✨ Academies and research centres: internships and RA/PhD tracks without the hassle

If your goal is a research internship, RA position, or full PhD, three things are important: the right venues, English-speaking departments, and everyday logistics around campus. The good news is that job openings and grants are published transparently, many projects are conducted in English, and the urban infrastructure in university hubs allows you to live without a car. Below is a practical guide to finding positions in the capital, the ‘city of seven hills’ and the technological capital of Trøndelag, plus tips on transport, libraries and co-working spaces.

📌 Where to look for RA/PhD and research internships?

The basic trio is Jobbnorge (centralised vacancies in the public sector and universities), EURAXESS (a pan-European showcase for research positions) and the universities' own job pages: UiO, UiB, NTNU. At the same time, check out large institutions such as SINTEF, Simula, as well as ecology/natural resources (NINA, NIVA) — all of them have English-language pages with current vacancies.

Tip: subscribe to faculty and department newsletters/feeds (many PhD/RA positions are posted there first), and keep your Jobbnorge filters open for ‘PhD/Research Fellow’. Examples of current job postings in computer science and related fields can be found on Jobbnorge and on the websites of various institutions.

📌 Which departments use English as their working language?

Many research groups use English as their working language: this is confirmed by the requirements for PhD candidates and faculty pages. At NTNU, English is specified in the admission rules (mandatory English proficiency), and at UiB, entire PhD tracks are ‘mainly conducted in English’ (for example, in the medical faculty). Overall, the level of English in the country is ranked second in the world according to EF EPI 2024, which makes it easier to start working in international teams.

How to apply this in practice: in the Jobbnorge filters and on university pages, look for ads posted in English; this is often a sign that English is used in the group's daily work.

🚋 How to combine campus life and city life without a car?

Rely on public transport and integrated travel cards.

• Oslo (UiO/OsloMet/Simula). Zone 1 Ruter covers the metro, tram and trains within the metropolitan area; a 30-day ticket can be purchased in the app. This provides predictable commuting between the Blindern/Problemveien campuses and the central districts.
• Bergen (UiB/HVL, Media City). The light rail Bybanen connects the city centre, university buildings and the hospital cluster; Skyss offers 30-day passes and a 40% student discount.
• Trondheim (NTNU/SINTEF). AtB bus network: 30-day zone pass (prices updated from 1 January 2025). Walking from Midtbyen to Gløshaugen is also a realistic option.

Life hack: if you sometimes travel between cities (seminars/labs), check out VY/SJ period tickets and student discounts — it's convenient to combine campus life with field trips.

📚 Are there any co-working spaces and libraries with evening access?

Yes, and there is a good selection.

• Libraries. The main library, Deichman Bjørvika, in the capital is open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 6 p.m. on weekends (lots of quiet places, meeting rooms available upon reservation). In Trondheim, a number of district branches operate on an extended access 7:00–23:00 basis by agreement (key card). In Bergen, there is a large public complex, Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek, with long weekday opening hours.
• Coworking spaces. MESH (Oslo) and DIGS (Trondheim) offer 24/7 access for members (convenient for deadlines and conference calls). In Bergen, there are spaces in Media City (Regus/Spaces): during the day, day passes are available, and residents have access according to an extended schedule.

If you need peace and quiet in the evening, start with libraries (business calls can be made in bookable rooms), and for project work with a team, take an ‘evening slot’ at a coworking space.

🗺️ Mini-route in 4 steps

1. Search. Subscribe to Jobbnorge/EURAXESS + job pages UiO/UiB/NTNU. At the same time, monitor SINTEF/Simula/NINA/NIVA.
2. Language. CV/cover letter — in English; see programme/faculty descriptions for English language requirements.
3. Living. Immediately purchase a 30-day pass for your city: Ruter/Bybanen/AtB — less stress with transfers and phone calls.
4. Workplaces in the evening. Book Deichman/city libraries; for team sessions — MESH/DIGS/Spaces.

The research ecosystem between the fjords and the ocean is transparent and friendly: job vacancies are published centrally, there are plenty of English-language projects, and the cities are designed for life without a car. Put together a ‘package’ (CV, cover letter, 1–2 references), set up filters on Jobbnorge/EURAXESS, and get your daily routine and evening activities sorted. Then it's a matter of consistency: 3–5 targeted responses per week, regular seminars on campus, and gradually joining groups — from internships and RAs to your own PhD track.