– It’s one of the most fun things I’ve ever done in my life. Student Hanna Tobine Ivarsen talks about exchange. She has traveled to France twice during her studies. First during the bachelor’s. Then during the master. – You get a lot of new experiences, and you make friends for the rest of your life, says the 24-year-old. Never been more on exchange. More Norwegian students do like Ivarsen and take a semester or a year abroad. This is shown by recent figures from Lånekassen. This academic year, there are 8,500 Norwegian exchange students. This means that they take a semester or a year outside Norway’s borders. In the academic year 2022/2023, a record number of 8,600 went on exchange. Could you have studied abroad? Yes!🤩🌍 Yes, but only exchange☀️😎 No, I like safe Norway best😇🙌 Show result Never before have so many Norwegians taken such trips during their studies as in the last two years. The beauty of exchange, says student Ivarsen, is that the whole thing almost feels like a holiday. – You come up with lots of fun. Preferably much more than you would perhaps do if you were at home, she says. Director of Lånekassen, Kjetil Moen, says studying abroad provides valuable experience. – It provides opportunities to get to know new cultures, establish relationships across national borders, and professional and personal development, he says. Director of Lånekassen, Kjetil Moen. Photo: Lånekassen Fewer start a full degree abroad Even though more people are now going on exchange, the number of students taking their full degree abroad is falling. A total of 13,500 students this year will receive support for degree education abroad. This is 300 fewer than last year, and the lowest number of Norwegian students abroad since 2009-2010, except during the corona years. At most, 17,500 studied for a full degree abroad. It was in the 2015-2016 school year. The degree students are worried about the economy – The feedback we get from degree students abroad now is that they feel very well that the economy is under particular pressure with the weak krone exchange rate for a long time. That’s what ANSA president Anna Handal Hellesnes says. She believes that the economy is an important reason why fewer students choose to take an entire degree abroad. – Students become more and more concerned throughout the course of their studies about how high a debt burden they will have after completing their education. President of ANSA, Anna Handal Hellesnes. She is very happy that more people are traveling on exchange. – Although the economy is challenging for many, the international students are generally very satisfied with their studies and their study abroad, she says. Photo: ANSA She also believes that an unstable geopolitical situation contributes to raising the threshold. – It can take a long time to bond when there are uncertain times in the world. But when the world is unstable, it is even more important that Norwegian students travel abroad, build networks and gain new perspectives, she says. Hellesnes believes that student support must be increased so that more people will choose to study abroad. Oddmund Hoel: – The policy is fixed But research and higher education minister Oddmund Hoel (Sp) says the current policy with support for students abroad is fixed. – Norway stands out positively compared to many other countries. Norwegian students who want to study abroad receive more support precisely to enable education abroad, he says. Minister of Research and Higher Education Oddmund Hoel (Sp). He says the current government is betting historically well on the students. Photo: Sandra Amalie Lid Krumsvik / news The minister says they take the financial concerns of students abroad seriously. – To compensate for currency fluctuations, loans and scholarships for school fees outside the Nordics are currency adjusted. It is reassessed every semester whether the school fee subsidy needs to be adjusted, says Hoel. The government wants more people to go abroad. Hoel says their top priority is to strengthen exchanges. – It contributes to professional and personal development, new perspectives and cultural understanding. That is why it is gratifying that so many Norwegian students go on exchange abroad. But as a reaction to the fact that the government wants more Norwegian students abroad, they give extra financial support to some. Norwegian students now receive an additional grant if they choose to study in Brazil, India, China, Japan, South Korea or South Africa (the Panorama countries). They receive up to NOK 42,000 more per year. – It’s chill Student Ivarsen is in his last year of his master’s studies. She reminisces about what she says was the best time as a student. Namely in France. – If you have to name the top three things with exchange. What would you say? – You get a lot of new experiences. – You make friends for the rest of your life from all over the world. – It’s chill. Published 14.06.2024, at 05.11
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A record number of students go on exchange – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
