Student Stories: My journey in Bergen, Norway

My time studying abroad in Bergen has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Norway is a particularly interesting place to study sustainability, as I’ve been able to gain a deeper understanding of the tensions between the country’s continued fossil fuel production and its commitment to sustainability, both in and outside the classroom. 

For example, one course took us on a field trip to an oil refinery alongside hearing from experts on different topics each week, from environmental phycology to the physics of wind power. This interdisciplinary angle has been so interesting and unlike anything I have experienced in St Andrews.

 Outside of the classroom, I’ve felt immersed in Norwegian culture from the very beginning, from swimming in the fjords and partaking in weekly sauna trips to finding the city’s best cinnamon buns! 

Bergen has been a fantastic place to live, combining a vibrant city with a rich culture and history while being surrounded by nature. I would often find myself in a lecture in the morning and then up a mountain or off on a ferry to an island in the afternoon! 

 It was also amazing to travel more widely across Norway. I’ve already experienced so many experience breathtaking landscapes, from dramatic fjords to countless stunning waterfalls and vast mountains. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation of Norway and have reinforced for me how vital it is that we protect this precious nature. 

I’m so grateful to have been given this opportunity through my north2north funding to step outside of my comfort zone, both academically and personally. I’ve made so many lifelong memories, and my knowledge and passion for sustainable development have really flourished in Norway. I would recommend this scholarship program to anyone!