Sami Lejune, Kyle Ray, and Claire Howard are spending their fall semester as exchange students at OsloMet.
They are pursuing different degrees at their home university in Ruston, a small town in Louisiana, USA.
Sami is a master’s student in industrial and organizational psychology, Kyle is a master’s student in English, and Claire is pursuing a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, with a minor in technical writing.
A different academic system
At OsloMet, they are taking courses as part of the Master’s Programme in Applied Computer and Information Technology (ACIT), under an exchange agreement between the two universities.
“It’s been interesting to experience a different academic system,” says Sami.
“In the U.S., attendance at lectures is usually mandatory, and grades are based on multiple assignments throughout the semester. Here, there are fewer assignments, and the final grade often depends on just one exam.”
Kyle Ray adds:
“It’s a different structure, but it gives us more time to really dive into the courses. Having less stress from a lot of small assignments makes it easier to engage with the content.”
A big city contrast and public transport
For the students who are used to life in the small town of Ruston, Oslo has been a big contrast. With an excellent public transportation system and an international atmosphere, they have settled in well.
“At home, we rely on cars for everything, so it’s been amazing to use the metro and buses here,” says Claire Howard.
“We live at Kringsjå Student Village and downtown, and it’s so easy to get around.”
The students have also appreciated Oslo as a city. Kyle highlights how clean and accessible everything is:
“Public transport is super easy to use, and the city is very well-organized. It’s made exploring simple.”
Experiencing Norwegian culture
Experiencing Norwegian culture has been an important part of their stay. The students have visited museums like the Norwegian Folk Museum, the National Museum, and the Historical Museum.
They’ve also explored Grünerløkka for shopping in second hand stores and tasted cinnamon buns from various bakeries.
“Cinnamon buns are everywhere here! We’ve made a little competition out of finding the best one,” Sami laughs.
They’ve also participated in unique activities, such as a camping trip organized by a professor, where they stayed in a cabin and went mushroom picking.
“It was an amazing experience – something we would never do at home,” says Claire.
Challenges and surprises
Some aspects of their stay have been challenging, such as finding their way around campus.
“The buildings are very different, and sometimes we have classes in different rooms each week. It’s been confusing,” admits Kyle.
However, there hasn’t been any language barrier.
“People often start speaking Norwegian to us, but they quickly switch to English when they realize we don’t understand. Everyone has been very friendly,” Claire shares.
Recommending the exchange experience
All three students agree that they would recommend studying abroad at OsloMet to others.
“The university is very well set up for international students,” says Sami.
“We haven’t had any issues with housing, visas, or other practical matters.”
Kyle adds that OsloMet and the city, in general, have been very inclusive:
“It’s been easy to connect with other international students, and we’ve felt welcome everywhere.”
Exploring Norway
With two months left of their stay, the students plan to travel more. Sami, for example, is planning a trip to Tromsø to see the northern lights.
“We’re excited to explore more of the country and learn even more about Norwegian culture,” concludes Claire.
For these students, the exchange semester has been a unique opportunity to experience a new country, a new academic system, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
The picture at the top of the article shows Claire (from the left), Kyle and Sami at Campus Pilestredet in Oslo.
