NHH Norges Handelshøyskole (Business Management)

It is hard to get credits for foreign exams in Cologne, but you can always try. Contact the international office in Bergen for info (www.nhh.no) or your local CEMS office (www.cems.org and www.cems-club.com). In spring there is UKEN, a one week festival in which the whole school takes part.

Good computer labs, nice but small library and a good canteen.

The school is not too hard compared to Cologne. The grading system ranges from 0 to 9 - a 2 is a pass, but don´t try to get a job in Norway with anything below a 5.

There are recruiting events by companies almost every day. Some of them are in English and offer a good opportunity to get to know a company and get a few drinks for free. Internships are not a popular thing in Norway, so Norwegian companies don´t really offer many.

The price level in Norway is very high. About 40% higher than in Germany. Especially alcoholic beverages and cigarettes make the regular party driven Bergen experience costy. There is a high tax on alcohol in Norway. If you come by car, you might be able to bring some food and alcohol (even if you don´t drink, you will find happy buyers). But I wouldn´t take any chances, they do serach cars regularly.

The international commitee at NHH organized a great welcome week with a lot of drinking games for the exchange students. The atmosphere has been just great! The local student organizations always hold exciting events. If you have any problems or questions there is always the helpful international office that will suport you.

We teamed up as six students from Cologne going to Bergen with three cars. We wanted the freedom to carry many clothes and our PCs. It´s a 10-12 hour ride up to the north of Denmark, then another 15 hours on the ferry to Bergen. Not too bad. Flights are rather expensive, Bergen is not exactly the main hub airport, so the flights can also be sold out early. I do not suggest trying to drive all the way through Norway. Ferry or car. Maybe the train is an alternative. In the city of Bergen you usually get around by bus. There is an extra charge if you want to enter the city with a car and then the parking lots are expensive, too. Late at night you will have to take a taxi when busses are not operated any more, but Taxis are, as so many things in Norway, expensive. If you want to travel around in Norway, there are buses that take you to most of the interesting spots close to Bergen. The jetboat will take you to Stavanger. The train down to Oslo. You can also easily rent cars.

You can open a bank account in Bergen, but for bankcard holders from most European countries you will be fine with your card and the ATMs in Bergen. Most countries need a visa for Norway, since it is not an EU member (yet). Bring warm and rain-resistant clothes. Bergen is the city with the most rain in Europe. Hatleberg has free internet connections for each room, so bringing your PC is a good idea. Together with ICQ the PC is a good tool to keep contact with folks back home.

Most of the one-semester exchange students stay at Hatleberg Studenthjem (www.hatleberg.org) which is situated right opposite of the school. MIB students (that´s Master of international business not Men in black!) usually stay at a different place. My tip: Do try to get into Hatleberg B-Block at all cost. If you are lucky you will get a room with a view over the fjord. The quality of living is good, not luxurious, but good. Most important: There is always a party in Hatleberg B, it´s really the coolest place I ever lived. Cost of accomodation is comparable to Cologne, thus it´s high. About US$ 250 a month.

Where should I start? The whole Norway experience was so full of funny events. One exceptional party at the school´s own disco "Klubben" was the "Bierstuben". Norwegians dressed up in German-style leather pants playing German folk music. They messed up the lyrics all the time, but that didn´t matter. Ein Prosit in Gemuetlíchkeit, eins, zwei, wir saufen! Once more this shows that the grim North can be quite fun when it comes to partying. Never before have I partied that much.

As mentioned before the MIB program may be of interest to you. It takes three semesters and if you like the place you might as weill go for it.