NORWAY
Telemark University College (TUC) – Høgskolen i Telemark (HiT)
| HiT
home page Program Dates: Fall: mid-August to late December |
Minot State University’s relationship with Telemark University College (TUC) is special, as Telemark campuses are located in the same region as Minot’s Norwegian sister city, Skien. Telemark is one out of 19 "counties" in Norway, situated in the center of the Southern part of the country, with a population of approximately 166,000. Telemark is breathtakingly beautiful, covered by mountains, hills and inland water.
Telemark University College is similar to Minot State in many ways: small campus; small student groups; friendly and helpful faculty and staff; and modern campus facilities.
PROGRAM FEATURES
» Location: Telemark University College consists of four campuses, all located in Telemark, Norway. Telemark County is in the Southeastern part of Norway, only a few hours outside of Oslo, Norway’s capital.
» Language: A selection of classes is offered in English. Norwegian is the official language of the country, but English is prominent as most Norwegians speak it fluently.
» Program Type: Direct Partnership Program. Tuition will be paid directly to Telemark University College, and a single course fee of $50 will be paid to MSU. As international students at HiT, students from MSU will pay no tuition fees, but need to cover their own subsistence, housing, meals, study materials and other personal expenditures.
» Areas of Study: HiT offers a number of programs open to international students, all taught in English. MSU students can choose courses in one of the following departments:
- Scandinavian Studies
- Sport and Outdoor Life
- Alpine Ecology /Environmental Management
- Physical Education
- Norwegian Folk Music
A tentative list of programs and courses for spring 2014 is provided here.
» Housing: Student housing units are located within walking distance from the main campuses. Each student enjoys a private, furnished room. All rooms have internet access. Fully equipped kitchens and dining rooms are shared between 2-6 students. There is a TV room and a laundry room in each building. Please note that there is limited telephone access from the halls of residence. Most students bring along or purchase their own mobile phones. The Students Association (SiTel) operates the accommodation service, and further information on accommodation available on each campus can be found on their website.
On-campus student cafeterias serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most often, students cook their own food in their residence.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
HOW TO APPLY
» Application Deadline: Fall Semester – February 15th
Spring Semester – September 15th
» Application Procedure:
Step 1: Submit a completed MSU Study Abroad
Application to the MSU Office of International Programs by Sept.
15th
Step 2: Receive letter of acceptance to study abroad through
MSU from the MSU Office of International Programs
Step 3:
By the appropriate deadline, complete the Telemark University College student application and sumbit it to the Office of International Programs.
» Eligibility: Undergraduates, with sophomore status and at least a 2.5
GPA (cumulative)
» Contact Information:
Libby Claerbout, Director of International
Programs
libby.claerbout@minotstateu.edu
INFORMATION FOR ADMITTED STUDENTS
* Although we make every attempt to keep this information up to date, please defer to information provided to you directly from the host institution as the best resource. If there are discrepancies between the protocols listed here ( (for applying for housing, getting registered for courses, etc.) and that told to you by your host institution, default to the host institution. However, health insurance requirements, course equivalencies, credit transfer and grading are determined solely by MSU.
» Apply for student housing: Review your housing options. Then, complete the online application form by the appropriate deadline.
» Check out HiT – Bø campus’s Pre-Arrival Guide and HiT’s website for important information that will help you prepare for your program!
» Visa:
Terminology note: the words 'visa,' 'residence permit' and 'study permit' are used interchangeably to describe the
document that authorizes a person to enter or leave the country for which it was issued.
Information about your Norwegian Residence Permit: All North American exchange students going to HiT must apply for a residence permit to study in Norway. Please follow the instructions given by the closest Norwegian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Norwegian Embassy in the USA (for American citizens). Norwegian Embassy in Canada (for Canadian citizens).
After your final admission, you will receive an acceptance letter from Telemark University College
which will provide pertinent information needed for your residence permit application. You will then need to complete the application for your residence permit online. The current fee for a residence permit is 2,500 NOK (Norwegian kroner, about $450 USD). Here is some general information about the process can be found here. 
»
Planning your travel: Wait to make your travel
arrangements until you have received guidelines from HiT regarding official
arrival dates and times, as well as dates of your final exams at the end of your
program. After booking all travel arrangements (flights, trains, etc.) is is
imperative to schedule your arrival with your coordinator at HiT.
» Global Health Insurance: Insurance coverage necessary for your study abroad
program differs from what most domestic insurance policies offer. To address
these special needs, the Office of International Programs has identified an
affordable and comprehensive international health and travel policy through HTH Worldwide Insurance
Services that all MSU study abroad students participating in a partner
program must purchase. Instructions on how to register and make payment will be
provided during your pre-departure orientation meeting.
» Academic System: Courses that you enroll in at HiT will be determined by the program you have chosen. Within some programs, there will be mandatory courses and a few optional courses to choose from. Each course in your program is typically completed with a comprehensive final exam. This may seem different for students when compared to many courses at MSU that have a greater emphasis on homework and tests throughout the semester.
Credit for courses taken at Telemark University College is recorded in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). According to MSU policy, 2 ECTS credits are equivalent to 1 credit earned at MSU. A typical semester enrollment would be 30 ECTS credits to be considered fulltime. Each student is responsible to maintain full enrollment, taking a minimum of the equivalence of 12 MSU credit hours (24 ECTS).
» Grading: Scores received at Telemark University College will be evaluated according to World Education Services (WES) grading standards published on the WES website. Conversions can be accessed by selecting ECTS from the drop-down box.
 TUC study hall |
 TUC classroom |
 TUC library |
 Skien manhole cover |
 Skein Cathedral, Norway |
 TUC library |