Studying in Norwegian University of Science and Technology: Short Overview
Norwegian University of Science and Technology(NTNU) is located in Trondheim, and everything in the city is connected to this educational institution: from small research organizations to all the facilities. It consists of two campuses: one is devoted to technological studies and research, and the other one focuses on arts and social sciences. Both of them are huge, well-designed and convenient. There are many floors and well-equipped labs and many comfortable rooms to spend your time after classes or writing essays.
Basic Information about Academic Year
The academic year in Norway is divided into 2 semesters. The first one starts in August and ends with exams in December and January. Students have short vocations before and after Christmas. After that the second semester starts in January and ends in mid-June with exams.
Degree and Credits Peculiarities
Norwegian universities follow the Bologna system, so bachelor’s degree lasts for three years and master degree takes student two years to finish. If you are interested in research activities, you can spend another three years to gain PhD degree. Education is free in Norway but students are to pay relatively small fees to be allowed to sit for exams. Exchange students do not have to pay for it. Norwegian universities use European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and every student should take at least 30 credits per semester. One subject can have from 7 to 15 credits, so it is easy to gain enough credits per semester. Universities use letter system for assessment, from A to F.
What about Campus?
Depending on your degree, lectures can be held either on one campus or another. Sometimes even in both. You are to write an academic paper at the end of the studies, so try to be careful as there is a severe policy against plagiarism. You can be even suspended or expelled for that. You will also need to by some books to stud from. They can be found in the university bookstore. However, if the price is too high for you, there is an opportunity to buy second-hand books form older students.
The great thing is that there is a week before August semester when one senior student is a so called guide for a small group of fresh year students. It is a good opportunity to meet your future classmates, find out more about student’s life in the university and learn the structure of a campus. If you miss that week, you will need to come much earlier to classes to be able to find needed auditorium on time.
All You Need to Know about Lectures
Every lecture lasts for 1.45 hours, which is quite long so that there is a 15 minutes break in the middle of it. They are quite long but never boring, that is why many students attend them, though it is not compulsory. There is a special tool, where all lectures are uploaded, so there is no need to show up on lectures unless you want so. There is also a habit to read the lecture beforehand and only after that come and listen to it. Professors do not check whether student read them or not, so it depends on student’s desire, and most of them do look through the material beforehand.
What is more, some courses have workshops along with lectures, and students are to attend them and take an active part in the discussion. The volume of work, which you are to do during the week is not so big, so you will have enough time to explore the city and enjoy you student’s life.
