Where to live in Oslo: your guide to the best student housing

Drone photo of Oslo's vast forests with a lake in the middle.

Oslo—outside the city centre

On the outskirts of the city and north of Pilestredet Campus, we have three student accommodations on our list. They all lie in areas with a good mix of apartment buildings and single-family homes, and nature is just around the corner.

Students cooking in a shared kitchen in one of the student villages.

Kringsjå, a town of students

Kringsjå Student Village is currently the largest student village, and neighbour to Nordmarka forest and Sognsvann lake.

Kringsjå is perfect for those of you who want to go hiking, swimming, running or even skiing, starting right outside your door.

Also, you may experience that apart from classes, you may not have many reasons to leave the area. The easy access to nature is Kringsjå’s signature feature.

Jogger on a forest path next to Sognsvann lake.

Pros:

15 minutes from the city centre by metro
A supermarket, a gym and a cafe next-door
A big and active community that is largely international

Con: No night bus during weekdays. The metro, however, runs between 5 am and 1 am.

Diego, a business student from Brazil, says that his favourite thing about Kringsjå is the proximity to nature.

Since he loves to run around the lake, he appreciates how easy it is the get there—just a five-minute walk or run.

"International students should choose Kringsjå because we have the metro, supermarkets, nature and even a gym all in the same place. I also have my private bathroom and share a well-furnished kitchen, so I do not need to buy anything. Flatmates are also a good way to meet more people."

A wooden cabin with grass roof in the forest reflecting in a small lake.

Sogn, the serene student village

Sogn Student Village is the second largest in Oslo, as well as the oldest.

It is located a 20-minute walk downhill from Kringsjå, Nordmarka forest and Sognsvann lake. Because of how close it is to Kringsjå, the two student communities tend to mix.

Sogn is also close to Ullevål stadium with a variety of shops, restaurants and other services. It is also worth mentioning that a ten-minute walk can take you to Athletica Domus, the largest student gym in the city.

However, for many students, Sogn’s most important characteristic is its overall peacefulness. It really is the perfect place for students who value harmony with a touch of greenery.

Five students having dinner, laughing and having fun together.

Pros:

Big active community of both international and local students
15 minutes from the city centre by metro and three bus stops away from Sognsvann
Calm and serene location surrounded by gardens

Cons:

Because there is only one bus line that connects Sogn with the city centre, you might experience crowded busses during rush hour. Luckily, the nearest subway station is only a 7-8-minute walk away.
Some buildings might not be very modern

Hands holding a cup of hot chocolate with cream.

Patricia, an engineering student from Mexico, says that her favourite thing about Sogn is having many friends living nearby due to Sogn’s size. She also loves how much green space there is between buildings and how close the supermarket is.

"International students should choose Sogn because there are so many nice places to relax. It’s really quiet here. There is hardly any noise from the road, and you can’t hear the metro. You can also get anywhere really easily with multiple kinds of transportation, so location isn’t an issue."

To men in a sports hall doing a high five.

Vestgrensa, where the gym is your next-door neighbour

Vestgrensa Student Village is a modern, quiet student village that is well connected to the rest of the city by tram and metro. Vestgrensa is a ten-minute walk from Ullevål stadium and its shops, cafés, pharmacy etc.

The best part is that Vestgrensa is built right next to the student gym, Athletica Domus, which offers a multitude of classes, football fields, sport halls, and even a swimming pool.

Pros:

Good location between city and nature
St. Hanshaugen, Sagene, Blindern and Majorstuen are within walking/cycling distance
Well connected with a variety of public transport nearby

Con: Long-term construction projects are being carried out nearby.

Maud, a product development student from Belgium, says that her favourite thing about Vestgrensa is that it’s located in a quiet neighbourhood with Athletica Domus right next door.

"International students should choose Vestgrensa because it’s a little cheaper than the student accommodation in the heart of the city. And with public transport you can quickly and easily go downtown whenever you want to."

Colourful old apartment buildings with a lawn and sitting area outside.

Ullevål, the midpoint

Ullevål Student Village is conveniently located between downtown and the forests, lakes and mountains that surround the city.

OsloMet’s Pilestredet Campus is just a 20-minute walk away, and the St. Hanshaugen, Majorstuen and Sagene neighbourhoods are within walking and cycling distance.

Another great characteristic is the peaceful location behind Ullevål Hospital.

Pro: Close to two student gyms, Athletica Blindern and Athletica Domus

Con: Shared bathroom with one person.

Jogger on a path next to Akerselva river.

Ann-Kathrine, a journalist student form Germany, says that her favourite thing about Ullevål is the location. She explains that it’s only a five-minute walk to the bus and tram stop, and from there "you are ready to get to the most important spots in Oslo—in the blink of an eye."

"International students should choose Ullevål because there is small grocery shop just around the corner. It’s open seven days a week and has all the essentials at good prices. You can even grab a quick breakfast on your way to the tram when you are running late for class! It’s also great if you want to grab a snack on your way to the next hike, beach day, or picnic."

Silhouette of two people on a bench looking at fjord on a sunny day.

Bjølsen, near the Akerselva river

Bjølsen Student Village is a modern complex of buildings in the northern part of the city centre.

Bjølsen is close to Sagene and Torshov which are neighbourhoods filled with a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

You will also be right next to the Akerselva river that runs through the city from north to south, spilling out into the Oslo Fjord.

Bjølsen is a good fit for students who want to have everything nearby and explore the more urban parts of Oslo.

Woman picking out a book from a shelf in a book shop.

Pros:

Big student community of both international and local students
Great location near the city centre with buses that run 24/7 and the recreational area along the river
All single housing units have a private bathroom

Con: While there are plenty of things to do in the immediate neighbourhood, downtown is about four kilometres away.

Santiago, an engineering student from Colombia, says that his favourite thing about Bjølsen is how easy is to go out and to get back get home from anywhere at any time.

"International students should choose Bjølsen because we have buses passing by often and one that runs 24/7, so it’s easy to come and go no matter what time or day it is. That same bus also gets you quickly to and from campus."

People at a restaurant sitting outside in the sun. Akershus fortress and the fjord in the background.

Oslo city centre

The options in the city centre offer a more urban living experience.

St. Hanshaugen, Oslo’s greenest district

St. Hanshaugen Student Village is in the middle of the popular St. Hanshaugen.

This district has two of the biggest parks in Oslo which are perfect for picnics and walks. The St. Hanshaugen park hosts OsloMet’s welcome ceremony for new students every August.

St. Hanshaugen also holds the title of Oslo’s greenest district, which is ideal for students wanting to experience living in the city named the European Green Capital in 2019.

Pros:

Short walking distance from Pilestredet Campus and downtown
Central location within the St. Hanshaugen district
Surrounded by Oslo’s city life and activities

Con: Shared bathroom with one person.

Ryan, an engineering student from the US, says that his favourite thing about St. Hanshaugen is its perfect location for getting to and from Pilestredet Campus. He also comments that with a bike or public transportation, you can get downtown in less than ten minutes.

"International students should choose St. Hanshaugen because the housing allows for a simplistic living style by providing a clean room and a small shared kitchen and bathroom space with only one roommate."

Man buying coffee and something to eat at the cafe counter.

Stensberggata, a very central and practical location

Stensberggata Student House is in the middle of the St. Hanshaugen district.

This is the student house on our list closest to Pilestredet Campus. Only a five-minute walk away, you will find yourself at the edge of campus.

Fifteen minutes away is Oslo’s main street, Karl Johans gate. It’s this proximity to the university that makes this student house unique and perfect for students who want to live as close to campus as possible.

Part of Stensberggata Student House and a few surrounding brick buildings and a small street with parked cars.

Pros:

One of the most central student houses and a short distance from Pilestredet Campus
24/7 available public transport nearby

Cons:

Residents must share bathroom with 4-8 people
Relatively expensive monthly rent

Old stone buildings in a pinkish colour.

Olivier, an engineering student from France, says that his favourite thing about Stensberggata is its proximity to the downtown area and how it’s so easy to get to it from anywhere.

"I think people who love going out should choose Stensberggata. On weekday evenings, a lot of international students have to leave parties quite early because of public transport. Since you are close to every bar from here, you can go back whenever you want!"

Two kayakers on the Oslo Fjord with Oslo's urban downtown in the background.

Kansleren, the hipster house

Kansleren Student House is in the hipster district of Tøyen, the very heart of Oslo's up-and-coming east side.

Just outside the door, you’ll find a beautiful botanical garden—Oslo’s green lung. Nearby Grønland provides plenty of family-run fruit and vegetable markets which offer lower prices than supermarkets.

Living in Kansleren, you are also just a short walk from the hipster district of Grünerløkka and the hyper-modern area called Bjørvika. Living here will you give you the chance to discover Oslo’s young, urban side.

Woman at an indoors miniature golf field.

Pros:

Central and well-connected location in a hip neighbourhood
All rooms are furnished and have a private bathroom
Close to Grønland’s markets, making it easier to save money

Cons:

Old building with limited washing machines
Although located downtown, it is not as near to Pilestredet campus as other choices

Vegetables in boxes outside a local grocery store.

Arnau, an engineering student from Spain, says his favourite thing about Kansleren is how perfect the location is within Oslo—downtown is only a short walk away and the area is well connected because of the nearby metro station.

"I would 100 percent recommend Kansleren, not only because it is perfectly situated, but also because it has some of the best prices among SiO’s student houses. Being close to Grønland is an advantage because you can save more money on groceries. Kansleren also has some of the biggest shared kitchens you’ll find and a pretty big bedroom as well."