Application and selection process
The page is still work in progress, so feel free to send comments and ideas for improvement of the webpage.
In the text below, the term "SAR-scholar" will generally cover scholars coming through both SAR and SRF.
Application and selection process
UiO normally hosts four SAR scholars each year. The selection of scholars normally happens in a two phase process.
1. Researchers at Risk who want to come to UiO will have to apply to the global Scholars at Risk network (SAR) or apply to the Scholar Rescue Fund, and will be assessed by SAR/SRF. They will nominate relevant candidates to UiO.
2. UiO has a SAR-committee which will select candidates to invite among the nominations from SAR/SRF. Among the criteria for selection are the risk situation, level of academic achievements and that the candidate has joint academic interests with one of the academic units at UiO. It is important for us that the SAR scholars can be integrated in a research environment at UiO, where they can continue the academic work.
UiO normally receives SAR scholars on a one year employment contract. The stay might be extended for up to one more year, if it is feasible and wanted from both the UiO host unit and the researcher. A total of two years at UiO is the maximum stay through the Scholars at Risk arrangements.
The information below is targeted at researchers at risk who have been invited to UiO as SAR scholars or through the Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF).
Before you arrive
The UiO SAR contact person will coordinate the preparations for your stay in cooperation with you, the SAR global network and UiO International Mobility Office (ISMO). During the selection process, most contact will go through the global SAR office, but when a decision is made, you will get an offer of employment from UiO.
The Offer of Employment will be on a form from the Norwegian Immigration Authorities (UDI) and will be used for the application for residence and work permit. The UiO International Mobility Office (ISMO) will help you through the application process, which is done online in the UDI website and portal.
If you come directly from abroad, UiO will assist you with finding an apartment in Oslo, through the UiO Researcher Housing. If you already live in Norway, you are expected to find your own apartment.
When UDI has made a decision on your residence and work permit, you will apply for an entry visa from the relevant Norwegian embassy (ISMO might help). You also need to book an appointment with the police at the Office for Immigrant workers in Oslo to finalise your permit upon arrival (book an appointment as soon as possible). At this stage, the UiO contact person for SAR will purchase a flight ticket for you to arrive in Oslo. You agree on a travel schedule and you receive the ticket by e-mail.
If you need a cash card with money for the first weeks, please inform the institutional contact person ca 4 weeks before arrival.
The Oslo municipality has collected information for new students and professionals on the Welcome to Oslo page. There you will find a lot of useful information about public services and much more.
The first weeks in Oslo
On arrival in Oslo
You will normally arrive at Oslo Airport Gardermoen. When you arrive, you will need to go to the Blindern Campus to pick up your key to the apartment and maybe meet with the ISMO staff and the institutional contact person.
Preferably, take the train to Nationaltheatret train station where you change to the metro to Blindern metro station.
Ruter gives you all public transport information in Oslo.
Money for the first weeks
You will get a salary from UiO, but normally you will only be paid if/when you have a bank account to pay to. Therefore you need to either bring a credit card/money to use during the first weeks or UiO needs to issue a special cash card to you. If you need a cash card, your host department have to order it before arrival. Please inform the institutional contact person 4 weeks before arrival if you need a cash card.
The rent for your first month(s) in the researcher housing will be paid when you have got a bank account and have started receiving a salary. The apartment includes towels, bed linen and basic kitchen ware. You will probably need around 10 000 NOK per person before you receive your first salary, and more if you bring your family.
As soon as you get your Norwegian ID number, you should apply for a Norwegian bank account.
First visit to your host unit at UiO
Before arrival, we will make an appointment for you to visit your host unit soon after arrival. If you haven't received your UiO work contract (not the offer of employment), you will receive it in this meeting. You will need the contract when you go to the appointment with the police to finalize your permit.
Normally, it has not been allowed to start working until you have finalized your work permit at the police, but during/after the covid-19 pandemic this restriction has been lifted and you can start working from arrival in Norway.
The office for immigrant workers
before arrival you should have made an appointment with the police /Office for Immigrant Workers. More info from ISMO concerning this appointment and what to bring.
The Norwegian ID number
Approximately two weeks after your appointment with the police you will receive two letters, one from the police containing the residence card and another from the tax administration containing the 11 digit Norwegian ID number.
With the ID number you can apply for a tax card, open a bank account and register for a General Practitioner (family doctor).
You must report your ID number to your local personnel officer at UiO.
Register at the Post office
To make sure that your personal letters reaches you (including letters from the tax office), it is highly recommended that you go to a post office/post-in-shop to register your address as soon as possible.
Open a bank account
Opening a bank account should be one of your top priorities upon arrival in Norway, but this can only be done after you have received your Norwegian ID number. Access to a Norwegian bank account will enable you to receive salary payments and handle your finances in a safe and efficient way. More info from ISMO
Start working
As soon as your residence and work permit has been finalized (or under covid-19 regulations as soon as you arrive) you can start working and getting your salary from UiO.
In your first meeting with the host unit, you will agree on when you start working full days, either from the same day or a day or two later.
You are employed by your host unit and everything relating to your normal work days will be communicated with them.
Employment conditions
Here is a page with relevant information concerning your employment conditions at UiO. Among the things that you should familiarize yourself with from these regulations are regulations concerning working hours, illness and holidays. Your normal working hours are 37.5 hours + a 30-minute lunch break.
You will most likely be introduced to your local personnel officer (see list of personnel officers), who can give you further information.
During the stay
Do you want to learn Norwegian
All SAR-scholars will be offered the opportunity to take language courses during the stay, but this is optional. Most scholars join a Norwegian course, but if your English is weak, you may join an English course instead. You can discuss what to choose with the Institutional Contact person.
Self study resources for learning Norwegian
Your academic mentor/contact person
You will be appointed an academic mentor at your host department/unit. The academic mentor will normally be a senior staff member who works in a related subject area to you. Your academic mentor should introduce you to relevant colleagues and groups, and is a person with whom you can discuss your work and what to prioritize while in Oslo. It can be discussions relating to research, publications, potential projects etc. In one of the first meetings you should discuss what to expect from the relation and how often you can expect to meet.
Take initiatives for networking
Many Norwegians are shy towards new people, and you might feel it is difficult to get to know your colleagues and build your network in Oslo. It is important that you take initiative towards others, and it is fine to contact people at UiO and elsewhere who you think can have relevant interests. You can do this yourself or maybe your academic contact can introduce you.
Have lunch with your colleagues
You should try to meet colleagues over lunch. In most units, there is a time when most colleagues take their lunch normally around 11.30 or noon. Find out where and when as well as if they use to bring food from home or buy their lunch. it is common in Norway, and also cheaper, to bring lunch from home. Try to adapt to their lunch habits, as this is a good occasion for informal chats.
Participate in events and meetings
Most units will have regular meeting for the staff. You should join these meetings to keep informed and get integrated. Through the website and colleagues, you should also try to keep updated on relevant events. Joining events inside and outside UiO can be a good way to meet more relevant people and increase your network. Make sure to join social events like summer party or Christmas party at your unit. Some also have "Friday beer events" from time to time, but you don't need to drink alcohol to join.
UiO has some social events for international staff and students, including language cafés every month.
Participate in seminars and courses
If you find relevant seminars and courses at your unit or other UiO units, you should try to get the opportunity to participate. It could even be PhD courses, where you might be able to attend as a participant, guest or observer.
List of all courses in English at UiO, choose PhD and your faculty.
For courses with a course fee, you will need to ask permission from your unit.
ISMO organizes various events, such as welcome breakfasts and specific courses for new international employees.
Career support
At UiO there are career support events and initiatives at the faculty and central levels. See this overview of career support for researchers.
Publishing while in Norway
It is important to publish your work. The Norwegian university libraries have made a good resource about publishing which explains both general and national systems you need to know. Please have a look at it. It is made for PhD candidates, but information is relevant for all.
Would you like to teach?
The SAR scholars are employed as researchers without teaching duties. If you would like to teach, you should discuss this with your academic mentor. Sometimes it is impossible because the course schedule is planned far in advance. Other times it is possible to teach a lecture, a seminar or a full lecture series of a course.
UiO has a University Pedagogy Programme for staff members. It is mandatory for permanent staff, while temporary staff may apply for it. Application deadlines are around 10 September for the spring semester and 20 February for the autumn. Those attending should do some teaching during that semester.
Trade unions
Trade unions play an important role in the Norwegian work life, both in public sector and private sector. Employers are generally positive to cooperation with the trade unions. More about trade unions at UiO.
One of the trade unions, The Norwegian Association of Researchers (Forskerforbundet) is a member of Scholars at Risk. They offer free guest membership and support during your stay as a SAR scholar in Norway.
Sports and social activities
UiO offers all employees to have 1,5 hours per week of exercise during work hours. It cannot be transferred from one week to another. UiO organizes some activities free of charge, but you may also use the student sports facilities SiO Athletica at a special employee price (which is also a good price compared to other gyms)
To increase your social network outside work, you can also check out these social networking opportunities.
Health Care
SAR-scholars are employed by UiO and are therefore included in the Norwegian social security and health care system. Hospitalisation is free of charge, but various consultations have a small fee. All inhabitants have a dedicated General Practitioner (family doctor) to follow up health issues (both physical and psychological). He/she is normally your first contact point for health issues. More info about health care.
UiO has its own Occupational Health Service Unit, following up the work environment and occupational health. They can be contacted for a conversation about stress or mental health challenges and can also advise you on where to seek further assistance.
All health service workers are subject to confidentiality requirements.
It is very common that after arriving in a safe environment and getting some rest, mental health challenges from the past come to the surface. Scholars at Risk has provided a directory of resources to support mental health and wellbeing.
Next steps
After a stay of one or two years at UiO as a SAR scholar, it is time to move on. Since the positions are temporary, it is important to start preparing for the next steps already from the start of the stay.
You need to think of what is most important to you and how to obtain that, either security or your career is the most important. Ways to prepare include:
- getting to know yourself better
- Increase your knowledge and competencies
- Apply for positions and/or for external funding
The most likely next steps are:
- Return to home country if safe
- Getting an announced position inside or outside academia
- Obtaining external funding for a project
- Getting a new SAR position at another SAR host institution
- Apply for asylum and continue job search
The Inspireurope-project has made a guide on the net steps, but it has not been formally published: Preparing for the next career steps of researchers at risk; A practical guide for researchers and hosts (2022, PDF, 29 p, requires login to UiO)
Overview of career support at UiO
If you bring your family
SAR scholars get residence permits as researchers in Norway. This permit allows you to bring your spouse and children. You will get a normal salary at UiO, and your spouse will be allowed to work as well. It is important for us to know how many family members are joining, as we need to book an appropriate housing.
ISMO will help with applications for school and kindergarten.
Children of school age, 6-19 years, may join a Norwegian school in Oslo, which is free of charge. At first, the child might need to join a welcome class to learn Norwegian. There are also international schools in English and French in Oslo, but places might be scarce and there will be a school fee. For senior secondary school there is an application deadline 1 March for the following academic year, but arrangements might be made to still join if applying later.
Children 1-5 years old, might join a kindergarten. The application deadline is 1 March for the following academic year, but normally there will be places open even if you apply later. There is a fee, with a max rate of 3315 NOK per month. More info.
All children with a residence permit of at least 12 months will receive a child benefit from the government.
All children will be followed up at the local district Health Centre (Helsestasjon) where they follow up growth and development of the child and offer a child vaccination programme.
Most adults in Norway, both women and men, work outside the household. Your spouse will be allowed to work in Norway, but it might be difficult to get a job outside academia without knowing the Norwegian language. UiO might support your spouse for one or two Norwegian courses. After that, they should register as unemployed with NAV to get further guidance, follow up and relevant language and qualifying courses.
Emergencies and crises
Sikre siden: Information concerning what to do in various types of emergencies at UiO
National emergency phone numbers: Fire: 110, Police: 112, Medical Emergency/Ambulance: 113
Oslo Emergency room - Legevakt: for urgent medical care that can't wait until your GP's office is open.
UiO Security Operation Center: The Security Operation Center is manned 24 hours a day, all-year-round (UiO and the researcher housing)
UiO-CERT: If you experience hacking of your accounts or other digital threats
If you experience harassment, threats, surveillance or other types of pressure from foreign threat actors, you can get help to contact the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST).