Students: Get a New Passport and You Can Study Abroad in Norway - Expedited Passports

Studying abroad is often seen as a bit of a luxury. The cost varies depending on the program, but in many cases that’s a fair assessment. However, if you’re interested in living in the land of the midnight sun, you should know that Norway lets all students study at its public universities tuition-free- in most cases, even students from other countries. Huge hat tip to Matador Travel for publicizing this little-known but incredibly useful fact!

Of course, you’ll still have to arrange for plane tickets, a student visa, books, lodging and food. There’s also a small fee per semester that is required to take your exams but entitles you to student benefits and discounts. The good news is that if the Norwegian university you decide to study at is accredited by the US Department of Education, you can apply for financial aid to cover those expenses.

Unless they are insured on their parents’ plan, health insurance is often a struggle for college students. However, if you plan to study in Norway for a year or longer, you’ll be automatically enrolled in their national health insurance plan for students. If you’ll be studying for more than three months but less than a year, you are not automatically enrolled but can choose to enroll voluntarily.

Of course, Norwegian is not one of the languages that American teenagers typically study in high school. So, unless you want to spend some serious time studying the language and building proficiency beforehand, you’ll want to select a program that’s taught in English. There are several Bachelor’s programs available in English and even more Masters’ programs, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find a course of study that fits.

To get started, look here to see what programs are available and what the admission requirements are, and read the Matador piece to get an idea of what life is like as a foreign student in Norway.

Once you’ve been accepted into the course of your choice, you’ll need to apply for a new passport as soon as possible if you don’t have a valid one. Don’t wait until the last minute: new passport applications can take up to six weeks to process. Expedited applications are available, but still take up to three weeks. For faster service, the most convenient option is to use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport, though you also have the option to make an appointment at a regional passport agency office, assuming that there is one nearby and you can take the time off work.

We hand-deliver your paperwork to the Department of State, which allows us to get your application processed in as little as 24 hours, with no need to make an appointment, travel to a passport agency or wait in line.

Need a new passport in a hurry? Let us help!

Are you looking for a study abroad program? Depending on your academic interests and your budget, there could be many different study abroad programs for you to consider. Which one should you choose?

Rachel Pitt at CollegeJolt.com has an excellent post that compares the value of the popular Semester at Sea study abroad program to other study abroad programs.  Her conclusion was that Semester at Sea can be a great value for students who want to study abroad, aren’t prone to seasickness, and don’t mind only getting to spend small blocks of time each in port.

If you’re interested on joining a Semester at Sea voyage, you should be aware that the deadline to apply for financial aid is approaching quickly for the Fall 2009 voyage.  If you’d like to go on the Fall 2009 voyage and need financial aid, you have to have your financial aid application in by April 17th.

Passport regulations are the same for international c0llege-age students as they are for anyone else. You’ll need a passport to go on a Semester at Sea cruise, and you should also get your passport application in as soon as possible.  Most travel experts recommend sending your passport application in at least 2 months prior to your trip. That way, you have plenty of time to get it back in the mail from the US Passport Agency. Also, if you make a mistake on your passport application, you have plenty of time to correct it without having to worry about the ship sailing without you.  Study Abroad programs are expensive, and most have cancellation penalties, so it pays to make sure you have your passport in hand well before you are supposed to leave.

If you need to get your passport more quickly, the easiest method is to use a private passport expediting service. An expediting service will deliver your passport application directly to the US Passport Agency, so you’ll get super-fast processing without having to make an appointment or waiting in line.

For great customer service and fast, reliable passport processing, submit your passport application through RushMyPassport.com today!

Study abroad programs are becoming more and more popular among US college students, and for good reason.  College is the perfect time to try living overseas!

Think about it…by studying abroad, you get to experience another country and another culture firsthand while you earn college credits.  After you graduate, you’ll probably be short on both money and time, at least for a few years. That’s why college is the best time to travel.

Also, studies have shown that listening to native speakers helps you learn a second language more quickly, So, studying abroad can also help you master a foreign language, which will make you more employable after graduation.

If you’re interested in studying abroad but not sure if it’s right for you, try to talk to as many people who have done so as possible. If you don’t know anyone, you can also look online to find blogs and personal accounts from international students.

If you go, one item needs to be at the top if your packing list: a US passport.  Make sure to allow at least 6 weeks for your new US passport to be delivered if you order it with regular processing.

If you need your US passport more quickly than that, a private passport expediting service can move your application to the “top of the stack,” getting it processed in as little as 24 hours.  Order your US passport today to make sure it’s ready when you need it!

Have you ever studied abroad? Share your experiences in the comments!