Lillehammer University College website
Gjøvik University College website
For more information, please visit the Lillehammer and Gjøvik International Office's website.
List of spring 2011 courses taught in English
Host City:
Lillehammer and Gjøvik
Lillehammer and Gjøvik are situated in the picturesque region around Lake Mjøsa, Norway’s biggest lake (Lillehammer at the northern end and Gjøvik on the western side of the lake). Each town has a population of about 25 000. The towns are small, but modern and with a friendly atmosphere. Oslo is only a couple of hours away, and Norway’s national airport, Gardermoen, is situated between Lillehammer/Gjøvik and Oslo.
Lillehammer became known to the world as the host for the 1994 Winter Olympics. These provided the region with unique winter sports facilities and arenas such as Håkonshall indoor sports arena, Lysgaardsbakken ski jumping arena and Birkebeineren ski stadium for cross country skiing. The downhill ski arenas, Hafjell and Kvitfjell, are only a short distance away. Gjøvik is also an Olympic town. At the very centre of the town lies the world’s largest arena excavated in rock. Gjøvik Olympic Cavern Hall was built to accommodate the ice hockey games during the Winter Olympics in 1994.
Norway - on top of Europe
Norway is known as the land of the midnight sun, mountains, fjords, rivers and glaciers. In this northern corner of Europe you can find vast areas of unspoilt nature. The scenery is unique and breathtaking. Thus, Norway is an ideal destination for outdoor activities. And what could be more perfect than to combine all this with intellectual challenges at a high quality university college!
Are you afraid that it's too cold?
Norway's climate is actually less severe than might be expected from its geographical location. Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, most of Norway falls within the temperate region. However, the climate varies considerably from coastal to inland areas. The coastal regions have a climate with relatively mild winters and cool summers. Inland areas have a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.
An interesting phenomenon in Norway is the seasonal change in the length of day and night. In midwinter, daylight lasts less than six hours in the southern part of the country, while in the far north darkness prevails. In midsummer, daylight takes over and there is no "real" night during June and July.
Did you know that....
Norway is a sparsely populated country; 4,5 million people live on 387 000 square km.
The length of the Norwegian coastline is 2650 km (about 22 000 km if the fjords are included).
Norway is a constitutional monarchy. His Majesty King Harald V is Head of State.
Norway has an Evangelical Lutheran State Church.
The capital of Norway is Oslo.
The 17th of May is Norway's national day.
The monetary unit is Norwegian kroner (NOK).
Norway is not a member of the EU, but associated through membership in the European Economic Area (EEA).
The official language is Norwegian, a Germanic language closely related to Danish and Swedish. There are two official written versions of Norwegian, Bokmål and Nynorsk.
Norway has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
Leiv Eriksson, a Viking of Norwegian origin, discovered America.
Norway is the world's second largest exporter of oil.
Norway was one of the first countries in the world to allow women to vote, in 1913.
Institution:
Lillehammer University College
Lillehammer University College is a young institution. It is one of the three state universtity colleges in central eastern Norway bordering Lake Mjøsa. Since the start in 1971, its academic activities have been growing steadily, and we now offer a wide range of professional and vocationally oriented programmes, plus a selection of traditional academic university subjects.
From the start in 1971 the university college became a testbed for new ideas in teaching which were both academically and pedagogically different from those at the traditional institutions of higher education in Norway. The college still bears the marks of these ideas. Problem-solving, group work, project work, and close student-teacher contact are characteristics which the college has maintained also in the area of computer assisted teaching.
Program in Brief:
Internationalisation at Lillehammer and Gjøvik UC
Lillehammer and Gjøvik University Colleges cooperates with almost 100 institutions of higher education in countries all over the world. Student mobility is an important feature of internationalisation. Outgoing students will gain international experience, cultural insight and improve their language skills. All degree students are encouraged to take one semester of their education at one of the partner institutions.
Equally important is creating internationalisation at home. Lillehammer and Gjøvik University Colleges welcome international students and wish to increase the number of courses taught in English in order to make the study programmes available and attractive to students from other countries. Having a larger number of foreign students at LUC/GUC will have a positive effect, both academically and socially. The buddy system facilitates the international students' social integration. The buddies organise activities, trips and social events throughout the semester.
Academic Program & Areas of Study:
Norwegian higher education
The Norwegian public educational system consists of six universities, five specialised university institutions, 25 state university colleges and two national institutes of the arts. There is also a small private sector, but the majority of students in Norway (approximately 90 %) attend state institutions.
All institutions of higher education are subject to the authority of the Ministry of Education and Research. The independent government body NOKUT, Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education is responsible for assessing the quality of programmes and institutions. Through evaluation, accreditation and recognition of quality systems, institutions and course provisions, the purpose of NOKUT is to supervise and help develop the quality of higher education in Norway.
Degree structure
Lillehammer and Gjøvik University Colleges offer bachelor and master programmes The Bachelor’s degree is obtained after three years of study, with exams totalling 180 ECTS credits.
The Master's degree is awarded on completion of two additional years of graduate study beyond the undergraduate degree and includes independent research and a thesis.
Credit point system
The credit system corresponds to ECTS. The full-time workload is 30 credits per semester (60 credits per academic year).
Grading scale
Grades for undergraduate and postgraduate examinations are awarded according to a graded scale from A (highest) to F (lowest), with E as the minimum pass grade. A pass/fail mark is given for some examinations.
Diploma Supplement
The Diploma Supplement is built on a model developed by the European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO/CEPES. The purpose of the supplement is to provide sufficient independent data to improve the international ”transparency” and fair academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates etc.) It is designed to provide a description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies that were pursued and successfully completed by the individual named on the original qualification to which the supplement is appended.
Norwegian institutions of higher education issue a Diploma Supplement (free of charge) to all students who are awarded a degree.
In 2004 the European Commission awarded a Label to institutions ensuring transparency and recognition by issuing correct Diploma Supplements. 85 applications were submitted, and 28 institutions were finally selected. Norway produced half of the successful applications, and Gjøvik and Lillehammer University Colleges were two of the 14 selected Norwegian institutions.
Student Life:
Being a student in Lillehammer/Gjøvik
There is more to a study abroad experience than going to lectures and studying in the reading room. The student unions in Lillehammer and Gjøvik organise a wide range of activities. If you want to keep yourself busy, there is a lot to choose from! There are many student clubs that you can join, and if there is no club within your field of interest, you can start one!
You can aslo explore the region without being part of an organised activity. The nature and the climate in Lillehammer/Gjøvik ensure perfect conditions for outdoor activities, in particular winter sports.
Buddy system for exchange students
Every semester a group of Norwegian students (buddies) will have a special responsibility for the social integration of new exchange students. They will meet you upon arrival, show you around and help you with practical matters in the beginning of your stay. Throughout the semester they will organise activities and trips, as well as social events.
Leisure activities
Lillehammer and Gjøvik University Colleges have a wide range of activities to offer all visiting students. There are a number of groups catering for a variety of interests, e.g.:
Student newspaper
Photography club
Film club
Student radio
Music group
Skiing
Volleyball
Hockey
Basketball
Dancing
Student choir
……and many more.
The students have their own house where they organise social events like parties, concerts, quiz night, etc. - Huset in Gjøvik and Bingo’n in Lillehammer. If you are new in town, this is the place to go to meet other students! If you think that Norwegians are not very outgoing and open, you will probably change your mind after your first party with Norwegian students!
UKA is the annual student festival. During one week in February/March there are many events organised for and by the students in Lillehammer and Gjøvik; concerts, parties, shows, etc.
