Plan of studies

What is a plan of studies?

A plan of studies is a a written document that describes

• the academic content
• the administrative arrangements
• the economic conditions

for a period of study abroad.

The plan is not a contract in the legal sense, but an agreement between the student and the two institutions that support the international visit. The plan will normally be developed in a dialogue between the student, a contact person in the sending, and a contact person in the receiving institution.

Economic conditions

From Oslo to Cracow ...

From Cracow to Oslo

Students that come from Cracow to Oslo need to be aware of the high price level in Oslo. A moderate student budget requires NOK 8 000,- (or about 4 000,- zloty) a month. You would need NOK 2 500-3 000 to rent a small single room (10-15 sqm) in the Oslo area, and NOK 400 for a transport card each month.

We may, however, be able to arrange free (and possibly very basic) housing for 1-3 students in the autumn 2004. For this, early planning would be essential.

Part-time work

Many Norwegian students work part-time to supplement their student loans and grants. But we advice foreign students not to do so during their initial period of study. When you study abroad, you start with a double load: studying full-time and mastering the local culture. A triple load is too much.

The plan of studies includes a moral commitment. Our institutions and staff invest time, energy and money in supporting your studies abroad. We expect a similar commitment from the student side.

But we do not expect the impossible. We will only accept study plans that provide a decent level of living during the visits. From the Middle Ages (and also later) there are many stories about students who had to beg to survive. That is not a model we want to follow ...

The recent "quality reform" in Norwegian higher education means that we follow the progress of students during the terms much more closely than before. Students that invest too little time in studying, and too much in other activities (paid work, leisure) are likely to lag behind - and may lose their institutional support (like free lodging).