five
minute walk.
Employers will transfer wages and salaries to your Norwegian bank
account. It is customary to give your bank account number to your
employer upon employment.
Banks are normally open from 09:00 – 15:00 Monday – Friday. Some have
longer opening hours on Thursdays. Government offices are normally
open between 09:00 and 15:00 – 16:00, but hours may vary.
NATIONAL ID NUMBER
Students staying more than 6 months:
A Norwegian personal number (P-number) is an 11 digit number
consisting of your date of birth plus a 5 digit personal number.
This number is your Norwegian birth number (Fødselsnummer)
and will be used to:
- open a bank account
- get access to discount on health services
- get a tax card.
It is therefore important to follow the following procedure:
Fill in the “Notification to the National Registry of Move to Norway from
Abroad“ form and with a copy of your residence permit hand them in at
Skatt Øst (see box above for details).
Students staying less than 6 months in Norway will be issued a D number
(a temporary personal number). This can be issued only through a Bank
for the purpose of opening a Norwegian bank account. You are not
entitled to discount on health services with the D number.
GROCERIES
The least expensive stores are Rema 1000, Kiwi and Rimi. Here you will
find a basic selection of groceries, toiletries, etc. At the east side of town
(Sagene, Torshov, Günerløkka and Grønland) you will find Turkish, Pakistani and south-east Asian grocery stores with a selection of vegetables,
fruit and international food at a low-price.
THINGS FOR YOUR ROOM
IKEA is the largest and cheapest place to buy furniture, bed linen,
decorations, kitchenware, textiles and more. Notice that there are two
IKEA around Oslo, Furuset and Slependen, we recommend you to go to
Furuset. Ask where the current bus stop is located as the stop keeps
changing due to construction work around Jernbanetorget.
OPENING HOURS AT IKEA FURUSET:
Mon – Fri:
10:00 – 23:00
Saturday:
9:00 – 21:00
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.nyinorge.no
www.careerinnorway.no
www.bi.edu/career
There is a free bus to IKEA Furuset that runs from Fred Olsens gate 2,
which is near Oslo Central Station (Jernbanetorget subway) and
Trafikanten.
BANK ACCOUNT
The bus runs once every hour on the hour towards IKEA.
Mon – Fri:
10:00 – 22:00
Saturday:
10:00 – 20:00 (every half hour from 12-17)
Students staying in Norway for more than one semester are
recommended to open a bank account. This is an inexpensive solution
compared to using your VISA or credit card.
A return bus from IKEA runs every hour and starts 40 min.
past every hour:
Mon – Fri:
10:40 – 22:40
Saturday:
10:40 – 20:40 (every half hour from 12:40 – 17:40)
To open an account in Norway you need a personal number (P-number)
or a D-number. The bank can apply for a D-number for students staying
less than 6 months. It normally takes three to four weeks from the time
the bank sends in the application form until your bank account can be
activated.
SERVICE CHARGE IN BARS & RESTAURANTS
Service charges 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.
Sparebank1 bank is located on Campus. They offer good terms for BI
students who open a bank account with a VISA card. To open a bank
account, please contact Sparebank1 in building D, 1st floor.
Remember to bring your passport.
17
ELECTRICITY
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
European continental style two-pin plugs are standard in Norway. Voltage
is 220 V AC, 50 Hz. Appliances rated US 110V need a transformer.
You will find summer temperatures in Oslo from May to September.
The temperatures can vary from 10 degrees on a rainy day, to 30 degrees
on a nice summer day. Sea temperatures are normally between 18 and 22
degrees. From September it gets gradually colder, but the autumn can be
nice with sunny days and clear, sharp air. By mid November we usually
have winter, and snow usually arrives in time for Christmas. It is quite
dark and cold in the months from November until the end of February,
so bring warm clothes and warm boots. In March you will find milder
temperatures and sunny days. Spring arrives in March/April and continues
until mid May. A sleeping bag is handy if you would like to travel in
Norway and Europe.
POST PACKAGES TO NORWAY
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 with someone
the address must include c/o and this person’s name as indicated on the
mailbox.
For declaration purposes through customs, be sure to list contents as “used
personal belongings” when sending clothing, textbooks etc. We do not
recommend using express mail services for this purpose, as there are rather
steep, unexpected charges for clearing it through customs. You must under
NO circumstances send medication, cigarettes or alcohol by post.
Please note that Norway is not part of the EU and goods bought over the
internet from any country and shipped to Norway can be subject to
custom charges and 25% tax on top of the purchase price. Any good with
a value under NOK 200 and books of any value are exempted from tax
and customs.
NORWEGIAN LAW
While living in Norway you must respect the Norwegian laws.
SMOKING IN NORWAY
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 cafés
all over Norway. Do not expect to be reminded by signs.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
BEER, WINE AND SPIRITS
A state-owned monopoly chain, called Vinmonopolet, controls the sale of
wine and hard liquors. Beer can be bought in food stores. 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.
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.
2012
Christmas Day:
Boxing Day:
December 25
December 26
Easter Monday:
Labour Day:
April 1
May 1
DRUGS
Please note that use of any kind of drugs/narcotics is illegal in Norway.
Drug offences may result in a jail sentence and deportation.
2013
New Years Day:
Palm Sunday:
Maundy Thursday:
Good Friday:
Easter Sunday:
January 1
March 24
March 28
March 29
March 31
Ascension Day:
Constitution Day:
Whit Sunday:
Whit Monday:
Christmas Day:
Boxing Day:
May 9
May 17
May 19
May 20
December 25
December 26
www.newsinenglish.no
http://theforeigner.no
NORWEGIAN NEWS IN ENGLISH
18
CULTURAL ADVICE
ADDRESSING PEOPLE
NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE
Norwegians are considered to be easy going and informal. First names are
commonly used. Prefixes like Mr., Mrs. and Ms. are generally not used,
only on very formal occasions.
Norway has three official written languages: Bokmål, Nynorsk and Sami.
Bokmål is based on written Danish, which was the official language of
Norway for several hundred years. Nynorsk was created in the 1850s by
linguist Ivar Aasen, and is a compilation and combination of some
regional dialects. Generally, if you understand Bokmål you can understand
Nynorsk fairly easily, and vice versa. Officially Bokmål and Nynorsk have
been accorded equal status, although Bokmål is more widely used in Oslo
and the larger towns. Sami, a member of the Finno-Ugric branch of
languages is a minority language used by the indigenous Sami people.
BEING LATE
• Be on time when going to work and school. It is considered
impolite to be late.
• On social occasions Norwegians are more flexible. Being 10 – 15
minutes late is quite common.
USEFUL WORDS
HAND SHAKE
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.
• You should shake hands in formal situations.
• Among students and friends hand shaking is not expected. However,
when being introduced for the first time to someone your age it is
common to shake hands and say your name.
Hello
Hei
Goodbye
Ha det bra
Yes
Ja
No
Nei
Please
Vær så snill
Thanks
(Tusen) takk
You are welcome Værsågod
How are you? Hvordan har du
det?
I’m fine
Bra takk
My name is
Jeg heter
SOCIAL CONVENTION
• Norwegians are friendly, but reserved. However, you will often get a
positive response if taking initiative.
• Norwegians are also known for their directness.
• The egalitarian values which are 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.
NUMBERS
1 En
2 To
3 Tre
4 Fire
COMMON COURTESY
• It is always nice to hold the door for someone, regardless of whether
they are men or women.
• Old people and pregnant women appreciate it if you let them have
your seat on a crowded bus. It is also appreciated if you help people
with a baby carriage onto the bus or tram.
• Be discrete when looking at people and don’t stare.
• Don’t cut in line!
• Don’t litter on the floor or ground. You will usually find a garbage can
somewhere nearby.
• Don’t talk to your friends during meetings and presentations etc, when
the speaker is talking.
• Turn the sound of your mobile off in the library, cinemas and lecture
halls.
5
6
7
8
Fem
Seks
Syv
Åtte
FOOD AND DRINKS
Bread
Brød
Cheese
Ost
Eggs
Egg
Full fat milk
Helmelk
Low fat milk
Lettmelk
Chicken
Kylling
Fish
Fisk
Salmon
Laks
Fruit
Frukt
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.
Where is
Sorry
Excuse me
Cheers
I’m a vegetarian
Hvor er
Unnskyld
Unnskyld meg
Skål
Jeg er
vegetarianer
How much is it? Hvor mye koster
den?
I don’t understand Jeg forstår ikke
Do you speak Snakker du
English?
engelsk?
9
10
50
100
Ni
Ti
Femti
Hundre
Vegetable
Coffee
Tea
Beer
Wine
Soft drinks
Water
1000
Tusen
Grønnsak
Kaffe
Te
Øl
Vin
Mineralvann
(Brus)
Vann
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”.
EMERGENCY
MSC
International Students Coordinator, Kristine Sydhagen, Tel: 47 46 41 00 82
EMERGENCY PLAN
BI has a crisis emergency plan which covers all incoming students.
Please call the relevant person for assistance should you or one of your
fellow students experience a serious accident or get hospitalised.
INTERNATIONAL OFFICE
Head of International Office, Eline Jensrud, Tel: 47 46 41 02 24
BBA/BACHELOR OF SHIPPING MANAGEMENT
Programme Manager, Sjoukje Steinhovden,
Tel: 47 46 41 04 27
EMERGENCY PHONES
Fire 110
19
Police 112
Ambulance 113
CONTACT INFORMATION
BBA/BACHELOR OF SHIPPING MANAGEMENT
Ms. Sjoukje Kootstra Steinhovden
E-mail: bachelor@bi.no
Tel: (+47) 46 41 00 07
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Ms. Kristine Sydhagen
E-mail: msc@bi.no
Tel:(+ 47) 46 41 00 02
INTERNATIONAL OFFICE
Ms. Monica Manolache
E-mail: international.office@bi.no
Tel: (+47) 46 41 02 27