Dear international students

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to apply for a study permit? 

Because all applicants have their own story, background and connection to Norway - we can only recoommend to follow the information at the UDI webpage regarding the application process for a residence permit for a student at folk high school. 

• You are fully responsible for the process regarding study permit.
  
• The process will vary depending on which country you apply from, and also your citizenship.
  
• When Rønningen receive the school fee, we will make a confirmation letter that you need for this application.
  
• The application process can take up to sevral months, so please start this process as early as possible, and keep us updated about the process.
  
• The visa application process is the student's responsibility completely.
  But if your visa application is declined, the school fee (minus the registration fee of NOK 2800) will be refunded into the applicant's account.
  
• After arriving Norway, make sure that you book an appointment for registration with the Police and get the residence card. 

How do I know if I am a member of Folketrygden? 

We need to know if you are a member because of the school Insurance. 

Rønningen has a traveling and accident insurance which covers Norwegian citizens who are members of The National Insurance Sheme (Folketrygden).

If you have a norwegian passport, but have never lived in Norway before, you must check if you are a member of Folketrygden. This is not necessarily automatic procedure. 

If you are not a member, you are not covered by the school insurance and must carry a valid travel- , accident- and healthinsurance from your own country. The insurance must cover you during your entire stay in Norway, as well as during study trips to other contries. 

I have a norwegian passport, can I apply for support from Lånekassen? 

Please read more about Lånekassen in English here. 

Why do I need to have a contact person in Norway? 

All international students are required to have a contact person with an address in Norway. 

• This person will be like your next of kin/ familymember if needed. 
• This person will during the year receive e-mails from the school, with information written in Norwegian.
• This person will be able to host you during the school holidays (autumn, christmas, winter, easter) when the school is closed. Unless you wish to stay elsewhere.
• This person should be able to assist you in required processes such as registering with the police upon arrival, getting a bank account if necessar, norwegian mobile (optional), or other administrative things. Unfortunately, the school does not have the capacity to help one-to-one. 
• A contact person should be able to host you in the case of expulsion or any other reason that means you cannot live in the school's dormitories.
  
  If you don`t have a contact person in norway, you must contact the school directly. It is important to know that the school will be closed during holidays, and it is not possible to stay at the school. If you prefer to travel to your home country, that`s fine.

What does the school fee cover? 

The total school fee for international students is NOK 133 800. 

The fee will cover all necessary expenses during the school year.
Board and lodging, social events, cultural activities, excursions, school books/materials/ school jumper, travel card in Oslo (sone 1 & 2) and the pre-course for international students. 

The school fee does not cover studytrips abroad. 

How far away is the city center from Rønningen?

Traveling to the city center depends on what type of public transport you choose:

The train from Kjelsås will take you to the city center in 13 minutes, but the train have less frequent departures.

Or you can first take Buss 56 from Rønningen to Storo (10 minutes) and from there you can take all the subway to city center (11-15 minutes) to Jernbanetorget or Stortinget. 

Is it programme during the weekends? 

Yes! On Fridays we arrange “Student nights” , and Saturdays we have seminar/workshop from 10.30 - 14.00. It is not typical school tuitition, but we will invite interesting guests to our school, discuss a current topic, or maybe we explore something in Oslo, attends a football-match, concert, nature, and so on.

Sundays is usually always a day-off without any programme. Saturday nights, we will always offer programme for students at house, or in Oslo town.

Can I have a part-time job when I am a student at Rønningen? 

We do not have good experiences with students having a parttime job when attending Rønningen. You can very easily fall outside the environment at school, and miss important parts of the school year. 

It is possibly easier to understand when you have first arrived and experienced what a Folk High School life is.

A Folk High School is not a normal school or university where you have classes from 08-16 and then go home. It is more like a holistic program, and the main goal and learning is happening when you are together/living together, arrange student-nights, have evening electives, have group conversations, kitchen-duty, learn to clean/cook/wash your clothes and so on. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the school.