"The studies changed my life. They opened doors to parts of the world i would never have experienced otherwise"

Do you feel that you need a change or a new direction in life? A semester abroad, with all the challenges and experiences it entails, could be just what you need to 'restart' and find a new path:

– The first time I heard about Kulturstudier, I was halfway through a year of psychology studies, but I felt that it wasn't right for me.

I was unsure about what I really wanted, and shared these thoughts with a friend who asked if I had heard about peace and conflict studies in India (which that same year was moved to Nepal).

– In hindsight, I've realized how much that one conversation with my friend changed my life, both personally and academically. Without her, I might never have known about the opportunity, and I probably wouldn't have found my field of study so early.

The transition to a study so different from what I had done before, and so far from home, was scary. At the same time, it was a relief.

I had felt insecure and stuck, but when I found this course, I got a sense of direction and purpose. The semester in Nepal opened my eyes and helped me figure out what I wanted to do next.

Kulturstudier offers a round-the-world bachelor's degree in collaboration with OsloMet. During your three-year bachelor's degree, you can study in four continents and up to five different countries:

– When I heard that I could take two more semesters, in Vietnam and Ghana, and incorporate those three semesters into a bachelor's degree in development studies, I knew it was the right path for me.

Originally, I had only planned to take one semester, but taking large parts of my degree abroad was a unique opportunity.

• Read about the around-the-world bachelor's degree

– Through teachers with diverse backgrounds, firsthand experiences from the countries I studied, and conversations with people who were directly affected by the phenomena we read about, I learned more than I could have imagined.

In Development Studies 2 in Ghana, much of the course revolves around methodology and research ethics within social sciences, particularly development studies. Students spend three weeks in various parts of the country researching questions they are interested in:

– The fieldwork in Ghana was particularly memorable. We lived in a small local community for three weeks.

It was a fantastic introduction to research – we interviewed local residents and gained a deeper insight into the village life.

Read more student stories from Ghana

• Ghana
• Development Studies 2
• Portraits

"The freedom to travel made the curriculum come alive"

Les mer

– At the same time, the three weeks were challenging, especially for me as I am quite introverted, because the situation required a lot of energy and adaptation.

At the beginning, I felt unsure about how to approach people I didn't know, but as we got more in touch with the local community, I realized how much I could learn through conversations with them.

– I had to step out of my comfort zone, but it was worth it.

It was during this period that I truly realized how international structures affect people and their daily lives. Numbers and theories from textbooks turned into faces and stories.

During fieldwork, we had to confront our own prejudices, definitions of concepts like freedom and development, and our role in the society we studied.

After completing a bachelor's degree in Development Studies and with a nearly finished master's degree, Henriette spent another semester with Kulturstudier, this time traveling to Costa Rica to study Spanish:

– At first, I thought I might be 'too old' at 27, but I still longed to see new parts of the world and wanted to learn Spanish.

I felt like I was in a completely different place in life than I had been the first three semesters, but still the experience was incredibly rewarding. I felt more confident, more grateful, and very motivated to learn Spanish.

– Visiting the Longo Mai community gave me a similar feeling to the fieldwork in Ghana. We got to see how people organize themselves and live in accordance with their values, which in turn challenged my own perspectives.

The semester in Costa Rica was a perfect conclusion to my studies, and a preparation for what will hopefully be an international career.

– My studies through Kulturstudier changed my life in many ways. They have opened doors to parts of the world that I might never have experienced otherwise, and made me eager to learn more and understand the world better.

I have met like-minded people who have inspired and challenged me, people who have made me reflect on my own privileges and worldview. My experiences from the different countries helped me realize what I want to work with in the future.

Common to all our study programs is that they are all rooted in the local culture. No matter which study you choose, you will have opportunities to immerse yourself in the local community, get to know people from other cultures, and make lifelong friends.

Through excursions and fieldwork, you get to work practically with the challenges you learn about:

– Over the years, I have become more aware of how things that may seem abstract in textbooks – such as inequality, development, and power structures – affect real people and their lives.

– I have seen with my own eyes how complex challenges can be, and how difficult it can feel to make a difference.

At the same time, I have met so many people who work genuinely and purposefully to improve the lives of others, which gives hope and courage to continue to engage.

– When I went on my first study trip to Nepal, I was 21 years old and quite unsure of myself and what I wanted to do in life. It was challenging to go alone to a foreign country, but it became the start of a significant journey of development for me.

My semester abroad has taught me that even if something feels unfamiliar or different, it doesn't mean it's wrong – and that we in Norway don't always have the best answers!

– I have learned that you have to step out of your comfort zone. It's always better to try – and perhaps fail – than to look back and regret not doing anything.

The most rewarding moments come when you challenge yourself, because that's when you grow the most, both as a person and as a fellow human being.

All images: Henriette Sommervik Tjersland.