Living in Oslo means a high quality of life

A friendly and informal atmosphere

I had read a lot about Scandinavians, and how they can be quiet and hard to get to know. But it was nothing like that. – Ramtin Aryan, PhD candidate originally from Iran

The 34-year-old Iranian came to Oslo in 2016 to pursue a PhD in network administration.

He settled in quickly with plenty of help from his supervisor and other colleagues who later also taught him how to ski.

“I had read a lot about Scandinavians, and how they can be quiet and hard to get to know. But it was nothing like that,” Ramtin recalls. “On the contrary, I was introduced to my colleagues right away—and they are very friendly.”

He adds that he is impressed by how well everything is planned and organised into a schedule. “The department is well managed and yet very relaxed, which is really nice.”

The city is full of green lungs and well-kept parks. Photo: Benjamin A. Ward / OsloMet

After arriving at OsloMet, Ramtin started attending Norwegian language courses. This was a smart move, Ramtin believes, and definitely something he would recommend to others.

“Absolutely! You learn the Norwegian language, but you also get to know staff from other departments. These classes also give you an introduction to Norwegian culture and are in many ways important for your social life during your stay,” Ramtin points out.

A world leader on workers’ rights

When we ask US native Kristine Heiney (32) how she likes living in Oslo, she echoes much of what Ramtin had to say.

“I had visited several times before I moved to Oslo in October 2018, so I knew what it was like. Living here offers a great quality of life. When it comes to workers’ rights, it’s probably the best place in the world to get a PhD”, she says.

Kristine is working on a PhD in Computer Science as part of the Living Technology Lab, which is part of the Applied Artificial Intelligence group at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design.

The US native took a long break between her bachelor’s in engineering physics at Cornell University and her master’s in biomedical engineering, which she completed in Portugal in 2018.

Living here offers a great quality of life. When it comes to workers’ rights, it’s probably the best place in the world to get a PhD. – Kristine Heiney, PhD candidate from the United States

“I realised I wanted to continue in academia,” Kristine tells us. “The academic environment at OsloMet, along with the collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim was right for me.”

Having spent much of her childhood just outside the world metropolis New York, herself, she finds that Oslo, a city of around 700,000 inhabitants, suits her.

“I really like Oslo; it’s not too big and not too small. I live close to OsloMet and therefore quite close to downtown, so it’s easy to shop and experience the city. At the same time, I have easy access to nature,” the 32-year-old notes.

A young and ambitious university

When asked if they would recommend OsloMet and Oslo to others, neither the Iranian, the American, nor the Ukrainian hesitates for even a second.

“Certainly, but I don’t think it’s necessary for me to recommend working here,” says Sergiy. “All my colleagues, when considering the possibility of a tenured position, would put Norway at the top of their lists. OsloMet is a very young and ambitious university, and it is a great place for a researcher to advance his or her career.”

Kristine is equally emphatic when recommending pursuing a PhD at OsloMet.

“There are a lot of opportunities to do research. You may also get to teach classes and participate in new collaborative projects. It’s a really wonderful environment. My impression is that the professors also enjoy working here. I know I love it,” she says.

 Ramtin agrees with both Kristine and Sergiy.

“There are so many opportunities at this university for those who are motivated to do something new,” he reflects.