Study abroad in Trondheim
Housing, Erasmus groups, universities, costs and student life for exchange students in Trondheim.
Country
NorwayStudent Budget
NOK 10,000 – 14,500/month
Transport Card
AtB student season ticket (40% discount, ages up to 34)
Population
218,000 (city) / 285,000 (metro)
Study abroad in Trondheim: student life
Study abroad in Trondheim and you land in Norway's most student-dense city — close to a fifth of residents are students, anchored by NTNU, the country's leading technical university. The result is a city whose rhythm, culture and biggest annual festivals are literally run by students.
Who loves this city?
Students who want one of Europe's most concentrated student cities — almost 1 in 5 residents is a student — built around a top engineering and science university, with a real medieval old town instead of a generic campus park.
What makes it special
Where a fifth of the population is a student, the world's largest international student festival (ISFiT) and Norway's biggest cultural festival (UKA) both happen here — student life isn't a subculture, it's the city's main culture.
Newcomer shocks
- Winters are genuinely cold (down to -20°C on the coldest nights), not just dark like further south — proper winter gear is not optional.
- NTNU spans three Trondheim campuses; figuring out which building/campus your courses are in takes real planning the first week.
- Student culture runs the city: UKA and ISFiT can fill the streets with tens of thousands of people and visibly change the rhythm of the whole town.
Map
Weather in Trondheim & what to pack
Trondheim's weather is colder and snowier than Oslo or Bergen: winters regularly drop below -10°C and snow is the default from December through March, while the brief, mild summer brings near-midnight daylight. Pack for real winter, not just rain.
| Month | Conditions | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January 1° / -5° | ❄️ SnowSnow, cold | Very short days |
| February 1° / -5° | ❄️ SnowSnow, cold | Slowly lengthening |
| March 4° / -3° | ❄️ Snow/sleetSnow/sleet, cold | Noticeably longer |
| April 8° / 0° | 🌤️ Driest monthDriest month, cool | ~14h light |
| May 13° / 5° | 🌧️ Light rainLight rain, mild | Long evenings |
| June 17° / 9° | 🌧️ Light rainLight rain, mild | Near-midnight sun |
| July 20° / 11° | 🌤️ Mild showersMild showers, warm | Peak daylight |
| August 18° / 11° | 🌧️ Light rainLight rain, mild | Still long days |
| September 14° / 8° | 🌧️ Wettest monthWettest month, mild | Shortening fast |
| October 8° / 4° | 🌧️ Rain/sleetRain/sleet, cool | ~9h light |
| November 4° / -1° | ❄️ Snow beginsSnow begins, cold | Dark by mid-afternoon |
| December 1° / -4° | ❄️ SnowSnow, cold | Shortest days |
Packing checklist
- A real winter coat rated for sub-zero temperatures — Trondheim winters reach -20°C, colder than Oslo or Bergen.
- Waterproof winter boots with good grip; pavements ice over and the city is hilly around Gløshaugen.
- Layers for the long, mild summer daylight as much as for winter — the temperature swing across the year is large.
Cost of living for students in Trondheim
Cost of Living Index
87.1 / 100
Expensive · World avg ≈ 44
Cost of living for students in Trondheim is in line with the rest of Norway — high by European standards, but eased significantly by Sit's subsidised student housing. A single room at Moholt or Berg runs NOK 4,300–8,050/month, well below Trondheim's private rental market.
| Category | Range / mo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Room Rent | NOK 4,300 – 8,050 | Sit student housing (Moholt/Berg single room) to a 1-bedroom apartment at Moholt. |
| Monthly Transport Pass | NOK 250 – 420 | AtB 30-day pass with the 40% student discount applied. |
| Groceries | NOK 3,000 – 4,000 | Typical single-student grocery budget; in line with the rest of Norway. |
Going out & dining
Source: Numbeo · Prices approximate, updated periodically.
Student housing in Trondheim
Student housing in Trondheim starts with NTNU and Sit instructions, especially because Moholt is the main furnished international-student route. Keep Finn.no and Hybel as backups, but check campus location first: Moholt, Berg, Singsaker and the centre create very different winter commutes.
Moholt
Official Sit route; check current room rents instead of relying on old ranges.Exchange students who want the largest international student village and furnished rooms through Sit/NTNU.
Berg / Gløshaugen
Mid; official availability is limited and private rooms cost more.Engineering, science and NTNU students who want the shortest campus commute.
Singsaker / Møllenberg
Mid to high private market, depending on room and house condition.Students who want older wooden-house streets, cafes and a more local feel near campus.
Solsiden / city centre
Higher private-market rents.Students who want nightlife, part-time work and the shortest access to services.
Where to search
Official contacts
NTNU student housing in Trondheim
Official NTNU page explaining Sit allocation, private-market backup and who is guaranteed housing.
Sit Housing
Official student welfare housing provider for Trondheim, including Moholt, Berg and other student villages.
Student residences
Moholt Student Village
NTNU notes most international students placed by Sit are in furnished Moholt rooms; Sit describes Moholt as Trondheim’s largest student village.
Berg student housing
Sit student housing close to Gløshaugen; good for NTNU campus access when available.
Private platforms
Finn.no rentals
Main Norwegian private rental marketplace for rooms and apartments when official student housing is unavailable.
Hybel.no
Norwegian room and flatshare marketplace; verify contracts and sublet permission carefully.
NTNU private housing guidance
Official advice for students who are not guaranteed or allocated Sit housing.
Student groups
Documents to prepare
Passport or national ID plus admission/exchange confirmation.
Official housing application login/details and any guarantee/allocation email.
Deposit and first-rent funds with an international payment method.
Norwegian D-number/national ID details if requested later for contract administration.
Timing
Follow NTNU/Sit housing instructions immediately after admission; do not wait for visa or travel booking to start.
If you are not guaranteed Sit housing, begin Finn/Hybel searches 2-3 months before arrival and book temporary accommodation for the first days.
Confirm campus location before choosing: Dragvoll, Gløshaugen and Øya produce different commute patterns.
Deposit & contract notes
Official student-housing contracts are the lowest-risk first route; compare included utilities, internet, furniture and dates.
For private rentals, insist on a written contract, clear deposit handling and permission for any sublet.
Clarify furnished status, shared-kitchen rules, notice period and whether short exchange stays are accepted before signing.
Red flags
A landlord who refuses a viewing, live video tour, written contract or identity/company check.
Pressure to wire money urgently before admission, contract or keys are verified.
Listings far below normal local rent levels, copied photos, or requests for gift cards, Western Union or crypto.
Sublets that cannot prove permission from the main landlord or housing provider.
Is Trondheim safe for students?
Safety Index
78.1 / 100
Generally safe
Crime Index
21.9 / 100
Low crime
Source: Numbeo · Lower crime = safer. Higher safety = safer.
Is Trondheim safe for students? Very — crime is low even by Norwegian standards, and students make up close to a fifth of the population, so the city centre stays lively and watched late into the night. The main practical risk in winter is icy pavements, not crime.
Very low crime by international standards; students comprise close to a fifth of the population, and the city centre is calm even late at night.
Top risks
- Petty theft around the busiest nightlife streets (Solsiden, the city centre) on weekend nights.
- Icy pavements in winter are a bigger practical risk than crime — falls are common without proper footwear.
Getting around Trondheim
Getting around Trondheim for students means the AtB bus network, which connects Moholt, Berg and NTNU's three campuses, plus city bikes for the flatter central routes in the warmer months. Students under 35 get a flat 40% discount on every AtB ticket.
🚌 AtB buses
The main public transport network connecting Moholt, Berg and the NTNU campuses.
40% off for students up to age 34
🚲 City bikes (Trondheim Bysykkel)
Popular spring-to-autumn; the city centre and NTNU campuses are bike-friendly and largely flat near the river.
🚶 Walking
Central Trondheim, Berg and Singsaker are walkable; Moholt is further out and usually needs the bus.
Things to do in Trondheim as a student
Trondheim is different because students do not just attend events; they build them. ISFiT brings international students into workshops and debates in odd years, UKA turns the city into a student-run culture machine in even years, and Samfundet keeps the calendar alive between both peaks.
ISFiT (International Student Festival in Trondheim)
Biennial, odd years, February
Free for accepted participants (includes food + accommodation)
The world's largest international student festival, founded in 1990 — around 450 students from across the globe gather for dialogue, workshops and debate on global issues.
UKA
Biennial, even years, October–November
Varies by event; many low-cost student tickets
Norway's largest cultural festival, run entirely by NTNU student volunteers since 1917 — concerts, theatre and events fill the city for weeks.
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Nidaros Cathedral tower climb
Year-round (summer for tower access)
Paid entry; discounted student rate
Climbing the 170+ steps of Scandinavia's largest medieval cathedral rewards you with a panoramic view over the whole city.
Kristiansten Fortress
Year-round
Free (grounds); museum inside has separate hours
A short, steep climb above the city centre for a free panoramic view and a look at Trondheim's military history.
medium
Bymarka hiking and cross-country skiing
Year-round (hiking summer, skiing winter)
Free
A huge free trail network starting at Granåsen or Lian, minutes from campus by bus — hiking in summer, cross-country skiing in winter, no gear costs beyond your own skis.
medium
Granåsen Ski Stadium
Winter
Free to visit; paid for World Cup event tickets
A genuine World Cup ski-jumping and cross-country venue on the edge of the city — students can watch top-level winter sport without travelling.
Bakklandet and Gamle Bybro (Old Town Bridge) walk
Year-round
Free
Trondheim's prettiest neighbourhood — colourful wooden warehouses, cafes and the iconic red bridge — is a free walk most students do regularly, not just once.
medium
NTNUI sports and outdoor gear rental
Year-round
NOK 1,050/semester or NOK 1,700/year membership
60+ sports plus free gear rental (skis, tents, fishing equipment) via NTNUI Bumerang — the cheapest way to try Norwegian outdoor life.
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Trondheim Kino (cinema)
Year-round
Paid
Three central screens (Prinsen, Nova) for an easy low-effort night out between exams.
Trondheimsfjord boat trips
Spring–autumn
Paid
A different angle on the city and an easy half-day trip on the fjord that gives the whole region its name.
Student discounts & perks in Trondheim
The strongest student perks in Trondheim are built around NTNU daily life: AtB's student transport discount, Sit canteens and services, NTNUI sport/gear access and reduced museum or concert tickets. They matter because winter and high prices make cheap, repeatable routines more valuable than one-off sightseeing discounts.
Museums & Culture
Food Savings
AtB gives a flat 40% discount on all tickets for students up to age 34 — register your student status in the AtB app after enrolment. Fares & passes
Universities in Trondheim for exchange students
Universities in Trondheim for exchange students centre on NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Norway's largest university and its leading institution for engineering, technology and natural sciences, spread across the Gløshaugen and Øya campuses.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Norway's largest university and its leading institution for engineering and technology, spread across the Gløshaugen and Øya campuses in student-dense Trondheim.
Student social life in Trondheim
Samfundet is infrastructure in Trondheim, not just nightlife: bars, concerts, volunteering teams and student politics all pass through the red round house. Around it, NTNU societies, NTNUI sports and Solsiden evenings make the city feel much bigger socially than its population suggests.
What Students Usually Get Wrong
Student Associations
Meeting Places 2
Public Groups 3
ESN Trondheim
Founded in 1993; runs weekly events and the Buddy programme that pairs every incoming international student with a local buddy.
International students in Trondheim
Community group for international and exchange students living in Trondheim.
NTNU Study Abroad / International Office
NTNU's own hub for incoming exchange and international students.