❄️ Tromsø and UiT: Samskipnaden accommodation and part-time work
🏠 Accommodation, sports and mental health support through Samskipnaden
Samskipnaden i Tromsø manages student housing, sports and support services.
● Housing:
○ Various formats — from rooms in corridor blocks to family flats.
○ Prices are below market rates, with priority given to first-year students and international students.
○ Rooms are often shared: shared kitchen and living room, private bedroom.
● Sports:
○ Gyms, swimming pool, yoga classes and group activities.
○ In winter — ski and snowboard rental, northern sports clubs.
● Psychological support:
○ Psychological counselling and student talking groups.
○ Support for adapting to life in polar night conditions.
📌 Tip: submit your housing application at least 4–5 months in advance, especially if you plan to move in during August.
💼 Part-time work and UDI rules
A student study permit in Norway entitles you to work:
● up to 20 hours per week during the semester,
● full-time during holidays,
● remote work is permitted if it does not exceed the limit.
Where to look for part-time work:
● UiT Career Centre services,
● job sites (Finn.no, Indeed, NAV),
● campus cafés, libraries, sports centres.
👉 It is important to record your hours and keep your contracts. Violating the limit can lead to problems with the UDI.
🧥 Warm clothing and daylight hours
Life above the Arctic Circle requires preparation:
● Clothing: layers, thermal underwear, waterproof footwear.
● Winter: vitamin D supplements, daylight lamps, sleep schedule.
● Polar night: plan active pursuits (sports, study, meetings) to maintain mental health.
● Polar day: use blackout curtains for normal sleep.
📌 Tip: many shops in Tromsø offer student discounts on winter gear.
📝 Winter & North checklist for a student in Tromsø
- 🏠 Apply early for housing through Samskipnaden
- 🧥 Buy thermal underwear and waterproof shoes
- 🌞 Get a daylight lamp for the dark winter
- 🎿 Try skiing or winter sports via student clubs
- 💼 Look for part-time work through UiT Career Center
- ⏱️ Respect the 20h/week work limit by UDI
- 🛏️ Install blackout curtains for the bright summer
Tromsø is an amazing place to study! It's a unique combination of academic excellence and extreme nature. Samskipnaden is there to help with housing, sports and psychological support, and the UDI rules allow you to work up to 20 hours a week. The most important thing is to take into account the specific climate: the right equipment and routine will help you adapt to the polar night and northern conditions.
📌 Here's a great tip: make the most of UiT and Samskipnaden resources — you'll save yourself money, time and stress.
FAQ
Students usually have their own bedroom, while the kitchen and living room are shared.
Yes, but the 20-hour per week limit still applies. The UDI takes into account both local and remote work.
Add up all your part-time jobs (including remote work). Violations of the limit are recorded and may affect your study permit.
