THE STUDENT REPORT FOR BI, OSLO

You can write the report either in English or Icelandic

Name of the University: BI Norwegian Business School
Names of the student: Kristjana Thors Brynjolfsdottir
Exchange semester: Fall and Spring, 2011 - 2012


I GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The architecture and surroundings of the school are excellent. There are many places to
study in the school and they vary on students preference, quiet, open or group work. The
school is well situated in Oslo with trains and busses stopping just outside the building.
BI prides itself on being a business school and is ideal to gain a broader perspective studying
that field. Oslo is BIs main campus. There are about 300 exchange students each term.

II PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Information before you left
I received the information package promptly and any enquires I sent to the international office
were answered within a few days. In the information package there is the student handbook
(also available online). All information needed is in that handbook but it is important that you
read it well as it will make your arrival easier. There is also always someone at the office
during the day where exchange students can go and discuss any problems.

Visa Procedure and travel experiences
No visa is required from Iceland so there were no problems. As I was staying for a whole
winter I also registered at the Folkregisteret to get my Norwegian ID number. There were no
problems with it but it does take a few weeks to come through. Once I had that number it was
easier to register for a phone, doctors etc.
There are various flight operators that fly Reykjavik Oslo. I mostly used Icelandair.

Academic Calendar
Exchange students are very well greeted starting with an introduction/cultural meeting. Then
there is a whole week of events, dinners and trips which are optional to attend. There is a
Buddy system but I didnt use it, and dont think many did. Most students mingle as well at the
student housing.
The academic calendar is similar to the RU one. Not all classes might begin in the same week
but they will all start and finish within the term. During the exam period, and leading up to it
the facilities in the school get busier. Make sure youre not last minute or you might get into
trouble, for example, there might be a line by the printer and if you have a deadline theres not
much you can do. The students in front of you also have a deadline.

Reception
Everything was ready on arrival. Exchange students need to go to the student center to get a
photo done for the student ID card. That ID card is important as you need it to do any printing,
getting books from the library and receiving student discounts.


Housing
All exchange students are guaranteed housing. Most of them end up in the student housing in
Kringsj. Its not the nicest housing but as most of the exchange students are at the same
place it makes it ok. Also it is very close to Sognsvann, which is a lovely place to spend time
in. As I moved with my family I ended up arranging my own housing as they only guarantee
housing for the exchange student. There are family apartments available but they are hard to
get.

Costs
Norway is expensive. Its a fact. Just be prepared before you come and try not to dwell on it
too much. Kiwi is the cheapest shop to buy food in, everyone just brings packed lunches with
them to school, and there are plenty of bars with happy hours. Books are expensive; the main
book shop is Akademika. It can be cheaper to buy books on Amazon if you can wait for
delivery. You dont need to pay any customs when ordering books for school. Some of the
teachers were nice and said we didnt need to buy the books as we need every krona to
survive in Norway. Then the reading material was available in the library or online.

The International Office
The International Office was available and ready to help from day one. They have an office on
the 3
rd
floor but you can also contact them via email or phone. There are also other services
available as the student center, the center for bachelor/masters students and career advice.
There is an academic welfare system called SiO. They are the ones that provide you with the
housing, kindergarten, gym membership and even doctors. Make sure you read up on what
they have to offer.

Exchange promotion
There is an International day, just like in RU, where exchange students present their
countries. I had an exam at the same time as this was going on so I unfortunately missed it.

Social Activities
There is a special organization for exchange students, INSA. There are about 4 students
organizing events and making sure that the international students are aware of the activities
going on at BI. One of the things they do is arrange a mobil operator to come to the school,
where all the international students can get a free SIM card. That way the international
students are also all on the same network and call each other free.
Sometimes before a BI event INSA will organize for the international students to meet
beforehand. They also have a very active facebook page.

Culture and Language
Everyone speaks good English and all of the lectures are in English. Having said that, I
recommend using this opportunity to learn Norwegian as much as possible. The Norwegian
course thought at BI is too easy for Icelanders but there are other courses available in Oslo.
None will give credits to the study program though.

Cultural and Social Effects from the Exchange Experience
Most of the students I got to know were not Norwegian. The exchange students tend to
mingle more than the locals. The nationality of the exchange students varies very much,
Western Europe, Mexico, USA, Malaysia and Japan to name a few.

III ACADEMIC INFORMATION

The Teaching situation
All lectures are in English. The teaching is primarily practical and most classes have
assignments due throughout the semester. Some classes only have term papers to be
handed in at the end of the semester, not an exam. All deadlines are FINAL. You cannot be 1
second to late or you will not be able to hand in your term paper. Most term papers have to be
handed in paper copies and online.
The relationship between faculty and students is similar to RU. Most teachers make
themselves available for any questions and quires, and motivate discussions in class. There
is a friendly atmosphere in class.
There is quite a bit of group work so students get to know each other whilst working on
projects. The cultural mix can be challenging but most students aim for a good grade.

Required Literature
There is quite a bit of literature to get through, more than in RU. Most exams are based both
on the literature and the lectures. I find attending the lectures is important as it gives a deeper
understanding of the subject and the structure of the course.
All mandatory literature is in English, some optional literature is in Norwegian.



Exams
The written exams are held at different locations. I have never taken an exam in BI. Normally
it has been a sports hall at another location. That means you have to locate it and figure out
how to get there in time. Also, you are in a very big room with hundreds of people, which at
least I was not used to from RU. The rules are very strict on timing and what to bring. There is
only one type of calculator that is allowed and its not the same as in RU. To save yourself
some money dont go and buy one straight away, you can rent one for 24 hours from the
student center.
The questions and type of exam depends on the course and the teacher.

Other
The library is very good. The staff is very helpful, there is plenty of space to study and you
can always find a book on the subject youre looking for. If you are looking for a specific book,
and its out, you can order it online and will receive and email when its ready. Books can be
on loan for a two week period at a time.
There are computers at various places around the school. You will always find one. But if you
bring you own laptop you will also always find a plug etc. It is fairly easy to connect to BI Wi-Fi
and if there are any IT problems the IT guys will fix it quickly.
They have two systems for your information, Its learning and Banner. On its learning you will
find preparation for lectures and notes from the teachers. Each course has its page with
information needed. At Banner there are student services. There you can find more details
about the exams, result services and detail timing of classes. You will also get and email
account which is automatically set so all emails are forwarded to the RU mail.

Description of Courses
Please list all the courses you are taking in the form below:


Course name: Prereq. Exam Approved as
(Common/elective/extra)
Business and Professional Ethics None Term paper Elective
Logistics and Marketing Channels None Written Common
Movie Industry None Term paper Elective
Risk Mgm. And Governance None Term paper Common
Info. Tech. in Organizasions None Term paper Common
Investment Analysis None Written Common
Marketing Research and Multi. Ana. (Master) Written Common
..
Please fill in all the courses you have taken

Any other experiences:
Oslo is a great city with many sights, both during winter and summer. There are many trips
available to other cities such as Stavanger and Trondheim. It also only takes about two hours
to drive to Sweden.
For Icelandic events there is a slendingaflag in Osl, and they have a website and facebook
page.

Names and e-mails:
Kristjanatb06@ru.is
Name of the University: BI Norwegian School of Management
Names of the students: Volodymyr Pryvizentsev
Exchange semester: Fall 2009


I GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

1. Describe the school and its surroundings very short

BI is one of the larger Higher Education Institutions in Norway and one of the largest business
schools in Europe. A total of six study locations in Norway: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim,
Stavanger, Kristiansand, and Drammen. I was studying in Oslo. The campus is located in
Nydalen area, it takes 15 minutes to get to the city center by public transport. The dormitory is
located in the walking distance from campus. Nydalen used to be an industrial and
manufacturing area. For the last few years it experienced fast development and big changes.
Today Nydalen is a home place for high tech, IT and non-polluting production companies of
Norway. There is a river, park and lake in the walking distance from school.

2. Current faculty divisions and special areas.

BI has organized its academic activities into nine separate research departments (faculties).
Accounting, Auditing and Law
Communication, Culture and Languages
Economics
Financial Economics
Innovation and Economic Organization
Leadership and Organizational Management
Marketing
Public Governance
Strategy and Logistics

3. Number of students - graduate and undergraduate number of exchange students

18,253 active students, of whom 9,541 study part-time. 711,835 study points were taken in
2007. This corresponds to 11,864 students in full study progress. There were more than 400
exchange students studying in fall 2009.

4. Study structure

BI offers 16 different bachelor programs, MBA studies, eight masters studies and five
doctoral programs, extensive continuing and further education, internet studies, tailor-made
in-house programs and management programs.

II PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Information before you left
When did you receive the information package from the University?

I got it by post from BI International Office Coordinator.

Any difficulties?

No, everything was clearly described in the information package.

Visa Procedure and travel experiences
What problems, if any did you encounter?

No problems. Icelandic students dont need any VISA to get to Norway.

Does the visa cost anything?
No.
How did you order your ticket any problems?
No.

Academic Calendar
Arrival date introductory week
Arrival date 6 9 August, 10 14 August Introductory week.

First day of the semester?
17 August Classes start.

Last day of classes?
Around 8 November.

Examination period?
Mid November - 22.12.09.

Any special events?

Reception
How was the reception at the school?
Excellent.
Was the administration and faculty well prepared for your arrival?
Excellent.
Did the schools students participate in the reception of the exchange students?
Yes. Every exchange student was attached to a buddy starting from arrival to Oslo.

Housing
Did you have housing at your disposal or did you have to find your own housing?
All exchange students were placed in the dormitory nearby to the campus.

What support did you receive from the school in locating housing?
I submit application and paid for housing before arrival. When I arrived I was given a room.
Any special issues or good ideas for prospective students?
If you wish to have excellent dormitory in the walking distance from school you should book
BSN dormitory. The number of places is limited and it is more expensive. There are, however
other options. For example, Krinja is the budget dormitory where most of the students live.

Costs
Describe the most important expenses such as rent, books, food, etc.
Rent 4200 NOK per month.
Books 4000 NOK.
Food and other expanses ~ 4000 NOK per month.

The International Office
Is there an international office?
Yes.
Who is responsible for incoming exchange students?
Ms. Ellen Tobiasson, International coordinator and Ms. Benedicte Kaltenborn, International
Student Adviser.
How does the international office function?
The International Relations Office at BI is responsible for the International Student Exchange
Programs as well as for the welfare of foreign exchange students during their stay it BI.
International exchange students are always in close contact with the international
coordinators at BI, both before and after their arrival in Norway.

Do you receive all relevant information?
Yes.
Exchange promotion
What kind of activity did you take part in to promote exchange to Iceland at your
exchange university?
I brought some souvenirs from Iceland and presented them to other international students at
BI. Many students were interested of going to Iceland for exchange during their masters
studies.

Social Activities
How is your relationship with other students?
Great.
How is the relationship among the exchange students?
Great.
Is there a student organization, and if so, are the exchange students part of it?
I was a member of two student organizations
InSA International Student Association, organization for international students
GSS Graduate Student Society, organization for master students.

Are there any special activities and gatherings for exchange students?
There were a lot of activities organized for exchanged students. We were given a schedule
where you can find all activities for exchange student. Some of those events are the dinner for
exchange students, sport activities, cinema, trip to Copenhagen by boat, trip to Bergen, trip to
Stavanger, etc.
How do you like it at the school?
10 out of 10. I recommend this school. It is a very modern school with ambition to be in the list
of top 20 European Business Schools.

Culture and Language
Do you have any language problems with the faculty or other students?
No. Everybody speaks English fluently.
How are the possibilities to experience the country and the culture?
A few trips were organized by International Office to Bergen, Stavanger, Copenhagen. Apart
from this student organized travelling themselves, also skiing in winter and hiking in summer.
Oslo is surrounded with forests, lakes and outdoor activities in weekends are very popular.

Cultural and Social Effects from the Exchange Experience
How do you think the exchange experience will affect you from a cultural and social point
of view?
I got to know better the culture of Nordic region, social and business environment.
How do you think the exchange experience influences your future career possibilities?
I would like to be in business where Nordic companies are involved.


III ACADEMIC INFORMATION

The Teaching situation
In which language are the courses taught? Any problems?
English.
How would you evaluate the level of study in relationship to the level at RU?
I would say that at BI they have more expectations from students.
Is the teaching primarily practical or theoretical?
Both.
Are the professors using cases, group work or lectures (or a mix)?
Mix. Almost in every course we had a guest lecture in the end of the course.
How is the workload compared to that at RU?
Slightly higher.
How is the relationship between faculty and students?
The relations are strictly formal and only during the class hours. All other questions were
solved via email. Personal meetings apart from class hours are possible but very rare.
What is the relationship between the students in the classroom?
There were less communication with local students; mostly between international students.

Required Literature
Is the literature in English?
Yes.
How do you estimate the level of the literature?
The books were from same publishers as we use at RU.
Is the literature used for detailed knowledge or a broad overview?
For detail knowledge.
Is exam based on the literature or on the lectures?
Literature.

Exams
What types of exams were you given?
Written exams and multiple choice questions.
What knowledge level was required to pass the exams?
It is expected to read the required literature and participate in the class work.

Other
Do students have easy access to the library and its resources?
Yes.
How is the access to the computers?
There was no need to take your personal laptop to school because you can always find
computer place in the school.
How is IT used in the teaching or as a distributor of information?
Advanced use of IT solutions.

Description of Courses
Please list all the courses you are taking in the form below:
Name and code of the course.
Prerequisites, if any.
Exam form.
Comments: Relevance, Difficult/easy, Practical/theoretical, Enrolment problems.

Example:
Course name: Prereq. Exam Major at RU Approved as
(Common/elective/extra)
Environmental Basic macro/ Written Marketing elective
Economics and microeconomics
Management



Project Management Organizational Written Marketing elective
theory

Financial Management Bachelors Written Marketing elective
degree in
Business
or eq.

Marketing Finance Research Written Marketing elective
Methodology,
Multivariate Data
Analysis,
strategic
marketing
management,
Service Marketing,
Marketing Channel
Management

Corporate Governance None Written Marketing elective

..
Please fill in all the courses you have taken

Any other experiences:


Names and e-mails:
The International Office will appreciate if you will inform about your e-mail addresses, so that
other students can contact you for more information.

Volodymyr08@ru.is
Volodya87@mail.ru
+38 050 151 12 59
Kiev, Ukraine
Name of the University: BI Norwegian School of management
Names of the students: Alds Gun Sigurardttir
Exchange semester: Fall / Spring, 2009


I GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

5. Describe the school and its surroundings very short
The school is very modern, with very friendly environment and great teachers. I would
recommend BI to any student planning on studying abroad.

6. Current faculty divisions and special areas.
Management and economics.

7. Number of students - graduate and undergraduate number of exchange students
Dont know exact number of students at BI.


8. Study structure
Case studies, lectures, study trips, exams, presentations. Very similar to HR.

II PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Information before you left
When did you receive the information package from the University?
Three two months before departure I was in contact with BI and everything was ready
and clear in very short period of time. Everything was planned two weeks before my
departure (apartment etc.)
Any difficulties?
No, but it was very expensive to stay abroad.

Visa Procedure and travel experiences
What problems, if any did you encounter?
Does the visa cost anything?
Didnt need visa
How did you order your ticket any problems?
Flight ticked I ordered via internet, no problems.

Academic Calendar
Arrival date introductory week
Arrival date was 11 August and introduction week started the day after.
First day of the semester?
The first day of the semester was 21 August.
Last day of classes?
27 November
Examination period?
From 2
nd
of December to 18 of December.
Any special events?
Yes, I went to Kenya, Africa on a 10 day study trip. It was amazing!

Reception
How was the reception at the school?
Very good, everything clear.
Was the administration and faculty well prepared for your arrival?
Yes, very much so.
Did the schools students participate in the reception of the exchange students?
Yes, buddy service etc.

Housing
Did you have housing at your disposal or did you have to find your own housing?
I had housing at BSN student apartments, it was ready for me when I arrived.
What support did you receive from the school in locating housing?
Full support, they send me email address and application form for student apartments.
Any special issues or good ideas for prospective students?
Stay at BSN because it is in walking distance from the school, 5 min. it is very expensive
to take bus or subway every day.

Costs
Describe the most important expenses such as rent, books, food, etc.
Rent was aprox. 100.000 ISK per month for one room (shared apartment with one other
student). Food cost about 70.000 ISK. Books cost about 60.000 ISK. Train cost (one hour
fair) 500 ISK. If you buy card you spend about 20-25000 ISK pr month.

The International Office
Is there an international office?
Yes.
Who is responsible for incoming exchange students?
Ms. Ellen Tobiasson
International Co-ordinator, Exch.
Tel: +47 46 41 02 26
E-mail: ellen.tobiasson@bi.no
Responsibilities:
- Incoming Exchange
- Erasmus Co-ordinator
How does the international office function?
They handle all incoming and outgoing exchange students, dont know more.


Do you receive all relevant information?
Yes. I got everything I needed.

Exchange promotion
What kind of activity did you take part in to promote exchange to Iceland at your
exchange university?
Told them about the country, how the HR environment is, some asked for more details
about courses and living in Iceland. What I did was mainly to describe my experience in
HR.

Social Activities
How is your relationship with other students?
Very good. Got to know a lot of people from all over the world both Norwegian and
exchange students.
How is the relationship among the exchange students?
Very good. It is the same tendency as here in HR, the exchange students group together
and the locals group together but it is possible to break through in the circle of the locals if
you are willing to.
Is there a student organization, and if so, are the exchange students part of it?
Yes there is and yes exchange students can be part of it if they choose to.
Are there any special activities and gatherings for exchange students?
Yes, dinner nights where we are invited to dinner and pub nights. There are also Icelandic
student gatherings at Gurnarstofa not only for BI students but for all the Icelandic
students studying in Norway.
How do you like it at the school?
Very nice, liked it a lot.

Culture and Language
Do you have any language problems with the faculty or other students?
No everyone spoke perfect English.
How are the possibilities to experience the country and the culture?
Very good, they offer exchange students to teach their language. You can teach
someone your language to some other student who speaks a language you want to learn.
Like I am interested in French, then the school hooks me up with a French student who is
interested to learn Icelandic.

Cultural and Social Effects from the Exchange Experience
How do you think the exchange experience will affect you from a cultural and social point
of view?
I thought the culture and the social life in Norway very similar to Iceland. They are a bit
more straight but very similar.
How do you think the exchange experience influences your future career possibilities?
In a very positive way.


III ACADEMIC INFORMATION

The Teaching situation
In which language are the courses taught? Any problems?
No problems, English.
How would you evaluate the level of study in relationship to the level at RU?
A bit harder, more demand is made to students.
Is the teaching primarily practical or theoretical?
Depends on courses but I would say more theoretical than in RU.
Are the professors using cases, group work or lectures (or a mix)?
Mix.
How is the workload compared to that at RU?
More!
How is the relationship between faculty and students?
Not as good and personal as in RU but it is good.
What is the relationship between the students in the classroom?
Good but high competition.

Required Literature
Is the literature in English?
Yes.
How do you estimate the level of the literature?
Upper level, very challenging.
Is the literature used for detailed knowledge or a broad overview?
Broad overview.
Is exam based on the literature or on the lectures?
Both.

Exams
What types of exams were you given?
No final exams in the courses I took just final paper.
What knowledge level was required to pass the exams?
Above or equal the grade E.

Other
Do students have easy access to the library and its resources?
Yes, very good access and they can take as many books as they want, the library send
the students sms or mail when they need to return the books.
How is the access to the computers?
Very good- computers everywhere.
How is IT used in the teaching or as a distributor of information?
Dont know??

Description of Courses
Please list all the courses you are taking in the form below:
Name and code of the course
Prerequisites, if any
Exam form
Comments: Relevance, Difficult/easy, Practical/theoretical, Enrolment problems

Example:
Course name: Prereq. Exam Major at RU Approved
as
(Common/elective/extra)
GRA24231 Persuasion and Influence none final paper Marketing Elective
GRA31366 New Venture Creation none final paper Marketing Elective
GRA63371 Foreign Operation Methods none final paper Marketing Elective
GRA5923 Development Studies none final paper Marketing Elective
..
Please fill in all the courses you have taken

Any other experiences:
Overall, very good experience, I highly recommend BI-Oslo.

Names and e-mails:
The International Office will appreciate if you will inform about your e-mail addresses, so that
other students can contact you for more information.
Alds Sigurardttir aldisg@ru.is