🏙️ Student Oslo: SiO accommodation, welcome week and quiet areas

🏠 SiO housing: priorities, application, queue

SiO (Studentsamskipnaden i Oslo) is the main student organisation that manages student housing, sports and services in Oslo.

● Priority: first-year students and international students have a higher chance of getting a room.

● Application: Apply via the SiO Housing website 3–6 months before the start of the semester.

● Waiting list: demand is high in the summer, so it is recommended to apply in advance.

● Options: single rooms, studios, family flats.

📌 Tip: when moving in, take photos of the condition of the room and check the contract — the deposit must always be kept in a separate account.

🎉 Welcome Week UiO

In August, the University of Oslo holds Welcome Week — a week of getting to know the campus, culture and students.

What to expect:

● Buddy groups — senior students help newcomers settle in.

● Campus tours: libraries, sports centres, student cafés.

● Social events: concerts, quizzes, city walks.

📌 Bring your student ID, schedule, and buddy group contact information. Introverts can choose quiet activities (e.g., book clubs or guided tours).

📚 Top libraries and quiet spaces

Oslo has many places to study:

● 📖 Universitetsbiblioteket (UBO) — the central library of the University of Oslo, open from early morning.

● ☕ Deichman Bjørvika — a modern city library near the opera house, popular with students.

● 🪑 OsloMet's illuminated areas — quiet rooms at the Pilestredet campus.

● 💻 Coworking spaces (Mesh, Work-Work) — for those who combine study and projects.

👉 Life hack: many libraries are open on weekends, and Deichman even has rooms for group work that can be booked online.

💼 Internships and careers

Oslo is the country's largest labour market. Opportunities for students:

● internships at international companies (Telenor, DNV, PwC, Oslo Science Park start-ups),

● government agencies and NGOs,

● student job fairs (career fairs at UiO and OsloMet).

📌 Tip: write your CV in English and Norwegian — this increases your chances of a successful response.

Student life in Oslo is an amazing combination of academic intensity and a rich infrastructure! SiO helps with finding a place to live, Welcome Week makes it easier to settle in, there are libraries and co-working spaces to use, and internships in the capital open up amazing career opportunities.

📌 Tip: Start planning your accommodation and Welcome Week in the spring so that you are fully prepared by August. See also: student housing in Tromsø.