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Before You Arrive


As a new international student preparing for your stay in Norway, you should check that you have considered all the necessary practicalities before leaving your home country.

Paperwork

Paperwork Foto: M. Røsvik

Check list

Have you remembered to:

Semester Dates

We recommend that you plan your travel according to the semester dates.

Important Dates Autumn Semester 2013

Week 32 (8 August)
Start of the Introductory Programme

Week 33 (12 - 16 August)
Official opening of the academic year

1 September:
Deadline to register for courses and exams at StudentWeb

November-December:
Examinations are held throughout the semester, but most of them will be held during this period. Please check each course for more details

20 December:
Official end of the autumn semester.

Important Dates Spring Semester 2014

Beginning of January
Start of the Introductory Programme

1 February:
Deadline to register for courses and exams at StudentWeb

May-June:
Examinations are held throughout the semester, but most of them will be held during this period. Please check each course for more details

20 June:
Official end of the spring semester

Public Holidays

There are several public holidays throughout the year in Norway.

Accommodation

We recommend all students to arrange for accommodation prior to their arrival in Bergen, and for some of you it is also necessary to document a guarantee of accommodation with your application for a residence permit.

Student Accommodation

If you have applied for student accommodation from the Student Welfare Organisation (SiB), you must make sure that you complete all of SiB's requirements:

  • Accept the offer
  • Pay the deposit
  • Notify SiB at bolig@sib.no if you will be arriving three weeks or more after your Tenancy Agreement commences.

Private Accommodation

If you will not be staying in one of SiB's student hostels, BergenStudenten offers advice and assistance to all new students about the private housing market in Bergen. BergenStudenten can also assist with viewings on your behalf and their services are free of charge.

Insurance

All Students must have Health Insurance

All international students must ensure that they have health insurance for the duration of their stay in Norway. To find out if you should become a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme or if you should have a social security coverage from your home country, please visit the website Study in Norway.

Health Insurance for Students from EU/EEA/EFTA Countries

If you are a student from an EU/EEA/EFTA country, you are required to have health insurance and be able to document this when you come to Norway and visit the local police.

We recommend that you bring the European Health Insurance Card which you can apply for through the local health authorities in your home country. If you are not entitled to a European Health Insurance Card from your home country, you must have other health insurance to cover any medical expenses you might incur in Norway.

Other Types of Insurance

You should also consider if you will need other types of insurance, like travel insurance.

Residence Permit - EU/EEA/EFTA

Required Documentation

You must make sure you can present your:

Register Online

UDI requires you to register online at UDI's Application Portal. We recommend you to do so as soon as possible after arriving in Bergen and receiving your Norwegian address.

Visit the Local Police Station

After you have registered online you must meet in person at the nearest police station(lenke til visit the police, neste boks) with the required documentation. This meeting will be organised by the University of Bergen in cooperation with the local police.

For more information about the Registration Scheme for EU/EEA/EFTA nationals, please visit UDI's website.

 

Residence Permit - Non EU/EEA/EFTA

When to Apply

The residence permit should be applied for and granted before you arrive in Norway. You should apply as soon as you have received your "Letter of Acceptance" to the University of Bergen, by mail or e-mail, as it normally takes at least 6-10 weeks to process your application.

How to Apply

The application can normally be submitted online at the UDI's Application Portal, with a few exceptions. Please refer to UDI's website for updated information regarding the application procedures in your country.

For those of you who need a visa to enter Norway, please be adviced that when you are granted a residence permit, you automatically receive an entry permit which entitles you to stay in Norway for the first few weeks. This means that you do not need to apply for a visa separately.

Required documentation

When you submit your application for a residence permit, you must be able to present certain documents. You will find up to date information about requirements to documentation at UDI's website.

You will receive more information regarding the procedures for documentation of financing with the Letter of Acceptance if this applies to you.

Once in Norway

Once you arrive in Norway you must make sure that you visit the local police as soon as possible to validate your residence permit and obtain a Residence card.

Bilateral Exchange Students from Non-visa Countries

Students who do not need a visa to enter Norway and are coming to Bergen on a bilateral exchange programme between the University of Bergen and a foreign university, have the opportunity to complete their application process after arriving in Bergen.

Last updated 4.7.2013