Oslo Norway Study Abroad Past Review

By Emily S (Biology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/12/2015 to 06/06/2015 with

USAC Norway: Oslo - Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned how to speak Norwegian and had an amazing time exploring the country. It was absolutely worthwhile and I will actually be living in Oslo for the next year because I had such a good time!

Review Photos

USAC: Oslo, Norway - University of Oslo Undergraduate and Graduate Courses Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The language programs where great, the other classes were significantly easier than my home institution.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I felt integrated but I had to put a lot of effort in to do it. Joining student organizations are very important to meet other students in Norway.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	N/A
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget? (1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	between $60-$90

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	N/A
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Meet Norwegians and just practice, don't be afraid to mess up all the time.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Trips with Student Groups Learning Norwegian
* What could be improved?	Help with understanding the Norwegian banking system
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	That the Norwegian bank system is complicated and you essentially can't get a bank account unless you are staying for over a year. The option to deposit money in a Norwegian bank account to prove you have money for the permit is a really bad idea and you will lose a lot of money doing it. My friends had a lot of problems with that.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.	The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Norwegian for International Students
Course Department:	Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies
Instructor:	Ewa Wapinska
Instruction Language:	Norwegian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Norwegian Music for International Students
Course Department:	Deparment of Musicology
Instructor:	Øyvin Dybsand
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was an incredibly boring course that most students just skipped and I felt that I didn't learn anything.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Research Literature in Cancer Biology
Course Department:	Department of Biosciences
Instructor:	Fahri Saatcioglu
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was quite easy compared to anything at Middlebury College and quite dry at times, but overall a decent course.
Credit Transfer Issues: