When Karoline Marie Aamelfot Tveit (26) first walked through the doors of NHH five years ago, she was almost overwhelmed. There were so many activities and so much to get involved in. She simply threw herself into it: a dodgeball group here, a marketing group there. Later came the NHH Symposium, UKEN and, generally, a packed schedule and a highly active social life.

‘There is always something happening and something to get involved in at NHH. There is a strong culture of volunteering in the student associations, a real drive and a desire to make things happen together,’ says Tveit.

Social glue

The Students’ Health and Well-being Survey (ShOT), which will be presented on Tuesday, shows that NHH students are highly active. Their level of well-being is correspondingly high:

• Six in ten take part in student volunteering or other voluntary work, compared with 25 per cent of students nationwide.
• Nowhere is the difference greater than in sport. More than four in ten NHH students take part in sports organised through the student community. Nationwide, the figure is just six per cent.
• NHH students exercise for an average of 5.0 hours a week, compared with 4.1 hours nationally.
• Nine in ten rate their health as good or very good, compared with 77 per cent nationally. NHH students also report less tiredness and loneliness than the average Norwegian student.
• The social bonds are strong. More than 40 per cent say they have many friends, compared with around 28 per cent nationwide.

Not even Bergen’s famously wet weather appears to dampen their spirits. Nine in ten NHH students say they are satisfied with Bergen as a place to study. The national average is just over 70 per cent.

Karoline Marie Aamelfot Tveit recognises the picture painted by the figures, but adds another factor: location. She believes it is an advantage that NHH is situated outside the city centre. The school becomes the hub around which everyday life revolves, a place where many people know one another. Somewhere you stay.

‘Campus is really lively. Even the parties take place here,’ says Tveit.

‘We don’t just study at NHH. We hang out here.’

‘One of the best things about NHH’

Rector Helge Thorbjørnsen is proud of the students’ contribution.

‘Every year, thousands of students devote their time and energy to creating activities, communities and experiences for others. Together, they create a vibrant campus where people both thrive and develop new skills,’ says Thorbjørnsen.

‘This culture of volunteering and engagement is one of the best things about NHH,’ he adds.

A large majority of NHH students also seem to be doing very well overall. But the survey measures more than health, social well-being and quality of life. It also looks at satisfaction with teaching. Here too, NHH is above the national average:

• 83 per cent are satisfied with what they are learning, compared with 68 per cent nationwide.
• They spend an average of 23 hours a week on their studies. That is around four hours more per week than the national average of 18.8 hours.

For a large majority, that effort pays off in the form of sought-after jobs after graduation.

Secured a job months before graduating

NHH students get a head start on their careers: Here are their top job tips.

Lena (24) landed a finance job long before graduation

Today, the 24-year-old analyses investments at HitecVision, one of Norway’s biggest private equity firms. New figures show most NHH graduates are in work within six months.

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