Experience report
ANR:231995
Name: Yvanca van Well
E-mail: yvancavanwell@live.nl
Exchange semester: fall
Academic year: 2013-2014
Host University: NHH Bergen
Country: Norway
TOPIC: Admission, arrival, housing
How was your arrival organized? Did someone pick you up from the airport/station? Was an
orientation or introduction activity organized? How was accommodation organized? Does the
university provide you with accommodation? What kind of accommodation does the university
provide? Did you have to book your accommodation in advance or did you have to search for a place
to live after you arrived?
I had to take a bus from the airport to the city center but it was really easy and I didn’t have any
problems. When a student would arrive outside the office hours then he would be picked up by
someone from NHH. But I got there in the afternoon so I had to get my keys for my room on my own.
Which was really easy to find and there were a lot of friendly people who wanted to help me out. The
first week I had a Welcome Week which was kind of the same as the TOP week in Tilburg. A lot of
partying and getting to know other exchange students. I loved it and made friends for the rest of my
life. My accommodation was provided by the university and before I arrived I already knew that I had
a room very close to the university. I lived in a flat with a lot of international students. With 6 others I
shared a kitchen.
TOPIC: Location of university/city
Please describe the city you lived in. Where is the university located in the city? What is the best
place to go to eat/drink/dance/do sports/etc.? What are interesting things to see and do in your host
city? What was different than in Tilburg?
Bergen is a touristic city where in the summer a lot of cruise ships come by. However you don’t notice
these at the university because it is just outside the city center (10 minutes by bus). Bergen feels like
a small city but actually it the secons largest city of Norway. It was easy to find your way and I never
got lost. NHH has its own club in the basement which was really awesome although I expected more
parties in there. The city center was the best place to go out but really expensive. Bergen is a city
where you go if you like to go hiking and see something more than just bars and shops. The nature is
beautiful and it easy to go up the mountains.
TOPIC: Academics
Which courses did you take and why? Which courses would you recommend? What did the courses
add to your program at Tilburg University? How does the university compare to Tilburg University
concerning the level of the courses, use of extra material, level of English, workload, etc.? Overall,
were you happy with your academic achievements during your exchange? Please describe the
campus of your host university.
I took business ethics, maritime history and economics, firm strategy and competition and social
media networks. I chose these because I wanted courses to broaden my view. Especially maritime
history and economics was really nice. It was focused on shipping from Norway and the economics
around it. It was really interesting and something I could not get at Tilburg. NHH is kind of similar to
Tilburg University. The courses are from the same level and the level of English was excellent. The
workload was a bit less though. I am glad with the courses I got and the university was much better
than I expected. The campus was small with only 2 buildings but everything I needed was there.
TOPIC: Social life
Which social activities organized by the university or students? Did you have contact with local
students? Did you have contact with other exchange students? How did you get along with the local
students and other exchange students? Did you travel to other places/countries during your
exchange?
During the welcome week I had 4 norwegian mentors and those were the only Norwegians that I
really got to know. I hoped to meet more Norwegians but that didn’t happen, Norwegians are closed
people and only talk to strangers when they are drunk. The exchange students on the other hand
were very open and I got to know a lot of people from all over Europe. With another Dutch girl and a
Belgium girl I travelled through Norway in the last weeks. NHH organizes a lot for their international
students. A lot of parties and even a cabin trip. They also organize a Farewell Dinner which I loved.
TOPIC: Living costs
How did you finance your exchange period, apart from the grant you received from Tilburg University?
What were your living expenses abroad like compared to Tilburg? What did you spend most of your
money on? What would you advice future students to spend their money on? Please outline your
approximate monthly budget whilst on exchange: housing, food, textbooks, etc.
Norway is very expensive so I saved a lot of money before I left Tilburg. But in the end I did not spend
what I expected to spend. The room was expensive, 500 euros a month, but it was way better than
what I had in Tilburg. The books for my courses where the same price as in Tilburg and were offered
at NHH. The most expensive of my exchange was drinking. Alcohol is not cheap in Norway so it is
smart to bring some from home or let people who visit bring liquor. This worked out for me and saved
me a lot of money. Food is also more expensive, at least 10% higher, but if you prepare food with
other exchange students then it is definitely doable. I spent at least 800 euros a month in Norway
which is double the amount I spend in Tilburg. In the last month I travelled more which cost me also a
lot of money but it was totally worth it.
TOPIC: Culture
Did you experience culture shock while on exchange? How would you compare your host culture to
your own culture? What did you learn about your own culture while on exchange? What was different
about your host culture than you expected? What did you like and not like about your host culture? Do
you feel you learned a lot about your host culture, and if not, what would you like to learn more? How
would you describe your host countries culture? If you travelled to other cities/countries during your
exchange, were they different than your host city/country, and how?
I didn’t experience any culture shock. Norway is very similar to the Netherlands. The big difference I
noticed was that people are more closed and the nature is of course very different than what I am
used to. Norwegians are closed but if you need help then they always make time for you. They also
speak very good English and love to tell you about their country. During my stay I travelled to the
north of Norway. I experienced that the people over there are much more friendly than people from
the south. They love visitors and are very open to strangers. Norwegians are proud people. They love
their own culture and their way of living. They also like to drink, although the prices are very high.
Every Saturday night the city center is crowded with drunk people. Youngsters and older people. The
drunk Norwegians are very friendly and not hostile or anything.
TOPIC: Personal development
What did you learn from the people you met during your exchange? Would you do things differently if
you had the chance, and what would you do differently? What was your best experience, and what
was your worst experience? What will you remember for ever about your exchange period? What was
the most important lesson you learned about yourself during your exchange period?
In the welcome week I met a Belgium girl which became my best friend during my stay. I also hung
out with a lot of Germans and Austrians. I wished I had broadend my view and was open to more
cultures. If I could change anything then I would have made more friends from outside of Europe. My
best experience was the Welcome Week. It was a great start of the semester and I got to know a lot
of people who made me feel at home immediately. My worst experience was when the weather got
worse and the days got darker and I had to study a lot for my exams. This was the only time I missed
home. I will never forget the dinner parties I had and the kitchen parties that were organized. Through
this way it was so easy to talk to others and get to know more people. The most important lesson I
learned was that I have to be more spontaneous and not plan everything. It was so nice that I could
look in my agenda and notice that I didn’t have anything planned for the weekends for example. I also
learned to stand on my own and it feels good to say I survived abroad for 5 months.
TOPIC: Tips for future students
Would you recommend an exchange period? Would you recommend your host university? What
should prospective students bring with them/leave behind? What preparation is required for going on
exchange to this destination? Was there anything you should have done in preparation that you didn’t
do?
I would definitely recommend an exchange. It was the best experience of my study yet! NHH was also
very nice. It is a shame that it is not noticed by everyone. Students should bring good clothes and
shoes that are suitable for bad weather because it rains a lot in Bergen. Make sure you have a room
and know what to expect from it. There are a lot of different places in Bergen to live but I recommend
Hatleberg because it is next to NHH and most of the international students live there. I think I was
very well prepared, I only wish I took 2 suitcases instead of one because you need summer clothes
and winter clothes.
TOPIC: A picture is worth a thousand words
If you took any pictures or made any videos that you would like to share with future exchange
students, please include them (or e-mail them separately). Pictures that show your daily life or
symbolize your exchange period are especially interesting for future exchange students.