Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Ås

Ås

Ås is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is a small town, located in the South-East of Norway, about 40 km south of Oslo. Around 16,000 people live in the municipality. Norsk Landbruksmuseum (Norwegian Agriculture Museum) and Tusenfryd Amusement Park are two major sights of the city.

To find out more about Ås, visit the municipality’s homepage.
NMBU provides information on student life.

Norwegian University of Life Sciences

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences was established in 1859 and is the second oldest institution of higher education in Norway. NMBU’s interdisciplinary research and study programmes focus on the areas of food, health, environmental protection, climate and the sustainable use of natural resources. It is organized into eight departments, seven faculties and seven centers for research. NMBU offers 64 study programmes in Biosciences, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, Technology, Veterinary Medicine etc.
NMBU is a leading university in the field of agriculture and forestry, ranking 23rd in the Qs World ranking.

It hosts about 5,200 students. Almost 17 percent of NMBU’s students have a foreign citizenship and 43 percent of the study programmes are in English.
Campus Ås covers a total of 600 ha and is home to one of Norway’s most beautiful parks, with a number of historical buildings, as well as Ås Farm, where research and teaching on traditional livestock are conducted.
New international students are invited to a number of welcome and introduction events during their first days on campus, offered by Student Information Centre (SiT).
Find out more about starting your studies at NMBU

Accommodation

Accommodation in Norway can be relatively expensive averaging to around NOK 4,800. Various types of accommodation are available, including single rooms, shared flats or dormitories. NMBU students can live on campus, find accommodation close to Ås (e.g. Ski) or even in Oslo (easy to reach via public transport). SiÅs offers student accommodation in dormitories. Rooms in dormitories need to be paid from July onwards to secure the spot for one semester or year. Students need to be registered in the NMBU student database before applying for on-campus housing, otherwise the access will be denied. SiÅs also links to options for private accommodation. Private accommodation can also be found on Finn.no (use translate services). It is not uncommon that students rent a shared house together. Make sure to arrange your accommodation well in advance.
For further information on accommodation, visit NMBU’s website and have a look at NMBU’s pre-arrival guide for international students (linked below).

Residence Permit/Visa and Registration

Immigration procedures differ for students depending on their country of origin.

Students from Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Sweden)

… staying for up to six months do not need to register their move
… staying for more than 6 months have to report to the Norwegian tax office within 8 days of their arrival. This is free of charge. NMBU can assist students with the respective forms.

Students from EU/EEA Countries (staying for more than 3 months)

need to register on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration’s (UDI’s) application portal and book an appointment with the local police station (book prior to arrival to Norway to avoid waiting times!)
Students need to bring the following documents:
- valid ID or passport
- NMBU admission letter
- European health card (valid for entire stay) or private health insurance (e.g. insurance by Dr. Walter provided for EMABG students)
- handwritten or typed personal declaration stating that you have enough money to support yourself while studying in Norway. The declaration must be signed.
Students will receive a registration certificate which they need to carry with them at all times
This process is free of charge.

Students from Non-European countries

staying for more than 3 months: must apply for a study permit (processing fee = NOK 4,900) or in some cases a tourist visa for stays under three months depending on country of citizenship
need to register on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration’s (UDI’s) application portal and book an appointment with the local police station (book prior to arrival to Norway to avoid waiting times!)
Student need to bring the following documents:
- valid ID or passport
- NMBU admission letter
- Housing contract
- Documentation of financing: EMABG scholarship acceptance letter is sufficient. Warning: Rejections may occur at first but NMBU can assist in fixing this.
Students have to go to the police twice: 1. for submission of documents, 2. for having their picture and fingerprints taken
The residence permit is sent to NMBU 10 days afterwards and can be picked up from there.
Non-EU students with a Norwegian residence permit will be covered by the Norwegian health system.

Visit NMBU’s information on study permits, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, or read NMBU’s pre-arrival guide (linked below) to find out more.

Climate

While in Western Norway the climate is mild and maritime, the climate is more continental in the Eastern part with warmer summers (around 20 °C) but longer and colder winters (-5 to -25 °C). The East is also considerably drier.

Transportation

Public transportation in and around Ås is generally very good, however there are a few regions which have limited bus access. The Ruter page or app can be used to find out about bus and train times and routes. Tickets can be bought via the app, at vending machines or some stores.

Living expenses

The cost of living in Norway is considered relatively high compared to other European countries. You can expect to pay NOK 9,080 for your monthly subsistence costs. Find out more about living expenses in Norway.