Checklist for international master students

This information applies for students attending a full Master’s degree programme at HVL, not Exchange students.

Important information regarding COVID-19 and your admission to HVL

Updated information regarding the situation can be found at the following pages:

Information from Norwegian Institute of Public Health. 

Information from HVL.

 

1. Register as a Student

All students attending HVL must register digitally in Studentweb, which is usually open for registration from august. You will receive a PIN code that enables you log in. Please check that the contact information registered in Studentweb is correct.

Also, Studentweb is where you sign up for classes and exams and find payment information.

When you have registrered and paid the semester fee, you may download your digital student ID.

Note that you need to registrer as an HVL student each semester: Semester registration

Who: All students
Where: Studentweb
When: Deadline 1st of September / 1st of February
What you need: Your personal HVL registration numbers

2. Semester Fee

In order to register as a Student you need to pay your student union membership fee of NOK 780. You go to 'More' and 'Payments' on StudentWeb. An invoice is automatically generated when you register in Studentweb. Your registration only becomes valid once this invoice is payed.

If you pay from a foreign account, you must use the following information:

  • Bank: Den norske Bank ASA
  • Bank account no: 7694 05 17644
  • IBAN: NO62 7694 05 17644
  • Swift/BIC: DNBANOKK

Once you have registered you will be granted access to Canvas; a digital communication platform used for essential communication between HVL and you. On Canvas, you will receive specific information about each course you will be attending. It is also the main information platform between you and the lecturers.

Who: All students, except exchange students
Where: Any Norwegian bank or online bank
When: Deadline 1 September / 1st of February
What you need: The KID number from the invoice generated in Studentweb when you register

3. Study permit and Visa

As an international student moving to Norway you may have to apply for a visa or a study permit, or both. 

Please beware that if you are nationals from outside EU/EEA/EFTA and staying more than 90 days you will be asked to document that you have funds enough to cover subsistence at NOK 128 887 for one year of studies. If you are sto study for half a year you must document NOK 58 585.  Generally, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration requires the money to be deposited in a Norwegian bank account.

You must take note about possible extra expenses related to the visa application process, such as expenses to apply, fligh tickets and other expenses that can come in relation to the applications for visas. 

For students in Master in Maritime Operations: 
In order to study in Germany (in the second semester) you will need a German Student Visa. We recommend you to start the process of applying for this visa as soon as possible after you have started your studies in Haugesund. The application process may take several months and please be aware that the demands may vary from country to country.

- For students that live in Haugesund applications must be lodged via the German embassy in Oslo, Norway.

- If you do not live in Haugesund, the application must be lodged via the German embassy in your home country.

The embassies will have the full information of what is required. They will also be able to inform you of the amount of money you will need to keep in a blocked account in Germany and which banks to use.

4. Health insurance

You need to have a valid travel and medical insurance for your entire stay at HVL. These insurances must be obtained before you arrive in Norway. It is your own responsibility to make insurance arrangements for any accident, illness, injury, loss or damage to persons or property resulting from, or in any way connected with, your study period in Norway.

Information for students for Maritime Operations:

All students are to be enrolled at both partner institutions during the study period.

Therefore the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer needs a proof of health insurance that is valid in Germany as from 1st September until the end of your studies. Please keep in mind that this may lead to further expenses.

Please make an effort to provide such a proof before you travel to Norway

For example the Techniker Krankenkasse offers a valid health insurance for Europe and the Nordic countries, i.e. also Norway for students, and this can be used in the semester in Norway too. 

Those of you who already hold a valid European health insurance are asked to hand in proof of this to a German health insurer, for example the Techniker Krankenkasse. You will then receive an electronic proof of valid health insurance, and no further steps are necessary.

Any questions regarding health insurance can be answered by Mr. Nils Hagedorn and Mr. Matthias Kurzawski of Techniker Krankenkasse who are informed about the about the speciality of this joint master course Nils.Hagedorn@tk.de, Matthias.Kurzawski@tk.de

5. Register with the police

International students arriving from a country outside the EU/EEA have to register at the local police station upon arrival to get a residence card. Exemption: Citizens from Nordic countries and students staying less than 3 months.

The police will send a residence card by post to your Norwegian address.

6. Norwegian ID Number

If you are going to stay in Norway for more than six months, you should register with the National Registry so that you can be awarded an 11-digit identity number (your date of birth plus a 5 digit personal number).

The ID number is required for opening a bank account, obtaining a student card among other things.

Students from EU/EEA/EFTA countries

EU/EEA/EFTA students staying in Norway for more than six months must apply for a Norwegian ID number after obtaining the registration certificate from the local police authorities.

For more information please check the Tax Adminitration website Report a move to Norway from abroad.

Students from non-EU/EEA countries

If you are a student from a country outside of the EU/EEA area, you will register for the National Registry at the same time as you meet with the police to order a residence permit card.

The police will notify the Norwegian Tax Administration that you’re moving to Norway and need a Norwegian identification number (national identity number or D number).This means you do not have to go to the tax office to obtain a Norwegian identification number.

Note: You must notify the police if you have changed your address, so that the correct residence address is registered in the National Registry.

Please check the UDI website How to get a national identity number.

7. Money and banking

In order to open a bank account in Norway you will need a Norwegian identity number. You can choose between local or regional banks, or banks with branches all over Norway. Some banks are also pure online banks, with no physical branches. Norwegian banks have advanced solutions for online banking so you can administrate your accounts, pay bills and transfer money online.

See how to get access to banking services in Norway.

8. Accommodation

HVL offers housing arrangements in cooperation with Sammen, the student union (welfare organization).

If you are to apply for a visa/study permit you need proof of accommodation for your application to The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Students that are to move to Norway and apply for a study permit should therefore apply for accommodation as this will help you in the process of getting a visa/study permit.

HVL offers housing arrangements in cooperation with Sammen, the student union (welfare organization). Please find more information on housing here:

Housing in Haugesund | Housing in Sogndal 

To apply for student housing you first have to log in or create a new account. You create a new account by clicking the Login Mypage button on the top right of the page. Then you follow the instructions. Remember to the select the option Date of birth if you do not have a Norwegian social security number.

It is important that you apply for accommodation before the deadline. Applications submitted after the deadline will not normally be processed.

9. Refund of funds

The deposited money will be transferred back to the student if the student is unable to secure a study permit/visa, or once the student has settled in Norway and has opened a Norwegian bank account.  

It may take some time before you get access to your money after arrival in Norway. We therefore highly recommend that you bring along enough cash (NOK) for at least two weeks and preferably also a credit card/ATM card valid in Norway (check with your bank). 

You must contact the student welfare organization Sammen for a refund of the funds you have transferred for visa/study permit purposes.

Cash Card

To access your money in the deposit account while waiting for your Norwegian Identity Number to open your own Norwegian bank account, you may receive a kronekort (cash card) with a balance of NOK 9 500 NOK from your deposit money that you can use while you are in the process of opening your Norwegian bank account. This card can be refilled with use of deposit money. Bring ID as this is required to collect the card.

Students in Haugesund can get a cash card: at the Student Welfare Organization Sammen in Haugesund, the address is Bjørnsonsgate 45.

Students in Sogndal can get a cash card: at the Student Welfare Organization Sammen in Sogndal, Stadionbygget, Trolladalen 30.

Sammen will transfer the remaining funds to you as soon as you notify them of your Norwegian bank account number.