If you are interested in the Summer in Norway: Intercultural Management – A Norwegian/Scandinavian Perspective Summer program, click here.

(Semester Program)

Fall Semester 2008 closed

Fall: 18 weeks (August 13 - December 23, 2008)
Spring: 24 weeks (January to June)
Academic Year

Sponsored by The School of Hospitality Business in the The Eli Broad College of Business; in cooperation with the Norwegian School of Management (Handelshøyskolen BI)

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

The Norwegian School of Management (Handelshøyskolen BI), founded in 1943, is one of Norway’s largest educational institutions. The Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University exchanges students with BI for an experience in international education and business.

Scandinavia is perhaps the closest you can come to a postindustrial knowledge economy. Scandinavian companies are also the innovators of participatory management techniques and network forms of organization. BI adds its focus on ethics and corporate social responsibility to these qualities. MSU students will benefit by studying and experiencing this “Scandinavian” perspective. This is a general business program and is not limited to hospitality business majors.

Beyond the academic component of the program, students will also have the opportunity to deeply immerse themselves in the Norwegian customs and culture, enhancing their overall study abroad experience.

Where does it take place?

NORWAY, The Land of the Midnight Sun. Roughly the same size as California, Norway is a long, narrow, and mountainous country. It is covered by forests, rivers, lakes, and glaciers. Its coastline stretches for hundreds of miles with beautiful fjords from the North Sea to the Arctic Ocean.

The capital, Oslo, is the largest city with a population of almost 500,000. Greater Oslo has roughly 800,000 inhabitants, nearly twenty percent of Norway. Oslo is the business and cultural capital of the nation. The BI campus is located in Nydalen, a 10-minute subway ride from the center of Oslo.

What can I study?

Students will have access to all courses (taught in English by BI faculty) provided they meet prerequisites for each said course. As such, the subject matter, learning objectives and instruction models will vary. Students should consult with the faculty leader for course selection and descriptions.

Courses in finance, hospitality business, management, marketing and supply chain management, communication and economics are available. Please visit http://www.bi.no/Content/StartPageSection____57877.aspx for an introduction to BI and http://www.bi.no/Content/Article____56499.aspx for the most current listing of BI courses. (Note: One (1) ECTS credit is equal to 0.5 U.S. credits.)

Although courses will be taught in English, students will be required to take an introductory course in Norwegian language to enhance their understanding and immersion into the Norwegian culture. Students will then have access to additional BI courses taught in Norwegian to the extent that they have learned the language.

Undergraduate students will be required to enroll in a minimum of twelve (12), maximum of twenty (20), semester credits. Graduate students will be required to enroll in a minimum of nine (9), maximum of sixteen (16) credits.

Students will take courses along with Norwegian and other international students.

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details about this policy, visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/people/students.html.
 
Contact the study abroad program coordinator listed below to learn more about available courses. To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit http://transfer.msu.edu/Institution.asp and http://www.reg.msu.edu/ROINFO/CSSAP/CSSAPmain.asp. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

What are the requirements?

This program is open to MSU students who are of at least sophomore status at the time of studying abroad and in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Additionally, students must submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

It should be noted that BI will determine final approved participants.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

A variety of housing options are available, ranging from single occupancy with private bath to larger, shared facilities. In Norway the universities and colleges do provide housing. The International Office at BI will help locate housing and act as your intermediary. Exchange students are asked to contract housing through the BI International Office as the “regular” housing office does not offer contracts that are suited for the shorter stays of the typical exchange student.

Students can also choose off-campus accommodations.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Carl P. Borchgrevink
The School of Hospitality Business
233 Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 353-9211
E-mail: carlb@msu.edu

John Jensen
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
Phone: (517) 432-8424
E-mail: jensen27@msu.edu

WEB SITES OF INTEREST

Oslo Guide on the Internet
http://www.virtualoslo.com

Norwegian-American Foundation
http://noram.norway.com

Norway Links Collection
http://www.norway4you.com

Official Documentation and Information from Norway (ODIN) – good source for official regulations, as well as general information http://www.regjeringen.no/en.html?id=4

Norwegian School of Management
http://www.bi.no/Content/StartPageEnglish____56401.aspx

Norway – The Official Site in the United States

The Norwegian Online Information Service in the U.S. has detailed and practical information about Norway
http://www.norway.org

United State Embassy Norway
http://www.usa.no

Visit Norway – The official travel guide to Norway – a combined effort of the Norwegian Tourist authorities and tourism industries
http://www.visitnorway.com

NAV: The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation. This website discusses working and welfare in Norway – and includes a special section about the education system
http://www.aetat.no

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter other countries. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of twelve weeks are usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. If you are a U.S. citizen you are not required to have a visa, but will need a residence permit. While residence permit can be requested upon arrival in Norway, to avoid problems, students are requested to apply and obtain residence permits before leaving for Norway. Please see http://www.bi.no/Content/Article____60023.aspxfor greater detail.

For more general information about visas, or if you are not a U.S. citizen visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations, visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html

How much does it cost?

Funds paid directly by the student include:

Excluding tuition and fees, an estimated total for these costs is $9,530 per semester.

A program fee of $118 (Fall Semester 2008) is required and includes pre-departure orientation and requisite accident and sickness insurance.

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/studrec/ for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

For further information about financial aid, visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are March 1st for academic year and fall semester programs and October 15th for spring semester programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester participation and by March 1st for fall or academic year participation. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records.

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu