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About
NTNU
NTNU - Innovation and Creativity
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
in Trondheim represents academic eminence in technology and
the natural sciences as well as in other academic disciplines
ranging from the social sciences, the arts, medicine, architecture
and the fine arts. Crossdisciplinary cooperation results in
ideas no one else has thought of, and creative solutions that
change our daily lives.
Office
of International Relations
The
staff at the Office of International Relations at NTNU helps
incoming international students as well as students and staff
at NTNU. We provide guidance and counselling
to those that require our services, we try to make excellence
the rule. Main activities:
- advising
students who apply for admission to NTNU
- advising
students at NTNU who want to study abroad
- assisting
incoming and outgoing students with practical arrangements
- helping
staff an departments at NTNU to implement new cooperation
agreements and maintaining current ones
-
acting as the liaison between NTNU and outside agencies,
scholarship or educational programmes
Norwegian
University
of Science
and Technology
The
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim has an 800-year tradition in education that goes back to the first
cathedral school established in Norway
in the year 1210. Since that school opened its doors to a
select few, university life in Trondheim has undergone many changes. NTNU was established in 1996 and merged
the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH), the College of Arts and Sciences and the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology. NTNU offers professional degrees, university studies
and interdisciplinary programmes of study and master´s
degrees in English.
- NTNU
has 7 faculties and 52 departments.
- There
are 20 000 registered students at NTNU, of these approximately
1000 are international students.
- On
average, 2500 degrees are awarded each year.
- 200
PhD degrees are awarded per year.
- There
are about 3500 members of staff. Over half of the staff
are in academic or scientific positions.
- NTNU
participates in the European Union's framework programmes,
Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci;
also in the Nordplus programme,
NORAD programme, and the Quota Programme for students from
developing countries, Central and Eastern
Europe.
- NTNU
has sponsorship and cooperation agreements with Norwegian
and international business.
Campus overview
There are two main campuses
at NTNU: the Gløshaugen Campus and the Dragvoll Campus. Some faculties
have facilities on both campuses but there is a majority of
technological studies at Gløshaugen
and a majority of studies of arts and social sciences at Dragvoll.
Some departments are on other campuses.
Gløshaugen
consists of a one kilometre belt of buildings overlooking
the centre of Trondheim, with the following faculties and institutions:
- Faculty
of Architecture and Fine Art
- Faculty
of Engineering Science and Technology
- Faculty
of Information Technology, Mathematics and Electrical Engineering
- Faculty
of Natural Sciences and Technology
- Faculty
of Social Sciences and Technology Management (Department
of Industrial Economics and Technology Management)
- University
Administration
- NTNU
Library
- International
House
- Student
Welfare Organization
- The
Norwegian Building Research Institute
- Norwegian
Pulp and Paper Research Institute
- SINTEF
(Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research)
- Ergo
Runit AS
Dragvoll
is NTNU's second largest campus
and home of the administration of the Arts and Social sciences.
Faculties and Institutions at Dragvoll:
- Faculty
of Social Sciences and Technological Management
- Faculty
of Arts
- NTNU
Library – Arts and Social Sciences
- Programme
for Teacher Education (PLU)
- Norwegian
Centre for Child Research
- Plant
Bio Centre
- Centre
for Continuing Education
- Centre
for Environment and Development
- Centre
for Rural Research
- Centre
for Technology and Society
Departments and parts of NTNU on other campuses
Tyholt
- Department of Marine Technology along with the Towing Tank and Ocean Basin Laboratory.
Lerkendal/Valgrinda
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics
- Department
of Production and Quality Engineering
- Department
of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering
- Library
- SINTEF
(Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research)
Øya
- The Faculty of Medicine and St.Olavs Hospital.
- SINTEF
(Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research)
Kalvskinnet
The Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, the Institute of Archaeology and the Institute of Natural History. The Museum of Natural History and Archaeology is also affiliated with the Ringve
Botanical Gardens at Lade and the Trondheim Biological Station located on the fjord just west
of the city centre.
Brattøra Research Centre
Here
you will find those involved in aquaculture activities in
the Department of Botany and the Department of Zoology along
with those in zoology who are working with ecological physiology.
Academic
year
Each academic year at NTNU is divided into two semesters.
The autumn semester starts in August. There is an orientation
for international students the week before which includes
the matriculation ceremony. Lectures are held until the beginning
of December. Exams are in
December and January, with vacation before and after Christmas.
The spring semester starts in January and lectures end at
the end of April/beginning of May. Exams are from May until
mid June. There are some courses being given during the summer.
For information about
these please contact the administration.
Every faculty has its own bulletin board where student organizations
and the faculty post their messages. It is your responsibility
to check the bulletin board regularly. There is a student
postal service on every campus where you receive personal
messages and mail from the
university administration. At the Gløshaugen campus
the mail will be delivered to you at Student Postal Service
(stud. post). At Dragvoll it is delivered at "Velferdsrommet"
ground floor. Each student is assigned a stud. post number
on the basis of their last name.
Student
organizations
Student
democracy is well developed at NTNU. There are students on
almost all major boards and councils. You will find a list
of student organizations on www.stud.ntnu.no/studorg/.
Several programmes of study have their own academic student
organizations (linjeforening) and joining one of these is an excellent way
to meet Norwegian students with interests similar to your
own.
Studenttinget(The Student Parliament)
The
Student Parliament represents the highest level of student
organization at NTNU. They work with the leading administrative
and strategic level at the university, and we are engaged
in matters that concern all students.
The
Student Parliament consists of 25 students from all faculties.
The Parliament chooses its own leadership, which consists
of three people. These three are engaged full time, and are
together with three representatives of the Student Parliament
in charge of the day-to-day work of the organization.
The
Student Parliament meets about every three weeks, where they
decide matters such as quality of studies, quality of the
students’ working environment and internationalization.
Student
representatives on different boards and committees at NTNU
are elected by the student body. The Student Parliament also
deals with matters that are not directly linked to students
at NTNU alone, such as offers about public transport, requirements
for entering higher education and systems for financing education.
Representatives
to the Student Parliament are elected each autumn, and all
students at NTNU can be elected and are permitted to vote.
The meetings are open for all students at NTNU.
www.studenttinget.no
This
homepage is continually updated with student-related news
from all over the country. Here you can also find forums for
discussion, polls and links to other student groups. You may
also contact them by
Telephone/fax:
73 59 32 88 / 73 59 14 44 or E-mail:
sti@stud.ntnu.no
The student committees (SU)
SU
represents the students through contact with the governing
bodies of NTNU. There are five separate SU´s.
SU
for technological studies, SU for natural sciences, SU for
arts and social studies, SU for architecture and fine art
and SU for medicine and the natural sciences.
The
International Buddy programme at NTNU
We
are a couple of students who by their own experience realized
how fantastic an adventure it is to be an international student
at NTNU.
First
of all, you will meet people from the whole world who came
here to study. You will make a lot of good friends among them,
and it will be easier than you think, since they will all
be in about the same situation as you. But secondly, and perhaps
more importantly, every day you will experience the Norwegian
culture and people, and this will be quite different than
what you are used to. The Norwegian students will be one of
your main pathways leading there. Norwegians are usually very
helpful, however, they have their
own lives, duties, interests, and a different rhythm of life
than the international students. It is therefore often difficult
to find a path to them, and it happens that many international
students never make friends with a Norwegian at all.
Hence
the Buddy programme. Our buddy programme
contacts the Norwegian students with the help of Norwegian
student organizations, Student Parliament, Office of International
Relations, posters, etc. and can provide YOU with a Norwegian
student who becomes your personal buddy - somebody who knows
a lot about the university, social life, places to go, and
has contacts with other Norwegians. The buddy will take time
to meet you and join various activities with you. We also
organize several activities for buddies and their guests throughout
the semester. To join our buddy programme, you can fill the
form at www.buddy.ntnu.no
anytime throughout the year, although we assign most of the
buddies after we recruit them in late August and January.
International
Student Organizations
BEST
(Board of European Students of Technology)
BEST
works in close collaboration with student associations and
university authorities, to improve the exchange of technological
students in Europe.
ESN
(ERASMUS Student Network)
The
organization works to integrate international exchange students
in the student life at NTNU. Priority tasks at the moment
are to build a buddy system and reception programme. Throughout
the year ESN arranges trips, parties, excursions, and meetings.
IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students
for Technical Experience.)
IAESTE
provides students at institutions of higher education with
technical experience abroad relative to their studies in the
broadest sense. For many students this takes the form of short
work placements abroad.
ISU
(International Student Union)
The
ISU works for international students’ rights in Norway. It is also in charge of many arrangements throughout the year.
ICOT (International Club of Trondheim)
ICOT
was established by a group of international students studying
at NTNU, the International Club of Trondheim (ICOT) is a non-profit, non-political and purely
social organization for students and their families.
Religious
Organizations
There
are many religious student organizations at the university.
Some of them also have their own sports clubs. Further information
on religious organizations can be found at www.stud.ntnu.no/studentorg.
Studentersamfundet
The
unique round red house by Elgeseter bridge is the Student Society,
known as "Studentersamfundet"
or "Samfundet" for short.
Samfundet is owned by over 8500
members. It covers 7000 m2, 43 "floors", and has
350 rooms, including restaurants, pubs, service facilities
and club rooms. There are many clubs in Samfundet,
covering a variety of different interests such as photography,
big bands, orchestras, choirs, magazine publishing, radio
broadcasting, amateur radio as well as others. There is a
two year membership for joining the clubs, but exchange students
might be accepted for a shorter period. All these clubs have
their own rooms in the round house separated from the party
areas. The students in Trondheim run Samfundet themselves. Everything except
the cleaning is done by students.
There
are many events throughout the year in Samfundet. This includes movies, debates and concerts. On
some Saturdays, meetings are held, where members can vote.
You use your membership card to vote. You will have to look
in the information brochure for the present semester to see
exactly what is going on. There is a cover charge to get into
Samfundet, but as a member you get in for free. You can buy
a membership card in Samfundet.
The membership is for one year, three years or five years.
Remember to bring a photo and your NTNU student ID card. Samfundet
is where most of the students in Trondheim go at weekends. You get membership prices for concerts and other arrangements
in Samfundet. You can also rent
rooms at Samfundet for social gatherings.
If you play an instrument or sing, join one of the bands or
choirs at Samfundet. This is a good way to meet Norwegian
students.
Leisure
activities
Studenterhytta
Studenterhytta is a lodge that is owned by NTNUI in Bymarka
(the hills and forest to the west of the city). A full-time
employee runs the lodge together with a student board. It
has 41 bunks, and to stay the night costs less than NOK 50.
Even breakfast can be bought cheap. If you choose to use the
lodge often you can buy an overnight card. This costs approximately
NOK 100 and you can spend as many nights as you like in one
semester. Inside there is a modern locker room with showers
and a mixed gender sauna. You can have dinner every weekend.
On Saturdays they serve pancakes, but on Sundays the menu
varies. Both days you will need to order dinner at least two
hours in advance, tel. 72 56 19 65. The price is low by Norwegian
standards.
There
are many traditional arrangements at Studenterhytta. With its location in Bymarka
Studenterhytta is a natural starting
point for trips both in summer and winter. During exams, Studenterhytta
is open for studying. You bring a lamp for reading, and you
get full board and lodging, cheap. To get to the Student hytta,
follow the signs after you arrive at Skistua
(see below), which is 300 m from the cabin. There are several
ways to get there: Take bus number 10 from Dronningens
gt all the way to Skistua.
Take the tram from St. Olavs gt (no. 1) to Lian and walk 3 km up along a trail. Take either bus 8 or
9 and get off at the Folk
Museum (Folkemuseet).Walk 5 km up Fjellseterveien.
If you have a car you can drive there since the road goes
all the way to the hytta. Tuesdays
there is a Hyttebuss that goes to
Studenterhytta from Steinan 18.00,
passing Moholt, Gløshaugena
and Studentersamfundet. Return at
22.00. For further information about the hytta,
see www.ntnui.no/hytta/
Koier (Cabins)
For
a real taste of Norwegian life you should experience the cabins
(koia) run by NTNUI. NTNUI has about
25 koier in the woods/mountains.
These vary in size and equipment from small tuft huts that
will take two, up to koier with many bunks. The price for one night is approximately
NOK 50 for members of NTNUI depending on the koie.
In addition, you must pay a small reservation fee. You have
to sign up for the koie in advance. Make sure that you have a large scale map, some of these koier are difficult
to locate. For further information about the koier
you can look at the koietavle at
Stripa (at Gløshaugen)
or Dragvoll, or the Koieboka
which can be bought from the bookstores at the different campuses.
Koieboka describes most of the koier,
how to get there and some tours you can take when you are
at the koie. For further information,
see www.ntnui.no/koiene/
Sightseeing
Trondheim celebrated its millennium in 1997 and boasts quite a number of historical
buildings. Some of these are the Nidaros Cathedral, Kristiansten
Fort and Munkholmen (island outside
Trondheim). The city is surrounded by vast recreational areas, ideal for sports
activities and relaxation. In general, the possibilities for
recreation and sports are extremely good in Trondheim and have been highly praised by exchange students.
The
hilly forests East and West of Trondheim are a year-round Eldorado
for nature lovers. The largest, "Bymarka",
lies to the west and "Estenstadmarka"
is in the east. There are several lodges open to the public
during weekends, and some are also open one additional weekday.
In winter you can usually go skiing from November until the
end of April, although you will occasionally find someone
skiing in shorts in May. The ski trails are marked and prepared
all winter. You
can get a report on the conditions in Bymarka by calling 820 52 050. The reports are given in Norwegian.
Every weekend, one trail is specially marked and dubbed "trail
of the day". If you like skiing, selecting this trail
will offer you the opportunity to experience a variety of
terrain in the course of the skiing season. The rest of the
year you can explore the forest trails, which range from gravel
roads to almost undiscernibly paths. They are excellent for
hiking and an increasing number of people also use them for
mountain biking. Many students living at Moholt/Steinan
Student Villages exercise and/or take a leisurely Sunday stroll
in Estenstadmarka.
Ski
resorts
There
are a several ski resorts around Trondheim. The closest is Vassfjellet Ski Centre (Vassfjellet
Skisenter), which is located 20
km from Trondheim. On weekends buses leave Trondheim in the morning and return in the evening. Vassfjellet
Skisenter has facilities for alpine
and Telemark skiing as well as snowboarding.
You'll also find a ski school and a sports shop where you
can hire equipment. Oppdal, the
largest ski/snowboard resort in central Norway, is located about 120 km from Trondheim. The terrain is varied and you will find slopes for beginners as well
as the advanced. You can also easily switch between cross
country/telemark skiing, downhill
skiing and snowboarding. Oppdal
is open every day throughout the winter, provided there is
enough snow.
There
are buses every weekend to Oppdal. They leave Trondheim in the morning and return in the evening. Many Norwegian students
have at least one pair of downhill skies, so ask if you can
borrow a pair before you hire.
There
is also a large ski resort in Åre in Sweden, which is about 150 km from Trondheim. Students often go to Oppdal or Åre after the autumn semester
final exams. The telemark group
and the alpine group from NTNUI usually go to Oppdal
for one week after the winter exams. Quite a few international
students have enjoyed going. Even if you have never skied
before, you can go, learn when you get there and have a fun
time doing so. The students live in cabins six and six together,
which is a good way to get to know some Norwegian students.
(Prices are reduced on these trips). The snowboarding group
also plans excursions to Oppdal.
Sports
The
Athletic Union NTNUI
The
Athletic Union has more than 8000 members and over 40 different
sports groups. NTNUI is a national leader in several sports,
and can boast of having had several world champions. However,
most students are members for the social aspects and the training.
Many international students have enjoyed being a member of
one of the groups.
To
take part in athletics, you have to be a member of NTNUI.
A membership costs 500 NOK per year and 300 NOK per semester.
You can buy your membership at the reception at either Gløshaugen Idrettsbygg or Dragvoll Idrettsenter. In the beginning
of the fall semester you can also buy your membership at “Stripa” Gløshaugen or “Gata” Dragvoll. You will get a personal
membership card when you subscribe and as a member you can
take part in all the activities NTNUI has to offer. For further
information see
www.ntnui.no
Bicycling
Bicycling is not only an excellent
form of exercise, but also a reliable and quick way to travel.
Some roads between Moholt/Steinan and the different campuses,
and around Trondheim
have bicycle paths. Be sure and buy a copy of the "sykkelkart", bicycle map of Trondheim, or pick up a free copy at the municipal office building on Holtermannsveien.
Since bikes often share the road with automobiles, remember
to wear your helmet and use a light when riding in the dark.
Also, although you're allowed to bicycle on most pavements,
please bike slowly and be considerate of pedestrians. During
the winter it is often too slippery to ride a bike, but you
can buy studded tyres.
Remember
to lock your bicycle whenever you park it. Please note that
illegally parked bicycles might be removed. If you want to
buy a used bike, check the ads that are in the local paper
almost every day. You can also check NTNU's
electronic bulletin board, NETTOPP: http://nettopp.ntnu.no/
under "Annonser". Most of these ads are in Norwegian, but bicycle
in Norwegian is "sykkel"
and your fellow students can help you with the rest. Often
students post a notice on the bulletin boards around NTNU
if they are selling their bikes, or other items of interest.
In addition, the police have an auction twice a year where
they sell stolen bikes that are not retrieved and you may
be able to find a bargain. You can hire bicycles from Sykkelsenteret
located on the far west side of town at Ilevollen
2.
Their phone number is 73 51 09 40.
During
summer the city of Trondheim has bicycles that you can use freely within the city limits, but which
must be returned to one of the racks.
Golf
Byneset Golf with its 18-hole master course i situated
about 20 km southwest of the centre of Trondheim. In Bymarka
there is a 9-hole golf course. You
will need a greencard to play, and in addition you must also be a member
of a golf club (bring documentation), or accompany a member
of the local gof club.
Bowling and pool
There are two bowling halls in Trondheim: Centrum Bowling Tinghuspl. 1 73 52 47 51 Bowlingsenteret
A/S Kobbesgt 6, Dora I 73 53 22
60
Fitness centres
There are several fitness centres in Trondheim. Prices and equipment varies greatly, so check for details. However,
the best deal in town is the student athletic club, NTNUI.
They organise aerobic sessions several times a day both at
Dragvoll and Gløshaugen.
These are designed for both the couch potato and the top athlete.
You'll also find an exercise/weight room. NTNUI has more than
30 different sporting activities. For addresses and phone
numbers of commercial fitness centres see the yellow pages
under "treningsinstitutt og fritidssenter".
Swimming halls
There
are two swimming halls in the Trondheim area. Pirbadet is
near the city centre at Brattøra. Pirbadet houses Norway´s
largest indoor swimming facilities with a variety of pools.
Contact information: 73 83 18 00.
Husebybadet is a public swimming bath situated in the southern
part of Trondheim, at Heimdal.
Contact information: 72 54 80 75.
Spectator sports
Rosenborg ballklub
Lerkendal stadium is the most northerly venue for the Champions League in the
world and the home of Rosenborg.
This is not just Trondheim’s top soccer club, but is one of the best in Scandinavia. Rosenborg has been league champions in
Norway for 13 seasons in a row and has played in the Champions League for
almost every season since 1996. Lerkendal is thus not only the place to see domestic football,
but also some of the giants in Europe:
Deportivo la Coruna, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Dortmund. These are just some of the clubs that have failed to beat Rosenborg
which has also beaten the last three on rare occasions. Some
of the top European clubs in Spain, Germany, France, Denmark, Scotland and England have ex-Rosenborg players. Most of the senior
Rosenborg players have been or are
in the national team. NTNU has close
links to Rosenborg and many of the
players already have degrees from NTNU or are students there
now. With regular matches from April until October, Lerkendal
is a place to be and join the 12 000 or so spectators.
See www.rbk.no for details.
There
are many other soccer clubs in Trondheim in the lower divisions. Women’s soccer in Trondheim has Trondheims-Ørn a club with almost as
good a track record as Rosenborg
in the women’s premier league in Norway.
Skiing, Handball, Ice hockey, Trotting
Skiing and handball are especially
popular sports with top-line facilities and many exciting
tournaments and events. The skiing World Cup in Nordic disciplines
has Trondheim on its circuit. Many of the top handball clubs in Europe
play against Trondheim leading women’s club, Byåsen. There is a local ice hockey in the top division and
Leangen is one of Norway’s trotting tracks for those who like to bet on the horses.
Social
life
Most
Norwegian students go to "vorspiels" in which a few friends meet over a beer before
they go out, or to a party. Even though there are many parties
in the student villages, most students go to the city centre
or Studentersamfundet when they
party.
The
most common home parties are house warming and birthdays.
At Moholt, the different faculties
have their own basements; these are usually open on Friday
and Saturday nights. This is a good place to meet fellow students
in an informal fashion and in a relaxed atmosphere. Students
take turns being bartenders and it is quite fun to be a bartender
for a night.
There
are some formal parties each semester, where students dress
smartly. All faculties have a party at the beginning of the
first semester, each year. Most students in the faculty attend
this party.
Festivals
Every other autumn, i.e. each odd year, the students in Trondheim
host the nationally acclaimed UKA, "The Week", a
3-week festival which really brings Trondheim to life. Concerts, cabaret, parties, and many other
events are arranged all over Trondheim.
Every other autumn, i.e. even years, there is a large international
student conference in Trondheim, ISFiT. This is arranged with a specific
theme of international interest.
Holiday
parties
As
Christmas approaches many Norwegians go to special Christmas
dinner parties called Julebord.
There is usually an extensive buffet where they serve hot
and cold dishes. The most common dishes are pork, sausages,
smoked lamb, and salmon. Most Norwegians celebrate the 17th
of May, Constitution Day, with friends and relatives. Parades
with school children and different organizations are common
in all cities and villages. All Norwegians dress smartly or
in national dress and watch the parades. If you have the chance
you should not miss this day. Students at Moholt
arrange a large party the night before. They barbeque, listen
to music, light fires, play ball games etc.
Entertainment
Films both on TV and at the cinema in Norway are not dubbed. The Norwegian subtitles are an excellent way to learn
some new words and improve your Norwegian.
There
are two large movie theatres in Trondheim
with a total of 19 different cinemas. The two centres are
named Prinsen, on Prinsens gate, and Nova, on Olav Tryggvasons
gate. They have quite a wide spectre of movies. If you intend
to be a frequent user of the cinemas, you can also buy a discount
card. This entitles you to a discount per film. There is
also a Film Club and Cinematek in
Trondheim. Both are situated just outside the city centre, at Rosendal.
The Film Club and the Cinematek are closed during summer.
On
Tuesdays during the semester an old feature film is shown
at Samfundet at 17.00. This is open
to members of Samfundet and members
of the Film Club.
Concerts
There are concerts in Samfundet every Friday and Saturday. Different pubs have small
jazz, blues and rock concerts both during the week and on
weekends. You may find out more about this by checking the
local newspaper, Adresseavisen, watching for posters. You will be surprised
to find that even if you don't read any Norwegian, you can
find out quite a bit about what is going on in Trondheim from the local newspaper Adresseavisen.
Olavshallen
concert hall
You can pick up programmes and brochures outside the ticket
booth in Olavshallen. They normally
offer a discount for students.
Theatre
Trøndelag Teater is Norway's
oldest institutional theatre. They have several different
theatres housed at Leutenhaven.
Almost all plays/shows are in Norwegian. If you plan on attending
several shows it pays to buy a Student Discount Card.
There
are also some excellent private theatres in Trondheim. They usually advertise in Adresseavisen.
Restaurants
There are many types of restaurants in Trondheim; Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Italian, Indian, Mexican, Greek and
of course Norwegian. You will find fine gourmet restaurants,
which are very expensive, and fast food restaurants.
When students
eat out they often go to pizza restaurants. Some of the pizza restaurants
have a lunch buffet with pizza and salad every day between
11.00 -18.00, and you can eat as much as you like for a fixed
sum (drinks are extra). Service charges are included at restaurants,
but it is customary to give a small tip, if you are satisfied.
You can also get a pizza delivered home, but you will have
to pay extra for the transportation. Some restaurants have
the dish-of-the day ("Dagens")
which is usually reasonably priced.
Discotheque/nightclub
You'll
find discos/nightclubs in Trondheim to fit just about any taste. Mostly they require a cover charge. Some
establishments have student nights with reduced prices. Remember
to bring your student ID.
Students
often get together for coffee or maybe a glass of wine/beer
at one of the many cafés in Trondheim. Bakklandet and Solsiden
are currently among the more popular areas, but be sure and
try some of the other places mentioned below and others you
happen upon. Don't miss the student-run cafe Edgar, which
is located in Studentersamfundet. In this café students meet to talk or
to read local newspapers. They also have a lot of board games
you can play while you are there. During summer Edgar is used
as a café/bed and breakfast called the InterRail
Centre. When Edgar is operating as an InterRail
Centre they have a variety of foreign papers.
General
advice
Shopping
The
opening hours of the shops vary depending on what the shops
sell and whether they are located in a shopping centre/mall
or not. There are several shopping centres in and around Trondheim where you can find a variety of shops in close proximity to one another
(Sports-, clothes-, record-, shoe-, books, hardware etc).
In the city centre you will find Trondheim
Torg, Solsiden,
Byhaven and Mercur (MerQr) shopping centres. You might also want to check out
City Syd, a large shopping centre
just south of Trondheim. (Bus no. 46 from the center of town or Bus no. 9 from Moholt)
or the shopping centres on the east side of town near the
Marine Technology centre (Valentinlyst
and KBS centre) or the new shopping centre City Lade situated
at Lade (Bus no. 3 or 4). There are two pedestrian streets
in Trondheim, and a variety of shops are located on these streets (Nordre
gate and Thomas Angells gate). By the canal you will
find the well-known fish market, Ravnkloa.
There are also several stores located quite close to Moholt
and Steinan student villages. Most
stores, with the exception of garden centres, are closed on
Sundays, but there are several 24-hour gas stations, Seven-Eleven
in the city centre and smaller food stores which are cheaper,
such as Bunnpris. It is not the custom to haggle (bargain)
about prices in shops in Norway. On the other hand, if you buy something from a private individual,
most will expect a discussion about the price (used bicycles,
for instance).
Supermarkets
There
are many national supermarket chains. The most common, and
generally those with the lowest prices, are REMA 1000, RIMI,
Bunnpris and Coop Prix. The variety in these shops is often
less than that in other chains e.g. ICA and ULTRA. The
supermarkets are often close to large residential areas and
have shops within walking distance of Moholt/Steinan.
You will also find numerous international food shops in the
centre of city. Prices are relatively reasonable. There is
one small food store at Gløshaugen and Dragvoll, Tapir Mat,
where you can get most essentials, but Tapir Mat is not rated
among the cheapest stores. Most supermarkets in Trondheim sell beer. Some have a wide variety of beers, both Norwegian and foreign.
Stronger alcoholic beverages, strong beer, wines, and liquor
are sold in state-run shops called Vinmonopol.
Used clothing and cutlery can be bought at very low prices
at the Salvation Army shops, FRETEX. If your bed-sitter does
not have a duvet and pillow, these are inexpensive to buy.
Chain stores such as Kids and Jysk have reduced prices. TV
sets can be rented or bought used at stores in the city centre.
You need to bring a student ID when you rent a TV.
Newspapers
You can buy foreign newspapers at many Narvesen
kiosks. There is one at Moholt and near Steinan, but they
do not have a large selection. The largest selection you will
find at a Narvesen kiosk in the city centre, on the corner of Nordre Gate and Dronningens gate.
You
can read newspapers at the public library in the centre of
Trondheim and at the main library at Gløshaugen. The main library at Dragvoll
has a small selection of foreign newspapers. There is also
a university newspaper, Universitetsavisa (online only) and
a student magazine, Under Dusken.
Information
about certain events
Information about certain
events and other general information from different organizations
concerning students are given in a weekly news bulletin on
the web. Stud. Post is also the place to go when you want
to check your grades. There you will find notebooks with the
grades on a counter next to the mailboxes. On the Dragvoll
campus the ORIGO centre and the Student Service Office maintain
bulletin boards where announcements are posted. There is also
a university newspaper, Universitetsavisa (online only) and a student magazine, Under
Dusken. Additional Information in
Norwegian on the various programmes is available in the Student Service Center
at Gamle Kjemi, Gløshaugen campus.
Public
Holidays
On
public holidays buses, trains, ferries etc. run on a reduced
schedule. During long public holidays like Christmas and Easter
almost everybody is off work. Shops are closed and people
gather with friends and relatives. You will find small food
stores and petrol stations open, though it is advisable to
get most of what you need before the holidays. The city is
quiet, and you will not find many Norwegian students in the
student villages.
Language
skills in
Norway
English
is a compulsory part of Norwegian schooling, which means that
practically every Norwegian has a reasonable knowledge of
English. Many Norwegians learn one or more foreign languages
besides English. German and French are the most usual third
languages.
Transportation
The public transportation network in Trondheim is quite good. It covers most of Trondheim and the surrounding area. Buses go regularly to and from the city
centre from 06.00 in the morning until about midnight. If you need to change buses you may ask for a transfer ticket ("overgang")
so that you don't have to pay twice. The transfer is valid
for 1 hour and can also be used to transfer between the buses
and the tram. You can also purchase a ticket that is valid
for unlimited use in a 24 hour period. Other types of tickets
are also available and can be bought at the service centre
on Dronningensgt. Night buses go to some parts of the city on
weekends. There is also a tram in Trondheim. This goes from the city centre to Bymarka, the forests on the west side of Trondheim.
Taxi
It
is usually easy to get a taxi in Trondheim. You can either order a taxi to pick you up or go to a taxi stop and
see if there is a taxi there. There is a taxi stop at the
reception building at Moholt. But
if you want one for Friday or Saturday night you usually have
to order some hours in advance. There are different sizes
of taxies, but most of them only take four passengers. To
order a taxi you can phone 07373 or 08000.
Credit cards
Credit
cards are useful at all banks and almost all shops and restaurants.
The most widespread cards are VISA and MasterCard, which can
also be used in cash dispensers throughout the country. Travellers
cheques are a safe way to keep cash, and you can exchange
them in banks and post offices. Most banks also have a "Swift
service" that can be used to transfer money from your
home country in one day. Ask a bank if you require this service.
Money
exchange offices are found at most major railway stations,
tourist offices & customs offices in Norway.
Post
and Telephone
There are both Post Offices and also shops
with postal services in Norway. The latter are open longer. Telephone services: Consult telephone
directories for full details.
www.telefonkatalogen.no
International calls:
Outgoing calls: prefix: 00 and then the country code.
Incoming calls: country code for Norway: + 47 + eight digits.
For domestic calls, just dial the eight digits.
Numbers
to help you International collect calls: 115
National
reversed charge calls: 117
Fire 110
Police 112
Ambulance 113
Public
library
There is
a public library in the city centre where you can loan books,
CDs and and films. The library also
has books in many different languages. You have to apply for
a library card before you can loan material. This card is
free. The library (Folkebibliotek)
is located at Peter Egges plass
1, and it is open Mondays-Thursdays 09-19, Fridays 09-16 and
Saturdays 10-15. There is also branch library near Moholt
student village, the Moholt Bibliotek, address: Brøsetveien
168. In summer the libraries have restricted opening hours.
For further information see www.tfb.no
Electricity
The
electricity supply in Norway is 230 V, but appliances up to
240 V will work. Plugs have two round pins, and adapters are
available.
Legal
advice
Sometimes
students find themselves in need of legal advice and counselling.
If you do, you can contact Jusshjelpa
§ Midt-Norge:
jushjelpa@jushjelpa.no
Address: Sverres gate 12
Phone: 73 51 52 50
Driving
Several
cities in Norway have a road toll system so drivers have to pay to get in and around
the city. While staying in Trondheim, we recommend drivers to get an Autopass.
An
Autopass is an electronic transponder
(small plastic unit) which you mount on your windshield and
which allows automatic payment of tolls when you pass a toll
booth. It is considerable cheaper than paying manually. Applications
for an Autopass may be picked up at any Statoil
petrol station or at the Trøndelag
Veifinans AS office located at Vegamot
4A (phone: 73 82 48 00) www.veifinans.no.
When you leave Trondheim
you should return the transponder to the company and they
will refund you for the unused portion. It is best to allow
at least 2 days for the reimbursement.
Parking
is good both at the student villages and the Dragvoll
campus, but be aware that it is almost
impossible for students to park at Gløshaugen campus. When parking in the centre of Trondheim you must remember to display the parking ticket in the front window/dashboard
of your car. You can save a little bit by parking in one of
the multi-storey carparks outside the centre.
Trondheim
- Norway
Trondheim
Trondheim is the third largest city of Norway, with about 146 000 inhabitants. It was founded in 997 by the Viking
king, Olav Tryggvason. Work on what
was to become the Nidaros Cathedral
commenced about the year 1070. Since then the Kings of Norway
have been crowned in Nidaros Cathedral,
and our present King Harald V received the blessing there in 1991. Trondheim became the first capital of Norway. No longer the official capital, Trondheim has been the technological capital since the Norwegian Institute of Technology
(now a part of NTNU) was established here in 1910. Much of
the national responsibility for research in science and technology
lies in Trondheim.
The
centre of Trondheim
is sited inside a wide meander of the river Nidelven.
This makes the city centre quite compact, with the river as
a barrier in the south and east,
and the fjord in the north. The other parts of the city are
spread over a large area.
Norway
Norway's topography is a mountain plateau intersected with deep valleys and
fjords. Only 4% of the country is cultivated land. About 0.5%
of the country's area is towns and built-up areas, populated
by 70% of Norway's inhabitants. The Arctic Circle cuts just about through the middle of the country. The distance from
Oslo to the North Cape is the same as the distance from Oslo to Rome. Norway's climate is less severe than might be expected from its geographical
location. The warm Gulf Stream flows northwards along the coast and saves us from having the Arctic
tundra that might be expected at such high latitudes. Trondheim has a typical coastal climate, which usually means changeable weather.
The
temperature seldom drops below -7 degrees Celsius in winter
(December -February). In summer (June -August) the temperature
may vary from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius, but usually is around
15 -20 degrees. Inland, the weather is more stable than on
the coast with more continental conditions, deep freeze spells
of -25 degrees in the winter and subtropical summers. There
is usually enough winter snow in Trondheim
to make skiing feasible from December until April/May.
An
interesting phenomenon in Norway is the seasonal change in the length of day and night. In midwinter,
daylight lasts for about four hours in this region. It is
quite a pleasure to take a walk in the snow during the dark
period when all streets are illuminated, and experience the
northern lights "floating" in the winter sky. To
be in Norway in the winter is an exotic experience you will never forget. The special
light conditions in the late autumn, winter and early spring
have inspired artists for centuries. Sometimes it is hard
to get out of bed because you feel it is still night, but
take that as a challenge. In midsummer, daylight takes over
and there is no "real" night during June and July,
even as far south as Trondheim.
Because
of Trondheim's coastal climate and weather changes, we suggest that you bring rainproof
clothing and waterproof shoes or boots. If you are in Norway in the winter, it is best to wear warm clothing. "Isbrodder"
or crampons that easily slip on and off your shoes are well
worth the investment. This clever device will make you feel
much more stable when the streets and sidewalks are covered
with ice. You can buy these in Trondheim at different leisure stores. Also remember to bring some sports clothing
if you want to follow Norwegians in their leisure time activities
and weekend trips.
History
Norway's history begins in the early Viking age, before the year 900. Since
then Norway has been united with both Denmark and Sweden. The Norwegian constitution dates from 1814. Since World War One,
Norwegian politics have been influenced by social democracy.
Today, Norway is a social democratic monarchy.
Below
is a brief overview of Norway's history (from: www.odin.dep.no)
9000 -8000 B.C. Earliest
signs of settlement.
8000 -4000 B.C. Old Stone
Age. Hunters and fishermen.
Rock carvings. Milder climate.
4000 -1500 B.C. New Stone
Age. Livestock. Early
agriculture.
1500 -500 B.C. Bronze
Age. Agricultural tools, jewellery, glass, weapons. Foreign trade.
500 B.C.-1000 A.D. Iron
Age. Iron ploughs and scythes.
800 -1000 A.D. Viking
period. Longships, trade and conquest.
Runic inscriptions. Voyages of discovery.
1030 Unification of Norway
into one kingdom. Introduction of Christianity
1200 The Norwegian empire
1350 The Black Death. Population reduced.
1380
-1814 Union with Denmark.
1814 Constitution adopted.
1814
-1905 Union with Sweden.
1905 End of Union. Haakon VII crowned
king.
1940-1945
World War II. German occupation.
1957 Death of Haakon VII. Olav V becomes king.
1970 Oil and gas deposits discovered off the Norwegian coast.
1981 Norway´s first female Prime Minister
1991 Death of Olav V. Harald V becomes
king.
1997 Trondheim celebrates
its millennium
Facts about Norway
System
of government: Constitutional monarchy
Head
of State: King Harald V
Area:
386 958 km2
Population
(2005): 4 612 700
Population
per km2:
11.7
Capital
city: Oslo
Monetary
unit: Norwegian kroner, NOK
Language:
Norwegian
Length
of Coastline: 25 148 km, including fjords
Highest
mountain: Galdhøpiggen, 2 469 m
Largest
lake: Mjøsa, 362 km2
GDP,
2004: NOK 1 685 552 million
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