University of Oslo The Faculty of Social Sciences
Oslo Summer School in Comparative Social Science Studies 2016
Practical Information1
Contents: Monday morning registration (25th of July and 1st of August)…………………………....2 Oslo Summer School Information Office…………...... ……………………………………….2 Opening hours – the University Library (Georg Sverdrup Hus)……….……………………..2 Computer Access at the University of Oslo……………………………………………………….2 General transport information……………………………………………………………………….3 Campus guide……………………………………………………………………………………. ..6 Lunch arrangements and social events………………………………………………….…….....7 Accommodation………………………………………………………...…….…………....…………..8 Assignments and ECTS Credits………………………………………………………………………9 Useful Links………………………………………….……………………………………………………11
1 This is meant to be a general information document for all participants at Oslo Summer School. All information may not be relevant for all participants. For more specific questions, please e-mail us: Tron Harald Torneby: [email protected]
University of Oslo The Faculty of Social Sciences
Monday Morning Registration (25th of July and 1st of August) Registration takes place in Georg Sverdrup’s Hus (The University Library) at Blindern University Campus between 9.15 and 10.15 Monday 25th of July, and on Monday 1st of August. Please show up in due time!
Oslo Summer School Information Office This is the main source of information during Oslo Summer School. The office is located just next to where all the lectures are held, in the Georg Sverdrup’s Hus (The University Library). The Information Office will be open every day during the two weeks of the summer school (except Saturday and Sunday) from 09.30 to 15.30. The Oslo Summer School staff will be present to provide you with information and assistance. Please stop by, at least once a day, for news and updates, events, activities, and other relevant information.
Opening Hours – Georg Sverdrup’s Hus (the University Library) Unfortunately, the Library building has rather restricted opening hours during summer. Summer opening hours are as follows: Monday-Friday: 09.00 - 16.00. Thursday: 09.00- 17.00. Saturday and Sunday: Closed.
Wireless Access at the University of Oslo Many of you will probably want to use the University of Oslo wireless network during and between classes. There are several options, but we recommend that those of you who have the possibility use Eduroam, allowing you to connect to the campus wireless network using your home institution log-in credentials. Another possibility is the conference option that is set up for the Oslo Summer School 2015, and this wireless network is accessible in Georg Sverdrup’s hus (the University Library building). Username and password for this option will be given to you at our Information Office upon request. Read more about the wireless networks at University of Oslo here: http://www.uio.no/english/services/it/network/wireless/
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General Transport Information
Getting Here: Arriving Oslo by Plane Most of you will arrive at Oslo’s main airport Gardermoen (OSL). Getting from Gardermoen to the Oslo Central Station (Oslo Sentralstasjon or Oslo S), you have three public transportation options of varying expenses:
1: First, the airport express train (Flytoget) brings you to Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) comfortably in about twenty minutes time. Ordinary price is NOK 180, students aged 21-31 with a valid student ID pay NOK 90. Arriving at Oslo Central Station (Oslo S), you will enter the city at Jernbanetorget, which is also the name of Oslo downtown’s main transportation hub. For most of you, this is the most convenient option.
2: The second option is shuttle buses, either SAS Flybussen or Flybuss-ekspressen. The buses can be less expensive than the train, but also less time-efficient, since they stop at a number of Oslo destinations: depending on where you stay in Oslo, this may be the best option. Tickets for SAS Flybussen are NOK 175, students under 31 years NOK 100. Tickets for Flybussekspressen are NOK 225, students under 30 years NOK 110.
3: Finally, you have the option of taking a taxi. They are plentiful but the prices are very steep, ranging from NOK 500-1600 from the airport to downtown depending on which Taxi company and what time of the day.
Should your flight arrive at Torp Airport in Sandefjord rather than Gardermoen, expect an hour and a half in a shuttle bus before you reach Oslo. The ordinary airport bus ticket costs NOK 260 from Torp Airport to Oslo, students NOK 190. Using the airport bus from Torp, you will arrive at the Oslo Central Station, where you easily will find subway, bus and tram lines for further transportation.
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Getting Around: Public Transportation in Oslo Downtown Oslo is fairly small, and walking around is an enjoyable way to discover the city. Additionally, a well-developed public transportation system makes it easy getting around. You should get hold on a copy of the city transit map “Ruters Oslokart” showing all subway, tram, and bus lines in Oslo. The map is free at the transportation info centre Trafikanten (below the big clock tower in front of the Central Station). Here you also will be able to purchase all kinds of tickets. The Public Transit Agency Ruter also have a convenient mobile app called “RuterReise” available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phones that lets you view real-time service schedule and plan trips.
Subway, tram, bus and boat share the same ticket system within Oslo. Tickets are valid for one hour and allow transfer between all the four means of transportation. You can buy tickets at Narvesen, 7-eleven, and Deli de Luca convenience stores, found all around in the city. One ticket to the tram/subway/bus/boat costs NOK 30 if bought in advance, and NOK 50 if bought from the driver on the bus/tram. Oslo Summer School strongly recommends a 7-day ticket at the cost of NOK 240 as the best purchase. This ticket gives you unlimited access to all means of public transportation within Oslo for one week. To avoid fines, remember to validate the card the first time you use it.
Some travel agencies recommend the ”Oslo Pass” for tourists, which gives you free transportation and free access to some museums for NOK 335 for 24 hours. We do not recommend this, as it is cheaper for most to buy the 7-day ticket and to pay entrance at the museums you wish to visit.
The Tram System in Oslo The tram’s route network primarily covers the inner city, but have a couple of longer lines out to the residential areas west and south of the city centre.
The Subway System in Oslo Oslo’s underground train network is called “T-bane” and signified by a blue circle around a large blue “T”. Most downtown stations are shared by all the lines, which makes it easy to find or change trains. Go to your closest subway station, find out where you are on the map, and make sure you’re travelling in the right direction.
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Buses in Oslo Newcomers to Oslo will in most cases not have to rely on buses to get around the city. Travelling by bus nevertheless gives the opportunity to get to some of the museums, parks, and other places of interest around the city, such as the Bygdøy peninsula.
Taxi Taxis are never a cheap alternative (and especially not in Norway), but it is of course more convenient and efficient than anything else. The vast majority of taxi drivers speak English. Your taxi should have a white Taxi-sign on the roof (indicating that it is official and registered) to ensure your own safety.
How to Get to the University of Oslo Blindern Campus All Oslo Summer School events and lectures are located at the University of Oslo Blindern Campus. Blindern Campus and downtown Oslo is connected by both subway and tram, so getting here should not be a problem.
By tram: At the main square outside Oslo Central Station you will find the tram stops, where lines 17 and 18 (westbound to “Rikshospitalet”) will bring you to Blindern Campus in about 20 minutes time. Exit at the stop named “Universitetet Blindern”. Both tram lines also passes the stop for Scandic Holberg Hotel for those staying there, which is named “Holbergs plass”. To get from the “Universitetet Blindern” tram stop to the Georg Sverdrups hus, simply cross the tracks and walk through the campus until you reach the big open square where you will see the University Library called “Georg Sverdrups hus” in black marble stones in front of you slightly to the left (it is the most modern looking building on campus).
By subway: To reach Blindern Campus by subway, you can take either line 4 Ringen or line 6 Sognsvann westbound and exit at the stop called “Blindern.” When getting off the subway, simply walk straight ahead up the slope and you will see the University Library almost immediately. The subway ride from the Central Station takes about 10 minutes.
By bus: While it is possible to get to the Campus by bus, none of the bus lines pass through the city centre. Oslo Summer School recommends the tram or subway!
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Campus Guide The main campus at the University of Oslo, Blindern, is located on the western side of the city. Here you will find The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, as well as the central administration for the University.
The Blindern Campus functions like a small community consisting of several stores, cafeterias, welfare services and student organizations. The University Foundation for Student Life (SIO) is in charge of welfare services such as the Social Counsellors Office, health services and day care centres. You will also find the campus bookstore Akademika where you can buy books and study materials for your courses. A pharmacy is located in the same building.
At Blindern Campus there are several cafeterias where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the Frederikke building you will also find a small supermarket (including postal services), a hairdresser, the Thai-inspired restaurant Sitrongress, the bakery Deiglig, as well as a perfumery and a coffee shop. On the ground floor there is a student chapel open every day, as well as a prayer room for Muslims. You will also be able to access gyms and sports centres at Blindern Campus “Idrettsbygningen” and Domus Athletica, although you will have to pay regular entrance fee.
Note that not all student services will be operating during the summer school. You may ask at the Summer School Information Office for more information about campus and services available during the summer.
For more information about campus services, please visit: http://www.uio.no/english/student-life/campus-guide
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Lecture Schedule, Lunch and Social Events Please see the lecture schedule here: http://www.sv.uio.no/english/research/phd/summer-school/oss-schedule.html
Lunch will be served at Blindern campus between 12.00 and 13.30 every day.
Monday to Friday Lunch 12.00 -13.30 Location: SV Cafeteria, in Eilert Sundts hus, Blindern.
Monday Reception 16.30 -18.00 Location: TBA (to be announced) Representatives from the University of Oslo welcome all participants and lecturers to the Oslo Summer School. A short presentation of the summer courses taking place in week 30 and 31 by the lecturers. Drinks and food will be served. Invitation will be given during registration Monday morning.
Tuesday Guided bus tour of Oslo 16.00 Free guided bus tour of Oslo, lasting for approx. 3 hours. Sign up for the tour in the Information Office on Monday or Tuesday. The bus will depart from Blindern Campus. Be on time!
Friday Farewell party 18.00 Location: TBA (to be announced) Informal farewell gathering from 18.00 until about 20.30 for all participants and lecturers. Pizza will be served for free, and refreshments are available for purchase. Please note that you will have to enlist yourself at the Summer School Information Office in advance for this event. If anyone is in the mood for it, we might end up going out on town together after the event!
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Accommodation organized by Oslo Summer School Oslo Summer School has pre-reserved a limited number of single rooms at Scandic Holberg Hotel, centrally located in downtown Oslo with easy access to public transportation that will take you to Blindern University Campus in 10 to 15 minutes.
For other accommodation alternatives you may consult: http://www.sv.uio.no/english/research/doctoral-degree/summer- school/accommodation.html
Single Room Option at Scandic Holberg Hotel
The price for a single room, economy class is NOK 590 a night per person. NOTE! We only have a limited number of single rooms available, so if you are interested, enlist yourself by sending an e-mail to Oslo Summer School organizers as soon as possible, and no later than 15th of May 2016. You will have to provide correct arrival and departure dates in order to make the arrangement. Payment for the room should be done by yourself directly to the Scandic Holberg Hotel during your stay. The address for the hotel is: Scandic Holberg Hotel, Holbergs plass 1, 0166 Oslo.
Transportation To and From the Scandic Holberg Hotel If you choose to stay at Scandic Holberg Hotel, it may be convenient for you to take SAS Flybussen from the airport, as this bus will stop only 70 meters from the hotel. Exit the bus at Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel, and walk towards the Holberg square (“Holbergs plass”).
If you arrive Oslo Central Station by train, take the tram to Scandic Holberg Hotel. Find the tram stops on the main square outside of the Central Station and take tram line 17 or 18 westbound in the direction “Rikshospitalet”. Exit at “Holbergs plass” and you will find the hotel 50-60 meters further ahead.
In order to get to the Blindern Campus from the Scandic Holberg Hotel, the trams 17 and 18 run frequently and will take you to the campus in about 10 minutes. Take the trams going westbound headed for “Rikshospitalet”, and exit the tram at the stop “Universitetet Blindern”
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Assignments and ECTS Credits In order to obtain course approval and to receive a Course Certificate earning 10 ECTS credits, a written essay/assignment of about 15-20 pages (or 6 - 8 000 words) must be submitted after the course. Your essay will be evaluated and commented on by the course lecturer.
Note in particular:
6 - 8 000 words is the general suggested word count for all of our summer courses. If your course lecturer suggests a shorter/longer paper, or some other type of assignment to be submitted, you should abide by your course lecturer's instructions in this respect. Essays/assignments that do not abide by the general suggested word count and/or the word count suggested by the lecturer, may be rejected. Essays/assignments that do not make extensive use of the course syllabus / reading material may be rejected. Your essay/assignment should be submitted in either word or pdf format, with 1,5 line spacing. Please make sure you include your full name and the title of the course you attended on the front page of the essay/assignment. Essays/assignments must be submitted to the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo, no later than eight weeks after the course has been held. Essays/assignments should be submitted electronically by e-mail to the summer school administrator Tron Harald Torneby. Essays will most likely be assessed and commented on by your course lecturer within eight to twelve weeks after your submission.
Participants attending two courses and wanting to submit two essays, one for each course they attend, may be given an additional four weeks to prepare their second essay.
A completed course including submission an approved essay earns 10 ECTS credits and will receive a Course Certificate. Please note that the University of Oslo can only recommend that home institutions to award participants with 10 ECTS credits (equivalent to 5 U.S. credits).
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Deadlines for submitting essays/assignments in 2016:
Participants who attend week 30, deadline are Monday September 26, 2016. Participants who attend week 31, deadline are Monday October 3, 2016.
Participants submitting essays/assignments can expect to receive results/ assessments/ grading by late November/December 2016.
Please send your essay/assignment in Word or PDF format by e-mail to: [email protected]
Note that the Oslo Summer School will not be able to issue a Summer School Certificate with ECTS credits until you have submitted an essay that is graded with a Pass from the lecturer.
About ECTS Credits ECTS has been developed by the Commission of the European Communities to provide common procedures to guarantee academic recognition of studies abroad. It is a decentralized system based upon principles of mutual trust and confidence between the participating higher education institutions. It provides a way of measuring and comparing learning achievements and transferring them from one institution to another. ECTS is a credit system based on student workload. It involves lectures, seminars, practical work, papers and self-study, and includes all work needed to prepare for an examination or other assessments.
For more information about the ECTS, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/education/tools/ects_en.htm
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Some Useful Sources Official Oslo tourist guide. This is the best and most comprehensive source of information, covering a range of topics: http://www.visitoslo.com/en/ Also look at their list of top 10 most visited attractions to visit while in Oslo.
Oslo Transit Agency, Ruter: https://ruter.no/en/
Dining in Oslo is fairly expensive, but there are some restaurants that offer great food for a reasonable price. A good restaurant guide is found here: http://www.bookatable.co.uk/oslo-restaurants
Bars and Nightlife in different areas of Oslo: http://www.visitoslo.com/en/restaurants-nightlife/club/ There is also a growing selection of brewpubs worth checking out. The area of Grünerløkka has numerous small parks, little cafés, restaurants and bars that is definitely worth a visit.
One of the unique aspects of Oslo is its closeness to nature. Hop on the subway from almost anywhere, and in about 20 minutes time you could be on a hiking trail in the forests and hills of “Oslomarka.” A suggestion easily accessible from campus is the 45 min. hike around the Sognsvann lake. Simply take subway line 6 Sognsvann to its terminal stop and you’ll see it. For other hiking suggestions in Oslomarka, check out: http://ut.no/omrade/4.1253/ Alternatively you can take the shuttle boats out to some of the beautiful small islands in the Oslo fjord.
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