Life and Living in Norway

Norway, a Scandinavian country, is the world’s largest oil and natural gas producing country and has Finland, Russia, Skagerrak, and Denmark as its neighboring countries. This country is the best place for students who wish to build a career in their field of interest and at the same time live their youth to the fullest. Norway as a student-friendly country maintains a good standard in delivering quality education to its students along with a high standard of living.

Most of the higher education institutes and university colleges in Norway promote international association among various countries. Due to this, student mobility is generally government-funded. The informal and easy-going study environment both off and on-campus allows students to explore other areas as well. They can make new friends, participate in extracurricular activities, work on their hobbies, and travel around to know more about the country during their stay here. Student-teacher interaction is high in the universities here with teachers making sure that they can be of as much help as possible to the students.

All about studying in Norway.

Languages in Norway

Country of varied languages, Norway has two official languages, namely:

Norwegian language enjoys the status of being the official and the widely spoken language in the country. It is the mother tongue of more than 90% of the Norwegian population. Although known widely in the country, it has varied dialects that vary from region to region. A person's dialect can tell a lot about the region the person is from.
North Sami is another official language that is only spoken in the Scandinavia region. Although spoken by a small minority of 15,000 people, the Sami language, which is a group of various closely related languages, is an integral part of the indigenous Sami people.

The other languages popular in Norway are Kven, which is closely related to the Finnish language of Finland and is spoken by roughly 7,000 of the Norway population; and Romani, which is only spoken by around 1,000 people in the nation.

Norway is doing way better than many other countries when it comes to speaking English. The majority of the people in Norway can understand English and many of them can have a decent conversation in English, making it easy for international people to communicate.

Cost of Things in Norway

Norway is a free country when it comes to education but an expensive one when it comes to living and students need to be familiar with this concept before leaving their home country. They must have a rough idea of how much a degree in a foreign country would cost them, what sort of expenses one can indulge in and what will be the cost of things in another country.

Many factors decide the cost of things in any country such as location and type of accommodation one wants to live in and facilities, lifestyle, and comfort level one wants to have. For example, if students want to have a meal in a cheap restaurant, it would cost them roughly sound 150-190 NOK/person, but in a mid-range restaurant, it can go up to 300 NOK/person.

On a very general note, students can be expected to require around 8,600-15,500 NOK/month depending on their lifestyle.

Accommodation and Utility Expenses

Accommodation and utility expenses play a great role in measuring the cost of living in a foreign country. As far as Norway is concerned, finding a good place to stay with a limited budget can be an engaging task for a student.

The most popular forms of student accommodation are student dormitories, shared apartments or single rooms, temporary rental houses or host families, hostels, and hotels with a rent of at least 3,200 NOK/month. Some of the residents might also convert their basement area into an apartment. Students can also take help from the Sammen Student Housing Welfare Organization. Here, the average rent can be around 4,000 NOK/month including the internet. It guarantees accommodation to students coming for a master’s degree or exchange program. There’s also a Norway Arctic Student Welfare Organization called Samskipnaden that provides student housing facilities in various locations.

Renting a budget-friendly room in one of the most expensive cities in Norway can be a great deal. These cities are Oslo, Trondheim, Bergen, and Stavanger. So, it is recommended that students look for an area that is nearest to the university campus, so at least the cost and the time invested in traveling can be minimized.

Basic utilities include electricity, water, gas, heating, and cooling and may cost around 1,500-1,700 NOK/month. If a student wants to have access to the internet facility as well, then it may cost around 500 NOK/month.

Grocery Expenses

When it comes to buying groceries from a store students have various options to look for, be it the supermarket chains in the urban area, specialty stores in the city center, or local shops in the suburbs or outskirts of the city. All of these have somewhat similar items but with a little price difference. The amount that one wants to spend on an item that is commonly available at different locations will ultimately be dependent on the student. If one goes with the basic things, a monthly budget of 300-450 NOK would be sufficient for food and grocery.

Here is a list of some of the basic food items that are easily available at the smallest of shops.

Milk- 19 NOK per litre
Cheese- 106 NOK per kg
Potato- 21 NOK per kg
Wine- 150 NOK per bottle
Banana- 22 NOK per kg
Apple- 29 NOK per kg
Onion- 23 NOK per kg
Tomato- 34 NOK per kg

Transportation Expenses

Students will be able to use the local transport to get to most places in the country. Both metros and trams are in common use along with the local buses. The cost of a one-way ticket in any local transport is 39 NOK. People will also be able to get a monthly pass for 750 NOK.

Things to Do in Norway

Apart from being one of the most expensive places in Europe to travel in, Norway is one of the most naturally beautiful places in the world that offer the best scenic destinations. Students who study here will be able to bask in the beauty that nature offers while at the same time enjoying the company of the warm and friendly people in the country. Since most of the people in the country are fluent in English, international students will be able to find innumerable entertainment options and travel destinations they can access easily while in the country.

Candidates will be able to immerse themselves in outdoor sports and at the same time take walking tours to learn about the country and its history well. They will also be able to hike, visit national parks, museums, galleries, and other gardens while in the country. The country also offers candidates the option of attending the different festivals they hold throughout the year. A few of the things they can do while in the country include-

Places to Visit in Norway

Norway offers candidates the option of visiting the different scenic locations in the country, visiting the museums and places of historical and cultural importance, and also places where they can enjoy winter sports. One of the major attractions of being in Norway is the opportunity it provides to view the Northern Lights. Students will also be able to see the Norwegian fjords while in the country. A few of the must-visit places in Norway include-

Oslo- Being the capital of the country, this place offers people museums, art galleries, and other scenic remote locations that one can visit. The place is also known for the harbors it holds and the rich seafood one can indulge in. The museums here speak of Viking and nautical history that can provide one with insights into the country’s cultural heritage.
Trondheim- This is a city that vibrates with life at all times of the day and contains its share of historical and religious points. The city was both a Viking trading post and an important pilgrimage destination for Christians. The houses in this city have a fairy tale vibe to them which can be immensely fascinating for international students.
Tromsø- This place is a popular tourist attraction for people seeking out adventures like kayaking, sailing, hiking, etc. The place is also known for the midnight sun and northern lights surrounding which there are marathons and concerts held throughout the year. Candidates will also be able to whale watch while in this city.
Bergen- This is the second-largest city in the country and is home to art museums, fjords, etc. Candidates will be able to take the Fløibanen funicular ride to get the best view of the city. They will also be able to take the Flam line from here to visit the fjords which are considered to be one of the best scenic travel routes in the world.
Lofoten- This is an island that trends in travel blogs for the distinctive scenery it has. The place contains mountains, staggering peaks, sea, beaches, etc. which candidates will be able to explore. Fishing villages are also present on the island.

Cuisines to Relish While in Norway

One of the major cultural and historical markers of a place lies in the cuisine the country has to offer and the history and cultural implications behind the same. While in Norway, students will be able to explore the food culture that the country holds which majorly relies on seafood. It will be best for candidates to make a list of cuisines they want to try out before heading out to experiment in the country. A few of the best dishes in the country include-

Kjottkaker- This dish is similar to Swedish meatballs but is entirely different in its making. Kjottkaker is made of minced beef, nutmeg, pepper, ginger, etc. which are rolled into balls of decent sizes. It is served along with other side dishes.
Farikal- This dish mainly involves mutton and cabbage. This stew-like recipe is made from mutton, cabbage, water, salt, and pepper by letting it cook for hours until the meat is soft. It is a traditional dish that is made on weekends and enjoyed at family gatherings.
Fiskeboller I Hvit Saus- This is a dish that is similar to a fishball and it is served with Bechamel sauce. The fish balls for this preparation are made from haddock and cod along with other ingredients like eggs, milk, etc. The dish is served along with vegetables like carrots, potatoes, etc.
Rommegrot- This is a traditional Norwegian dish that is prepared in summers. It includes ingredients like sour cream, milk, salt, etc. which are boiled together into a sour cream porridge. It is usually served with sugar and cinnamon which is the most common side dish for this recipe. Since it is a traditional dish, the side dishes and the recipe itself can change from place to place.
Brunost- This is a brown cheese made out of cow’s or goat’s milk. There are different types of brown cheese made in different parts of the country. Brunost generally has a caramel flavor, unlike the regular cheese flavor.

Festivals to Attend While in Norway

Norway is a country that offers festivals throughout the year for music, food, literature, theater, etc. Students who are living in Norway will be able to attend plenty of festivals since the country holds at least 900 festivals every year in different places. Festivals are catering to the interests of every person and hence one will not be able to stay away from the festivals the country has to offer.

Though there are festivals throughout the year, the maximum number of festivals are conducted in summer. A few of the festivals one must not miss while in the country include-

Gladmat- This is a food festival that is held in the city of Stavanger. It is conducted in July and the festivals bring foodies and chefs from around the world to experiment and learn about the ingredients and recipes from Norway.
Ice Music Festival- This is an innovatively conducted music festival that is held outdoors. The fascinating feature of this festival is that the stage, instruments, and other props required for the music festival will all be made of ice. It is held in the city of Finse.
Riddu Riddu Festival- This festival is conducted by the indigenous people called Sami. The name of the festival translates to “storm on the coast”. The festival is conducted in an attempt to both appreciate and learn about the indigenous people. This is done through the workshops, literature, and performances that come up during the festival.

Commuting to Places in Norway

The best means of traveling within Norway is by using public transportation. Public transports are quite modern in construction and are maintained to be clean. It is also reliable and on time when compared to other means of transportation. Candidates will be able to take both, metros and trams which are found in every city. A one-way ticket in local transport can cost around 39 NOK whereas students will be able to buy a monthly pass for the same at a rate of 750 NOK.

Candidates will be able to take buses and trains, where buses are the cheapest option and trains, are the fastest option.

Safety Concerns for International Students in Norway

With very low crime rates, Norway provides a peaceful living to its citizens. At first, students might find it hard to communicate with the locals though English is known to most, later on, they will find that Norwegians are the most kindhearted and obliging people.

There is no place for serious crimes but international students must always be ready for the difficulties and safety concerns they might face in a different country. They should always be quick and alert and avoid late-night parties or hanging out with friends in isolated areas as one does not know what might come next. The overall risk is low, traveling around is safe and reliable, however, one should always be cautious of robberies and theft that seldomly occur.