In Norway, there are distinct numbers to call depending on the kind of emergency you find yourself in. We ask that all visiting researchers make themselves familiar with these numbers.
Fire department: 110
Police department: 112
Medical emergency: 113
Emergency ward: 116117
When in doubt, you should use the shared European emergency number: 112 (Norwegian police).
Upon arrival at the Centre, fellows and guest researchers will be taken through the fire and safety routines by the PI. They will also receive a pamphlet which include a map of CAS marking where all safety equipment and emergency exits are located.
When the fire alarm sounds, all persons must evacuate the building and head to the meeting point by the waste bins in front of the building. No one should leave the premises without informing a member of the administrative team.
Do not abort evacuation if the fire alarm stops sounding, as it may be caused by fire damage to the alarm system. The administration will announce when it is safe to reenter the building.
In case of a fire emergency, call 110 for assistance.
There is basic first aid equipment available at the Centre. On the lower ground floor, it is located by the kitchenette. On the third floor, it is in the cloak room by the bathrooms.
The administration at the Centre takes first aid courses annually and are trained in the use of the Centre's defibrillator.
For immediate medical assistance, call 113. If it is not an emergency, call the nearest emergency ward at 116117.
In case of illness or injury, we recommend contacting either Oslo Emergency Ward or Aleris Medical Centre.
NOTE: Aleris is a private centre and is therefore more expensive than the emergency ward.
Oslo Emergency Ward:
Aleris Medical Centre:
For dental care, we recommend Frogner Tannhelse:
In case of an emergency, contact one of these emergency dental wards:
Bogstadveien Tannlege:
Tannlegevakt Majorstua:
Sentrum Tannlegevakt:
CAS may cover expenses for social activities, i.e., restaurant, theatre, museum, and such.
All activities must be conducted as group activities along with other fellows and must be approved by the PI(s) in advance.
It is preferable that the activity is booked by the PI(s) and that payment or invoicing is handled by CAS ahead of time.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Norway at most shops, restaurants, attractions, and hotels. Businesses are still required to accept cash, but the use of cash is becoming increasingly uncommon in everyday life.
Holders of Visa, Eurocard, and MasterCard should be able to pay in the vast majority of places. Some smaller venues may not accept credit cards, but this is becoming much less common.
We've had some fellows from the US telling us that they've had some issues with having their cards accepted at smaller venues as well.
Digital payment solutions that connect to credit cards are also becoming popular in Norway. This includes systems such as Apple Pay or Google Wallet.
Despite Norway´s move towards a cashless society, a ‘minibank’ (the Norwegian term for ATMs) can be found adjacent to many banks and busy public places, such as shopping centres.
You can withdraw money from most ATMs using an international credit card, such as MasterCard or Visa. It’s recommended that you check with your bank before travelling to see if there are any fees or charges associated with using or withdrawing cash in the local currency in Norway.
The process of opening a bank account in Norway can be quite demanding, so it is recommended that our fellows avoid doing so.
While processing times differ between banks, most estimate that it will take 4-6 weeks to open an account.
Some examples of banks in Norway are DNB Bank, Sparebank 1, Storebrand Bank, and Nordea.
To open an account, fellows will need to verify their identity at the bank. Opening an account from abroad may therefore not be possible.
Additionally, fellows may need a residence permit and a D-number (temporary identification number) to open up an account with some banks, which most of our fellows don't classify for.
If you still want more information regarding the process of opening a bank account in Norway, please contact the bank of your preference.
In Norway, tipping is not compulsory.
However, it is common for Norwegians to leave a tip of 5-10 % in restaurant or bars if they are satisfied with the food and service.
Please note that CAS is not permitted to cover tips. If the expenses for an outing are to be refunded by CAS, tips should not be included in the refundable amount.
It is not customary to tip taxi drivers, cleaning staff, or other service providers.
There are several different options for public transportation in Oslo and the surrounding areas, but tickets for all can be purchased through the same company, Ruter.
Ruter offers a smartphone app, also named Ruter, from which tickets can be purchased and journeys can be planned.
Travel cards with tickets or pay-as-you-go credit can be purchased in most kiosks, service points and at Ruter’s customer service centre at Oslo Central Station (Oslo S). You should buy your ticket in advance before boarding all public transport, as tickets are usually not sold on board buses, trams and metro trains.
Tickets are bought based on a zone system. All of the city of Oslo is within Zone 1, but you need to buy an additional zone or two for longer travels. By using the app, the zones will be calculated automatically by entering the journey into the app.
Public transportation in Oslo runs on the honour system, but there are frequent ticket inspections. Passengers who fail to produce a valid ticket during an inspection will receive a substantial fine.