The University of Iowa has a partnership with Oslo Metropolitan University. This partnership allows UI students to study for the semester or academic year fully integrated with their Norwegian peers while attending classes and living in local student housing. Oslo Metropolitan University offers a wide range of classes taught in English.

Academic Program

Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences became Oslo Metropolitan University, or OsloMet, in January of 2018 when the Norwegian government granted them university status. OsloMet has four “faculties” or as we would say, “colleges”. The faculties are as follows: Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Education and International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design. Iowa students can take courses within any faculty. There are over 100 courses offered in English throughout the four faculties giving students a wide range of subject matter in which to choose. Students enroll in three to four classes for 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) per semester which is considered full time. 30 ECTS is considered 15 semester hours at the University of Iowa.

Students can search for available courses in English on the following web page Courses Taught in English

Program Dates

Fall Semester dates are mid-August to mid-December.

Spring semester runs early January to late May.

For More Information

Steps to Studying Abroad

1. To begin students must complete a Discover Study Abroad session at the University of Iowa.
2. After completing the Discover Abroad session, students must call the Study Abroad office at 319-335-0353 to be assigned to the appropriate study abroad advisor.
3. Once assigned, students must meet with their study abroad advisor to receive program application instructions.

Study Abroad
1111 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-335-0353
Email: study-abroad@uiowa.edu

Oslo Metropolitan University

Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences became Oslo Metropolitan University, or OsloMet, in January of 2018 when the Norwegian government granted them university status. Oslo and Akershus University College (HiOA) was established in 2011 following the merger of Oslo University College and Akershus University College. Most of the university college is located in the city center of Oslo along the Pilestredet street, with subsidiary campuses in the suburbs of Sandvika and Kjeller in the county of Akersuhus. HiOA is the largest state university college in Norway, with more than 18,000 students and 1,900 employees. It has higher education programs at the bachelor's, master's and PhD levels. It offers studies and conducts research in health professions,social sciences,liberal arts, and other fields.

Oslo

Oslo is the capital of Norway and the most populous city in the country, with about 650,000 residents. The city was founded in 1040 as a trading post. In 1624, the city was destroyed by fire so it was moved closer to Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo. Today the city is the economic and governmental center of Norway. In Oslo students can visit art museums like the Munch museum, the ski museum at Holmenkollen ski Jump or the Vigeland Sculpture Park. The city is surrounded by a forested area with lakes, rivers and several hundred miles of paths and trails, for skiing in the winter and hiking and cycling the rest of the year. The metro can take you to the trails or any of the small islands and beaches that are near the city.

Norway

Outside of the cities, Norway is mostly very rugged terrain. Mountainous regions cover most of Norway, interspersed with valleys, fjords and the occasional glacier. The country maintains a combination of a market economy and a Nordic welfare model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system. It has extensive reserves of petroleum, natural gas, minerals, lumber seafood, fresh water and hydropower.

US Department of State Country Information

The US Department of State provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.

Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to help decide whether traveling to any given country is right for you. Non-US citizen travelers may also wish to seek guidance from the embassy of their country of citizenship. The UI International Travel Policy for Students addresses restrictions on student travel to high-risk locations and engagement in high-risk activities abroad.

Living Arrangements

Students apply for affordable housing through the Student Welfare Association, or SiO and should do so as soon as they are accepted. These rooms are more economical then what is available in the private market. The sooner one applies, the better chance there is of getting the room you want. If your first choice has no availability, your second, third or sixth choice might. The deadlines are May 31 for the fall semester and October 31 for the Spring Semester. Within the application students should choose a “single, furnished room” and then either January 1 or August 1 (depending on your semester of attendance) for a move in date. One of these dates should be selected regardless of your actual move in date.

Passport

US Citizens

If you do not have a passport, it is important that you apply for one as soon as possible to ensure you receive it before the program begins. US citizens can find more information about how to apply for a passport on campus at the U.S. Passport Office in International Programs.

Students with a valid passport should check the expiration date. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER the anticipated return to the US from studying abroad. If your passport is not valid for at least 6 months after your anticipated date of return to the US, you must renew your passport before applying for a visa or leaving the United States.

US citizens can find more information about how to renew a passport on the US Department of State’s website.

Travel Arrangements

Students make their own travel arrangements to arrive in Oslo for the start of the semester.

Local Transportation

Students will use convenient and inexpensive public transportation to travel in and around Oslo.

Residence Permit

Students must apply for a residence permit as soon as they receive their Admission Letter. Please visit the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration web page called UDI for information on how to obtain a student visa.

Eligibility

Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing. Students must have a GPA of 3.0.

Good academic and disciplinary standing- Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the University of Iowa. It is the policy of the UI Study Abroad office that all students who study abroad must be in both good academic standing and good disciplinary standing. Students who, even after being accepted into a program, are put on either academic and/or disciplinary probation for any period of time overlapping with the study abroad program dates are ineligible to study abroad. In these cases, students must forfeit their acceptance and will not be allowed to study abroad. Any student who must forfeit their acceptance and/or attendance on a study abroad program due to a probationary status is wholly responsible for any and all financial expenses incurred. See the ‘Withdrawal Policy’ below for more information about the related late withdrawal fees.

Program Costs

Cost Sheets

Cost sheets are documents that outline the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. They include fees charged on students’ U-Bill, as well as out-of-pocket expenses. Actual out-of-pocket expenses will vary from individual to individual. Quoted estimates are conservatively high, yet realistic.

The cost sheet includes the Study Abroad Administrative Fee and Mandatory Iowa Regents CISI Travel Insurance. Please see the respective websites for further details. Please contact your UI Study Abroad advisor with questions regarding this cost sheet by calling 319-335-0353 to schedule an appointment.

The following cost sheet applies to the Spring 2025 session.

Oslo Metropolitan University Cost Sheet - Spring 2025

Costs charged to the U-Bill

• Application Fee- (charged at the time of application, before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed.)
• University of Iowa Tuition & Fees- (charged shortly before departure.)
• Study Abroad Fees- (charged shortly before departure.)
• CISI Health Insurance- (charged shortly before departure.)

Out-of-pocket costs (not charged to U-Bill)

• Round trip airfare (paid by student directly before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed)
• Food (paid by student at their discretion while abroad)
• Housing (paid by student)
• Visa fees (paid by student before traveling to Norway and before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed.)
• Local transportation (paid at student’s discretion while abroad)
• Cell phone (paid as needed while abroad)
• Passport (paid by student prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships are disbursed)
• Textbooks (paid as needed while abroad)
• Medical exam/immunizations (paid by student as needed prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
• Personal expenses and personal travel (paid by student at their discretion while abroad)

Scholarships & Financial Aid

For more information about receiving financial aid while studying abroad, please review the following:UI Financial Aid Information

You can find more information about options for funding your study abroad experience including scholarships on Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad.

How to apply

Spots for UI students: Enrollment for the Spring 2024 session is limited to 6 semester students.

1. Before initiating an application, students must complete a Discover Study Abroad session at the University of Iowa.
2. After completing the Discover Abroad session, students must call the Study Abroad office at 319-335-0353 to be assigned to the appropriate study abroad advisor.
3. Once assigned, students must meet with their study abroad advisor to receive program application instructions.

Students will need to complete a University of Iowa Study Abroad application. If you meet the requirements for the program, you will be nominated to study at Oslo Met by UI Study Abroad. Once nominated, you will receive details about how to complete the visiting student application for Oslo Met who will then contact you with your final acceptance decision.

Application Deadlines

For Fall and Academic Year the application deadline is March 1.

For Spring semester, the application deadline is September 10.

Students are encouraged to review the following:

Iowa Regents CISI Health Insurance Information

Health preparation Guide for International Travel
This document is intended to help you plan for your medical needs abroad.
Please DO NOT turn this form in to UI Study Abroad.

Orientation

In order to prepare for your time abroad, you are required by the University of Iowa to complete two orientations. These may be in addition to orientations provided by your on-site provider. See below for more information.

Online Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation

You are required to complete the International Programs ICON course "Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation" prior to departure. This orientation is mandatory for all students going abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa. It covers many practical matters about living overseas, such as health and safety, communication, money, goals, and much more. You will be enrolled in this course by International Programs and an email will be sent to you once enrolled. If you have any questions, you can email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu

Program-Specific Orientation

This orientation will be facilitated by a study abroad advisor and will cover content specific to the University of Iowa including but not limited to, billing, insurance, the Credit Approval Form (CAF), and transcripts. It could be conducted in a group setting or one-on-one depending on your type of planned activity abroad. Your study abroad advisor will send you more information about this mandatory in-person session.