By Zana Pommier
pommierza@mnstate.edu
If you got the opportunity to spend a semester in another country for $1,000, would you do it? Students are now being offered the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Adger in Kristiansand, Norway for just a little over the overall price-tag of a semester at MSUM.
“It’s like [the cost of] MSUM plus a plane ticket,” said Janet Haak, director of study abroad.
The cost of tuition for a semester at MSUM is about $4,000 with fees. Combined with the costs of books, food and housing, an MSUM semester would be just short of the $10,000 students would spend to study in Norway.
As a Norwegian University, students at Adger aren’t charged tuition. The cost of living in Norway encompasses the majority of the program fee.
The program is ideal for students who still have LASC courses to take, students who are undeclared, or those interested in Scandinavian countries. Applicants must be sophomore level or higher and have at least a 2.5 GPA.
The program offers three five-credit classes. The semester includes a class in Norwegian society, education, and culture, one in Norwegian language, and one in beat art, which would fulfill LASC goal 6. There are other options available as well. Just a few of the English-speaking classes offered include business administration, education, and engineering.
“If students want to experience a very different kind of social structure, [a] very positive, education-friendly culture and/or have this real interest because of their family heritage and exploring what Norway is like, this will be a very nice fit,” said Haak.
Students who are looking for some familiarity will find comfort in that the University of Adger hosts about 8,000 students, which is about the same amount as MSUM. The city of Kristiansand is the fifth largest city in Norway and has a population of 83,000, about twice that of Moorhead.
Kristiansand has several attractions ranging from fjords to a fish market. The city offers golfing and paddling, and hosts several festivals throughout the year. Lucky travellers might even get a glimpse of northern lights.
If you’re looking for something beyond the outstanding price and credit fulfillments, Kristiansand is an ideal location for travelling to other parts of Europe. Kristiansand is located in southern Norway. Travellers can take a two-hour ferry trip to Hirtshals, Denmark for only $85 round-trip. In addition, travellers can take a three-hour plane ride to Bremen, Germany for a round-trip price of only $450.
If you need more than that to give you the push, Norway has been ranked the best place to live by multiple studies. Norway has been ranked number one on the Legtum Institute’s Prosperity Index since 2009.
The Prosperity Index measures things from personal well-being to country prosperity. One of these outstanding rankings includes a 1:10 student to teacher ratio.
Norway also ranks number one on the U.N. Human Development Index.
The index takes into account things such as life expectancy, income, and mean years of schooling. According to the index, Norwegian students are expected to receive over a year more of schooling than U.S. students.
Students who are interested in learning more about the trip can attend a “Norway Night” information session on Nov. 19 at 4 in BR 267. Students who can’t attend should contact stdyabrd@mnstate.edu for more information.