Bergen has one of the largest student populations of any Norwegian city. The city is welcoming to all kinds of students, including exchange students, in all it has to offer.

Det akademiske kvarter or kvarteret, is the big and popular student house in Bergen. They provide good prices on food and drinks, free coffee, theaters, concerts, and public debates. It is open in the day as well as at night. It is a place where you can meet a lot of interesting people and also volunteer during your stay in Bergen. The word on the street is that you will find new friends for life.

Salem misjonsforsamling is a Christian society in Bergen. It can be nice to gather a group from school and go together.

Getting around and public transport

The city center is small, and you can reach many places by foot or on a bicycle. You can also easily travel around using the bus and the light rail, Bybanen. They are both run by the same company and tickets are valid on both facilities. Single tickets can be bought at small stores, dedicated ticket machines in the city center, or by using your smartphone. You can download the app Skyss billett to buy tickets directly on your cellphone. To find timetables, visit Skyss or download the app Skyss reiseplanlegger.

Monthly or weekly tickets for students are also available.You can use the Skyss billett app to apply for a transport card from skyss.no. The transport card needs to be loaded with money at the machines before each month. As an exchange student, you either need to bring your international student card (ISIC-card) or personal ID and a letter from VID for the ticket to be valid. The letter shows that you are a student with us. You will receive this on arrival in Bergen. Keep in mind that you need to bring all three items for a student ticket to be valid.

You should always have your ticket in order before you enter buses and light rail in Bergen. If you want to buy a ticket directly on the bus, you must pay cash, and the ticket will be more expensive. You cannot buy tickets directly on the tram. Should you need to use public transport late at night, the tickets cost more and need to be purchased separately.

Housing will be provided at a reasonable cost to all exchange students at a student residence in Bergen by Student Welfare Organisation in Bergen, Sammen. Once you have been selected as an exchange student at VID Bergen, you will receive a personal reservation code from your coordinator at VID to be used when applying for a room. The deadline for applying for accommodation is May 15 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.

Read the information on Sammen's webpages carefully to ensure that you apply for the kind of housing that you want. Some of the rooms are furnished, and some not. Alrek is the student village situated closest to the campus on Haraldsplass.

How to apply for accommodation through Housing Anywhere

Sign-up here to receive a VID Specialized University VIP profile on HousingAnywhere.com:

https://housinganywhere.com/Oslo--Norway/vid-specialized-university/sign-up

As a student, intern, PhD candidate, researcher or visiting professor of VID Specialized University, you are entitled to priority access to all accommodation available on HousingAnywhere.com. The platform allows you to choose from accommodation listed by local students, housing providers and verified landlords. Securely book your housing prior to your arrival.

Do you need more information or have a specific question? Send an email to vip@housinganywhere.com and be treated with priority!

Other options

If you prefer to live a little closer to the city center or want try out the private market, you can go online at Hybel or Finn.

These sites are popular among students, and they have options for both shared apartments and single apartments. Unfortunately, the sites are only available in Norwegian, so ask a friend if you need some help or try Google translate.

Read more at Healthcare

The Student Welfare Organisation, Sammen is the main student organization in Bergen. They are helpful with everything that has to do with housing, sport and fitness offers, counselling, and health.

Transport to and from the airport

To travel to or from the airport, you can easily use Flybussen (the airport bus) that departs every 10 minutes. The airport bus stops are clearly marked, and tickets may be purchased online or on the bus. This bus facility is well designed for all tourists.

Opening hours

When living in Norway, you might notice that our opening hours differs from what you are used to in other countries. This is due to governmental restrictions.

Supermarkets

• Monday-Friday: 07:00–23:00
• Saturday: 08:00–21:00
• Sunday: Closed, only special Sunday stores are open (Bunnpris, Matkroken)

Malls

• Monday-Friday: 09:00–21:00
• Saturday: 09:00–18:00
• Sunday: Closed
• Outdoor cafes and restaurants will be open on Sundays

Local emergency number

• Bergen Emergency Center: +47 55 56 87 00

Buddy program – an educational relationship

To make sure that your stay at VID Bergen will be unforgettable and fun, you will receive a student buddy when you arrive. The student buddy will help you get to know the city and college, find social activities, or other questions you might have.

From experience, the buddy program has proved to be an educational relationship on both sides. As an exchange student, you learn how to embrace the student life like a real Norwegian, and the buddies benefit by seeing their own country and traditions from a new perspective. Also, the buddies at VID Bergen are all students who take an interest in getting to know other people and new cultures, so finding subjects to talk about will hardy be a problem.

Here is a list of what your buddy can help you with:

1. Picking you up at the airport, bus, or train station.
2. Helping you find the way to your home for the next three months.
3. Helping you find the way to your internship.
4. Tour around the college.
5. Tour around the city, if requested.
6. Frequently available throughout your stay.

Who knows, if you really hit it off together, it could be the start of a lifelong friendship.

International Exchange Erasmus Student Network is the main organization for all exchange students. Everything on this page can be useful information, and they have a great event program if you feel like engaging with others. ESN is also on Instagram and Facebook. Look it up, and you`ll see some inspiring photos.

Student Welfare Organisation, Sammen is the main student organization in Bergen, and it can help with everything that has to do with housing, training offers, counselling, and health.

Study Bergen is a collaborative organization involving the institutions of higher education in Bergen, the Student Welfare Organization, Bergen Municipality, the Bergen Chamber of Commerce, and the County Council of Hordaland.