As part of my dual study programme at the Hamburg School of Business Administration (HSBA), I had the opportunity to spend my third semester abroad. Berenberg supported me from the outset and encouraged me in my decision to spend a semester abroad during my studies. From August to December, I studied at BI Norwegian Business School (BI) in Oslo, a partner university of HSBA.
For me, the semester abroad was the perfect chance to gain new perspectives, improve my English skills, and experience a different culture.

Why Oslo?
I chose Oslo deliberately. BI offers a wide range of courses in Finance, perfectly aligned with my specialization, and allows full credit transfer, something not guaranteed at every partner university.
Norway as a country also appealed to me: nature, lifestyle, and a high standard of living convinced me. Oslo was therefore my first choice, and I was very happy to receive a place.

Organization and Preparation
Preparation took place in close coordination with HSBA and their International Office. Although many documents had to be submitted, from course matching to motivation letters to various deadlines and forms, the process was well structured.
BI strongly supports international students. Dorm rooms are guaranteed, and local services in Oslo help with registration and practical matters. Since Norway participates in the Erasmus programme, there was also less bureaucracy, and I received financial support. Berenberg additionally made the experience much easier. I also felt very well supported by Berenberg throughout the entire preparation phase for my semester abroad.

Studying at BI Norwegian Business School
BI has a very modern campus with around 7,000 students, including roughly 800 international students each semester. Lectures were entirely in English and noticeably more international than at HSBA.
The course structure is quite different:
Lectures last 1 hour and 30 minutes, more compact, yet more intense, with a strong focus on self-study.
All courses were well structured, academically demanding, and deepened the subject matter significantly.

Daily Life in Oslo
My daily life consisted of a balanced mix of studying, sports, and international exchange.
A typical university day started around 10 a.m. with the first lecture. I usually had no more than two lectures per day, giving me time to eat at the cafeteria or use the fitness studio, which is also located on campus.
On free days or evenings, my flatmates and I cooked together or explored the city.
I lived in a student residence near the university in an international six-person shared flat with flatmates from Italy, China and France, among others. English therefore became the everyday language.
Oslo offers a unique combination: a city by the fjord with mountains and lakes just a short distance away. I also travelled extensively in Norway, to the west coast, the Lofoten islands, and even to Svalbard.

Personal Value
The semester abroad helped me grow academically and personally. I was able to:

·         significantly improve my English,

·         deepen academic competencies,

·         build international friendships,

·         gain intercultural experience,

·         and strengthen my independence.

Many impressions will stay with me far beyond the semester. Above all, the openness with which people from around the world meet each other left a lasting impact. I was able to form many new international friendships and hope they will remain long term.

Conclusion
For me, the semester abroad in Oslo was a real enrichment, academically, personally, and culturally. I can only recommend other dual students to make use of this opportunity. Anyone willing to embrace something new will gain tremendously.
I would choose Oslo again at any time, with the advice to plan for higher living expenses.
The combination of an excellent university, an international environment, impressive nature, and the support of Berenberg made this semester a truly special part of my studies.