419 international exchange students have now arrived in Bergen, ready for their semester or year abroad. We have talked to some of them about their first impressions of Bergen.


It’s only the first week of January, but the international students are already coming in great numbers to the University in Bergen (UiB). This semester, 419 students from 42 different countries have been admitted to the university. This is the highest amount of international students admitted in any spring semester ever. – The spring semester increase is especially positive because of … Read More

What is it about any brand other than FirstPrice that requires your left kidney and a virgin’s sacrifice to enjoy their products?


Norway must be the first country I encounter in which an app that weekly updates the supermarkets’ product offers (Mattilbud) is a survival tool. No, for real, your climbing boots might ensure a fun weekend, but it will all be for nothing if you don’t know your supermarket drills. My first supermarket trip in Bergen was a separate experience unto itself. Up until learning … Read More

Exploring the world-famous Sognefjord turned out to be a pricy, although beautiful, adventure.


Saturday morning, 7 am, and we’re on our way to the city center to board the express ferry, which takes us to Flåm, along the beautiful Sognefjord. A comfy fjord cruise The five hour boat trip is the first part of the «Sognefjord in a nutshell» tour we booked. 1610 NOK, quite an amount for an international student in Norway. … Read More

A tricky night for the internationals spent under the stars in sleeping bags on a beach an hour outside Bergen.


«Come to help us build and sleep in a big tent and have a feast by the bonfire», wrote the BSI in the invitation to their Strandcamping event. In a country filled with dramatic mountains and bipolar weather conditions, sometimes a beach trip is just what you need. However, little does the medium reader’s mental image of sandy shores in … Read More

Hiking 13 kilometers up and down, while jumping over mud puddles, does take some time and energy.


It is Monday, the 1st of May. Bergen is indulging in the longest period of sun and relatively high temperatures since our arrival in January. Nice weather and a public holiday – perfect for a longer hike without even thinking about bringing those snow shoes. Today’s choice is Vidden, a 13 kilometer hike starting from Ulriken, passing over Rundemannen and … Read More

A traditional Norwegian cabin buried deep in Hallingskeid's snowy desert proves to be an adventure for the international students.


It’s midday, and the train has just stopped at the wooden Hallingskeid station. Vast whiteness meets the eyes of the international students as we all get off the train. – Who would pack sunglasses for minus degrees? wonders a German student with no skiing precedent. Her eyes are a tight crack as she opens the first door to go outside, … Read More