“When you first get to know them, you have friends for life”
Name: Christina Hellena Kamange and Bora Gulersen Sezgin
Country: Malawi and Turkey
Institution: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NMBU
Education: "Applied Economics and Sustainability" and "International Environment and Development Studies"
Almost everyone can speak English
Students Bora from Turkey and Christina from Malawi appreciate the friendliness of Norwegians and find it convenient that many speak English well.
“Norwegians are great people to be friends with”, claims Bora. “They may be a bit reserved at first, but if you establish a bond, it is never lost”. He advises students to get involved in student associations, as it is a good way to get involved in social life.
Christina – Tina among friends – served as a social welfare officer for the international student's union on her campus. “We organized various activities for promoting diversity and worked to create memorable experiences for all students.”
Christina found settling in to be smooth, thanks to strong student support and a welcoming international community. “I also love the fact that almost everyone can speak English so it's very easy to get help.”
Bora describes the relationship between professors and students to be relaxed and informal, and everybody is always encouraged to speak their minds in class. “This is very important for the learning process”, he says.
Real life sustainability
Bora and Christina attend different study programs, but both programs share a common focus on sustainability. “I am amazed by Norway’s sustainability efforts”, Christina remarks.
“My study program offers unique perspectives on how to ensure sustainable development and a stable future for our planet”, says Bora.
“There is also a strong focus on real-world applications”, adds Christina. “A hands-on learning approach was one of the reasons for why I chose studies in Norway”.
Many master’s programs at their university include opportunities for internships at Norwegian businesses or organizations, providing valuable practical experience. Christina benefited greatly from this aspect of her studies.
Explore the opportunities
Bora and Christina encourage you to explore educational opportunities in Norway. They emphasize that while Norwegians might initially seem a bit withdrawn, they are warm and helpful once approached.
Read more about the studentlife at NMBU