+What to do before coming and when you get here…

+Hei / Hello !!!

We’re Vanja and Lorena.

We’re going to be the “buddies” for all the international students at the Natural Science Department at NTNU, during this Fall semester.

We’re also international students; we started our master last year… so, last year we experienced what you’re about to.

We would like to help you,any way we can. Telling you about everything we think that might help you, tell you where you can find things or do all the paperwork you need to do…

+This Guide

This “guide” is just a presentation with the “details” that we think might be useful for you when packing and when arriving in Trondheim.

We really hope that you find it useful!!!

In any case, if you have any other question, feel free to post it in the Facebook group, and we’ll try to answer it as soon as possible!

You can also send your questions to buddy@nt.ntnu.no

+

1 : Packing

+Things you MUST bring in your hand luggage Passport.

Money. Some cash (kroners) and, if possible, an international bank card.

Printed NTNU admission letter.

Printed SIT rental contract.

Whatever extra document(s) the Norwegian embassy at your country has given you (also printed pdfs are ok!) – if you’re citizen of a country in the European Union, it’s a

“normal” trip within the European Union, your passport is enough most of the times… but it doesn’t hurt to have your admission letter and your rental contract with you.

+Things you want to bring

Ethernet cable. 1-2 meters to reach the desk; 3-5 meters to reach the bed.

Plug adapter, if your country doesn’t use the European plug type (“Europlug”).

School supplies (pens, pencils, erasers, etc.) At mid-semester you’ll get pens at the student job fairs. Meanwhile, if you have to buy them… we can’t say they’re cheap!

Medicine you usually take (aspirins, antiacid, etc.).

+Things you may want to bring

Water proof shoes and jacket, if you can find them in your country.

Warm clothes :p… of course you know you’re coming to Norway. Check the weather forecast and statistics in http://www.yr.no/

If you bring food, be sure that it’s completely sealed and with a “made in…” label.

Extra pair of glasses, if you wear glasses.

A towel, bedclothes (beds are 90x200 cm)… otherwise you’ll have to find towels and bedclothes soon.

+More things you may want to bring Current converter; if you really need to bring something

that doesn’t work with 240 V, 50 Hz and your country doesn’t have these specs. Computers and cell phones already have this included.

Headphones for your computer

Maybe a hard disk; depending on the prices in your country. You can check the prices of electronics in Norway in the stores’ websites (for example: Lefdal.com, Expert.no, Elkjop.no)

+Things you don’t need to bring

“High-end” scientific calculator… there are only two allowed models for the exams: Citizen SR-270X or Hewlett Packard HP30S. You can buy these in Europe, and there’s also a way to borrow a calculator (borrow=for free) before each exam… more info later.

Electric supplies that don’t work with 240 V and 50 Hz.

Check the customs website:http://www.toll.no/templates_TAD/Article.aspx?id=195294&epslanguage=EN

+Things you should do before coming Have a haircut The least expensive prices are around

250 kr… with student discount.

Go to the dentist and have a very good check-up. Dentists are expensive in Norway and they are not covered by the national health system.

If companies block mobile phones in your country, unblock your phone so that you can put a Norwegian chip and you don’t have to buy a new one.

Eat your last meal at your country Food here is not bad, but it’s not the same as your favorite home meal.

+

Travelling

+When to travel

You can start arriving when your SIT contract starts

The activities will start on August the 10th, with the Orientation Week (organized by the International Office (Registration open 23 of july).

During the Orientation Week you will: Receive a lot of useful information (we’ll most probably repeat the

most relevant things to you later; so, don’t feel overwhelmed). Take tours around Trondheim, attend social activities, meet other

students - that’s what you have to “worry” about! ;)

Most International Master Students arrive the week before; some Erasmus students arrive before, but they have a different program/activities.

It’s good to arrive some days before to recover from the trip and get oriented here

+If you’re not an European Citizen: At your first entry point to Europe At the first European airport you arrive you will have to go

through customs. There are lines for European citizens and other lines for Non-European citizens.

The customs officer will ask you to show your passport.

There will be a very short and friendly interview and you only have to say that you’re coming to Norway to study a Masters degree

+If you’re not an European Citizen: At your first entry point to Europe Besides your passport, the customs officer might

ask you to show him/her: NTNU admission letter (the printed PDF is ok!). SIT rental contract (also the printed PDF is ok!). Whatever document(s) the Norwegian embassy at your country

has given you (also, if you only got a PDF, the printed PDF is ok!... believe it or not; if you got any originals, bring them).

The rest of your tickets to Norway (if you’re not already in Norway)

The proof of your deposit to the NTNU account (less likely).

+Money Issues

It might be a good idea to get some Norwegian money before you arrive in Trondheim.

There are not many places to exchange currency once in Trondheim.

There are several currency exchange offices at international airports. Keep in mind: most currency exchange offices have comission

fees. Ask about them before exchanging your money. It might be a good idea to change together with friends if you’re travelling together.

There’s also an ATM in which you can get cash at the arrivals hall at the airport in Trondheim, in the way to pick up your baggage (sometimes it does not work :S).

Once in Trondheim: there is one ATMs in the Natural Science Building and there are several ATMs in the city center.

+Money Issues – How much money? In most places you can pay with an international bank card

(Mastercard or Visa – not American Express).

The first days you will need cash to pay: Orientation week (2014 was abt. 250kr, this year it will probably stay the

same) Semester fee (530 kr) Cell phone chip? (abt. 50 kr)

And if you don’t have an international bank card, you’ll also need money for: Food. Bus from airport to Moholt. Bus card or bicycle. Bedsheets and towel (if you don’t bring them) Kitchenware (if you don’t find it in your appartment). Pay rent.

+Arriving to the airport in Trondheim

At the baggage claim area, there are some carts to help you carry your baggage. It’s free to use them; so, just take one and wait for your baggage.

After you pick up your baggage there might be a customs check, but if you’ve already gone through customs at your entry point in Europe (your arriving in Trondheim from another European city), there might not be any! … so, just follow the rest of the people and get outside the airport.

+Taking the bus to Moholt Studentby Outside the airport, there will be a bus of Værnes

Expressen (that’s the name of the bus company).

Tell the bus driver that you want to go to Moholt Studentby (the pronunciation is closer to “studentbee” in English). “By” means “city” .

Tell the bus driver that you’re a student; you might get the student fare… even without a student ID.

You pay the ticket directly to the bus driver.

You can pay with cash (Norwegian kroner) or with an international credit card.

To check the timetable, prices, and route:

http://vaernesekspressen.no/index.php/vaernes_eng/vaernes/nyheter

+Taking the bus to Moholt Studentby

You are not living in moholt studenby and you may ask why you have to go there ?

You’ll still have to go to the SIT reception near Moholt to pick up your keys and then you can go to your student village.

+Taking the bus to Moholt Studentby If you arrive when there are no buses of Værnes

Expressen, follow the instructions given by the International Office:

http://www.ntnu.edu/international/arrival-in-trondheim

The other company (that does not bring you directly to Moholt) is:

http://www.flybussen.no/en

Standard bus stops are around “Torget”(ask the driver), in the city centre; there you can take the local bus to Moholt Studentby: bus 5 (direction Lohove or Dragvoll), or bus 66 (direction Stokkhaugen) – You’ll have to buy the local bus ticket in that case; you pay 50 kr to the bus driver, or you can use the airport bus ticket within 90 minutes of buying it on the local buses as well.

+Ask the bus driver to tell you when you get to Moholt Studentby Bus Stop.

+Then you’ll have to walk from the bus stop to the SIT Reception (abt. 260 m)

Moholt Studentby Bus Stop

SIT Reception

+SIT Reception

+At the Reception, you pick up your keys.

If you come with a friend, one can stay at the bus stop with the baggage and the other can go and pick up both keys (with an ID of the one at the bus stop).

SIT Reception

SIT Reception

You come this way

Besides the key, you’ll receive your laundry card and a map of Moholt Studentby.

(If you’re not living in Moholt, you’ll get the map of where you’re living).

+Picking up your keys

Check the opening hours of the reception.

https://www.sit.no/en/housing/tenant

During the week that everybody arrives, the reception has extended opening hours.

https://www.sit.no/en/news/extended-opening-hours-0

If you won’t be able to arrive within opening hours, you can send an e-mail to the SIT people and they can put your key in a box outside the reception. They’ll give you a code to open the box.

+Once you get your key, you can go to your room! Most international students get their room at Moholt Herman Krags veg

or at Moholt Alle. “Street “ in Norwegian is either “veg” or “vei”.

SIT Reception

Moholt Alle

Herman Krags veg

+If you’re not staying at Moholt

Here you can find the address where you’ll live:

https://www.sit.no/en/housing/your-housing

You can find the place using Google Maps and find bus routes using www.atb.no (from: Moholt (Trondheim))

+Living in steinan village

We recommend taking the bus there when travelling with your luggage, they’ll tell you how to at the SiT reception desk or you’ll find it at www.atb.no.

+Use Google Maps

It might be easier for you to explore using Google Maps:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Jonsvannsveien&daddr=Frode+Rinnans+veg&hl=en&ll=63.410977,10.434179&spn=0.00485,0.018475&sll=63.412046,10.436639&sspn=0.000651,0.002309&geocode=FeqZxwMdBDKfAA%3BFUyXxwMd1z-fAA&t=h&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=19&z=16

This link takes you to Moholt Studentby.

By the way, the images in Google street view seem to be taken in early spring, in August everything is really green!

+

Getting settled

+Food!!! You’ll be hungry. There are supermarkets within walking distance.

Student village

+Supermarkets close to Moholt

Bunnpris, Rema 1000, and Kiwi are within a short walking distance.

Of course, the price depends on what you buy. In general, Kiwi and Rema 1000 are less expensive.

Bunnpris and Kiwi open also on Sundays, but just a small section of the supermarket.

There’s a Bunnpris close to most student villages.

You can also dowload the “Mattilbud” app, this will show you the diferent discounts in the main stores

+Tips at the Supermarket in Norway Don’t be scared by the prices… keep your mind open…

after some time you’ll find the best options for you

Some fruit is sold by piece (“styk”), not by kilo. Yes… the price you see is for 1 avocado and 1 cucumber. Other is sold by “hecto”, 100 g. So, beware the price description!

Most people speak English, so ask if you don’t find something or you’re not sure about the price.

You’ll have to pay for each plastic bag (abt. 1 kr). The cashier will ask you: “pose?”, meaning “bag?”. You can bring your own bags or backpack to the supermarket so that you don’t need to buy bags.

You don’t need to buy water, you can drink tap water.

+You may want to Sleep

You won’t find bedclothes at your room... So you may want to bring a set with you.

Your bed size is 90x200 cm

You won’t find a pillow either… you’ll have to buy one here, or bring a small one for the first days.

Also, some apartments have dishes, microwave, pans, glasses, etc. These are things left by other students. Other aparments don’t have anything…

Check your kitchen and ask your flatmates before buying kitchenware.

+Finally…