Practicalities

 

Where is Bergen?

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway. It is situated on the west coast, facing the sea and surrounded by seven mountains. Because of its proximity to the Atlantic Gulf Stream, the climate is rather mild all year round. Summer temperatures generally range from 12 – 25 degrees (Celsius), and though Bergen is often pictured as the “Rain City”, it certainly also has its sunny days.

Both the scenery and the architecture in Bergen attract tourists from all over the world. Narrow paving stoned streets twist down the hills between small picturesque white painted wooden houses. In the city centre you will find a charming mix of old and new, the famous fish market, the Hanseatic buildings (Bryggen), and a wide selection of cafes and restaurants, shops and museums.

Due to its location on a peninsula between seven mountains, the city centre itself is not very big. All the same it is a lively town with more than 30 000 students living here - many of them coming from abroad. Bergen has an interesting cultural life and a pulsating night life.

For more information about Bergen please go to the City of Bergen Tourist Office.

Venue

The Bergen Summer Research School 2012 is organised at the University of Bergen, the Law Faculty building (Dragefjellet) which is situated close to the city centre.

Travel and accommodation

Bergen is well connected to the rest of the world by direct air flights from/to a number of central European airports and by railway (via Oslo).

The participants are expected to organise and pay their own travel and accommodation (regarding the possibility of receiving travel support, see next paragraph). For those of you who want to book your own accommodation you will find lists of available hotels and hostels on the City of Bergen web pages. As hotels in Bergen are generally fully booked in June-July, it is important that bookings are done as early as possible. A limited number of hotel rooms at medium price level are being reserved by the BSRS Secretariat and may, upon request, be available for candidates accepted to the BSRS.

Travel grants

The BSRS is able to offer a limited number of scholarships to students and junior faculty in the global south. The scholarships are prioritised for PhD students according to scientific qualifications.
Three kinds of grants are available:

1) Waivering of tuition fee

2) Food and accommodation; local transport in the Bergen area
Grants covering costs of hotel accommodation (shared double rooms) and food (breakfasts, lunches, dinners, etc.) for the duration of the Research School, local transport in the Bergen area

2) Travel grants
Grants covering the costs of air tickets to Bergen t/r, visa and obligatory travel insurance.

Important: To obtain a travel grant, applicants must fill in the required information in the application form and state clearly the reasons why they need financial support. For candidates receiving travel grants the BSRS Secretariat will book air tickets and send the tickets electronically to each participant.  Internal travel costs in the applicants' home country will as a rule not be reimbursed. Visa and travel insurance costs and airport tax must be paid by the participants themselves, but for travel grant receivers such costs will be refunded during their stay in Bergen, provided that they bring with them the original receipts.

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for attending the Bergen Summer Research School is 3000 NOK (equals approximately 370 Euros or 480 USD, current rate (30.11.2010)). Currency Exchange.

Meal

Lunches, dinners and coffee/tea/snacks during breaks will be served free of charge to all the participants at the Bergen Summer Research School.

Norwegian currency

The currency of Norway is Norwegian Kroner (NOK).
It may also be useful to know that Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world, not least when it comes to public transport, restaurants, tobacco and alcoholic beverages and nationally produced merchandise in general.