The University of Iowa has a partnership with Oslo Metropolitan University. This partnership allows UI students to study for the summer, 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

The grading system in Norway is similar to that of the United States but with a few notable differences. The Norwegian scale goes from A-F, however, they do use an “E” grade and an “FX”. The grade equivalencies are as follows:

Program Dates

The 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.

The City

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.

The Country

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.

Some quick facts:

1. Gas prices in Norway are among the highest in the world ($9.75/gallon), even though the country is one of the biggest exporters of oil in the world.
2. The cheese slicer was invented in Norway.
3. There are about 450,000 lakes in Norway.
4. The country has over 12,400 miles of coastline.
5. The Norwegians founded Dublin, Ireland, in A.D. 836

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.

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 2.8.

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

University of Iowa students pay their regular University of Iowa tuition and mandatory student fees, and then study at our partner university without further tuition payment. Students are responsible for paying for all of the following items in addition to their normal University of Iowa tuition and fees:

1. Study Abroad Administrative Fee ($400)
2. Application fee ($50)
3. Round trip airfare
4. Housing
5. Food
6. Passport (approx. $135)
7. Textbooks
8. Local transportation
9. Iowa Regents' CISI Insurance
10. Visa Fees
11. Personal expenses

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Most financial aid (scholarships, grants, and loans) is applicable to study abroad programs. Please check the Study Abroad website for information on financial aid and how it may be applied to studying abroad. You are also encouraged to speak with someone at the Office of Student Fianancial Aid to explore financial aid options. Scholarship opportunities exist for study abroad participants. Please take a look at Study Abroad’s websites for UI Study Abroad Scholarship Opportunities, and Non-UI External Awards to discover options.

How to apply

Schedule and meet with Kristine Djerf, the Study Abroad Advisor for Scandinavia. Appointments can be set up in person in 1111 UCC or by phone at 319-335-0353. After discussing the program and its requirements, students can then complete the University of Iowa Study Abroad application . Final admissions decisions to the program are made by Oslo & Akershus University College.

Application Deadlines

Passport

If you do not have a passport, please apply for one soon to ensure you receive it before the program begins. Students who are U.S. citizens can find more information about how to apply for or renew a passport on the U.S. Department of State’s web site.

Those with valid passports should check the expiration date. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER the anticipated return to the U.S. from studying abroad. If your passport is not valid through this time then you will need to renew your passport before applying for the visa you will need to enter Norway.

Orientation

International Programs provides a mandatory online orientation for all students going abroad. The course (Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation) will automatically appear on your ICON page. During this course, such topics as health & safety, identity, cultural adjustment, and money will be discussed. It must be completed by April 30 for summer/fall/academic year terms and December 5 for the spring term.

An individualized meeting with the Study Abroad Advisor will address specific topics including registration on MyUI, billing, and course approval procedures at Iowa.

Before Traveling

Students must complete certain documents and activities before leaving for their study abroad experience and these include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Uploading a copy of the information page of their passport to their study abroad application.
2. Accepting your place at HiOA through the online Declaration of Acceptance form.
3. Apply for a residence permit through UDI.
4. Applying for housing in Norway.
5. Completing and turning in a copy of their Credit Approval Form. 
6. Registering in MyUI for the appropriate study abroad course.
7. Signing up for the HiOA arrival service.