To mark the start of a new academic year

The official opening ceremony will take place in Muséplass, just like every year.

– Our objective is to make sure that the new students get a warm welcome and get to know the university and each other. So we hope to fill Muséplass with as many people as possible, says Rector Sigmund Grønmo.

Week 33 is filled with small and major events, entertainment, and mentor week. There is a special introduction programme for new international students.

Record intake of new students

4,000 new students will register at UiB this autumn semester, compared to an intake of 3960 new students in the autumn semester 2011. The majority of the new students will be in Medicine, the Natural Sciences, and Chinese studies.

– We notice that students no longer only flock to traditionally popular disciplines, such as psychology, law studies, and journalism. Now ever more students are applying for various Natural Sciences subjects, says Vice-Rector for education Kuvvet Atakan.

According to Atakan, the Geosciences, petroleum disciplines, and informatics are proving particularly popular amongst new students.

Diversity and variety

Grønmo ensures the new students of UiB’s commitment strong academic environment and an inspiring social life in the student community as well, which is both diverse and with a strong international orientation.

2011 was all over a good year for UiB. There were a record number of new Doctorates awarded, with 254, a rise from 237 in 2010. Of these, 89 were international graduates.

UiB also climbed in the international rankings, moving to number 121 in the QS ranking of the world’s leading universities. There were also a record number of research publications in academic journals.

Get involved

Rector Grønmo encourages the new arrivals to get involved both academically and in the rich and varied student organisation life at UiB. He also challenges the staff to facilitate student engagement.

– Not only does this provide good education, but also has great impact on research. A committed and social university is important for all of us, he says.