Bailey – Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Semester 2, 2024
Bachelor of Urban Development
Pre-Departure and Arriving in Europe
Moving overseas and living in another country has always been a dream of mine. I spent months researching where I wanted to go and narrowed it down to the Netherlands or Norway. I chose Norway, and it was the best decision I could have made. The unique culture and character set it apart from the rest of the world while still having enough similarities that I would not feel too lost or isolated.
There were many universities I could have chosen in Norway, and I eventually decided on the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) in Bergen. Choosing HVL was perfect because Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is a university city with six universities in a small area. Additionally, HVL guaranteed accommodation, which I will talk about later, through an organisation called Sammens that also provides several services and activities, making settling in so much easier.
Before arriving in Bergen, I did some travelling. I flew into London, then travelled to Paris to watch the 2024 Olympics. After that, I went through France then to Bergen, and this was only the beginning of my travels while on exchange.
Settling In & First Impressions
Arriving in Bergen, it was a sunny, warm day, which I would later find out was rare. The city was surrounded by nature and full of life. I had set very few expectations, which meant that I had a lot of surprises. Arriving in the middle of summer also meant that the days were long, warm (similar to autumn or spring back home), and often very wet. By annual rainfall, Bergen is the wettest city in Europe, and August was the wettest month in recorded history.
Accommodation
The accommodation was standard student housing, and there were a few options available when reserving a spot month earlier. As an exchange student for one semester, you are guaranteed a bed in a shared room in a student city called Fantoft. The options were bunk beds in a small room with a shared kitchen and bathroom with your roommate, or bunk beds with a shared bathroom and a communal kitchen and living room with fourteen other people. Most people ended up in the latter. Although these large apartments might sound intimidating, Sammens is very good at choosing roommates, and I did not hear a single story where people did not get along. These apartments also hosted some of the best parties, and I spent a lot of time with them and became very close to many people.
However, my apartment was different. I was lucky and got my own room and bathroom, sharing a kitchen and living room with seven other people, which is usually reserved for students staying a year. Three of my housemates became some of my best friends, and we travelled together throughout Norway and even to Iceland.
Making Friends
One of the unique aspects of moving to Norway is that not many Australians go there. I only met three others, two from UQ and one from Griffith, so most of my friends were from Europe and around the world. One thing to mention about Norwegians is that they can be very introverted, making it hard to get close to them. However, once you do, you have a friend for life.
I made friends in three main ways. The first was on my very first day, meeting my roommate. As I mentioned before, I became very close with them and their friends, who came from places such as Spain, France, Germany, and Canada. The second was through HVL’s Fadder Week, which was their version of Welcome or O Week but much more intense. Because of the number of international students, we were split into groups. Mine consisted of thirty-one students, and the week was filled with games, city tours, parties, festivals, and just hanging out. About ten of us stayed very close friends until our last day in Bergen, going on so many trips and making incredible memories together. The third way I made friends was by never saying no and trying new things. Attending student events, going to parties at Fantoft, and spending time in the common rooms where there were silent discos, beer pong, pool, table soccer, and table tennis tournaments all helped. As an Australian, everyone wanted to be friends with me and ask about snakes, spiders, and whether drop bears were real, which of course, you always say yes to.
The friends I made come from all over the world. While I may not talk to all of them as often now, I know that if I visit their country or they come to Australia, we will pick up right where we left off. These friendships are for life.
Language
This was one of the main reasons I was happy to choose Norway. Although they speak a different language, their English proficiency rate is around ninety percent. No matter where I was, there was always someone who spoke English, often better than I could. Even the written language was easy to understand. One of my classes was spoken in English, but the presentation slides were in Norwegian, and I could follow along because so much of our language overlaps.
Getting Around
Getting around was very easy using the Bybanen (light rail) and buses, like Brisbane. Instead of using a Go Card, you buy a monthly subscription that allows unlimited public transport within your zone. It took about fifteen minutes to get to HVL and about thirty minutes to the city centre. When travelling around Norway, Bergen has an amazing airport that connects you to anywhere, plenty of cheap intercity buses, and one of the most beautiful rail trips in the world that takes you to Oslo.
University Life
The university I attended, HVL, was incredible. They were overwhelmingly supportive of my studies, and this was the same for the lecturers and tutors. I took three classes, one of which, Urban Design, included a weeklong study tour to Porto in Portugal in October to analyse and redesign an area of the city. Additionally, the passing grade needed in Norway is only forty percent, and all of the lecturers understood that we were international students only there for a semester. They were very accommodating when it came to attendance and assessment marking.
I found it very easy to balance university and social life. The workload was light, and the lectures were informative, all conducted in English. Although one of my classes had slides in Norwegian, it was still easy to understand.
Travel
Travelling was a huge part of my experience. I arrived four weeks before the semester started, flying into London and spending almost a week there. I then travelled to Paris, watched several Olympic events, and continued south to Annecy and Grenoble before finishing in Marseille, where I explored the local area, visited islands, and watched Olympic sailing. From Marseille, I flew to Bergen a week before classes started to settle in.
Once settled, my friends and I would spend one weekend in Bergen and the next travelling. During this time, I visited Porto, Amsterdam, and Iceland on a road trip where we saw waterfalls, black beaches, and the northern lights. We also explored Norway, including Oslo, ski trips, cabins, and hiking trips. One of the most incredible trips was to Tromsø in the Arctic Circle. My final trip was not in Europe but Japan, as I found a flight home that was the same price as the normal route. I took a two-week layover and travelled around Japan with my dad.
Returning Home
Returning home was a big change in every way. I went from seeing my closest friends every day to them being on the other side of the world. I also returned to a city where it is difficult to live without a car after coming to love using the tram and walking everywhere. It was also so much hotter than I remembered. However, knowing that I have such a strong group of friends means I will have to return to see them all again very soon.
Looking Back and Advice
I would recommend an exchange to anyone, no matter how long or short. It has been one of the best experiences of my life. My main advice would be to:
- Start planning early
- Save money
- Choose a place you truly want to go
- If possible, do not come straight home. Travel a little first because returning immediately can be a big change
- If you go to Bergen, go to everything during Fadder Week
- Have fun and say yes to new experiences (within reason)
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange
