Practical information about living in Ålesund
Practical information
Practical information
After you have received admission to NTNU, you will be provided with practical information regarding visas, housing and so on. On this page, we have listed some of the practical information that it might be useful to consider at the time of applying.
Academic calendar
The academic year at NTNU is divided in two semesters: autumn (August - December) and spring (January to June).
Living expenses
For 2023-2024 the Norwegian government requires international students to have NOK 137 907 at their disposal for one academic year. That works out to roughly NOK 12 500 a month, which should cover your living costs if you live economically. Here are some of the expenses you should consider:
- Housing: This is going to be your single biggest expense. You should estimate around NOK 4000 to 6000 NOK for a single room with shared bathroom and kitchen.
- Food: Around NOK 3000 a month.
- Transportation: This can be quite variable, but you should plan on at least NOK 500 a month. Depending on where you end up living, you may want to get a month card for the bus, or a bike.
- Books and supplies: This varies, but expect to pay more at each semester start. Remember to check online (Facebook groups etc.) to see if you can buy your books used, which can save you a decent amount. A popular site for buying used books is iBok. You can also ask fellow students at your programme.
Working in Norway
- EU/EEA nationals are entitled to work, study and live in Norway. All EU/EEA nationals who are going to stay in Norway for more than three months must register with the Norwegian Directorate for Immigration (UDI).
- Non-EU nationals who are granted a study permit, are automatically also granted permission to work part-time. You can work up to 20 hours per week in addition to your studies and full-time during holidays. Please consult the Norwegian Directorate for Immigration (UDI) for detailed information about rules and regulations.
Career advice for NTNU students
Please note that it can be hard for non-Norwegian speakers to find work, especially in cities with many students. You should therefore not count on work-income to cover you living expenses.
Visas/registration
The Norwegian Directorate for Immigration (UDI) has a comprehensive website that explains the visa application processes for non-EU nationals and the registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals.
Non-EU/non-EEA nationals will receive information about visa procedures together with the admission offer from NTNU. You should not apply for a visa before you have an offer of admission.