Student life

Four of our campuses host international exchange and full-degree students. There are various things to do on each campus and in the surrounding area; you can find detailed information on this page.

International exchange and full degree students from various countries posing on the staircase at Campus Hamar
Photo: International Office, Campus Hamar

 

Campus Elverum

Are you curious about the campus facilities, student groups and more at Campus Elverum? See the drop-down list below. 

City guide

About the town

Surrounded by forests and crossed by the Glomma river, Elverum is a small and friendly town in Eastern Norway. The INN campus in Elverum is located at the Terningen Arena, about a 20 minute-walk (10 minutes by bus) from the city centre.

You can go to Hamar by train or bus (approximately 20 minutes), and to Oslo and its airport by train (under two hours). Travelling to the airport by bus is limited and will take additional time.

Stores in Elverum

The most common grocery stores in Elverum are Kiwi, Rema 1000, and Coop. A Coop Extra is a minute from the main student housing, Meierigata. Stores are open Monday to Saturday; Sunday options are more limited to the small chain Joker for groceries or petrol stations. Grocery shops only sell light alcohol, while stronger drinks are at Vinmonopolet with restricted hours.

The city centre and the nearby mall, Thon Senter, offer boutiques, clothing and sports shops. A commercial zone next to the campus includes Jysk (home and goods), Kiwi, and fast food restaurants. Second-hand stores include Nesten Ny (mostly clothing), Namibiahuset, and Fritt Fram (outdoor gear with free-equipment loan service).

Life in Elverum town

Culture and entertainment

Elverum offers a lively and active cultural life year-round, with annual events such as Elvebris (music festival), Elverumsmartn (traditional market), Movies on War (film festival), and Smaksfestivalen (food and wine festival).

The Glomdal Museum and the Norwegian Forestry Museum showcase regional history and art. The Forestry Museum also hosts Hunting and Fishing Days each August, featuring beginner-level workshops.

Elverum Kulturhus includes a cinema and theatres and hosts concerts year-round.

Outdoor life and leisure activities

Elverum is a ground for outdoor activities. By public transport, you can reach Finnskogen (“the Finnish Forest”) for camping or hiking in just over an hour, or Gåsbu for cross-country or alpine skiing in about 30 minutes. By car, you can drive to Trysil (about 1h45) or Budor (about 30 minutes) for winter sports such as alpine and cross-country skiing, as well as hiking and biking in summer.

The Elverum region offers many opportunities to enjoy various activities. Local lakes and the Glomma River are perfect for fishing, walking, and swimming in the wild. It is also possible to book a sauna space right next to the river. The surrounding area is full of cycling routes and hiking trails.

Most restaurants, cafés and bars are located in Elverum's city centre, on the eastern side of the city. For example, Popsykkel Café (known for its homemade ice cream) and Stri Pub (which has a very good reputation among fans of Metal music). Another is Lokket Spiseri, a Turkish restaurant appreciated for its distinctive cuisine.

Relevant sources

Life on campus

Facilities

Campus Elverum offers several facilities for students, including the Fysen cafeteria and coffee bar, a library, and study rooms. Students also have access to a student chaplain for support and guidance.

For more details about services and facilities, visit the Campus Elverum webpage. You can also check out SINN's calendar of events for students, which applies to all campuses. 

Student Society

The Student Society (Studentsamfunnet) at Campus Elverum runs regular social events. This includes quiz nights and student bowling on Thursdays, including theme nights on weekends, such as a Halloween party, or after-ski events.

The Student Sport Group ESI (Elverum studentidrett) arranges volleyball (beginners and advanced), and handball (beginner’s level and women’s team).

You can find detailed information about the student society in Campus Elverum on StudINN's webpages. The webpage is in Norwegian, so use your browser to translate the information to English. 

For more information about ESI, contact them via their Facebook page or email at Elverumstudentidrett@gmail.com.

Start of studies

The start of your studies depends on whether you are an exchange student or a full degree student. 

Campus Evenstad

Are you curious about the campus facilities, student groups and more at Campus Evenstad? See the drop-down list below. 

City guide

About the City

Campus Evenstad sits on the Glomma River, surrounded by forests, hills and mountains in the village of the same name. Located in the middle of the countryside, it is about 20 km south of Koppang (about 20 minutes), Rena is about 30 minutes south and Elverum is about an hour south. All are reachable by train or car. If you have the mind for travelling even further, Trondheim is about 5 hours and Oslo about 3,5 hours by train.

Grocery and shopping in Evenstad

For groceries, shopping and services options, you can travel to Koppang, Rena, or Elverum.

They provide several grocery stores; Koppang has a sports store, pharmacy, Felleskjøpet (for outdoor and dog supplies), a doctor's office, a library, and a second-hand store. Rena has a larger commercial centre with various shops, a bookstore, and a second-hand store for more affordable options.

If you do not have a car, errands require planning. Grocery shops sell only light alcohol, and stronger drinks are available in Koppang and Rena, but with restricted opening hours.

Elverum and Hamar are other options for shopping and groceries. See Campus Elverum and Campus Hamar for more information.

Relevant sources

Life in Evenstad

Culture and entertainment

Around Evenstad, one will have to travel to the neighbouring cities (Koppang, Rena, and Elverum). Koppang and Rena both host a movie theatre. A couple of restaurants and takeaway locations can be found in Koppang, while Rena provides several restaurants and cafés. Otherwise, most activities will take place on campus and will be arranged by the student groups.

Outdoor activities and leisure

The Campus Evenstad location offers year-round activities close to campus. Students can swim or kayak, hike nearby peaks like Trongberget and Rognvol (with panoramic views and a cabin at the summit), and use many local cross-country trails. A couple of restaurants and takeaway locations can be found in Koppang, while Rena provides several restaurants and cafés.

The campus library lends outdoor gear, and the student society often provides additional equipment.

Most students live on site, so many events and activities take place there thanks to a very active student society. For more urban options, plan trips to nearby towns.

Life on campus

Campus facilities

Campus Evenstad offers several facilities for students, including the “Johnny’s kantine” Cafeteria, a gym and training room, a library, study rooms, two student dorm buildings (one of which is dog-friendly), and access to a student chaplain for support and guidance.

Facilities available for students also include a student-run bar, Biotopen, and access to a hot tub and sauna. Outdoor equipment and gear rentals are also provided by the student society and in our library.

For more details about services and facilities, visit the Campus Evenstad webpage.

Student society

The Evenstad student society (ESS) organises regular activities on campus, including sports such as volleyball, futsal, line dancing, indoor climbing, and Quidditch. It also supports several student clubs such as culture, photography, outdoor (frulitsliv), brewery, the wildlife, “crazy swimming people” (icebathing), and orienteering. ESS also manages equipment rentals, access to the indoor fitness centre, and events at the student bar.

Check out Evenstad Student Society on StudINN, and sign up through their webpage.

Start of studies

The start of your studies depends on whether you are an exchange student or a full degree student. 

Campus Hamar

Are you curious about the campus facilities, student groups and more at Campus Hamar? See the drop-down list below. 

City guide

About the city

The city of Hamar is located along the banks of Lake Mjøsa, between the mountains and the countryside. As the regional capital of Innlandet county, Hamar is located near Norway’s capital, Oslo, and its airport (1-1h20 minutes). Travelling by train, air, and bus is easily accessible.

Stores in Hamar

In Hamar, several supermarkets — Rema 1000, Kiwi, and Coop Extra — are within walking distance of campus. Holdbart is a good budget option, selling premium goods at a big discount. Stores are open Monday to Saturday; on Sundays, options are more limited to Joker (grocery shop) or petrol stations. Grocery shops only sell light alcohol, while stronger drinks are at Vinmonopolet with restricted hours.

Due to the campus's central location, everything is within walking distance. You can explore a range of shops, and two shopping malls (CC and Maxi Storsenter) offer more shopping options in the city centre.

For second-hand stores, check out Fretex (clothes, furniture, books), Kirpinn, and Resirkula.

Life in Hamar city

Culture and entertainment

Hamar has a lively and year-round cultural and social scene. Highlights include the Hamar Medieval Festival at Domkirkeodden (medieval life by the lake), Stoppested Verden (a free festival of music, food, and traditions from all around the world) and The Gathering (Norway's largest gaming event).

For museums, you can visit Domkirkeodden or the Norwegian Railway Museum. Other cultural centres are scattered throughout the city, especially for art galleries.

The city is also Norway’s only UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts. The city is a strong hub for digital art and visual industries, with many related festivals and venues. INN’s Game School is part of Hamar’s innovative creative sector, advancing it through its programmes and events (e.g., Game School Expo), while the university promotes film, TV, and gaming through research, education, and artistic development.

Outdoor activities and leisure

Hamar offers a unique blend of nature and city life. Its location by Mjøsa and nearby mountains offers easy access to walking with great views, swimming, boating, beaches, skiing, slalom, and hiking. Budor and Gåsbu (about 30 minutes) are nearby resorts for winter sports (skiing, cross-country skiing) and summer activities (hiking, biking).

Popular leisure places year-round include Ankerskogen Swimming Hall (one of the largest indoor pools in the region), Koigen Park (especially in summer), the Rush Indoor Trampoline Park, and Hamar Kulturhus (offering numerous activities day and night).

The town centre provides a lively yet relaxed urban scenery. Cafés, restaurants, and pubs are hosting quiz nights, live music and other social events, great for meeting locals and internationals. Hamar is also home to many concerts throughout the year.

Relevant sources

Life on campus

Campus facilities

Campus Hamar offers a range of student facilities to support study and daily life, including a bookshop, a cafeteria, a library, study rooms, and a student chaplain for student support. You can also find an EMERGE Hub, a meeting point for students to socialise and join various events.

Check out Campus Hamar’s webpage for additional information.

Student society

Campus Hamar is home to diverse student organisations on campus that host various activities throughout the semesters. Join a student association for academic or social events, take part in weekly activity groups, or join a sports team. There are also two student bars, the Bunker and Gregers, where various events take place every semester.

You can find detailed information about the student society in Campus Hamar on StudINN's webpages. You can also check out SINN’s calendar of events for students, which applies to all campuses. The information on both webpages is in Norwegian, so use your browser to translate it.

Start of studies

The start of your studies depends on whether you are an exchange student or a full degree student. 

Campus Lillehammer

Are you curious about the campus facilities, student groups and more at Campus Lillehammer? See the drop-down list below. 

City guide

About the city

Located in the mountains at the northern end of Lake Mjøsa, Lillehammer is a famous tourist destination and a true student city. It provides quick access to neighbouring cities and is close to Oslo and its Airport (2 hours by train). Travelling by train, air, and bus is easily accessible.

Stores in Lillehammer

Lillehammer has many grocery stores scattered around the city, commonly Kiwi, Rema 1000, and Coop Mega. Stores are open Monday to Saturday; On Sundays, grocery options are limited (mainly the Joker chain or petrol stations). Grocery shops only sell light alcohol, while stronger drinks are at Vinmonopolet with restricted hours.

The city of Lillehammer offers a wide range of stores. Diverse shopping options are available, mostly in three areas. in the city centre around Storgata, in the mall next to the train station (CC Strandtorget) and in a commercial zone between the University and the city centre. Due to its sports and outdoor environment, Lillehammer is home to many sports stores. For home and goods, try Europris, Jysk and Rusta. If you want to shop second-hand, you can do so at Atter, Fretex, Varig, and Ting og Tøy. 

Life in Lillehammer city

Culture and entertainment

Lillehammer is a major cultural hub, home to many cultural centres and events. The city is home to the Norwegian Olympic Museum, Lillehammer Art Museum and Maihaugen (one of Norway’s largest open-air museums). Its Olympic Heritage brings national and international sports events to the area in the winter, especially alpine skiing, ski jumping, and cross-country skiing.

The city hosts year-round festivals and events, and, as a UNESCO City of Literature, organises the Norwegian Festival of Literature and the World Expression Forum. Other highlights include music festivals such as the Lillehammer Live and Main Street Music Festival.

Theme parks like Hunderfossen are located up north of Lillehammer and often feature Norwegian culture.

Outdoor activities and leisure

Lillehammer offers outdoor activities year-round. In winter, the area becomes a major snow destination, with alpine skiing and snow parks at Hafjell and Kvitfjell, cross-country trails around Sjusjøen, winter hikes, sledging, and ice skating on Lake Mjøsa. In summer, you can hike (e.g. Balbergkampen), bike at Hafjell Bike Park, swim or relax by nearby lakes.

City leisure facilities run year-round (Jorekstad aquatic centre, wellness and entertainment venues like saunas), and a lively café, bar, club and restaurant scene hosts regular social events.

Relevant sources

Life on campus

Campus facilities

Campus Lillehammer offers several facilities, including a library with reading halls, study rooms, a gym, the Akademika bookshop, a cafeteria, and the Studenten café and bar, which organises activities all year-round.

Check out the Campus Lillehammer webpage for additional information. You can also check out SINN’s calendar of events for students, which applies to all campuses. The information on both webpages is in Norwegian, so use your browser to translate it.

Student society

Campus Lillehammer offers a lively student environment with many student-organised activities and events. Joining a student association or one of the various activity groups, such as Lillehammer Student Sports (which offers activities with a low participation threshold), is a good way to meet others and take part in regular social events.

You can find detailed information about the student society in Campus Lillehammer on StudINN's webpages. The information is in Norwegian, so use your browser to translate it into English.

Start of studies

The start of your studies depends on whether you are an exchange student or a full degree student. 

Volunteering opportunities

In collaboration with Visit Lillehammer, Olympiaparken and others, the International Office at Campus Lillehammer offers international students the possibility of volunteering at various events.

Students can volunteer at various events in Lillehammer and the area, such as outdoor sports and cultural events. The offer varies each semester, and not all events might fit everyone. Some have limited offers, while others have a wide variety of options for the volunteers to choose between. The available offers will be provided on Canvas to exchange students at Campus Lillehammer.

Students from other campuses and studying full degrees at Campus Lillehammer must contact the International Office the International Office at Campus Lillehammer for information. However, students enrolled in other campuses must cover the transportation to Lillehammer.

Why volunteer?

  • You gain valuable practical experience.
  • You can create networks and become more attractive to employers.

Contact us

If you need guidance or have questions about exchange at our institution, contact us at the International Office.