Name: Maryna Haiovych
Home country: Ukraine
Previous university: Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
Previous studies: B.Sc. in Finance
Current study programme at BI: M.Sc. in Business, major in Finance
Campus: Bergen
Where I live in Bergen
I live in the dormitory called Gyldenpris and, since it is located very close to BI, it takes only 15 minutes to walk there. Therefore, I usually don’t need to wake up very early and I can set my alarm for 1 hour before a lecture (that’s enough time for me to get ready and get to class).
Classes
Our schedule varies depending on the subject and lecturers, but generally the first lecture starts at 10:00 or 12:00. During the day it is usual to have 1-2 lectures that are 90 (sometimes, but rarely 135) minutes each. Every 45 minutes there is a 15-minute break.
When I first came to BI I thought that it’s not so much, but in reality lectures are very intense, plus it is expected that most of the course hours are dedicated to self-studying. Therefore, after lectures I usually stay at university until 5 or 6 o’clock to go through lecture materials or work on group projects with my team.
Campus Facilities
Since there are many group rooms around the campus and one separate studying space specifically for master students, it doesn’t take much effort to stay focused on schoolwork the whole day. But there are also many possibilities to relax on campus, if you feel tired of studying.
First of all, there is a canteen with incredibly delicious food prepared by a chef, but for a low student price. My favourite dish so far is lasagna :)
Secondly, there is also a student bar called Rederiet where coffee and alcohol are served at student prices. Quite often they organise different activities and events for students on the weekday evenings.
Thirdly, there are 2 tables for table tennis on the first floor, so you can relax in a healthy way during the breaks.
Activities after school
After school, I usually go to the gym or just straight home. There is a very affordable gym membership for students at Trene Sammen, so I totally recommend checking it out. And in the evenings, I usually talk to my friends and family, cook food for the coming days, or continue studying because usually in the second part of the semester the workload increases.