University of Minnesota

Country

USA

City

Mississippi and St. Croix

Agreement type

Exchange / Study Abroad

Study places

2 tution free, several study abroad at residential tuition rates

About the study place

The University of Minnesota is a large and reputable university with about 60,000 students and five campuses. The main campus is located in Twin Cities, a generic term for the metropolitan areas around the rivers Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix, named after the two main cities Minneapolis and Saint Paul. On the main campus they offer a wide selection of programs in areas such as biology, food science, and natural resources.

Course catalogue

  • About the agreement

    The agreement covers allmost all academic fields at the Bachelor, master and PhD levels , but the most relevant colleges are:

    - College of Biological Sciences
    - College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences

    NMBU also has an agreement with Carlson School of Management (NOTE: Bachelor students only within the fields of economy and administration).

    The agreement with University of Minnesota is part of the Norwegian Centennial Chair Program. The purpose of this cooperation is to form Transatlantic Research Teams of scientists, undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Minnesota (UMN) and Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).

    Length of stay

    1-2 semesters

  • Who can apply

    Applicants with the best average grade at the time of application. Applicants who are linked to research projects between NMBU and UMN will be given priority.

    NMBU must adhere to the grade requirements from our partner university. University of Minnesota Twin Cities requires an average grade of C or better. To be admitted at the Biological Sciences and Carlson Business School it is also required that you have mathematics at university level. Biological Sciences requires no grades lower than C.

    All exchanges require a completion of 60ECTS prior to a stay abroad.

  • Language of instruction

    English

    English requirements:

    4 in English from Norwegian 'videregående', or

    TOEFL score 79 (internet based test), or

    IELTS test score 6.5.

    English Proficiency Information | Office of Admissions (umn.edu)

  • Tuition fees

    For the academic year 2020/2021, NMBU has two semester places where tuition is waived. Other students traveling through the agreement pay resident tuition (about USD 6000 per semester).

    All students must pay an application fee (100USD) to UMN.

  • Recognition of study credits

    Bachelor students: 15 credits, fulltime studies one semester.

    Master students: 12 credits, fulltime studies one semester.

  • Semester timing

    Autumn: August – December.

    Spring: January - May.

  • Accomodation

    UMN can assist with finding housing. The application for housing is sent together with the admission application.

  • Visa

    All students who intend to study in USA must have student visa.

    Student Visa FAQs - U.S. Embassy in Norway (usembassy.gov)

    It is the student’s own responsibility to apply for a visa. A first step would therefore be to acquire information from the relevant country’s embassy.

    Study visa: A student visa is necessary in order to study in the USA. You have to first receive a letter of acceptance from the host university (here:  HPU) before you can apply. The visum processing fee is currently USD $160, and the SEVIS registration fee is USD $350 for F-1 applicants and $220 for J-1 applicants. The universities in the USA will issue a document for students to obtain either the F1 or the J1 visa. 
    The universities in the USA require that students use either the F1 or the J1 visa.
    NOTE J1 visa: Be aware that this carries a clause whereby the applicant faces a two-year ‘quarantine’ period after the initial residence period, in which the applicant cannot apply for a permanent work or residence permit in the USA. However, this does only apply if the student received public funding, such as from Lånekassen.

    More information: The US Embassy’s website 

  • Health insurance in the US

    NB. As of 2023/2024 exchanges UMN requires all students to purchase the Student Health Benefit Plan at $1750 per semester.

    American universities have strict requirements for students’ health insurance. All students are studying in the USA should expect to purchase private health insurance recommended by the host university. This health insurance might be in addition to other (travel) insurances purchases by the student in Norway or abroad. University health insurance plans range from USD$ 500-1200 but can cost more. Read more about what health benefits you might be entitled to while studying in the USA on exchange from a Norwegian institution on HelseNorge

  • Courses taken previously by NMBU students

    Course catalogue

    B-BIOTEK
    BIOC 4332 Biochemistry II:
                 Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction and Gene Expression
    BIOC 5351 Protein Engineering
    BIOC 4125 Laboratory in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
    BIOL 1050 Environmental Biology: Science and Solutions
    BIOL 4950 Special Topics in Biology
    BIOL 1101 Genetics and Society
    BBE 1002 Biorenewable Resources
    GCC 3001 GC: Can We Feed the World?
    GCD 5036 Molecular Cell Biology
    GCD 4134 Endocrinology
    GCD 3485 Bioinformatics Analysis
    HSCI 3401 Ethics in Science and Technology
    MICB 3303 Biology of Microorganisms
    MICB 4131 Immunology
    NSCI 3101 Introduction to Neurobiology I
    STAT 3021 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

    B-MINA
    BBE 4608 Environmental and Industrial Microbiology
    ESPM 4061 Water Quality and Natural Resources
    ESPM 4216 Contaminant Hydrology
    ENRM 3131 GIS for Natural Resources

    M-MAT

    ABUS 4509 New Product Development
    FSCN 4311 Chemical Reactions in Food Systems
    FSCN 8318 Current Issues in Food Saftey
    FSCN 4481 Sensory Evaluation of Food Quality
    FSCN 8391 Independant Study Food Science

    M-KB
    BBE2201 Renewable Energy and the Environment
    BIOC 3021 Biochemistry
    BIOC 3960 Research Topics in Biochemistry
    BIOL 3272 Applied Biostatistics
    CHEM 2121 Process Analytical Chemistry
    CHEM4101 Modern Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis
    CHEM4094 Direct Research
    CHEM4501 Thermodynamics, Kinetics ans Statistical Mechanics

    GCD 3485 Bioinformatics Analysis
    PHCL 3100 Pharmacology for Pre-Med and Life Science Students

    M-ØA

    ABUS 4515 Strategy and Management for a Sustainable Future
    FINA 4622 International Finance
    FINA 4121 Financial Markets and Interest Rates
    FINA 4621 The Global Economy (Macro)
    FINA 4522 Options and Derivatives
    IDSC 3001 Information Systems in Business
    MGMT 4040 Negotiation Strategies
    MGMT 3900 International Business Communication
    PA 3003 Nonprofit and Public Financial Management
    PA 5011 Management of Organizations

    M-MF
    AEM 4201 Fluid Mechanics
    BBE 2201 Renewable Energy and the Environment
    CEGE 3502 Fluid Mechanics
    CEGE 4501 Hydrologic Design
    EE 3161 Semiconductor Devices
    MATH 4567 Fourier Analysis
    ME 5341 Case Studies in Thermal Engineering and Design
    PHYS 2601 Quantum Physics
    STAT 3021 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

    M-MPP
    CEGE3502 Fluid Mechanics
    CSCI1113 Introduction to C/C++
    EE2361 Introduction to Microcontrollers
    MATS4212 Ceramics
    ME5462 Gas Turbines
    MM3305 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing

  • Other

    If you consider to apply one of our partner universities in the US, be aware that the universities may require a financial guarantee as proof that you can finance your studies. If you use Lånekassen, then they can issue a guarantee for you. Information about what you probably can get in support (in Norwegian).

    Remember to apply for grants

    - Fulbright
    - Lakselaget
    - Torske Klubben