Norges Handelshøyskole (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

Established in 1936 by King Haakon VII, NHH is Norway's oldest business school, located in Bergen. With its strong foundation, the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration has developed into one of the best schools in the country. NHH has placed top 10 in the Financial Times’ Global Master’s in Management ranking, since the placing was introduced in 2005. The school is also well known for its global outlook and international links, having established links with more than 130 institutions, in over 30 countries worldwide.

School’s Main Website | International/Exchange Student Website

For International Exchange Students

GPA Requirement:

While NHH does not clearly state a GPA requirement, acceptance is highly competitive. You should get in touch with your home university’s international office for application requirements.

Language of Instruction:

English

Courses:

Most of NHH’s courses are conducted using a lecture system, with one to two lectures per week. Many courses are very rigorous, and have assignments throughout the semester.

You can find a full list of courses available, arranged by the various study programs, here.

• A Norwegian language course is offered as a module in NHH

Course Registration Process:

You can register for your courses via the school’s portal. Your personal account details will be sent to you via email upon acceptance to the school

Fall semester: Course registration commences on approximately 20^th June. Any amendments must be made before 1^st September.

Spring semester: Course registration commences on approximately 20^th December. Any amendments must be made before 1^st February.

You can find out more information on course registration here.

Attendance Policy:

The attendance policy differs between courses. Most of the courses do not have a minimum attendance requirement that must be met. However, you should check the course requirements where the respective attendance policies will be stated.

For International Students (Master’s Program)

GPA/Application Requirements:

NHH accepts international students, with an international bachelor’s degree, for their 2-year Master of Science degree. Do take note of the various requirements for admission:

1. Bachelor’s degree: Your bachelor’s degree should be comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree. Your GPA should approximately correspond to a B on the ECTS grading scale. You can find out more information about the minimum requirements for your country on the NOKUT website (The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education).
2. GMAT/GRE: You need either a total score of 600 points on the GMAT or 152 points on the quantitative reasoning section of the GRE. Your test score should be from within the last five years. To find out more about exemptions from the GMAT/GRE requirement, you can refer to this website.
3. English Language requirement: A good command of the English language should be shown through the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE tests. Your test scores should be from within the last two years. To find out more about exemptions from the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE and score requirements, you can refer to this website.
4. CV/Résumé: Your CV should be submitted as part of your application, highlighting your previous academic background, extracurricular activities, as well as your work and other experiences.
5. Documentation of financial ability: If you are not a citizen of a country in EU/EEA-area or Switzerland, you will be required to submit documentation of your financial ability. You can find out more about how to do so here.
6. Documentation of identity: A copy of your passport/ID card and your secondary school diploma/transcript must be uploaded as part of your application.

You can find out more about the admission criteria here.

Language of Instruction:

English

Courses:

Under the MsC in Economics and Business Administration, NHH offers seven distinctive Master’s programs to international students, as follows:

• Economics
• Energy, Natural Resources and the Environment
• Finance
• International Business
• Marketing and Brand Management
• New Business Development
• Strategy and Management

You can visit the individual course websites, as linked, to find out more about the courses available.

Course Registration Process:

You can find out more information on the course registration procedure here.

Campus Map:

A comprehensive Campus Map can be found here.

Selected Facilities:

• Gym/Fitness Centre: While NHH does not have a gym of its own, you can easily get access to high quality training centers, swimming pool and gym facilities offered by SiB for approximately USD 140 per semester. The nearest Sports Center is located just next to NHH. The training centers offer spinning classes, aerobics, yoga, pilates, and various strength classes. There are wardrobes and lockers available for use at the training centers as well. You can find out more or register for day and semester passes here.
• Library: The NHH library offers access to databases, electronic journals, e-books and printed materials. The library can also assist you to become familiar with the proper use of sources and citations. You can also access photocopying, printing, and scanning services at the library as well.

Food on campus:

NHH has two main cafes within the campus where you can get your meals.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Consider packing food from home for lunch during long school days! It’s a great way to budget your money while studying overseas, and you may return home with new culinary prowess.

Campus transportation:

The NHH campus is not too big, making it relatively easy for you to get around. It takes approximately 10 minutes to get from one end of the campus to the other on foot.

NHH is a modern and lively school where social activities are frequently organized – including parties, community events and small get-togethers. If you prefer getting outdoors, NHH also offers hiking trips, boat trips, and a Sports Day. There is something for everyone, and hardly a dull moment during the semester!

Orientation Program:

NHH starts each semester off with a Welcome Week for all new students. During Welcome Week, students will be sorted into orientation groups, giving you a great opportunity to get to know your peers and seniors. Many activities are organized for students throughout Welcome Week, including social activities for you to get to know other students. You will also be informed of the various school trips that take place during the semester, including exciting outdoor activities such as skiing trips to Voss, a Halloween cruise, hiking trips to the widely renown Trolltunga and Kjerag rock as well as beautiful Fjord boat rides.

Flying Chalks’ tip: You are highly encouraged to attend the Welcome Week activities, to ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities or information!

Buddy Program:

During Welcome Week, the student orientation groups will be assigned group mentors. The mentors will help you get to know the school and your groupmates, and will be there to advise you if necessary throughout the semester.

Student Clubs:

NHH has many different student clubs, including sports clubs, financial and entrepreneurial groups, school newspapers, a TV channel, a photography group, a dance group, a cheerleading squad and several choirs.

For international students in particular, there is also an international students’ committee which focuses on organizing and executing events for fellow international students.

More information regarding the student groups will be disseminated through your student mentors during welcome week.

University Events:

• Cabin Trip: Every semester, NHH organizes a 2D1N cabin trip into the wilderness. An immersive experience away from civilization with no phone connection or even running water, the cabin trip is a great bonding opportunity. With a memorable campfire to boot, this trip is one of the most popular events of the semester.
   
• World Dinner: For international students missing home cooked food, or those who are keen to try new cuisines, or even those who just want to share their favorite recipes, this is the event to look forward to! During the World Dinner, international students set up booths to share local food from their home countries, prepared with a given budget. Here, you can visit the different booths to sample food from all over the world.
   
• Farewell Dinner: Nearing the examination period when the semester draws to a close, you can also look forward to a dinner organized for students as a form of farewell.

NHH is conveniently located just 10 minutes away from the city center, by bus. There are many shops, restaurants and bars in the city center that will cater to all your needs. The city of Bergen itself is beautiful and worth exploring – especially given that it inspired the Disney movie ‘Frozen’! There are many hikes of varying difficulties not too far from the school as well, which make for exciting full or half-day trips.

For Food:

Food in Norway can get pretty expensive. That being said, here are some popular places to try among students.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

1. HotWok: Vestre Torggaten 1, 5015 Bergen, Norway
2. Zupperia: Vaskerelven 12, 5014 Bergen, Norway
3. The Fish Market: Strandkaien, 5013 Bergen, Norway

For Nightlife & Entertainment:

Popular attractions in the city include the many museums, such as the Hanseatic Museum and Bergen Museum, as well as the Bergen Aquarium. For the more adventurous, horse riding excursions and boat trips are available in Bergen as well!

There are several pubs around the city center. In addition, NHH has clubs in the basement of the school, which are open on certain nights.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations: Calibar, Lille and Sjoboden some of the most popular bars for students in Bergen, and are located right in the city centre!

For Daily Necessities and Groceries

Conveniently located opposite NHH, there are two supermarkets where you can get your groceries and daily needs – REMA 1000 and SPAR. Of the two, REMA 1000 is the cheaper alternative, with its own house brand being the cheapest option.

In the city center itself, KIWI is another popular supermarket. You can also get appliances such as kettles, hair dryers and rice cookers from Klaus Olsen at a good value.

Do keep in mind that many places, including supermarkets, are closed on Sundays.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Try to keep an eye out for “first price” products. These are products subsidized by the government, while ensuring the quality of the goods.

For Shopping:

If you are keen on going shopping, there are several big malls in the city center. On the weekends, you can also score some cheaper deals at flea markets – look out for posters and advertisements!

Flying Chalks’ tip: Some stores offer tax rebates to foreigners – bring along your passport!

For Leisure:

If you love the outdoors, Bergen is a great place for you! 7 mountains surround Bergen, and hiking is a big part of the local culture. Hiking up Mount Floyen and Mt Ulriken are some of the most popular activities for students.

If you are keen to go a little further, you could also consider the following hike options:

• Trolltunga Hike

A 22km (13.67 miles) return hike, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful hikes in Norway. The cheapest way to get there is to rent a car from Bergen and take a 2.5-hour drive to Odda – the start point of the hike. It is recommended that you stay the night before starting the hike. The hike takes about 8-12 hours to complete, and can get cold at the top. As such, do prepare adequately by maintaining a good level of fitness, and bringing along proper hiking shoes, rain jacket and warm clothing. The hike is closed in winter.

• Kjerag Hike

Another popular hike in Norway is the Kjerag rock, an approximately 6-hour return hike. The start point of the hike is a 2-hour drive from Stavanger – the 4^th biggest city in Norway. From Bergen, Stavanger is a 5-hour drive. You could rent a car, or take the direct bus service between Bergen and Stavanger, and between Stavanger and the start point of Kjerag.

Getting from the Bergen airport, Flesland to NHH

1. Flybussen: The Flybussen is a direct bus service to and from the airport, and will stop directly at the student hostel. You can take lines FB1, FB3 and FB11. The buses are very punctual, and the schedule can be accessed here. Tickets can be bought on the bus itself, and cash and credit card payments are accepted. Do remember to let the bus driver know you are a student for discounted prices.
2. Bybanen (Bergen Light Rail): From the airport, you can take a shuttle bus to Biskelandsskiftet. You can then transfer to the Bybanen to the city center, from which a straight bus will be available to the student hostel.
3. Taxi: You could also take a taxi directly from the airport to NHH, and it would cost you around USD 90-120.