Arctic geophysics at the world's northernmost university Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very strong academic program with top-notch field experiences and lectures from experts in their respective fields, but absurd methods of evaluation.

On-site administration of your program

As a Scandinavian institution, the program is very bureaucratic and involves a great deal of red tape.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was fine but location was an issue. Nybyen student housing is located a 35 to 40-minute walk from the university, and there is no public transportation. On the plus side, Nybyen is located closer to Larsbreen and Longyearbreen (the local glaciers) and the popular backcountry ski mountains, so it affords some great recreational opportunities.

There is one supermarket in town and it is a long walk from Nybyen student housing, and, since there is no public transportation, grocery shopping can be an ordeal. Because all food must be shipped in from the mainland, it is extremely expensive. The supermarket food itself is adequate, and there are some restaurants that serve great burgers and pub fare.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Because Longyearbyen is inherently international with people staying on average for only four years at a time, it is difficult to get a feel for the "local culture." However,

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There is a hospital on the island but it provides only basic health services. All serious health concerns require flying two hours to Tromsø in mainland Norway. Due to the long history of coal mining, air quality in town is purportedly very bad.

The mandatory weeklong safety training session at the start of the program included rigorous hands-on Svalbard-specific training, such as avalanche rescue, crevasse rescue, rifle training, and wilderness first aid. By law, no group is allowed outside of the town without at least one rifle. Rifle safety is taken very seriously. In March, there was an avalanche that destroyed a block of houses in town (though no one was injured), and in December of 2015 an avalanche in the same part of town killed one person. Efforts are being made to improve avalanche forecasting procedures. The student housing in Nybyen is located in the red zone for avalanche runoff, and there were multiple avalanches behind the student barracks, so students will no longer be housed in Nybyen. In April, a group of Russian tourists on snowmobiles fell through sea ice in a nearby fjord and the guide died.

Though the means of assessment put a damper on the end of the semester, the unique location and the inspiring academic content made this experience worthwhile.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

While food is very expensive compared to the US, the lack of tuition at the university is a plus. Housing is about $450 a month.

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• Dorm

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• International Students

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• International Students

• Unique and inspiring location
• Interesting academic topics
• Fantastic outdoor recreational opportunities

• Means of assessment
• Quality of teaching
• Food expenses

The Academic or Linguist