Practical information
Getting around
The first days in Oslo I recommend you buy at Flexicard (150kr). The Flexicard has 8 rides. One ride lasts for one hour after you stamp it. You can use the Flexicard on tram, sub-way, buss and boat inside Oslo. You can buy the Flexicard on the tram and buss from the driver. On sub-way and boat use vending-machines. Remember to stamp your card. There are a lot of controls and if you get caught without a valid ticket you have to pay a 750kr fine.
After you have registered as a student and been given your student card from OsloUniversityCollege you can buy a monthly student card (420kr). When you stamp the card it last for one month. You can use the card on tram, sub-way, buss, train and boat inside Oslo.
More detailed information about public transport in the Oslo area
Oslo Bysykkel - Oslo CityBike
Around in Oslo you will see bike stands/racks with a lot of nice blue and white bikes. These are for rent and it is really cheap!!!
You buy a magnet card for renting bikes (60kr for 2005) at the tourist information office by Oslo City Hall or by the railway station (Oslo S).
More information about Oslo Citybike
Getting a mobile phone
If you have brought your own mobile phone from your home country you can buy a "kontantkort" (includes a sim-card) which includes a Norwegian phone number and a certain amount of call time. When you have used up the call time you can refill by buying a cash/call-card and refill with your phone. There are always different deals from the different phone companies.
I suggest you look for Netcom, Chess, Hello or Sense. You can buy the "kontantkort" and refill card at newsagents (kiosk) like Narvesen and 7-eleven or at grocery stores like Rimi and Rema 1000.
If you need to buy a mobile phone please ask other students or contact me and we can help you look for good deals.
Getting a job / work permit
If you need to get a job while studying:
- First you need to get a job and a confirmation from your employer.
- Get a job confirmation from your international faculty coordinator (in Oslo)
- Go to the police ( Storgata 33 ) and get a work permit
- Apply for a Norwegian social security number at Trygdekontoret (Tøyensenteret – Hagegata)
- Wait for the social security number. It can take three weeks.
- Get a Norwegian bank account so that your employer can transfer your salary.
Where to find a job:
Ung info / Use it - Møllergata 3
Accommodation
A contract must be signed upon reception of the key to your room. A translation of the standard contracts has been included in this document, see following pages.
Please note also that rent is paid only for entire or half monthsThe term of notice is 2 months, but to make it more flexible for our tenants, the notice can be handed in from either the 1st or 15th in each month. With this term of notice it will be possible to move out on either the 14th or the last day of the month.
The keys should always be delivered before 1200Hrs, noon, on the last day of you contract, provided this is within working hours. Please contact the above mentioned otherwise.
The tenancy agreement and rules , included in English is stated in §12 that "When the tenancy expires, the tenant must hand back the residence and furniture cleaned and in the same condition as it was when it was handed out".
This means that you must also vacuum clean the bed and leave no waste in your room. The wastebasket must be emptied, and the bed cover (dyne) must neatly folded. If the room has not been properly cleaned, you will be charged from 300 Kr and upwards, depending. The fee is drawn from the deposit.
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CONTACT: For all questions about the accommodation (general questions, contract, deposit, rent invoices): Tonje Bugge, Executive officer at Oslo University-College, phone: 22453069 (mon-fri 9-15) or e-mail: tonje.bugge@hio.no |
How to pay your house rent:
Students living at OAS (Ullevål and St. Hanshaugen):
- You can pay with cash at the OAS housing office. The address is Welhavensgate 9.
- You can pay from your bank in your home country. To do this you need detailed account information. You get this information by contacting Tonje Bugge ( Tonje.Bugge@hio.no )
- You can pay the house rent invoice/bill at a Norwegian bank with cash. Remember to bring the invoice/bill.
Students living at private housing:
- You can pay the house rent invoice/bill at a Norwegian bank with cash. Remember to bring the invoice/bill.
- You can pay from your bank in your home country. To do this you need detailed account information. You get this information by contacting Tonje Bugge ( Tonje.Bugge@hio.no )
Cinemas:
- Cinema Neuf is the University film club. It is located at Cheateau Neuf . You pay 70kr to be a member and 30kr for a movie ticket.
- Cinemateket is a film club located in Dronningens gate 16 . You pay 100kr to be a member and 45kr for a movie ticket. Cinemateket shows about four movies every day from all over the world (Norwegian subtitles).
Sledge riding:
Korketrekkeren is a long and very fun sledge slope which starts at Frognerseteren and ends at Nystuen. You can rent sledges at Frognerseteren (80 NOK – 100NOK a day). Opening hours are 11 to 22 Mon – Sat, Sunday 11 to 18. Take sub way nr 1 to Frognerseteren and follow the small path down the hill. You sledge ride all the way down to Midtstuen and from there take the sub way back up to Frognerseteren for a new run. You can do this all day, if you like.
Remember to bring your monthly student card or a day-card and warm clothes
More information in Norwegian and pictures
OAS - your student welfare organisation
Student housing, eateries and Cafès, Penelop bookstore, cabins for rent and much more. Read more here
IKEA
Free bus to IKEA from Jernbanetorget (outside Oslo central station) south. The IKEA bus leaves every 30min from 10.00 to 21.30. Saturdays from 09.30 to 19.30.
Remember to note return time from Ikea - once every hour.
Residence permit
Are you staying longer than 3 month or longer you need to get a residence permit. Go to the Police station, Foreign Section, at Storgata 33 ( MAP ) early in the morning. The Police station opens at 0800 and there are ofte long lines. Be prepared to use some time getting your residence permit fixed. There will be a handling fee in order to get your residence permit.
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ERASMUS/NORDPLUS-students must bring: |
Other students must bring: |
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Visit the Chapel at the Royal Castle
The Chapel at the Royal Castle has been the place for student’s church service since King Haakon. Every Sunday throughout the semester there will be celebrated mass at 11 o’clock. This is a nice opportunity to get inside the Royal Castle. The entrance is at the north side of the RoyalCastle, by the guard’s casern.
Wireless computer network
If you brought your laptop to OUC you can connect wireless to the computer network and web. First of all you need to be registered as a student and have a username and password for the network. Then you need to set up your computer for the OUC network. How to set up your computer is still only in written in Norwegian so get a fellow Norwegian student to help you or come to my office and I will help you.
You will fin the set up guide by clicking here.
Go to the beach
If sun is shining and it is still warm outside - go jump in the Oslo fjord! There are many beaches around the Oslo fjord. I recommend you go to Huk. Get on buss number 30 towards Bygdøy and take it to the very end. Get off the buss and walk down the path and you are at Huk beach. Remember to bring a towel.
The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT)
Would you like to go hiking and walking in the woods and mountains of Norway? The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT) is the best place to start out. They can help out with planning, maps, cabins and other relevant information.
- Start out by having a look at the DNT webpage .
- You can also visit The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT) tourist/information office at Storgata 3 - map .
- And this is a link to Oslo DNT
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More practical information for Oslo - go to Streetwise .
Any practical information missing?
mail me - Anine.Midnes@hio.no