Kristiansand, Norway – studying abroad between pure nature and the city
Samira H., Betriebswirtschaftslehre, 6. Fachsemester, Norway, Kristiansand, University of Agder, Sommersemester 2022
I spent the 6th semester of my business studies in Kristiansand, Norway. After I had decided to do a voluntary semester abroad, I was aiming to go to a Scandinavian country. I informed myself about the various options in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The University of Agder (UiA) appealed to me the most from the very beginning.
Application process & Preparations
After I had decided on the UiA, the application process started. The international office guides you through the process. I was able to enter all documents into the online application system. Writing the motivation letter, gathering the documents, confirming the various course credits, and getting signatures can take some time. Therefore, you should plan enough time. It is important to know that the summer semester at UiA starts in January and thus ends earlier than the winter semester at HOST. This must be considered, as you cannot take part in the examination period at HOST in the winter semester of the previous year.
Accommodation & Arrival
Every exchange student is guaranteed accommodation. However, you still have to apply for the dorm room. It is important to apply as early as possible, as this increases your chances of getting the room you want. You can apply for different rooms. The prices vary depending on the room or flat. The price range is between 280€ and 570€. I applied only for a two-person shared bedroom in an 8-person shared flat. This is the cheapest option at around 280€ per month, as I would rather spend my money on trips than on a single room. Another girl from HOST and I asked SIA (the student organization and landlord) if it would be possible to share a room, this was not an issue. I would always choose this form of housing again because you can get in touch with the other flatmates right from the beginning. 
Everyday life, Leisure & Language
I quickly acclimatized into everyday life in Kristiansand. Fortunately, I didn't have many lectures during the week, and some days were completely free. This gave me more time to meet other Erasmus and Norwegian students and to go on trips. We often went into town to a café or to meet for lunch. However, larger trips and hikes also made everyday life easier, and I meet many new people and was able to see a lot of the countryside and nature. Directly behind the campus is a very beautiful forest area with several lakes. It offers you a nice break from university to simply go for a walk in the woods. I was aware Norwegians speak fluent English, but I was always surprised by how easy it is to talk to Norwegians in English. Every generation speaks fluent English, which makes everyday things like grocery shopping or ordering food much easier. At university, all my classes were in English. Here, the English spoken by the professors was always very good. All documents and books were offered in English. I also took a Norwegian course, which was offered by the university, especially for exchange students. It consists of a total of 20 hours with 2 lectures a week for 10 weeks. The course does not earn ECTS credits and only helps you to get to know the language and be able to handle simple conversations in everyday life.
University
I chose the courses Multimedia Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, International Business and Marketing. You have to submit papers during the semester, which are mandatory for admission to the exam. These are mostly group assignments in which you must work on something and present it. The exams were mostly multiple-choice, but I also had normal questions and papers. All exams took place online in the UiA exam portal. UiA has a so-called global lounge at the campus in Kristiansand. Two very nice staff members work there, and you are always able to talk to them if you need help or have problems. It's a place where can talk to other internationals and make friends.
Prices & Tips
As well known, prices in Norway are much higher than in Germany. Therefore, you should inform yourself well in advance about how the financing of your semester abroad in Norway will be. Since I went to Norway with Erasmus, it offered good financial support. For train journeys with VY or flights via SAS, there is a student price or a discount for young people under 26. It is always a good idea to order from "too good to go", where you can always get good things for a small price in supermarkets or bakeries.
Conclusion
All in all, I am very happy with my decision to do a voluntary semester abroad in Norway. It was a great learning experience and a formative period. Norway is a great country, which I liked because of its beautiful nature, trustworthy people and overall safety. I would always go back to Kristiansand, the university and life on campus were a wonderful experience. In the end, I would say that the high cost of living was worth it.