ORIENTATION Spring 2015 Terje Thorsdalen Anne Martins Bjrke

ORIENTATION Spring 2015 Terje Thorsdalen Anne Martins Bjærke International Coordinators International Education Office

WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF AGDER! Some facts about the university • University status since 2007 • Campuses in Kristiansand Grimstad • 6 faculties • About 11 000 students, nearly 3000 of them in Grimstad • About 1 000 employees 2

How to get the most out of your stay Get to know the Norwegian students! • Check out Bluebox • Join a sports team or a student organisation • Be open to new friendships and be open to your Norwegian neighbours • Be brave about sharing your culture • Share your experience – write a blog! • Join the ESN’s social activities! 3

How to interact with Norwegians • Never lump Norwegians together with Swedes or Danes • Norwegians insist on punctuality; 7: 00 p. m. means 7: 00 p. m • Sincerity is very important; never invite someone to dinner or suggest "getting together" without following with a sincere invitation • Do not drink and drive! Norway has very strict laws for intoxicated drivers, and one beer can put you over the limit • Humility tends to be highly valued; talking about one’s accomplishments and achievements tends to be looked down upon • The study environment at Ui. A is very informal; however, informal does not mean unprofessional!

Saving money • Don’t spend it on water! Tap water is perfectly healthy. • Use Asian groceries and REMA 1000 supermarket • Make your own ”matpakke” • Share cooking with friends – invite Norwegians too • Share cleaning items with friends

Recycling • Deposits on bottles Sort your garbage: • Food • Plastics • Cans and glass • Paper and cardboard

Now pay attention!

Registration in Norway Exchange students: • Register with the police within 7 days of your arrival (Arendal Police Station) – take with your letter of admission, insurance certificate and passport and your own declaration that you have sufficient funds for your stay in Norway. • Before you go to the police: Register online at: https: //selfservice. udi. no/ Please make sure you get a confirmation of your registration.

Insurance and European Health Card Insurance You must have travel insurance and property insurance – this is your responsibility! European Health Insurance Card You should have brought this card from your home country. As this card only provides basic medical services in Norway, you should also have bought a private health insurance.

Student ID card 1. Create a student ID card by using the self-operated photo booth by the Service Centre 2. Pick up the card at the Service Centre after two days The card will give you access to the university buildings outside of regular opening hours. You can use the student ID card together with your semester card to get student discounts in various places. 10

Semester registration on Student. Web 1. Check online for timetables/schedules 2. Log on to the Student. Web from www. uia. no/en/studentweb using your Ui. A username and password 3. Change the “tekst” to English 4. Then follow all the steps…

• • Check that all the courses you wish to take are listed Check for timetable clashes! If you wish to add courses, you must contact the faculty If you wish to delete a course, you must do this after having confirmed your education plan

• Here you cancel your class and exam registration, if needed • The deadline for cancellation is two weeks before each exam • Please note: The course will not disappear from your education plan, but it will not show on your Transcript of Records

• Choose whether or not your name and e-mail address should be available on the Ui. A website

• We need you to give us the contact details of your next of kin, to be used in case of emergency

• We will send your Transcript of Records to your home address within five weeks of your last exam • If you for any reason should need the transcript earlier, you can order it here

The rest of your stay • Check your Ui. A e-mail and Fronter regularly for messages from us • Communicate with us and your fellow students on Facebook • Erasmus Student Network (Facebook and e-mail) • Make sure you prioritise your CLASSES even though social events clash with them! 20

Questions? • Housing? Ask Si. A • Academic? Ask your academic adviser • Registration/examinations? Ask at the Service Centre • Events, clubs, etc. ? Ask ESN • Anything else? Please do not hesitate to ask. We will try our best to help! • Drop in A 2 075 or A 2 076 or contact Terje Thorsdalen: terje. thorsdalen@uia. no - 37 23 32 32 or Anne Martins Bjærke: anne. m. bjarke@uia. no – 37 23 32 65 21

GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY! 22