international student handBooK academic year 2011/2012 survival Guide

EFMD

ContaCt information
BaChelor in Business administration ms. sjoukje Kootstra steinhovden mr. Kristoer Klev e-mail: bachelor@bi.no tel: (+47) 46 41 00 07 fax: (+47) 21 04 80 00 (att: BBa) master of sCienCe ms. Kristine sydhagen e-mail: msc@bi.no tel:(+ 47) 46 41 00 02 fax:(+ 47) 46 41 00 59 international relations oce (iro) ms. eline Jensrud, ms. monica manolache ms. marianne hagen e-mail: international.oce@bi.no tel: (+47) 46 41 02 27

taBle of Contents
BEFORE YOU GO Checklist before departure applying for an entry visa and residence permit Bank transfer health insurance housing ACADEMICS Checklist aer arrival id card and id number Communication channels semester fees Courses and course registration examinations Grading scale norwegian language course important dates CAMPUS FACILITIES student service Centre it services library Bookshop student canteen and coee bars Public phone Bank and atm Career services nydalen athletica student health services student Chaplain 4 TRANSPORTATION Public transport how to get to Bi driving in norway Parking at Bi Biking 14

ATTRACTIONS, ACTIVITIES AND URBAN AREAS 15 attractions in oslo oslo Public library Cinemas urban areas Places for activities and recreation travelling in norway PRACTICALITIES Working in norway Bank account mobile phone Business hours Groceries tipping electricity sending packages to norway national holidays Climate and clothing norwegian law CULTURAL ADVICE norwegian language EMERGENCY emergency plan emergency phones 17

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STUDENT ORGANISATIONS 13 Bi athletics the student house insa international student association Gss Graduate students society BBa Bachelor of Business administration student cabins for rent

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table oF ContentS
BEFORE YOU GO Checklist before departure applying for an entry visa and residence permit bank transfer Health insurance Housing ACADEMICS Checklist aer arrival id card and id number Communication channels Semester fees Courses and course registration examinations Grading scale norwegian language course important dates CAMPUS FACILITIES Student Service Centre it services library bookshop Student canteen and coee bars Public phone bank and atM Career Services nydalen athletica Student Health Services Student Chaplain 4 TRANSPORTATION Public transport How to get to bi driving in norway Parking at bi biking 14

ATTRACTIONS, ACTIVITIES AND URBAN AREAS 15 attractions in oslo oslo Public library Cinemas urban areas Places for activities and recreation travelling in norway PRACTICALITIES Working in norway bank account Mobile phone business hours Groceries tipping electricity Sending packages to norway national holidays Climate and clothing norwegian law CULTURAL ADVICE norwegian language EMERGENCY emergency plan emergency phones 17

WelCoMe to bi norWeGian buSineSS SCHool

We would like to congratulate you on your decision to become a student at bi norwegian business School. this international Student Handbook will provide you with practical information, both as a student at bi and as a new resident in norway. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. the Student administration and the international relations oce are responsible for the welfare of international students during their stay at bi. Please contact us if you have any questions.

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norWay
Friendly, down-to-earth people, unique scenery, summer nights bright as day and delightful snowy winters make norway a very special country. norway is a very safe country to live in. its crime rate is amongst the lowest in the world and its environment and air are amongst the cleanest. norways wonderful nature and countryside simply invite to exciting outdoor activities all year around: mountain hiking, climbing, hunting, cycling, raing, swimming, golf, sailing, skiing and more. alternatively you can relax and enjoy the view of breathtaking ords and landscapes. each season has its own special features and charm. in the summer, temperatures range between +15 and 25 Celsius. it is easy for a foreigner to feel at home in norway. english is widely spoken and coping with day-to-day life in norway doesnt require prociency in norwegian. there are just over 4.9 million norwegians, most of them living in urban areas.

about bi
bi norwegian business School is an internationally recognized and accredited institution located in oslo, the capital of norway. bi has one of europe's largest and most productive academic environments in the area of business economics and administration, marketing and management. bi is a school for students who want a wide scope, accessibility and exibility, as well as depth, specialization and international perspective. it received eQuiS accreditation from the european Foundation for Management development in 1999 and was reaccredited in 2005. equis accreditation since 1999 and reaccredited in 2005 research oriented Wide range of educational programmes taught in english: bachelor of business administration, bachelor of Shipping and Finance, Master of Science, Phd and executive Mba programmes State-of-the-art learning and teaching facilities 9500 full-time students and 10400 part-time students oslo Campus holds over 9000 undergraduate and postgraduate students read more about bi at www.bi.no/aboutBI

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STUDENT ORGANISATIONS 13 bi athletics the Student House inSa international Student association GSS Graduate Students Society bba bachelor of business administration Student cabins for rent

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oSlo a diFFerent euroPean CaPital

Few other capitals can oer such a variety of activities and scenery as oslo. you may have breakfast at the beach watching the seagulls following a shing boat. lunch you may choose to have at a downtown caf listening to the sounds of the metropolis. For dinner, you can probably nd a restaurant true to your taste, from whichever part of the world you are. and at night you may choose to throw yourself into a throbbing nightlife or sit around a bonre with your friends in the woods overlooking the city. oslo is big enough for all this to happen, but still small enough for you to do it all in a day!

BEFORE YOU GO
CheCKlist Before deParture

if you need a visa or residence permit prior to arrival; have you

applied?

account number 8200.01.39838 swi-/BiC address: dnBanoKKXXX iBan: no1182000139838. Bank address: dnBnor Bank asa 0021 oslo, norway (Please mark the payment with msc, BBa or exchange) the swi address and iBan code can be used to send payments electronically. Contact your local bank for details. Please make sure that your bank conrms that the funds: - are personal, including your name on the transfer documents, are to cover your costs related to the expenses for your study period at Bi norwegian Business school. the money will be available for you and can be withdrawn at any time from your programme administration, or transferred to a norwegian bank account aer you arrive in norway.

have you signed the housing contract? do you have insurance? have you submitted the course registration form?

entry visa and residenCe Permit

Please read this section carefully and start the process as early as possible. Please note that it is your responsibility to obtain the correct visa to enter norway. Citizens of denmark, finland, sweden and iceland do not need a residence permit, thus the information below is not applicable.

information for eXChanGe and deGree seeKinG students

a permit is required for all students intending to stay in norway for more than three months. depending on the country of citizenship, a foreign student may enter norway by means of one of the following: 1. eu identity card 2. residence permit for countries without a visa requirement 3. entry visa 1. Students from EU/EEA countries eu/eea/efta students need to make a preliminary registration online at: selfservice.udi.no aer arriving in norway you must identify yourself and show the following documents to the foreign Police: a valid eu identity card or passport Bi admission letter private health insurance or european health insurance card (valid for the whole period of your study programme) personal declaration stating that you have sucient funds/nances to support yourself. for the year 2011/2012 the amount is noK 9080,- per month 2. Students from non-EU/EEA countries (category 2) students from non-eu/eea countries, not needing a visa to enter norway (see countries next page), are advised to apply for a residence permit before coming to norway. exchange students can enter norway before the residence permit has been granted. degree seeking students cannot enter norway before their residence permit has been granted. the application can be done online at: selfservice.udi.no online through the application Portal norway: selfservice.udi.no. aer you have lled in the application and sent all documents you must book an appointment at the nearest embassy or Consulate to identify yourself and show your documents. applicants who cannot yet register their applications online must submit a paper application form to the nearest embassy or consulate.

the folloWinG Countries do not need an entry visa to enter norWay

andorra, albania (holders of biometric passports), argentina, australia, austria Belgium, Bermuda (BdtC passport), Bosnia and herzegovina (holders of biometric passports), Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria Canada, Chile, Costa rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech republic denmark el salvador, estonia finland, france Germany, Greece, Guatemala honduras, hong Kong (sar passports and Bno passports), hungary iceland, ireland, israel, italy Japan republic of Korea latvia, liechtenstein, lithuania, luxembourg macau (sar passport), macedonia (holders of biometric passports), malaysia, malta, mexico, monaco, montenegro (holders of biometric passports) the netherlands, new Zealand, nicaragua Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal romania san marino, serbia (holders of biometric passports), singapore, slovakia, slovenia, spain, sweden, switzerland taiwan (holders of taiwanese passports that contain an id card number) the uK, uruguay, the usa the vatican City state, venezuela

aPPliCation doCuments for students from CateGory 2 and 3

enclosed with the application you must provide the following documents: a) Bi admission letter b) Copy of your passport (all pages) c) if you are a degree seeking student you are required to deposit noK 9080,- per month + tuition fee in Bis bank account. the conrmation of the money transfer must be enclosed. Bank transfer information can be found on next page. aer arrival in norway you must register with the foreign Police within 7 days

oPen day for reGistration With the PoliCe SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT autumn 2011
on saturday 20 august the foreign Police will be open only for students. all students from outside eu/eea are advised to register and show their documents on this day, even if this is later than seven days aer arrival. the processing time for your residence permit will be considerably shorter if you register on this day. eu/eea students bring their documents to the iro/master/BBa oce and we will stamp and send them to the foreign Police.

Foreign Police

eleCtroniC BanK transfer

(applicable to degree seeking students or students who need to transfer money to Bi) Please deposit the correct amount to the bank account of: Bi norwegian Business school nydalsveien 37 0442 oslo - norway.
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address : schweigaardsgate 15 B oPeninG hours: monday thursday: 08:15 12:00 friday: 08:15 11:00 Phone: 22 34 21 00 between 09:00 15:00

entry visa (category 3)

3. Citizens of countries where an entry visa is needed cannot enter Norway (Schengen area) before the entry visa has been issued. since the end of february 2011 all visa applications can be done

health insuranCe

housinG
Bi norwegian Business school assists exchange students and rst year international degree seeking students in nding accommodation. there are several dormitories for Bi students. this is usually the cheapest way to live in oslo and a good way to meet other students. it is also possible to nd private accommodation, but rental prices are comparatively high. for more information go to www.bi.no/housing.

Bsn nydalen
Bsn nydalen is located a few minutes from campus. they oer a number of dierent rooms and facilities like squash court, laundry room, roof terrace, broadband internet and cable tv. read more on: www.bsn.no.

the foundation for student life in oslo and aKershus

sio provides aordable housing for students in oslo. sio has more than 7500 rooms and apartments at dierent rates around oslo and akershus. if you want to switch from one sio dormitory to another you have to contact sio directly. information about dormitories and procedures for internal moving is available on www.sio.no/english..

students from eu/eea Countries

students from eu/eea countries have social security coverage from their home country. make sure you obtain a social security card before you leave. the social security card covers expenses for medical treatment in accordance with the national insurance scheme. Please contact a national insurance oce in your home country for detailed information.

tuBerCulosis test
students staying in norway for more than 3 months might be required to take a tuberculosis test. you will normally receive a letter from your local municipality with information about when and where you can take the test. this applies to all students from outside Western europe, usa, Canada, australia, new Zealand and Japan. the examination is free of charge. you will need to return a few days aer your initial examination. aer your second appointment you will receive a card verifying that you have had the test. ullevl sykehus (hospital) division of lung disease/diagnosestasjon for oslo og akershus house K, rst oor address: Kirkeveien 166, oslo tel: 22 11 99 30 (between 0800-1530) hoW to Get there: take subway 4 or 5 to majorstua. Go to mc donalds and take bus 20 to ullevl sykehus (three stops). alternatively you can take bus 37 from Bi to tannlegehyskolen and from there it is a ve minutes walk.

Where is Bi norWeGian Business sChool loCated

T T
Holmenkollen

non eu/eea students

if the duration of your stay in norway is more than 3 months (and less than 6 months) you should ll in the application for insurance during stay in norway form entitling you to health services in accordance with the norwegian national insurance scheme. if you send the form by post you must enclose a certied copy of your passport. Certied copies can be made at the international relations oce. you can also apply in person. students who do not ll in the application for insurance during their stay in norway, or students who stay in norway less than three months must have social security coverage from their home country. Please note that students studying in norway for less than 12 months are not covered by the national insurance scheme when travelling outside norway. students staying more than 12 months are covered when travelling in the eu, but not outside the eu. students going on exchange/study abroad should enquire about their rights at the international relations oce before leaving. students who stay in norway for more than 12 months are automatically part of the norwegian national insurance scheme. note that the scheme does not cover dental care and medical treatment of illness contracted before arrival in norway.

Questions regarding housing can be directed to Bis housing coordinator: housing@bi.no. you can also nd useful information on www.bi.no/housing.

hoW are the rooms eQuiPPed?

you will have to bring your own duvet, bed sheets and towels. in addition, you will have to buy pots, pans and cutlery. sometimes there are leover kitchen utilities etc. from previous students.

T T T

T
Ullevl Stadion Nydalen

Private aCCommodation
T
Storo

Private accommodation is usually more expensive than dormitories. the price for renting a one-bedroom apartment in oslo is a minimum of noK 6000-7000. many students choose to share a at with other students (usually 2-4 people). expect to pay noK 3500 - 5000 for a room. advertisements for private accommodation can be found in newspapers and on the internet. the aen evening paper and the following websites are recommended sources. www.nn.no www.hybel.no www.utleiemegleren.no

Blindern

Majorstuen

Si

T
Akerse lva

T
The Royal Palace

Nationalteateret

T
Stortinget

addresses of the loCal norWeGian national insuranCe offiCes (tryGdeKontor):

for residents at KrinGsJ, soGn and Bsn nordre aker trygdekontor Gullhaugveien 7, oslo P.B. 320, alnabru, 0614 oslo opening hours: 0800-1500 tel: 21 06 67 00 for residents at BJlsen sagene trygdekontor thv. meyersgate 9, oslo P.B. 305, alnabru, 0614 oslo opening hours: 0800-1500 tel: 21 06 68 21 for residents at BJerKe Bjerke trygdekontor kern senteret, kernveien 145 P.B. 319, alnabru, 0614 oslo opening hours: 0800-1500 tel: 21 06 82 60

Oslo City Hall

Central Station Oslo S

T
The Parliament Aker Brygge The Norwegian Opera Vippetangen

students who live elsewhere must contact their local national insurance oce (nav).

ACADEMICS
CheCKlist after arrival

Get your student id card from the student service Centre attend the information meetings set up for your student group/study programme Check your time table (www.bi.edu/schedule) Get an overview of compulsory literature for your courses/ study programme familiarize yourself with www.bi.no/students register at the foreign Police
id Card and id numBer
all Bi students get a personal student card at the start of the semester. your id number is printed to the student card. Please contact the student service Centre in u1 to have your picture taken and get the card processed. the card is used as proof of identity, library card, on vending machines, at the document centre and for copying and printing. you can top up the card either by using cash at a machine by the international relations oce, or alternatively by transferring money from your bank account at a terminal in the student service Centre. there is a replacement fee if you lose your card. the student id card is not valid until the tuition fee for the relevant semester is paid (does not apply to exchange students). this is documented by a receipt tag attached to the back of the card. the receipt tag can be obtained at the student service Centre. exchange students get a validation receipt free of charge at the student service Centre.

BaChelor students all courses are mandatory in the rst and second year of the programme and no course registration is required. msc students autumn 2011 first year students are automatically registered for courses. second year students are automatically registered for mandatory courses. online registration of electives is available from 15 June 1 July. exchange students: online registration of electives is available from 15 June 1 July. it is possible to change registrations by using an add/drop form from 8 14 august. sPrinG 2012 first year students are automatically registered for courses. second year students are automatically registered for mandatory courses. online registration of electives from 1 november 15 november. exchange students: online registration of electives from 1 november 15 november. it is possible to change registrations by using an add/drop form until 15 december. registrations will not be accepted aer the deadline. Please note that msc students who want to retake exams must sign up for the course at the beginning of the semester, by 1 July in the autumn semester and 15 november in the spring semester.

eXaminations
examinations are held in november/december (autumn semester) and in may/June (spring semester). you will automatically be enrolled for the exams to the courses you are signed up for. the examination plan for the autumn semester is posted on the web in september. the plan for the spring semester is normally available in december/January. e-mail httP://WeBmail.student.Bi.no as a student you will be given a personal e-mail address. important student information is sent to this address and you are obliged to check it regularly. online student handBooK www.bi.no/studenthandbook the student handbook contains syllabuses, course descriptions, literature lists, regulations, exam information and other important student information. online Course sChedule WWW.Bi.edu/sChedule the online schedule contains information about all activities at Bi in nydalen. Please note that the schedule also shows courses taught in norwegian. Bachelor students should be aware that courses taught in english and norwegian may have the same name in english. you can withdraw from, or change your examinations via Banner student Web. the deadline for making changes is week 40 in the autumn semester and week 10 in the spring semester. Previous eXamination PaPers you will nd previous examination papers in the student handbook at www.bi.no/studenthandbook or on http://bi.itslearning.com. CalCulator the only accepted advanced calculator for examinations at Bi is the texas instruments (ti) model, Baii Plus. it can be bought at the akademika Bookshop on Campus and will cost about noK 400. there are a few calculators on loan for msc and exchange students at the student service Centre. more information aBout eXams: WWW.Bi.no/eXam WWW.Bi.no/studenthandBooK

GradinG sCale
the grade scale is based on the eCts (european Credit transfer system) standard. Grades awarded for examinations, tests, evaluation of papers or other forms of evaluation are either Passed/failed or on a scale of grades with ve levels from a to e for passed and f for failed. the poorest pass grade for an examination is the grade e. the evaluation terms used for the grading scale are as follows: a excellent B very good C Good d satisfactory e sucient f failed

CommuniCation Channels at Bi
Below you will nd an overview on the dierent communication channels used at Bi. for safety reasons, many of them require a username and password. you have received your personal username and password to all electronic services at Bi along with your admittance conrmation. if you should lose this information, please contact the student service Centre at studentservicesenter@bi.no. student information WWW.Bi.no/students on this site you nd information of the dierent logon services, student services and relevant links to external and internal web sites. you will also nd news from the student union, information about various events held at Bi and the student house, and more. Banner studentWeB WWW.Bi.no/Banner on Banner studentWeb you can update your address, telephone number and e-mail. you can access your personal schedule, and register for and withdraw from exams. you will also nd various student services, such as your examination results and the preliminary examination protocol. Please remember to always keep your contact information updated! its learninG httP://Bi.itslearninG.Com Bi uses its learning as a publication tool for lecture notes and information from the student administration. its learning also serves as a student portal with access to electronic services and information about it services, library resources, student associations etc. most of the administrative and academic information for students is only accessible via its learning. sms messaGes sms messages are used for giving important information on short notice, for instance if a lecture has been cancelled. the service is free of charge. Please register your norwegian mobile phone number (if you have one) on Banner student-Web. 8

norWeGian lanGuaGe Course

Bi oers norwegian language courses to international students. each course costs noK 1800 and must be paid to the international relations oce in advance. norWeGian lanGuaGe Course autumn 2011 a level one course will be oered starting end of august. the course runs for eight weeks, followed by an exam in the 9th week. there are two lectures per week. there is a limited number of places on each course and allocation is done on a rst come, rst serve basis. the course registration form is available online at, www.bi.edu/incoming. the textbook "norsk 1-2-3" can be bought at akademika bookstore for approximately noK 335. the course is not a part of Bis curriculum and does not give any credits. there is an optional test at the end of the course. the students who take the test receive a certicate. norWeGian lanGuaGe Course sPrinG 2012 a level one course will be oered starting mid January. level two courses are oered on demand.

tuition fees
degree seeking students will receive an invoice for payment of the autumn semester fee in august/september. the invoice for the spring semester is issued in december. exchange students do not pay semester fee to Bi.

Course reGistration
eXChanGe students deadline for course registration is 1 July for the autumn semester and 15 november for the spring semester. if you wish to change courses aer this date you must use the add/drop form. final deadline for making changes is 24 august for the autumn semester and 15 december for the spring semester. registration forms are available online: www.bi.edu/incoming

imPortant dates
eXChanGe students may 1 application deadline for incoming exchange may 1 housing application deadline master course registration period June 15 July 1 July 4 July 17 Bachelor course registration period august 1 return the pick-up form with your arrival date, time and ight number introduction days with matriculation Ceremony, august 16 19 introduction Case, General information meeting, information meetings for the dierent master programmes and intercultural Workshop. Classes start august 22 august 22 29 add/drop period for changes in bachelor course registration mid nov dec 22 final exams december 10 deadline for course registration spring december 22 last day of the semester. January 4 Classes start January 11 final deadline for course registration changes, by using add/drop form. mid april June 10 final exams June 20 last day of the semester. nB! do not book your return ticket until your exam dates have been announced. msc students march 15 march 15 may 1 June 15 July 1 august 14 august 16 19 scholarship application deadline application deadline. admission on a rolling basis until semester start housing application deadline for international students electronic Course registration for the autumn semester final deadline for course registration for exchange students introduction days with matriculation Ceremony, introduction Case, General information meeting, information meetings for the dierent master programmes and intercultural Workshop. Classes start application for special arrangements in connection with examinations

CAMPUS FACILITIES
the student serviCe Centre
the student service Centre (ssC) is located in u1 (by the cafeteria). the ssC can help you with: id cards, information about sio, student housing, preliminary transcripts of grades, various conrmations, submission of term papers, projects and thesis, various forms, password and username and general information.

it serviCes
there are 200 workstations located in hallways and PC labs. in addition there are 350 workstations in the library. all work stations are connected to laser printers. most areas have wireless network connections and you will nd it useful to bring your own laptop. you can connect a laptop to Bis network by wireless connection or a normal ethernet card. to use Bis it services you must be a registered user with a user identity provided by Bi. When logging onto the it systems, you must always use your own user identity and password. the user identity and password are strictly condential and must not be shared with others. should you nonetheless become aware of, or suspect, that a password has been made available to others, please contact the it department immediately. it is forbidden to use other students identities and/or passwords. if you have any it-related questions, feel free to contact the it advisors in Bu1, (next to the student service Centre) or send an e-mail to it@bi.no.

august 22 sept 19 oct 19 mid november december 23 november 1

oasen student Cafeteria and Coffee Bars

the cafeteria in u1 serves everything from sandwiches, pizza, noodles to more traditional norwegian dinners. there are also two coee bars and a convenience store on Campus.

final exams electronic Course registration for the spring semester november 15 electronic Course registration ends (nal deadline for 1st and 2nd year students) december 23 last day of the semester. do not make any travel arrangements before your exam dates have been announced! January 4 Classes start february 1 deadline for applying for an exchange semester/ academic year 2012/2013 feb 20 march 11 application for special arrangements in connection with examinations may June final exams June 20 last day of the semester. nB! do not book your return ticket until your exam dates have been announced.

PuBliC Phone the liBrary

Bis library is located on the 5th and 6th oor at the top of the escalators. the liBrary offers : Books, periodicals, papers and databases 552 individual reading places 533 open plan group workplaces for students 46 group rooms and 8 av rooms 274 PC workplaces social zones with 198 seats accommodated for disabled read more: www.bi.no/library a public phone is located next to the student service Centre in Bu1.

BanK and atm

sparebank 1 is located on campus in Block d, 1st oor. atms can be found outside the bank and in the student Cafeteria in au1.

Bi Careers serviCe
Bi Careers service oers comprehensive services to Bi students, whether they are in the process of applying for jobs or just curious on how to meet the labour market at the end of their studies. some of their services are Cv and application check, job search course, career counseling, career days and more. the Bi Careers services is located next to the international relations oce in B3. for more information see www.bi.edu/career.

BBa students april 15 may 1 august 16 august 17 august 22 sept 19 oct 19 mid november december 22 december 22

application deadline housing application deadline matriculation Ceremony intercultural Workshop for Bachelor students Classes start exam registration period/application for special arrangements in connection with examinations

BooKshoP
there is a book shop, akademika, on Campus. akademika stocks all books on the compulsory literature lists in addition to ction, stationary, periodicals, magazines and more. www.akademika.no

nydalen athletiCa (fitness Centre)

you will nd a large and well equipped tness centre in Block d, 2nd oor. the price for a one-semester membership is noK 1250 (prices may change). see www.sio.no/english for more information.

final exams last day of the semester. do not make any travel arrangements before your exam dates have been announced! January 4 Classes start february 1 deadline for applying for an exchange semester (applies to second year students) feb 20 march 12 exam registration period /application for special arrangements in connection with examinations may June final exams June 20 last day of the semester.

nB! do not book your return ticket until your exam dates have been announced.

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STUDENT ORGANISATIONS
student health serviCes and student CounsellinG
student health services provide general health care at the G.P, and student social counselling, in block d, 2nd oor on Campus. Clinical psychology/psychiatry (tlf. 22 85 31 81 from 08.00 am 3.00 pm ) and basic dental care (tlf 22 85 32 15 from 08.00 am till 09.00 am.) are available to Bi students at theuniversity of oslo, Blindern ( www.sio.no). full time students can use the student health services if they have paid the student union fee to sio. exchange students can use all the student health services without paying the sio fee. students staying in norway for longer than 6 month can register their General Physician G.P (fastlege) at the student health services provided that they have a norwegian birth number/social security number. a consultation for degree students having registered their GP gets some of their expenses from G.P. visits refunded. all students have to pay fees (without refunding) for e.g. blood tests, vaccinations and for health certicates that are not related to ongoing studies. Please also bring your vaccination Card to doctor appointments. read more: www.sio.no/english oPeninG hours student health serviCe at Bi monday to friday 08.00 11.15 and 12.00 15.30 (14:45 from mid may to mid september)tel: 23 21 53 80 (closed 11.15 12.15) emergency tel: 23 21 53 90, 08.00 15.45 (tel: 22 85 31 74 from 15:00 1600 in summer) student health service is closed from 20th of june till 15th of august. in this period you must contact our oce at university of oslo, at Campus Blindern, tlf: 22853160 outside offiCe hours (alWays oPen) the emergency service in oslo (legevakten) tel: 22 93 22 93 address: legevakten, storgata 40 emerGenCy/amBulanCe: tel: 113 dental Care oslo tannlegevakt provide urgent dental care tel: 22 56 40 00 (majorstua), 22 65 33 88 (rvoll) monday sunday 08.00-22.00 read more: www.oslotannlegevakt.no (in norwegian only).

student Welfare
student Welfare aims to make your daily student life outside your lectures as good as possible. they work in close cooperation with sBio, the student union at Bi, sio the main student welfare organization in oslo and Bis management. student Welfare is responsible for safeguarding Bis guidelines and interests in relation to laws and regulations Bi as an institution has to follow. While simultaneously cooperating with sBio to challenge and develop guidelines and attitudes among students and employees. student ChaPlain sometimes it is good to have someone to talk to, to air the questions you may have. it might be that you are happy and want to tell somebody about it. maybe you have other questions about relationships, frustrations and worries, sorrow, existential questions or you just need help? Whenever life is challenging, contact the student Chaplain at Bi nils Jran riedl. appointments can be made by sending an email or sms to: nils Jran riedl e-mail: studentprest@bi.no sms: 46 41 02 85 Binner: all international students and friends are invited to join the Bi-dinner at the student house. the dinner is free, you only pay for what you are drinking. invite your friends to come along to this event. its a great way to meet other international and norwegian students in a casual atmosphere, and you also get the opportunity to enjoy a well prepared home cooked meal. you can read more about Binner on www.bi.no/studentwelfare. room for refleCtion Bi in oslo oers a room for reection. this is a place to pray, a silent space or a chapel independent of your religious belonging. all students are welcome to use it.

sBio
the student union, sBio, has a range of activities and various sub-groups including everything from sports to more business related activities. Below is a brief description of some of the groups. you will receive more information about sBio in a separate booklet. We encourage all students to contact the student union if they would like to join any of the organisations. visit their website: www.sbio.no/en or read their information booklet.

student CaBins for rent

the student unions at Bi and the university of oslo own many cabins, in and outside oslo, available for students to rent. read more: www.studenthyttene.no (norwegian only).

Bi athletiCs
Bi athletics oers students a range of experiences in the world of sports. Bi athletics represents Bi in various student championships and they have active teams in sports like lacrosse, rowing, football and basketball. also on oer are activities like dancing, kiting and scuba diving.

the student house

the student house (studentenes hus) is located close to Bi next to the idyllic akerselva river. the student house is an informal meeting place for the students. thursday nights is a regular pub night and various concerts and festivals appear throughout the year.

insa international student assoCiation

insas aim is to help integrate international exchange students into the norwegian student environment. insa is responsible for the sosial programme, including the pick-up service. insa has a extensive programme of events including visits to museums, trips, sightseeing, parties and international dinners. insabi.wordpress.com

Gss Graduate students soCiety

Gss is the student association for all master of science students at Bi. http://gssbi.no

BBa BaChelor of Business administration

Bachelors of Business administration students have their own student organisation called BBa. http://bbainsa.no

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TRANSPORTATION
PuBliC transPort
oslo can easily be reached by car, ferry, train, bus or plane. all trains arrive at oslo Central station (oslo s), while buses to and from the airport and other cities arrive at and leave from oslo Bus terminal. Public transport is the most convenient way to travel within oslo. there is an extensive transportation system consisting of trains, buses, ferries, trams and subways. tiCKets and rates tickets are bought from special ticket machines, narvesen, 7 eleven, or from the driver on busses and trams (not on trains or subway). a single ticket, valid for one hour, is noK 27 if you buy it from a machine and noK 40 if you buy it from the driver. a 24 hour ticket is noK 70 and a weekly pass is noK 210. Prices are subject to change. you can buy a monthly student travel pass for noK 350. the rst time you buy the pass you must go to trakanten (small tower next to the oslo Central station) to get a card with your personal information and photo. remember to bring you student id, passport and a passport photo. students who have bought this card can later renew the monthly pass at the student service Center. the travel pass can be used on all public transportation within the city borders of oslo, including the ferry to the oslo fjord islands. Please be aware that there are periodic controls on all public transportation. if you are caught without a valid ticked the ne is noK 750. see www.trakanten.no for information on public transportation. hoW to Get to Bi from soGn student villaGe subway 4 towards ringen or subway 5 towards storo from: ullevl stadion (t-bane) to: nydalen (t-bane) hoW to Get to Bi from BJerKe student house Bus 58 towards nydalen o/Bjerke from: Bjerke (the north side of trondheimsveien) Gullhaugveien to: hoW to Get to Bi from Pilestredet (ParK) student house Bus 37 towards nydalen t from: stensberggata to: nydalen t hoW to Get to Bi from BJlsen student villaGe the fastest way to get from Bjlsen student dormitory to Bi is to walk. total journey time: approximately 10 minutes. you may walk to Bjlsen bus stop in Bergensgata and take Bus 37 towards nydalen t. hoW to Get to Bi from Bsn you can walk from Bsn to Bi in just ve minutes.

ATTRACTIONS, ACTIVITIES AND URBAN AREAS

attraCtions in oslo
along with the world class art that you would expect of a european capital city, oslo has sights that appeal to a broad range of interests: a vibrant city life, ords, forests and lakes that all can be reached by public transportation. oslo oers around 50 museums and several art galleries. amongst the internationally known attractions are the vigeland sculpture Park, the viking ship museum, the munch museum, akershus fortress, holmenkollen ski jump, the folk museum and the newly opened opera house. many museums and art galleries are free of charge or oer student discounts. useful WeBsites: www.visitoslo.com www.virtualoslo.com www.visitnorway.com the City Centre around Karl Johan street the area is a pedestrian precinct with many clothing stores, restaurant, bars, hotels and cinemas. larger shopping malls and department stores in the area are oslo City, Byporten, Glassmagasinet, steen & strm, Paleet and aker Brygge. GrnerlKKa at Grnerlkka you will nd more than 60 restaurants, cafs and bars serving all kinds of food. there are small shops run by non-native norwegians selling fruit, vegetables and low-priced food items. Grnerlkka is also the place to look for small, independent shops with clothes and handicras, as well a number of second hand shops. maJorstua in Bogstadveien and hegdehaugsveien you will nd a good mix from exclusive up-market shopping to a more mid-price variety. there is also a good selection of restaurants, cafs and bars. one saturday a month there is an outdoor market. Grnland Grnland has a wide variety of shops and restaurants run by non-native norwegians. they oer oslos best selection of fruits and vegetables. in addition, you can get a good bargain on exotic textiles and gold. the main streets are Grnlandsleiret and smalgangen. here you will nd some popular bars and cafs.

oslo PuBliC liBrary

oslo Public library is norways largest public library. the library is available for everyone and has many branches located across the city. there are several specialised departments, such as the multi-lingual library. their collection includes both ction and non-ction in 37 languages. at other branches you can choose from a large selection of books in nordic and other european languages, especially english and German. the majority of branches also oer graphic novels, videos, dvds and audio books for circulation. read more: www.deichmanske-bibliotek.oslo.kommune.no/english

drivinG in norWay
eu citizens can use their original driving license while in norway. non-eu citizens are allowed to use the driving license obtained in their home country for up to three months before exchanging it for a norwegian licence. students who bring their own car must get a driving permission from the customs. read more: www.toll.no and www.vegvesen.no/en/home

ParKinG at Bi
there are 280 free parking spaces for students on Campus. the rst come, rst served principle applies, and you enter by using your student card. When all free parking spaces are taken, you will have to pay for parking your car. europark operates the parking house, and you need to respect their parking regulations.

Cinemas
oslo municipal Cinemas operates eight movie theatres in the city of oslo. foreign lms are normally screened in original versions with norwegian subtitles. Please note that features for children may be dubbed. norwegian lms are generally not subtitled. read more: www.oslokino.no.

BiKinG
Bicycles can be bought in all major sportswear stores and specialised bicycle stores. you can also check www.nn.no for used bikes. outside Bi there are bicycle racks where you can lock your bicycle during lectures. make sure to always lock your bike carefully as the is common. hoW to Get to Bi subway: line 4 ringen, line 5 storo and line 6 ringen to husebybakken takes you to nydalen subway station, which is located right next to Bi. it takes about 12 minutes to travel from downtown oslo. Bus: Bus number 37 stops at Bis main entrance and bus number 30 at the eastern entrance. Both busses run to and from the city centre. trams: tram number 11, 12 and 13 take you to and from storo, a ve minute walk from Bi. hoW to Get to Bi from KrinGsJ student villaGe subway 3 towards mortensrud from: Kringsj (t-bane) to: ullevl stadion (t-bane) subway 4 towards ringen or subway 5 towards storo from: ullevl stadion (t-bane) to: nydalen (t-bane) the city of oslo has city-bikes you can borrow for up to three hours by using a special city-bike card. the city bikes are stationed at more than 60 dierent places downtown and are available between 06:00 and 24:00 every day. the yearly fee is noK 80 (2010). read more: www.oslobysykkel.no.

urBan areas
oslo is divided into several urban areas. here are some of the more popular ones for nightlife, shopping and dining. there are countless restaurants, bars, cafs and nightclubs to choose from, and you will nd restaurants that serve dishes in every price category. there are many good alternatives for student budgets. the many exotic restaurants are a good option in this regard, and you will nd them all over the city. nydalen Bi lies in the heart of nydalen, which was originally an industrial area. during the last twenty years the area has been in rapid development. today, nydalen consists of thriving businesses, numerous service offerings, a hotel and apartment buildings. the akerselva river runs freely through the area accompanied by a peaceful footpath. if you walk north it takes you up to a beautiful lake and further into the forests surrounding oslo, and if you head south the path takes you through several charming neighbourhoods and ends up at the oslo ord. storo shopping Centre, a few minutes walk from Bi. here you will nd several shops covering all your needs.

PlaCes for aCtivities and reCreation

PuBliC ParKs oslo has many parks and outdoor areas open to the public. the parks are nice places to meet for a barbeque, sports activities or just to relax. some of the most popular parks are frognerparken (vigeland sculpture Park), st. hanshaugen, soenbergparken, tyen, Birkelunden and torshov. it is also very popular to walk along akerselva river, which ows through the city in the north-south direction. islands Just outside of oslo harbour there are 40 small islands, most of which are open to the public for barbequing, sunbathing and swimming. the water temperature is normally between 18 and 22 degrees in summer. to visit the islands you need to go by ferries. rates are the same as for other public transportation, and you can use your monthly student pass.

useful WeBsites:
oslo airPorts: oslo Gardermoen airport (osl) oslo torp airport (trf): oslo rygge airport (ryG): other transportation norwegian railways (nsB) airport express train Public transportation in oslo www.osl.no www.torp.no www.ryg.no

www.nsb.no www.ytoget.no www.trakanten.no

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PRACTICALITIES
WorKinG in norWay
WorK Permit and taX Card as a student you are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during the semester and full time during holidays. you are required to have a tax card when working in norway. the tax card shows your employer how much to deduct from your pay check and this is done before you are paid. you can obtain a tax card from skatt st .

moBile Phone
in norway most people have a mobile phone. if you have brought your own mobile phone to norway, you can buy a pre-paid card or a norwegian subscription. Pre-paid cards are easily available in kiosks like 7eleven and narvesen. to buy a pre-paid card you need an id card. a monthly subscription requires that you have a norwegian d-number. Basic phones with a subscription or a pre-paid card are readily available for a fair price. mobile phones can be bought in stores that sell electrical equipment or in telecommunication stores. remember to switch o your mobile phone during lectures, at the library and when entering public buildings such as cinemas and theatres.

Skatt st
oPeninG hours: 15th of may 14th of september monday friday: 09.00 14.30 15th of september 14th of may: monday friday : 09.00 15.00 address: schweigaards gate 17 hoW to Get there take any subway to Jernbanetorget and from there it is a ve minute walk.

Business hours
food stores are normally open from 08:00 or 09:00 until 22:00 on weekdays and 20:00 on saturdays. shops in major shopping streets like Karl Johan and Bogstadveien, are open until around 1800: on weekdays (some have longer opening hours on thursdays) and until 16:00 18:00 on saturdays. shopping malls are normally open until 20:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on saturdays. shops are closed on sundays and on public holidays, with the exception of some smaller food stores. Banks are normally open from 09:00 15:00 monday friday. some have longer opening hours on thursdays. Government oces are normally open between 09:00 and 15:00 16:00, but hours may vary.

employers will transfer wages and salaries to your norwegian bank account. it is customary to give your bank account number to your employer upon employment. soGnsvann sognsvann is a freshwater lake located ve minutes by foot from Kringsj student house. there is a nice path around the lake where you can take a walk or go for a run. the lake is also suitable for bathing, with a nice beach, grassy elds and a small pier. nordmarKa the forest region north of oslo city is called nordmarka and has a size of 430 km2. there are several tour possibilities both in summer and winter. in the summer you can nd nice, blue-marked tracks for hiking, biking routes and idyllic lakes for swimming. it is also possible to stay overnight, or have a break at one of the many charming cabins. for further information check www.turistforeningen.no. information is available in english and German. sKiinG and iCe sKatinG in winter, oslo boasts an exceptional ski experience within 30 minutes of the city centre by subway. over 2,600 km of well prepared and redmarked cross-country ski trails run deep into the oslo forest (nordmarka). 124 km of these trails are oodlit until 23:00 hours each day, and winter cabins serve hot chocolate and freshly baked pastries deep in the forest. holmenkollen and sognsvann are oen the starting points for crosscountry. you can try downhill skiing or snowboarding at oslo Winter Park tryvann, 30 minutes by subway from the city centre. here you will nd ski rental and slopes to t all levels of skiers. Check the daily online ski report for snow conditions. read more: www.tryvann.no sKatinG rinK if you like skating there is an ice rink with skate rental in the area between the national theatre and the Parliament in the winter. during a cold winter you can also go skating on the ord and various lakes. sWimminG Pool, tyenBadet the best public swimming pool in oslo is located at tyen. it is open until 19:00 on weekdays and 15:00 on weekends. the easiest way to get to tyenbadet is by taking the underground eastbound to tyen station. address: helgesensgate 90. 16 national id numBer students staying 6 months or more: a norwegian personal number is an 11 digit number consisting of your date of birth plus a 5 digit personal number. the number is required to: - open a bank account - get access to the health services - get a loan from the norwegian state educational loan fund (Quota students) - get a tax card. it is therefore important to follow the following procedure: fill in the notication to the national registry of move to norway from abroad form including a certied copy of your residence permit and send it to skatt st (see box above for details). students staying less than 6 months in norway will be issued a d number (a preliminary personal id number). this can be issued through a Bank, nav (health services) or skatt st.

travellinG in norWay
norway is a beautiful country of mountains, ords and glaciers. City life in oslo is dierent from that of a coastal village in the west and north. if you have the opportunity, it is nice to take a few days for travelling. We recommend you to get a guidebook and to search the internet for information on destinations and sights. travelling in norway can be expensive, but there are ways to travel on a budget. norway is a country with great distances. air travel is therefore the most ecient way to get to most destinations on the west coast, or the north of norway. norwegian, sas and Widere y to 50 dierent destinations in norway and if you book early, relatively cheap tickets are available. the national rail system is good, though somewhat limited. it is a nice way to travel, as most of the routes go through changing scenery along the way. on regional trains, a low cost ticket (minipris) costs noK 199/299 for a single ticket, whatever the length of your journey. the oer is available for a limited number of seats on nsB regional departures, and tickets can be purchased on the internet. norway also has an extensive bus network, with routes connecting every main city as well as more remote areas. there are a number of youth hostels all over norway that oer relatively cheap accommodation, especially if you stay in dormitories. as July is a peak season you are advised to book ahead if you are planning to travel over the summer. useful WeBsites www.norwegian.no www.sas.no www.wideroe.no www.nsb.no www.nor-way.no www.visitnorway.com www.hihostels.no/english

GroCeries
the least expensive stores are Prix, rimi, rema 1000 and Kiwi. here you will nd a basic selection of groceries, toiletries, etc. at the east side of town (sagene, torshov, Gnerlkka and Grnland) you will nd turkish, Pakistani and other asian grocery stores with a selection of vegetables, fruit and international food at a low-price.

thinGs for your room

iKea is the largest and cheapest place to buy furniture, bed linen, decorations, kitchenware, textiles and more. notice that there are two iKea around oslo, furuset and slependen, and one bus for each store. ask where the current bus stop is located as the stop keeps changing due to construction work around Jernbanetorget. oPeninG hours at iKea furuset: mon fri: 10:00 23:00 saturday: 9:00 21:00 there is a free bus to iKea furuset that runs from fred olsens gate 2, which is near oslo Central station (Jernbanetorget subway) and trakanten. the bus runs once every hour on the hour towards iKea. mon fri: 10:00 22:00 saturday: 10:00 20:00 (every half hour from 12-17) a return bus from iKea runs every hour and starts 40 min. past every hour: mon fri: 10:40 22:40 saturday: 10:40 20:40 (every half hour from 12:40 17:40)

useful WeBsites
www.nyinorge.no www.careerinnorway.no www.bi.edu/career

BanK aCCount
students staying in norway for more than one semester are recommended to open a bank account. this is an inexpensive solution compared to using your visa or credit card. to open an account in norway you need a social security number (P-number) or a d-number. the bank can apply for a d-number for students staying less than six months. it normally takes three to four weeks from the time the bank sends in a requisition form until your bank account can be activated. the sparebank1 bank is located on Campus. they oer good terms for Bi students who open a bank account with a visa card. to open a bank account, please contact sparebank1 in building d, 1st oor. remember to bring your passport.

tiP
service charges and tips are included in restaurant bills and taxi fares. tipping is not expected, but around 10% might be given if you are pleased with the service given. in bars and cafes people will oen leave some change.

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CULTURAL ADVICE
eleCtriCity
european continental style two-pin plugs are standard in norway. voltage is 220 v aC, 50 hz. appliances rated us 110v need a transformer.

Climate and ClothinG

you will nd summer temperatures in oslo from may to september. the temperatures can vary from 10 degrees on a rainy day, to 30 degrees on a nice summer day. sea temperatures are normally between 18 and 22 degrees. from september it gets gradually colder, but the autumn can be nice with sunny days and clear, sharp air. By mid november we usually have winter, and snow usually arrives in time for Christmas. it is quite dark and cold in the months from november until the end of february, so bring warm clothes and warm boots. in march you will nd milder temperatures and sunny days. spring arrives in march/april and continues until mid may. a sleeping bag is handy if you would like to travel in norway and europe.

addressinG PeoPle
norwegians are considered to be easy going and informal. first names are commonly used. Prexed like mr., mrs. and ms. are generally not used, only on very formal occasions.

norWeGian lanGuaGe
norway has three ocial written languages: Bokml, nynorsk and sami. Bokml is based on written danish, which was the ocial language of norway for several hundred years. nynorsk was created in the 1850s by linguist ivar aasen, and is a compilation and combination of some regional dialects. Generally, if you understand Bokml you can understand nynorsk fairly easily, and vice versa. ocially Bokml and nynorsk have been accorded equal status, although Bokml is more widely used in oslo and the larger towns. sami, a member of the finno-ugric branch of languages is a minority language used by the indigenous sami people.

Post PaCKaGes to norWay

Packages sent to norway must have your accurate address with your street name, house number, at/room number and preferably a phone number where you can be reached written on it. if you live with someone the address must include c/o and this persons name as indicated on the mailbox. for declaration purposes through customs, be sure to list contents as used personal belongings when sending clothing, textbooks etc. We do not recommend using express mail services for this purpose, as there are rather steep, unexpected charges for clearing it through customs. you must under no circumstances send medication, cigarettes or alcohol by post.

BeinG late
Be on time when going to work and school. it is considered impolite to be late. on social occasions norwegians are more exible. Being 10 15 minutes late is quite common.

hand shaKe
you should shake hands in formal situations. among students and friends hand shaking is not expected. however, when being introduced for the rst time to someone your age it is common to shake hands and say your name.

useful Words
english is widely spoken and you can manage quite well in norway without knowing any norwegian. however, knowing a few words and phrases may be useful. hello hei Goodbye ha det bra yes Ja no nei Please vr s snill thanks (tusen) takk you are welcome vrsgod how are you? hvordan har du det? im ne Bra takk my name is Jeg heter numBers 1 en 2 to 3 tre 4 fire Where is sorry excuse me Cheers im a vegetarian hvor er unnskyld unnskyld meg skl Jeg er vegetarianer how much is it? hvor mye koster den? i dont understand Jeg forstr ikke do you speak snakker du english? engelsk?

norWeGian laW
While living in norway you must respect the norwegian laws. smoKinG in norWay in norway the law restricts smoking. the law prohibits smoking in all public buildings like the Bi Campus, cinemas, municipal oces, railway stations etc. it is also prohibited to smoke in restaurants, bars and cafs all over norway. do not expect to be reminded by signs. Beer, Wine and sPirits a state-owned monopoly chain, called vinmonopolet, controls the sale of wine and hard liquors. Beer can be bought in food stores. the age limit for buying beer and wine is 18. for buying hard liquors the minimum age requirement is 20. druGs Please note that use of any kind of drugs/narcotics is illegal in norway. drug oences may result in a jail sentence and deportation.

national holidays
norwegian national holidays may dier slightly from what you are used to. on these days most commercial businesses are closed, no newspapers are printed and you can expect to struggle with irregular public transport schedules. 2011 Christmas day: december 25 2012 new years day: Palm sunday: maundy thursday: Good friday: easter sunday: easter monday: labour day: January 1 april 1 april 5 april 6 april 8 april 9 may 1

soCial Convention
norwegians are friendly, but reserved. however, you will oen get a positive response if taking initiative. norwegians are also known for their directness. the egalitarian values which are at the root of the welfare state also manifest themselves throughout norwegian society in many ways - for instance in the eld of gender equality. Women expect to be treated with a more gender neutral attitude than in many other parts of the world. also, be aware that what some might consider a light dress code is not necessarily meant to attract attention.

Boxing day: december 26 Constitution day: ascension day: Whit sunday: Whit monday: Christmas day: Boxing day: may 17 may 17 may 27 may 28 december 25 december 26

Common Courtesy
it is always nice to hold the door for someone, regardless of whether they are men or women. old people and pregnant women appreciate it if you let them have your seat on a crowded bus. it is also appreciated if you help people with a baby carriage onto the bus or tram. Be discrete when looking at people and dont stare. dont cut in line! dont litter on the oor or ground. you will usually nd a garbage can somewhere nearby. dont talk to your friends during meetings and presentations etc, when the speaker is talking. turn the sound of your mobile o in the library, cinemas and lecture halls. you might nd that some norwegians may not agree with or follow these guidelines. however, generally observing these will help you integrate into norwegian culture.

norWeGian neWs in enGlish

www.newsinenglish.no http://theforeigner.no

5 6 7 8

fem seks syv tte

9 10 50 100

ni ti femti hundre

1000

tusen

food and drinKs Bread Brd Cheese ost eggs egg full fat milk helmelk low fat milk lettmelk Chicken Kylling fish fisk salmon laks fruit frukt

vegetable Coee tea Beer Wine so drinks Water

Grnnsak Kae te l vin mineralvann (Brus) vann

if you are invited to lunch or dinner it is customary to thank the host for the meal when you leave the table. the phrase takk for maten means thank you for the food.

EMERGENCY
emerGenCy Plan
Bi has a crisis emergency plan which covers all incoming students. Please call the relevant person for assistance should you or one of your fellow students experience a serious accident or get hospitalised. BBa international Co-ordinator, Kristoer Klev, tel: 46 41 01 17 msC director of studies, nina husjord, tel: 46 41 00 53 international relations offiCe emergency number international relations oce tel: +47 46 41 00 71 emerGenCy Phones fire 110 Police 112 ambulance 113

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