Experience in Trondheim, Norway

Why did you choose to go to Trondheim, Noruega?

I was looking for a radical change as to what I'm used to here in Murcia and for the courses that would be taught in English. Also, it was able to go there. At first I had no idea where Trondheim was on the map, but now I know it is an amazing place.

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How long was the placement? How much grant did you receive?

My placement lasted 10 months. As for money, I didn't get much considering how much it costs to live in Trondheim. From my Erasmus grant, I received around 350/400€ a month. Still by living on a budget and not spending on any luxuries, I needed at least 700/800€ to live.

What is the student atmosphere like in Trondheim?

It is incredible. Well at least for the students that lived in the residencies. I was lucky enough to live in the main one, Moholt, which is where everyone wants to live. The residency houses around 2500-3000 students, no exaggeration, and most of them are foreign students too. The residencies are like small neighbourhoods full of blocks of flats just for students, and when you're surrounded by so many of them, the atmosphere is really good. There are lots of places to chill out, watch films, pre-drink etc. Also, Trondheim is one of the most important university cities in Norway, if not the most important. It really is worth it.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Trondheim to other students?

Without a doubt. The city is beautiful and the university is very, very good. The professors are great, the lessons aren't too hard either. Not compared to Spanish universities anyway. The only bad thing is the weather, which is really hard to get used to, but in the end you will and it won't stop you.

What is the food like there?

Not bad, the things I missed were products that weren't great quality compared to Spain, or products that you just couldn't get from the supermarkets there. As for typical gastronomy, there isn't much of a choice. There are lots of fish dishes. Reindeer and whale meat is also very common and of course the famous Norwegian fish, salmon.

How did you find accommodation?

The university arranged it for me. I was lucky, because there were too many students actually for us all to fit in the residency. A lot of others had to find it on their own, although the university would help you if you needed it.

How much did the accommodation cost? What were the prices like in general?

Most of them are expensive. The cheapest you can find, which is still quite expensive, is the residency. If you try and find accommodation that isn't part of the university, you will get quite a shock as far as the prices are concerned. As for prices in general, everything is very expensive. Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Until recently, Oslo, the capital of Norway, was the most expensive city in the world.

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What is the language like? Did you take a language course in the university?

Language wise, I could only speak Spanish. No Norwegian or English, but I guessed once I arrived I would pick English up pretty quickly. As for courses, I signed up to a beginner's Norwegian class, it was good although very difficult.

What is the cheapest way to get to Trondheim from your city?

From Murcia, I was lucky enough to get a direct plane to Trondheim with a Norwegian company. Depending on when you buy them, you can get them for quite a cheap price. If this doesn't work out, there is always the option of flying to London with a cheap company and then going to Trondheim. But obviously, the best thing to do is get a direct flight, and with the Norwegian company, you can take up to 50kg of luggage (including two bags for hand luggage) for a really cheap price. It is so rare to find companies that allow you to take so much luggage without an extortionate supplement fee. If you are going to spend a year there on Eramsus, I assure you that you will appreciate the 50kg.

What places would you recommend to go out in Trondheim?

Everywhere! The place I liked the most was Studentersamfundet, Downtown, Risk and Circus.

But anyway, you should go to town and visit all of them as they are all quite close together.

And eating in Trondheim, can you name some of your favourite places?

Because eating out is too expensive for most students' budget, the only place I can recommend is Torre de Tyhot. They have an open buffet with pizzas and salad for the moderate price of 100 NOK.

What is there to do culturally?

There are lots of things to do culture wise; visit the Fjord, the different museums (that are great), the surrounding landscapes etc. There is nothing lacking about this city.

Any advice you would like to give to future students going to Trondheim?

My advice... we tend to think that we need to buy loads of clothes when moving somewhere that gets as cold as Antarctica. We are all guilty of it, but then we realise that it's not worth it. Although it is very cold, if you wrap up well, you will realise that you have loads of clothes that you don't even use/need. If you have a big coat, gloves, scarf and hat, you will get by just fine. You won't need loads of layers of jumpers and jackets. When you're inside, you'll end up wearing short-sleeved shirts anyway (due to the extensive heating) and with a good coat and accessories, you won't have a problem with the cold. That said, I do recommend a good pair of boots, because it will be icy for at least 6 months of the year!