News

312 international students from 54 countries start to study at UiB in spring. More than half of them have already arrived in Bergen and were welcomed to the university by Kjersti Fløttum on Thursday. She talked about the university and the city, but weather ran as a thread through her welcome greeting. Vice-rector mentioned the climate changes among other things before she concluded: “Make the world a better world!”

Many of the students present come from Germany, as Dania Bonness, Ann-Kristin Sellmer and Mandy Siegmund. Those three represent the diversity of UiB’s exchange students. The girls are Erasmus and guest students, go to Norwegian classes, attend some of the lectures offered in English (e.g. SAS and law) and stay at Fantoft student hostel. They decided to study at UiB because they had been on holiday in Bergen or because other students at their home university had recommended UiB. Dania even brought her Norwegian husband and two children to Bergen so that the children could learn a little Norwegian as well.

Before the spring term and teaching starts at January 8th, the Division of Academic Affairs provides the students with practical information for two days, says Vivien Aamodt who is responsible for the reception of International Students. The students are informed of semester registration, e-mail account, student ID-card, Norwegian language course and residence permit on the first day. Lectures on university life, Norwegian festival culture and politics are arranged the second day.