Student accommodation
Housing options, prices, and tips. This guide provides you with all the necessary information about student housing in Bergen.
Many students in Bergen choose to live in the city centre, where both the university campus and leisure activities are within walking distance. There are also several housing options close to the campuses of the other educational institutions.
For students it is common either to rent a room in a shared apartment or live in student accommodation provided by the student welfare organisation in Bergen, Sammen. The rent will vary depending on location and type of accommodation. If you are willing to live outside the city centre (15–20 min by bus or light rail), the prices are usually lower.
How do you want to live?
1. Student housing
Most international students live in student accommodation owned by Sammen. Sammen has several housing alternatives scattered in and around the city centre and close to the different campuses.
Sammen manages 4000 accommodation units, mainly single or double rooms with private or shared bathroom and shared kitchen. They also provide studio apartments and larger apartments for families.
Normal price range for a single room in Sammen is NOK 2775–4500.
Many international students live at Fantoft, partly because this is the largest residence with 1100 units, and partly because the rent is low. Fantoft is located approx. 5 km south of Bergen city centre, and the light rail train takes you there in 18 minutes.
Sammen's Housing Department has many years of experience in lodging students from all over the world. Sammen provides a secure tenancy, well-regulated contracts, and is concerned with creating a positive environment for its tenants.
The following students are guaranteed a single room in a Sammen student home, provided that you apply for a room before the deadline:
- Exchange students
- Self-financed Master degree students
- Students in other collaboration programs with a min. duration of 1 semester, MiB and ENE.
2. Private housing
The private rental market in Bergen is in general more expensive than student housing. On the private market the price for room in a shared apartment is usually NOK 4000–6000 per month.
Commonly used terms
- Bolig til leie – Rentals
- Langtidsleie – Long term rentals
- Korttidsleie – Short term rentals
- Leilighet – Apartment
- Hybel – A room or small studio apartment (can have a private or shared bathroom and kitchen)
- Rom bofellesskap/kollektiv – A room in a shared apartment
- Møblert – Furnished
- Delvis møblert – Partly furnished
- Umøblert – Unfurnished
- Strøm inkludert – Electricity/heating included in rent
- Internett inkludert – Costs for Internet access included in rent
A private apartment in the city centre normally starts at 9000 NOK. If you are planning to stay in Norway for a limited period, sublease at a shared apartment is common.
If you are looking for accommodation in the private market, there are several online platforms where listings are posted. The two largest forums are:
Post your own listing
If you can’t find any listings that match your criteria, you can place your own listing where you describe what type of accommodation you are looking for, and from which date. This service makes it possible for people looking for a tenant or an extra person for their shared apartment to find you.
Use the tab “Leietakere” on Hybel.no or “Ønskes leid” on Finn.no.
If you want to post this type of listing, you should include a short text about yourself.
What are you going to study and at which educational institution? What are your interests and how do you spend your spare time? Which type of person are you?
If you are looking for a shared apartment, it is common to describe which type of people would you would prefer to live with.
Most people also include a photo of themselves.
Before you move in
If you choose to rent on the private market, you should check the following:
You should always have a viewing of the room or apartment before you sign a contract. If you are not able to go yourself, ask someone to do it for you if you can.
Always ask for a standard written tenancy contract, with a fixed rent. This means that all costs the Lessor may have in connection with the rental must be included in the rental charges. This agreement and the Tenancy Act (husleieloven) regulate the Tenant’s and the Lessor’s rights and obligations in the tenancy. A rental agreement must be drawn up in writing. If you share an apartment with others, and you don’t have individual contracts, it is recommended that you draw up an internal contract.
If the landlord refuse to give you a written contract, you should look for another apartment instead. For more help on contracts or housing issues, you can contact Jussformidlingen, the Consumer Councils or the Rent Disputes Tribunal.
Take photos of what the property looks like and any damages before you move in. If you have good documentation the lessor cannot claim that you are responsible.
It is common that the lessor requires a deposit as a safety for owed rent, damage to the property etc. Normally the deposit is equivalent to 2–3 months’ rent to maximum 6 months’ rent. By law, the lessor must open a separate deposit account not accessible to anyone before the end of the rental period. Never pay a deposit cash or transfer to the landlord’s private bank account.
Useful resources
- Tenancy agreement in English from the Consumer Council. You will find more information in English about housing and Norwegian law on these pages.
- Jussformidlingen
- Husleietvistutvalget/Rent Disputes Tribunal
