Violet Stathopoulou, University of Stavanger (Norway)
I had the pleasure of spending the third week of February 2024 at the University of Stavanger as part of the Erasmus+ staff mobility programme. The exchange was organised with the joined efforts of our departmental Erasmus+ coordinator Prof. Anja Hartl, Mrs Larissa Jenewein, Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator, and Prof. Oliver Martin Trexl at the University of Stavanger, Faculty of Arts and Education, Department of Cultural Studies and Languages.
Having been given the chance to participate and contribute to several classes, I was truly impressed by the very relaxed, yet thorough way of teaching and working with students. Many lectures are followed by practical workshops and the Department staff offer regular ono-to-one consultations and small group tutorials. For instance, after a two-hour lecture on Phonetics and Phonology, students can practise RP (British English, received pronunciation) or GA (General American pronunciation) in a follow-up 50-minute session in separate groups depending on their needs.
The campus, which feels more like a big park, is situated between Sola airport and the city of Stavanger. Modern facilities, a most friendly central library, and lots of cafés and study spaces are available to students and visitors.
Stavanger is the third-largest city of the country, also known as the Oil Capital of Norway. It is a vibrant place with lots of history, cultural sights and maritime flair. I stayed near the centre, close to the harbour, at a stone’s throw from the historic Old Town, also known as Gamle, with cobbled streets and picturesque wooden white houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Interesting museums, from design, art and archaeology to the unique oil museum, offer opportunities to discover more about the area and its history. A walk along the seafront and through he old town with the fishermen’s houses, will transport you to a different era when Stavanger was world famous for its fish canning industry, while modern shopping centres, cafés and restaurants are just around the corner.
Unless you opt for student accommodation on campus, Columbus buses will take you there within 15 minutes. Oslo or Bergen are not too far (by Norwegian standards) and easy to reach bus or train, but there are numerous destinations worth visiting close to the city of Stavanger by boat.
If you are interested in studying in a country where everyone speaks perfect English and you are an enthusiast for sports and the great outdoors, Stavanger is the place for you. Winter semester starts mid-August and finishes in December, a week before Christmas. An ideal choice for a semester abroad if you want to experience the Nordic winter, and enjoy a two-month holiday before returning to Innsbruck for the next spring semester.
With breathtaking fjords, pristine nature and the famous Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) in Lysefjord close to the city, students can experience the Nordic way of life and excellent study programmes in a place which others choose as a holiday destination!
