Important information about student exchange spring 2021

The ongoing covid-19 situation is still cause for a great deal of uncertainty in all countries. After careful consideration KHiO has nevertheless reached the decision to allow for the possibility of student exchange during spring 2021, albeit with certain conditions:

If you are in a so-called risk group, you should not go on exchange.

There are limitations as to where you can go on exchange

You can only travel to country with a stable infection rate, low increase of infection and a good and easily available healthcare system, good infrastructure and good travel connections to Norway. Specifically, this is determined to include:

The Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland)
EU/EEA
UK
Switzerland

You can only travel to an institution that we have an exchange agreement with.
You cannot travel to a country that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travelling to.
You cannot travel if the level of infection in a country is considered high (category: red) by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. In this case you must postpone your departure until the level of infection is lower, i.e. yellow or green, or cancel the exchange.

You need to be prepared for the possibility that:

the exchange is cancelled due to:

the host institution deciding against accepting exchange students
the host country closing their borders
the criteria for ending an exchange are fulfilled prior to departure
the country turning "red" upon departure, and the date of departure being postponed for too long
other unforeseen reasons

that the infection situation may change rapidly
that parts of the educational programme may be given digitally
that you may have to quarantine upon arrival
that you may have to quarantine upon returning to Norway
that you need to ensure that you are thoroughly informed on the host country’s rules regarding arrival, infection situation, healthcare system, and other regulating and limiting factors.
ensure that you understand the conditions of your insurance
that you may have to book flexible and therefore more expensive tickets

Your exchange period may be terminated, and you will have to return to Norway

An exchange will be terminated if:

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other Norwegian authorities advise Norwegian citizens to return to Norway.

This also applies to students of foreign nationalities.
But does not necessarily apply if the student is a citizen of the country they are exchanging to.

The exchange may be terminated if:

the Covid-19 situation is significantly worsened at the host institution or in the host country.
the educational programme at the host institution is significantly worsened.
other significant reasons emerge

KHiO will make the decision as to whether an exchange should be terminated.

If an exchange is terminated

Each individual student should have a conversation prior to their departure looking at how a regular study progression can be ensured in case of a terminated stay.
If KHiO does decide to terminate an exchange, KHiO should, as far as is possible, provide a solution for completing the semester at KHiO and acquiring the necessary credits with us. We can, however, not guarantee that this will be feasible and will be dependent on various factors surrounding the situation.

Other points

Students that are going on exchange must be present at KHiO and follow the educational programme here up until departure.
Prior to departure KHiO will demand to see documentation that you have valid insurance and that you are eligible for healthcare.
Useful websites on rules regarding departure from Norway and arrival to various countries: