Kategorie: ‘Trondheim’
Writing my Master Thesis in Trondheim
- Energy Engineering M. Sc.
- Norway, Trondheim
- Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet
- 01/2024-06/2024
Application / Finding an internship
To make new experiences and broaden my horizon I wanted to finish my academic studies with a stay abroad. So, I decided to do my master thesis in another country. I already had a research topic in mind and knew I wanted to go to another European country, thus I came across the NTNU in Trondheim, Norway – a place which seemed to be popular among engineering students from RWTH Aachen University. I did not apply for an advertised thesis, instead I had to demarcate the topic together with both my Norwegian supervisor and my German supervisor. Yet, the application process was surprisingly straightforward. I wrote an e-mail to the corresponding professor at NTNU, and he replied with a few hours and accepted my proposal. Additionally, I had to register myself as an exchange student at NTNU. The university’s international office was very supportive in that process. A benefit as an exchange student is that you are exempt from paying the semester fee.
Accommodation & living expenses
Since my stay in Trondheim was aligned with the Norwegian spring semester (January – June) I was given the chance to live in the Moholt student village (dorm). I can highly recommend Moholt to any exchange student because it makes your stay in Trondheim so much more enjoyable. First of all, the dorm rooms are very modern and well equipped. I lived in a 4-bedroom-apartment with three other students with shared kitchen and bathroom. The apartment had two big fridges, an oven with induction cooktop and a microwave – so well suited for cooking with friends. One big disadvantage is that the personal (bed)rooms are not equipped with a mattress. You either have to buy a new one (there is a furniture store right across the street) or get one from students who are leaving (there are Facebook and WhatsApp groups to organize buying and selling used stuff). Furthermore, there is a thing called Re:Store at Moholt where you can get used furniture and other household items for free which where donated by other students. In return, you can donate your used stuff when you leave. In case you need outdoor/hiking/sports equipment, you can go to the Bumerang store (also located at Moholt) where you can lend almost everything needed for outdoor activities (backpacks, skis, tents, …) without cost.
However, the best part of Moholt in my opinion is the Loftet. The Loftet is a common room located in the center of the village opened every day. It is equipped with tables where you can work as well as a lot of sofas where you can just relax. You can get a free cup of coffee or tea, pick one of a great variety of board games or play table tennis or video games on a PS5. The Loftet is run by very friendly volunteering students who work for Sit (the welfare organization for students) and can help you with almost anything. There are several recurring events, such as movie nights, quizzes, jam sessions, guided hiking tours etc. So, when you don’t know what to do – just go to the Loftet. The chances you’ll meet new interesting people and be involved in funny activities are quite high. It’s worth mentioning that the community at Moholt is very international.
Regarding the cost of living, the amount of money provided by the ERASMUS+ scholarship (750 €) was sufficient. The rent was approximately 400 euros (costs for internet and electricity are included). A six-months-ticket for the public transport costs about 250 euros. The food prices are extremely high compared to most other European countries. Especially basic groceries (water, milk, butter, cheese, vegetables) cost twice as much as in Germany. What’s also expensive is any close contact service, e.g. eating at a restaurant or going to the barber. Yet, if you are person who basically spends his or her money only (or mainly) on necessary things (groceries, toiletries, stationery, …) you will get along well with 750 € a month. If, on the other hand, you like to get take-away food often, go to clubs, bars, cinemas weekly, enjoy frequent shopping trips or have an expensive hobby, you might exceed the monthly stipend.
Everyday life / the internship
Paying bills in Norway works (almost) completely cashless. I have never held a Norwegian bank note in my hand, credit cards (or NFC-enabled smartphones) are accepted basically everywhere. Therefore, you should get a credit card that doesn’t charge fees for paying in foreign currency. Alternatively, you can link your PayPal account with Google Wallet. By doing that you also avoid those extra fees. Most Norwegians are fluent in English which makes communicating in everyday life very easy.
Since Trondheim is located quite northern on the globe the transition period from winter to summer is quite short. When I arrived in January the temperature was -13°C in the evening. There was a lot of snow until the beginning of April and the sun set very early (before 4:30 pm). Though from mid-April on there was a rapid change and in May temperatures sometimes went beyond 25°C and the sun did not set before 11 pm. So even when you finished working late, you could enjoy some hours of free time outside.
Working on my thesis was difficult in the first few weeks (and months to be honest). Since I had not applied for an advertised thesis a major, time-consuming part of my stay at NTNU was to formulate a research question which was relevant to both ‘sides’ (German and Norwegian). My Norwegian supervisor was actually the professor himself, who obviously has a tighter schedule than research assistants, which is why I did not meet him every week. The NTNU provides open offices at the campus particularly reserved for students. Unfortunately, the university cafeterias are extremely expensive (a meal costs 3-4 times as much as in Germany) which is why I worked from ‘home’ most of the time so that I was able to cook my own lunch.
Free time / tips
© Nils Baur
When you stay in Norway for a longer period, it is definitely worth experiencing the beautiful nature of the country. A great way to do that is going on a hike and staying overnight in one of the many cabins which NTNU owns. The cabins are neither equipped with electricity nor running water, to keep it warm you chop some wood and put it into the oven that is present in every cabin. Anything else – food, drinks, sleeping bags etc. – you must bring yourself. Although this may sound a little scary at the beginning, it really offers a cool and unique experience. Some cabins are located on a lake, some come with a sauna and above all you get a great view of the landscape.
From my experience, one might feel a little overwhelmed at first by all the opportunities to spend your free time. A good strategy is to start by joining the trips guided by the Sit students (starting at Loftet) to find out what kind of trip or activity suits you.
With the regard to writing a master thesis abroad, I’d recommend the following:
1) Align your stay in Norway with the semester cycle. That allows you to get a place in one of the student villages with all the benefits mentioned above.
2) If possible, find an advertised thesis with a (more or less) predefined research question. That will reduce the amount of required communication and coordination between your internal (your home university) and external (Norwegian) supervisor.
3) Draft a schedule for the different tasks of your thesis together with your supervisors. Think about what input you need from which supervisor (internal or external).
4) If you’re stuck at some point, don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor for help.
Conclusion
Trondheim is a great place to study. The people I have met there were extremely friendly without exception. The student welfare organization Sit provides a very comfortable living environment. It is important to take care of administrative stuff early enough (finding a topic and a supervisor, register as an exchange student, find housing, apply for ERASMUS funding, get adequate insurance). Yet, if you are facing problems during your stay there are many people and institutions who can help you. Personally, I would do some things differently in retrospect, nevertheless, I am very grateful for having made the experience.
Internship in Trondheim
- Biology M.Sc.
- Norway, Trondheim
- St. Olavs Hospital, Trondhiem
- 06/2023 – 11/2023
Before the stay (planning, visa, vaccinations, travel, …):
© Leona Grundel
I started an internship at St. Olavs hospital in Trondheim, which is the university hospital of NTNU,
after already spending the summer semester at NTNU. I therefore had arrived in January already
and had therefore already spend a long winter and beautiful spring their.
Regarding finding accommodation in Trondheim, the student welfare organization SIT organizes
student housing for incoming Erasmus people. Those accommodations are generally cheaper
(while I was there around 4500 NOK) than rooms on the private market (generally between 5500-
7500 NOK).
If you plan on spending the spring semester in Trondheim, your chances are good to get a place
with SIT. If you are not a student, you would have to find something on the private market, which
unfortunately usually just offers 12-months leases (July to July), few 6-months leases (July to
January; January-June) and almost never shorter leases.
Arriving in the fall semester is more difficult. Spots are very limited, and you may want to check
out the private marked. But if you like the adrenaline rush and the suspense, you can also wait
until just two weeks before you are supposed to arrive in Trondheim. I know of some people that
still got a spot with SIT this close to their departure date. NTNU and SIT are a bit last minute that
way. But speaking from experience, not everyone gets a place with SIT in fall semester.
© Leona Grundel
Unfortunately, the private market housing situation in fall is not ideal either as explained above.
Also, if you extent after having started your semester abroad, be ware that, at least for an
extension into the fall semester, SIT is not guaranteeing you a place to stay. There priority is to
make space for the newly arriving exchange students which do not have the chance to go room
hunting on site.
With all the hustling around finding housing and doing all the Erasmus paperwork, the departure
time arrives quickly. Especially when arriving in summer I recommend planning a longer trip on
your way up north and visit Norway west coast or checking out Denmark and Sweden. You could
do the same if you arrive in winter but its much less fun. It’s going to be dark 80 % of the time
anyways, although I have to admit, that snowy Norway looks breathtaking.
I decided to drive up the 21 h to Trondheim with my car because I wanted to have the opportunity
to spontaneously go on road trips and other places. Although Norway in the middle of winter is
icy and snowy, the ‘’highway’’ E6 is usually ok to be driven. But it is a one lane street leading over,
around and through mountains, so in case of fresh snow you might have to wait a bit until the
streets are cleared. However, it was still cold and sometimes we drove for hours without seeing
© Leona Grundel
car, while it was down to -18°C outside.
Having a car in Trondheim was especially useful since I did not have to rely on others or the public
transport to go on road trips or cabins that were further away, but you can do a lot of stuff without
one as well. Public transport in the city area is really good, and if you plan ahead you can also
reach places in the periphery a couple hour away (Just make sure to check the time table
beforehand, some bus lines drive sparsely on Sundays). And even if you want to go somewhere
where there is no good public transport connection, there are tones of Facebook groups in which
you will find yourself new friends that have cars:D Speaking of Facebook: You’ll need it.
Everything relies on Facebook: Every restaurant or club as a Facebook page (or Instagram
account) and NTNUI groups (NTNUs sports group, of which there is every sport you can imagine)
communicate and inform through it. Also, you’ll need an empty phones storage when coming
here. There are apps required for everything – laundry, NTNUI sports groups, for identification,
public transport, your student ID, renting cars…
Experience in the host country (accommodation, daily life, free time, …):
Trondheim is a bit like Aachen – a moderately sized student city with great surrounding nature.
Living in Moholt, one of the main student villages (‘’studentby’’), was awesome. This is where the
biggest chunk of Erasmus people lives. It is therefore the center of the Erasmus life. You can
spontaneously meet up in someone’s apartment (if the roomies are ok with it of course) and spend
a fun night hanging out, cooking together or drinking. But be ware, stores don’t sell alcohol after
8 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on weekends.
Next to a washing room, there are also a grocery store, a library, a café/restaurant, a gym and
even a hairdresser on the premises. Without leaving the student city you can do a BBQ, play
beach volleyball, or hang out at ‘’Lofted’’ (the common room) to play table tennis, play board
games or study (they have free coffee!).
© Leona Grundel
On more thing that I really appreciate are the student run rental organizations. Check out what
the university offers, since some of these can also be used/accessed by non-students. ‘’Restore’’,
for example, is located in Moholt studentby. They collect and hand out donated furniture and
equipment to students for free. If you get one of the limited spots on their opening days you can
get everything from stools and desks to bed covers to plates and cutlery to bikes and what not.
At the end of your stay, you can easily bring that stuff back so that future exchange student benefit
from them.
Furthermore, “Bumerang” is located in Moholt studentby. They rent out everything you may need
for the outdoors for free, from tents to skies & snowboards to ice skates to fishing rods. The same
goes for the non-profit organization ‘’BUA’’. In winter, lakes are usually frozen so you can
spontaneously go ice skating there and the fjord is perfect to try out fishing or just spend the long
midsummer nights there with good food and some friends.
Continuing with the student run organizations, the “Koiene” group allows NTNUI members to rent
out their cabins in Trøndelag. Their cabins are super basic, no electricity or running water, but it
is a great way to spend a weekend away and out in nature with your friends. Here are some
pictures so you can see how beautiful it is out there. Also in fall and winter, some cabins are
perfectly located far away from any light pollution to stay up late and, with a bit of luck, see
northern lights.
Experience at the host institution (professional, cultural, …):
The internship that I did was actually my Master’s Thesis. I therefore spend most of my time at
Campus Øya in the laboratory of St. Olavs hospital. I really recommend working in their
laboratories if possible since their laboratory equipment is modern. I learned a lot, not just
academically but also about differences in how institutions are run. Be aware that there are
differences in formalities and expectations. For me it was difficult in the beginning to figure out
what requirements needed to be met. Although I tried to communicate a lot, there were still some
© Leona Grundel
misguided expectations on both sides that needed to be overcome on the way.
Furthermore, it was very interesting to talk to my colleagues with different backgrounds and to
find out about the academic structures in Norwegian research institutions, as well as the working
mentality. They really leave the office at 4 pm on the dot!
I also took a Norwegian language course. Even though you might not need the language
afterwards, it was nice to get a short introduction into the language. Especially for German
speakers it is not that hard. As a plus, you’ll also be able to understand a bit of Swedish or Danish
since their languages are closely related.
Tips for interested students:
I don’t have many more tips other than the ones I have already mentioned: Be aware of the
housing situation for the winter semester; be conscious about what it means to move somewhere
that is dark and cold most of the year; and just try to experience as much as possible. Also, for
when you arrive at NTNU, I can only encourage you to join different groups at NTNUI and maybe
try out something new. As mentioned, they have virtually everything. Normal stuff like, handball,
Taekwondo and rugby, but also fencing, diving, disc golf, dog training, horseback riding and
climbing. I for example picked up sailing and kayaking which was awesome. After the (kinda
costly) 3-days beginners course you are allowed to go to their weekly trainings for free. All of
these activities, as well as many cabin trips and meeting friends help you a lot with making it
through the dark winter hours.
My Research Internship at the NTNU Trondheim
- Psychology B.Sc.
- Norway, Trondheim
- Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet
- 01/2023 – 05/2023
Preparation
My path to the Research Internship at the Institute of Psychology at NTNU was surprisingly
easy. I met the head of the institute at NTNU during a guest lecture and wrote him an email
after his lecture asking about the possibility of an internship. 5 minutes later I had my
Northern lights on the way to Tromsø
© Selina Fußwinkel
acceptance and could choose my starting time flexibly. So I can at least give you a tip for an
internship at this institute: Just ask! Internships are by no means typical here, but they are
easy to implement and welcome
Traveling to Norway and Housing
I quickly found someone via Facebook who was able to take me to Trondheim by car. Even
though the journey takes longer than by plane, I can only recommend it. Especially the part
through Norway itself is very scenic and gives you a first impression of the country.
In Trondheim itself, I didn’t stay in a student dorm like most people, but in a shared flat near
the city center (Buran). This turned out to be a very good decision for me. Some of the
student dorms are further out and the bus connections at night are not particularly good,
which is why the walking distance from the city to my shared flat was often very practical. It
also gave me contact with Norwegians, which is otherwise not so easy due to the ERASMUS
bubble. Finding a flat was also very easy. The website Hybel offers a really wide range of
BBQ at the Mevasskoia Cabin
© Selina Fußwinkel
shared flats, which even write to you themselves. So if you prefer smaller and more personal
shared flats to student dorms, I can highly recommend it, even if it is of course a bit more
expensive. But I had a very good time with my two flatmates!
My Internship
I really enjoyed my research internship at the Institute of Psychology for the whole 5 months.
However, you have to show a lot of initiative. There are a lot of researchers working on
different projects at the institute, which were presented to me at the beginning. However, I
was completely free to decide where I wanted to work. On the one hand, this meant that I
could devote myself to the projects that I found most exciting in terms of content, but on the
other hand, it also meant that I first had to get an overview, write lots of emails and ask
where it was possible to work. So it took 1-2 weeks until I could really get started and find my
projects and tasks. After that, however, the whole thing became a no-brainer and I always
had something to do. The work itself was a lot of fun. I mainly did literature research,
analyzed data sets and co-wrote papers. If you do a good job, you’re even accepted as a co-author.
In general, I was given a lot of trust and I had a lot of freedom in my work and little
control, also meaning that if you need help, you have to communicate that directly as well. I
found this working environment and the atmosphere perfect. I was very warmly received by
the team and we had lunch together every day. I especially enjoyed the contact with the PhD
students. In summary: Super nice team, exciting content, lots of initiative needed!
I was absolutely thrilled with the university itself! There are numerous cafés, beautifully
designed study rooms and libraries (especially the library in the old building on the
Gløshaugen campus), bookstores, small supermarkets and very good (but also very
expensive) food in the canteen. Especially important: Every Wednesday is Cinnamon-Bun
Wednesday, which means cinnamon buns are available in every university café for a small
price. I haven’t missed a single one!
Trondheim in Summer – View von the Fortress
© Selina Fußwinkel
Daily Life in Trondheim
Trondheim is a rather manageable, small city, but very student-oriented. It didn’t take me
long to feel at home here and settle in. For students in particular, the heart of the city is the
Samfundet student house. It is run by students on a voluntary basis. Here you can find bars, a
restaurant and a café, several clubs and event rooms. You can go here every day and there is
always something going on. Parties at the weekend, concerts during the week, pub quizzes,
discussion evenings and my personal highlight: Wine-Wednesday. Apart from the student
house, however, the party life in Trondheim is rather lukewarm. If you like techno, you should
follow the Technophilia events on Facebook, as these are the only good techno parties here.
Otherwise, the bar “Circus” is highly recommended, where the music is rockier. For the
typical party nights, head to Fire Fine or Heidi’s Bierbar. In my opinion, that’s it for the
selection of good party options, so we often organized our own home parties.
Besides parties, Trondheim has a lot more to offer. The landscape with its location directly on
the fjord is beautiful. When the weather was good, we discovered barbecuing for ourselves,
either in the city by the river, at the meadows near the fortress or at Korsvika Beach. At least
once a week we went to the sauna. A particularly individual sauna can be found directly on
the coast, the Bunker Sauna. You have to heat it up yourself, though. There is also Havet.
Here you have to go at least once for the morning rave at 7 a.m., preferably on the first
Wednesday of the month, when you also get breakfast.
I also did a lot of sports here. The sports on offer are super varied and very cheap. For 120€,
you can go to the university gyms for the whole semester, attend classes here and try out all
the courses at NTNUI.
Trondheim has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine, although it is of course relatively expensive. I
Lofoten Trip
© Selina Fußwinkel
can highly recommend the ramen restaurant “Koie”, the Olavshallen (here you can order
from 5 restaurants at once) and the pizza buffet in the Tyholt tower. It’s worth going here
anyway for the perfect view of Trondheim.
In and around Trondheim you can go hiking and skiing in winter. The Bymarka area is only
half an hour away. Here you can both hike and ski and stop at the Grønlia hut, which is
located right by the lake and offers a large selection of homemade cakes. It is also worth
taking a trip to Estenstadhytta and the Theisendammen viewpoint. The app Komoot also
offers some good routes in and around Trondheim.
As far as the weather is concerned, you really should be prepared for anything at any time in
Trondheim. The weather can change between sun, snow and rain a thousand times a day.
Sometimes you don’t see a single ray of sunshine for weeks, then suddenly it’s gloriously
summery. The darkness in winter worried me quite a lot at the beginning, because I usually
find winter in Germany terrible. And of course, it’s extremely dark and cold at the beginning,
but since everything is still very new at that time and so much is happening, there’s still no
time for tiredness and the time until it stays light a little longer passes super fast. I loved the
days when the sun didn’t set at all. The sleep rhythm gets absolutely out of balance, but
sitting in the park or on the beach at 3 a.m. in daylight is a very strange but very cool
experience.
Sunset at the Heinfjordstua
© Selina Fußwinkel
Excursions and Trips
One of my personal highlights: Our cabin trips. The university owns some cabins closer and
further away from Trondheim. You can stay here very cheaply and spend great weekends. We
went on a total of 3 of these trips. The cabins are sometimes in more or less good condition,
so you shouldn’t expect luxury, but you are always directly in nature and can hike to and from
the cabins. I can really recommend going to the newly built cabin called Mevasskoia on the
other side of the fjord
We also went on a road trip to Tromsø relatively early after our arrival in February. Also, one
of my highlights. I can only recommend everyone to do this trip by car and not by plane. The
road was scenically spectacular and a unique experience. We saw the northern lights on our
first day at our first stop, and then again on the following days. We also encountered some
moose on our way. We saw a lot of the country on this trip and got to know the winter in
Norway so far north in a completely different way.
In general, I would recommend everyone to take time to travel after the end of the semester.
Great destinations are the Lofoten Islands, the numerous national parks, Ålesund, Bergen
and possibly side trips to Sweden and Denmark on the way back.
Great experience in Norway
- Medicine
- Norway, Trondheim
- Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet
- 02/2023 – 04/2023
Introduction: My Erasmus+ traineeship experience of two months at the Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science at NTNU in Norway was a great experience, personally and professionally. This report aims to provide an overview of my journey, including the application process, accommodation, work environment, and the many activities that can be undertaken in Norway.
Application Process: I found a fascinating paper from the Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science and decided to apply for an internship. First, I called the department to ask about the possibility of an internship. Second, I submitted my application via mail in November. In January, I received a response from the university indicating the need to complete an online application. The whole process was straightforward if you followed the university’s instructions.
Accommodation: Finding accommodation in Norway was relatively easy. Sit, the Studierendenwerk of the NTNU, offers housing to all students (also Erasmus+ Traineeship Students). The rent was affordable, approximately 450 euros, especially when compared to other expenses in the country. Sit provides a range of student housing facilities throughout the city. After being offered a room in Steinan, I asked for a room in Moholt as I had friends from Aachen living there. The staff at Sit is very friendly and changed my offer. In Moholt, there are two types of accommodations: flats for four people with a shared kitchen and bathroom, or “the towers,” where 15 individuals share a kitchen, each having their own bathroom. I recommend “the towers” as they are newly constructed and offer fully equipped kitchens.
Transportation: Trondheim’s bus system is well-planned and provides convenient transportation options throughout the city. The busses come all 10 minutes, later in the day all 20 min. But with 50 euros per month, it is also costly.
Work Environment: On my first day, I received my key card, office key, and an office equipped with a second screen and a work laptop. Although usually an office is shared among three people, the office was mainly only used by me. The work culture in Norwegian labs and the hospital generally is more casual than in Germany. The hierarchy is flatter. For example, everyone gathered for coffee in the morning and had lunch together. Lunch is already at 11:30. I recommend bringing your lunch. That’s also what most others do, as food is expensive. My supervisors ensured that I was trained in every method before I had to work independently. I experienced a high level of appreciation for my work. I was very flexible in planning my lab week, which was cool!
Leisure time: Norway offers a wide variety of (outdoor) activities. If you’re a skiing enthusiast, Trondheim’s cross-country loipes are a must-do, and if you prefer alpine skiing, Vassfjellet is a good destination, located just 30 minutes by car or 60 minutes by bus from Trondheim. Of course, hiking is another great option to enjoy the landscape. Additionally, the university offers mountain cabins for rent (NTNU I member: 4 euros per person per night/ non-member: 8 euros pp pn). Boomerang and BUA are two spots where you can rent outdoor/sports equipment (cross-country ski, snowshoes, sleeping bag, tents, …) for free. If you prefer indoor activities, Sit has several gyms all over the city. There you can train by yourself or book courses. A spot can always be booked 48 h in advance; therefore, you can try out different ones. Apart from the gyms, you can book cheap Squash courts and go bouldering.
Conclusion: I recommend an internship in the Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The combination of friendly colleagues, a good work environment, and a wonderful country make it a great experience.