Mia imagined that university-teaching would consist of unapproachable lecturers monologuing to crowds of hundreds. Luckily, she found out that this is a far cry from the small, student-inclusive classes at NMBU.
Name: Mia Paton
Study program: International Environment and Development studies
Why did you choose to study in Norway?
It was my family background that opened up Norway as an option for my studies. I was born and raised in South Africa, but my mother is Norwegian, thus I am fortunate to have a Norwegian passport.
When I started looking for places to study i thought I might as well look in Norway, and I am so happy I did! I found my dream study at NMBU, with the Bachelor of International Environment and Development study. This covered all the topics I feel passionate about, and I loved the approach they had on the study.
It was, however, the well-functioning society of Norway that really attracted me to studying here. Norway is known to be one of the safest and happiest nations in the world, this was a very comforting to me. It also helped ease my parents knowing I was in a safe environment where people have their best interest for others.
Why did you choose NMBU?
The first reason is that I was looking for an English-taught bachelor. There aren’t many of those around in Norway.
Secondly, the location, I loved the idea of being in a student environment like at Ås (the town were NMBU is located), which is small. And then it is also very close to Oslo, which allows students to experience a bigger city at their leisure.
Thirdly was the reputation NMBU had, everyone I spoke to had something positive to say, as well as their worldwide recognition. All these factors became very important when making my final choice: the language, location, and the reputation.
How did you experience settling in on campus?
I had a great time! The internationals had their own introduction week. This week was before anyone else arrived on came, it really allowed us to have a “buffer zone” before everything started. This week was amazing! It was extremely well organized, and we were very well looked after, from setting up IT things to talks to activities.
Throughout this week I really felt welcomed to NMBU. I found friends very quickly and easily through the activities. Then we had buddy week for 2 weeks which was with Norwegians too. And these weeks were extremely fun. It was very easy to make friends.
There are also many student organizations I could join, which has helped me settle in even more.
About your study program
In my study, we are encouraged to question everyday phenomena. It honestly feels like we are trying to solve the world's problems through every lecture.
I am in the first year of my bachelor, and so far, we have argued the true meaning of development and related it to sustainability, which is extremely interesting and thought-provoking.
My idea of the university has always been a lecturer standing in front of hundred students, with no student-teacher contact. This was how it was like for my friends at other universities.
However just 10 minutes into the first lecture I realised I was completely wrong! All our lectures are cooperative, where we are encouraged to question the lecturer and engage in debates.
I find this really helps me deepen my understanding of our topics. There is a more realistic, modern approach, which I feel is better for preparing me for the real world.
Tell us about student life
Campus Ås is beautiful, the most beautiful campus in Norway. From the buildings to nature, it is flawless.
The social life in Ås is amazing, to fully understand it you have to experience it yourself.
There are always many different social events happening daily. There is an insane amount of student organizations, making it impossible not to find one that fits you. You can name any of your interests and it’s almost guaranteed there is an organization for it.
Everyone wants the best for others which is what makes the student activities so special. The student activities are extremely inclusive, which is helpful for a smooth experience of socializing. On top of that the small-town location of NMBU makes the student environment that much better.
On a larger scale, life in Norway is great. The weather is not as bad as people make it out to be, and that is coming from a South African. Also, it's hard to believe how everything works so well. It is super easy and safe to take public transport anywhere.
Living in Ås is great because you are so close to Oslo and thus closer to the world: It is easy to make trips to other parts of Norway or abroad.
What do you plan to do after studies?
I am not entirely sure of a specific job title, but I know the job region will be something within the environmental and social realm. I would also like to work or live in different countries, thus the bachelor's I am doing now is perfect for preparing me for where I want to be in the future.
