Introduction to the five cities in Norway for students. Which cities are worth choosing for international students?

Norway has the fourth highest per capita income and one of the highest living standards in the world due to its abundant offshore oil and natural gas reserves. It is also a member of many international organizations. Let’s take a look at the five main student cities in Norway.

1. Oslo

The capital, Oslo, is the economic and government center of Norway and a prosperous trade center, including banking and shipping. Oslo has been repeatedly ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it also ranks high for quality of life.

Oslo is known as Norway’s melting pot due to its rapidly growing immigrant population, with a constant influx of people from all over the world, with the largest groups coming from Sweden, Poland and Pakistan. The resulting cultural and ethnic diversity means Oslo’s variety of food, art and shopping experiences never ends.

Full of life and culture, Oslo's city center is easy to travel on foot and offers a great selection of museums, galleries, cafes, music venues, festivals and nightlife, as well as some of Norway's wealthiest celebrities 's home. Getting outdoors is easy from Oslo too - popular pastimes include hiking, freshwater swimming (just don't swim in Lake Maridalsvannet, which supplies the city's drinking water), water sports, cross-country skiing, ice skating and biking.

The University of Oslo is the highest-ranked university in Norway, ranking 135th in the 2019 QS World University Rankings. Among the universities in Oslo are the Norwegian Business School, Oslo University College, the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, the School of Architecture, the Norwegian School of Music and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

2. Bergen

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway. Located on the west coast, it is a popular base for tourists to explore the country's famous fjords - narrow waters surrounded by steep Surrounded by cliffs (this may not sound like much, but they are truly spectacular). The city is known as the "City of Seven Hills" because it is surrounded by mountains, which makes it perfect for hiking in the summer and skiing or sledding in the winter.

Bergen is not only the gateway to the fjords, it is also an attractive coastal city, and its historic port district Bryggen is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . Hanging out at the beach is a popular summer activity, with clean, fresh, relatively warm water and plenty of sand.

The city is an international center for aquaculture, shipping, offshore oil and subsea technology, tourism, finance and higher education. Bergen's cultural contribution is also noteworthy, having supported the growth of many independent bands and artists in Norway. The Bergen Music Festival runs from April to May, followed by the week-long Bergen International Film Festival, Bergen Reggae Festival, Bergen International Music Festival and the two-week Nat Jazz Festival ——Europe’s longest jazz festival. And if Bergen's nightlife lacks grandeur, it makes up for it with a variety of small venues that tend to create a more intimate and memorable atmosphere.

Bergen has the third and second-ranked universities in Norway: the University of Bergen, ranked 171st in the 2019 QS World University Rankings. Other universities in Bergen include Bergen University College, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian School of Economics, one of Norway's leading business schools.

3. Tromso

If you are really looking for a different research purpose, Tromso may be suitable for you. This relatively small city is located primarily on the island of Tromso, near the northern tip of Norway, just inside the Arctic Circle—said to be a prime location for those wishing to view the famous Northern Lights in all their glory. Raised as the capital of the Arctic, Tromso is a popular base for those exploring this region with its numerous fjords and mountains nearby. It's also the far north of Norway, which means it sees the midnight sun during the summer months.

Although small, the city is bustling, famous for its nightlife, plenty of art museums and history to absorb, and plenty of choice in cuisine, especially seafood. Students of architecture may also enjoy the largest concentration of wooden houses in northern Norway in Tromso's city centre, along with northern Europe's oldest cinema still in use and the strikingly designed modern Arctic Cathedral.

The city also has the world’s northernmost University of Tromso, which ranked joint 369th in the 2019 QS rankings. Although Tromso does not have many universities, it has many research institutions and a highly skilled population. Tromso is also where the indigenous Sami population and culture are most evident.

4. Trondheim

Trondheim is an ancient city in central Norway with rich cultural heritage. It's Norway's oldest major city, which means there's plenty to explore in and around the city center. Key attractions include Nidaros Cathedral, the second largest church in Northern Europe, historic stone sculptures, Trondheim's characteristic mansions and harbor houses. Trondheim is also famous for its commercial history and as a religious center of medieval Northern Europe.

Trondheim College may be small, but it offers a lot of options in student life, including music, art, drama, film festivals, alternative politics and sports (skiing and football). You should also venture to the north to the Monkholmen Islands, which were once execution sites, monasteries, fortresses, prisons and WWII anti-aircraft gun stations and are now a popular tourist and entertainment venue.

Among the universities in Trondheim, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology occupies a dominant position. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology is ranked joint 363rd in the 2019 QS World University Rankings. Tr?ndelag S?der is also located in Trondheim, home to universities and other technology-focused institutions including the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology and St. Olav University Hospital. NTNU has approximately 39,700 students, equivalent to 21% of the city's 187,353 residents. The city is therefore deeply influenced by student culture, at the heart of which is the large Student Foundation, a student society that regularly organizes concerts, political debates, wine tastings, seminars, discos, football matches, choirs and orchestra. As you would expect, Trondheim also has a vibrant nightlife, with many pubs and bars open all week long and all night long.

5. Kristiansand

Located on the south coast, Kristiansand is a favorite summer holiday destination for Norwegians, with perfect ocean and surrounding fjords to enjoy the Norwegian coast culture. You can also enjoy the eastern city of Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park, its lively music or its many festivals such as Protestfestival, Bragd?ya Blues Festival, International Children's Film Festival.

Formerly an important military fortress, Kristiansand is now known as the commercial capital of southern Norway, with a complex of factories, a steelworks, shipbuilding and repair facilities, and a town called Korsvi. A large urban area composed of Gram's industrial areas. It is also an important transport and communications node, connected to the European continent by air, sea and rail. Nonetheless, you are never far from the woods in Kristiansand, with popular activities including swimming, fishing, sailing, golfing, enjoying the soft charcoal shale gates and the mainly pedestrian shopping streets.

Agodel University is located east of the city center and moved from the old military barracks campus to a new building in 2001. Many subjects are taught at the University of Agder, but only a few are taught in English, although most of Kristiansand's citizens speak fluent English. Other universities in Kristiansand include Nolov University College, the School of Music Education, and several small private higher education colleges, including a Christian journalism school and a regional branch of the Norwegian Business School.