THIS page is created with prospective students in mind. Here, you can ask questions to current students regarding anything and everything that is encompassed within student-life in Ísafjörður. For more information on the University Center and the Coast and Marine Management Program, please visit the University’s Website.
ÞESSI síða er búin til með verðandi nemendur í huga. Hér getur þú spurt núverandi nemendur um allt mögulegt sem snýr að stúdentalífinu á Ísafirði. Frekari upplýsingar um Háskólasetrið og námsleiðina Haf- og strandsvæðastjórnun má nálgast á heimasíðu Háskólasetursins.
Hi there!
My name is Jenna I am currently apply to the CMM questions and have a few questions for current/recent students. I realize these questions have already been answered in previous posts, but as it’s been a few years maybe things have changed.
Do any of the students work local jobs while studying? I have a professional background as an sailor/outdoor adventure guide/educator/bartender/baker. What is the likelihood of finding a part-time job while studying?
Is there a forum somewhere in cyberspace for housing and cars etc?
What sort of careers have recent alum been able to create for themselves?
Thank you !!!
Jenna
Hi Jenna,
No one monitors this website anymore, and I found this by mistake. I’m a current US student at UW. If you’d like, you can email me at tasha17@uw.is and I can help connect you with someone from your country, or a nearby region.
Best,
Tasha
I must say it was hard to find your blog in search results.
You write interesting articles but you should rank your page higher in search engines.
If you don’t know 2017 seo techniues search on youtube:
how to rank a website Marcel’s way
Not many applications should utilize this authorization; these windows are meant for system-level discussion with the individual.
Hi!
I just got accepted for the CMM program for this upcoming year! I was wondering if you could let me know a bit about student life and activities. I was also wondering if there was anyway to get to know the incoming students (like if there is a class Facebook group or something else along those lines) Also I was wondering if you would be able to offer any advice on what housing to pick? I think I would prefer shared living situations, but I am not sure yet.
Thanks for all your help!
Emma
Hi Emma
Firstly, congratulations on being accepted onto the programme- that’s really great news!
Student life here is probably as you would expect for a town of roughly 2000 people. There are two bars, two bakeries, two supermarkets. But it can be very different from studying in a normal city in North America or Europe in the sense that all the students are in a small group where you can get to know everyone better. As well, there is a kayaking club, a cinema, a pool, a ski hill and 100 hiking trails. The summer months are obviously more fun with longer sunlight and more tourists coming through. There’s even music and ski festivals during this time of year.
Regarding the Facebook group, you should get an invite from the programme director around April/May I think. But some of us found each other through the housing.
With this, all but one of the students are sharing with other students and everyone seems to enjoy it. The website for the housing is found at: http://www.uw.is/student_housing/
All the houses are in walking distance to school and the main square and all are suited for students.
If you have any other questions let us know and we’ll try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Lloyd (CMM student 15/16)
Hey Emma,
I also just got accepted to the program and am looking to find other students. I worked in student cooperatives during my undergrad and have always liked shared living. We should connect on facebook. Search for Max Calloway, I went to UMass.
Hi guys,
I was wondering if I could ask somebody who is or was on the programme some questions about the modules, how you are/were finding it in general and how useful the course was to get a job or move on to new things afterwards? Is there anyone who would like to tell me about their experience?
Cheers,
Maria
Hey,
I’ve just been accepted onto the course for this coming year and would like to speak to an existing student. Would anyone be able to help?
Many thanks,
Maddie
After summer time, your profession luck will turn to a far
better path.
Hi,
My name is Maria. I would like to apply for the CMM course for 2016.
I was wondering if there are possibilities to work part-time while on the CMM course. Is it possible time-wise? And are there any jobs in town?
Thanks,
Maria
Hi Maria! Sorry for the delay in the repose, its been quite busy at the University. It is possible to work part time as class only runs about 2 to three hours a day usually in the mornings from 9:00am-12:00pm each day. If you are not from the EU, you need a work permit which you apply for on your residence permit. Jobs are pretty hard to find, but a few of us have gotten jobs at the local hotdog drive thru. If you have any more questions, message me on Facebook 🙂
Hello to All!
My name is Danielle and I am from the US and Canada. I am hoping to apply for the Coastal Management Program for next year, but have questions about the experience of those who have a humanities background (I have a B.A. in Anthropology).
As this is a science program, how difficult is the transition of studies for those with a humanities background? What is the rate of employment after completion of the Master?
If at all possible, I would love to be able to personally contact any past alums and current students who were previous humanities majors, so I can get some real perspective on the program and possible opportunities after.
Thanks so much!
Cheers,
Danielle
Hi Danielle,
Im a arts student from Canada currently enrolled in the Coastala nd Marine Management program this year. I have an enevironmental studies program with hardly any science backround. Each course (rather arts based or science based) is fine because you are looking at things from a Coastal Manager perspective rather than a scientist. THe courses i found a bit difficult so far has been marine ecology and Marine pollution as both involve small amounts of biology and chemistry but the professors understand that most of us dont ahve a substantial science backround. It’s challenging but definetly ok! Any more questions you can contact me on Facebook 🙂
Hello Wade here again!
Me and a friend of mine are in a bit of pickle with the housing situation, since we applied later and accepted our offers relatively late. We were waiting for what other universities might have offered too, so we didn’t want to start booking houses or anything, since we didn’t know if we were actually coming. There seems to be few rooms left anywhere, and I was wondering if anyone here knows about anywhere I could move into in August when the course starts. My friend got the last available room in Mánagata 4, but I am now without a place to stay. I was wondering if there are for example any 2nd year students whose house has an empty room or something?
Any help would be great!
Thank you
Wade
Hi Wade,
Firstly so sorry for the very late reply! I hope by now you have managed to sort something?
The best person to talk to about this is Maik, (the housing website guy) but on the student end of things we don’t have any rooms with second years im afraid. We do have pull out sofas etc. which would do for a short while if you are in real difficulty!
I will be here when you arrive in Isafjordur, so look forward to meeting you!
Alex
(Aegir Treasurer)
Hello,
my name’s Ciara, I’ll hopefully be starting the MRM program next year! I have some questions though.
I was wondering generally what line of work people pursue after graduating? And is the level of employment high?
I was also wondering what sort of reputation the MA had internationally, I know it’s only been running since 2008.
Aaaaalso, is there a facebook group or anything for prospective students? For potential housing etc?
Hope to see some of you soon,
Ciara
Hi Ciara,
Firstly sorry for the very late reply! Its been a busy few months for us here.
Il will do my best to answer you questions, however it may be best to speak to either Kristin or Dagny on the job related front.
From what I know the student who have graduated have been pretty successful in gaining jobs. In our group we already have a few people who have left to go straight into a job, one within the Scottish Government on marine policy issues, one working for a German Company in Fiji on management issues etc. I know that past groups people have also been quite successful too, however I think that this is the same in any situation where it depends how motivated you are to try and find a job. But I can say that in this course you meet a lot of people and the networking is amazing with the amount of lecturers from around the world we have.
Regarding the recognition of the course, I think its pretty good, and I think in a comment below one of the other students also asked about this. It is part of the Arctic University group, so is pretty well known in the Northern Regions. As for other places, you graduate technically from the University of Akureyri, which is quite a well known university internationally.
Hope this helps a bit! And if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to email me or send me a message on Facebook!
Alex
(Aegir Treasurer)
Hey!
I am currently thinking whether or not to accept the offer to study in the UCW, or not. I am really keen on the course and everything, but am just a bit nervous about the cost of living in Iceland and Isafjordur… I myself am from Finland, which is also a very expensive country, so I know how high the prices in the Nordic countries can actually be. The prices on the housing websites for the rent and everything seem very low, so I’m thinking that might bring the overall cost down a bit. I was wondering if you have any estimations about budgeting or monthly costs of living and such? I’ve only found these for bigger cities like Reykjavik… Anything would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Wade
Hi Wade, congratulations on your offer!
Yes, the cost of rent in Ísafjörður is generally quite low – I was quite suspicious / surprised about this at first, knowing how expensive rent in Reykjavik can be. But in my experience the rent was around 50% lower than I would expect to pay at home (UK) and included all bills and an internet connection. I don’t know for sure if this is the case for all of the options on the housing website, but I think it is true of the majority. I guess the reason behind the low rent is partly supply / demand, and also that water and electricity are quite cheap to supply here.
In terms of other living costs, groceries can be more expensive (maybe not so much more than Finland, but I can’t speak from experience!), and there are just 2 supermarkets to choose from. Bonus is the cheaper option, it is just outside of town and easy to walk / cycle there in the summer (in the winter this can be less fun in the snow, but still possible!). The more expensive supermarket is right in the centre of town, Samkaup.
It is definitely possible to live on a tight budget here – my budgeting was not the best, so I can’t really tell you exactly what the budget I lived on was, but I generally tried to stick to 40,000ISK (280€) per month…. It is definitely possible to live on less than that though, to be honest you can probably live on half of that if you are focused, and this ‘budget’ included everything like nights out / drinks / cinema / swimming / travel etc. …Maybe someone else can volunteer some better budgetary advice than me!!
Other things to remember when budgeting for the year are things like the fee for a year’s supply of coffee in the University Centre (around 10,000ISK if I remember correctly (important)), and maybe the cost of internal flights at Xmas etc., which can add up. Then if you are keen on skiing / swimming the combined pass for both is around 27,000ISK for a year. It all depends on what you want to get out of the experience I suppose – but it is definitely possible to live on a budget, if you are well organised, unlike me…
As an example of costs locally, a glass of wine in the bar is around 900/1000ISK, and beer maybe 500ISK and on Tuesdays you can get a deal on pizza in the local takeaway… Since the place is so small, and the shops / activities quite limited, it’s quite easy to get into a routine for budgeting, maybe more so than in Reykjavik.
I hope this info helps you out a bit, and gives you a better idea of what to expect. Happy to answer more Qs if you like, or maybe someone else with a better grasp of budgeting than me can help more!
Sarah
Hello,
I have recently been accepted into the programme for this forthcoming August, but do have several questions if thats okay.
I understand that the degree attained at the end of the course is a Masters of Resource Management (MRM); how does this compare to an MSc or equivalent and is it internationally well known? I’m just thinking with regards to career prospects at the end of the programme.
Also, what recreational activities are available within the town or nearby? I’m a keen cyclist but would like to try some new leisurely during my time in Isafjordur.
Regards, Lloyd
Hi Lloyd,
Congratulations to you for getting accepted to the programme and of course it is ok to ask questions, that is what this page is made for!
A MRM degree in general is nothing unique to Iceland, you will find studies like that in other countries, for example from well known Universities like Simon Fraser University in Western Canada. Looking at that, it would most likely be recognized internationally.
On the other hand the University of Akureyri, which you will graduate from as the Centre of the Westfjords is part of that University, is definitely not as renowned as for example mentioned SFU but you will gain a very good and holistic insight in the related topics here. Something which will require own input but can help your career prospects is the continued conversation with lecturers as they are experts in their fields and come from various parts of the world.
There are manyfold recreational activities here. In the Winter you have the opportunity to go both downhill and crosscountry skiing at the local ski hill that is right outside of town. You can go Ocean-Kayaking, the local club is always very welcoming to new students. The hiking, camping and exploring opportunities are too much to count or list here but I can tell you that there are a lot of them!
In addition to this there are several sports like Handball, Volleyball, Basketball and Soccer played here.
If you have any more questions feel free to reply here or send me a mail, my adress is nikikar@web.de
Best
Niklas Karbowski
Hi Niklas,
Thanks for your reply. It has cleared up much of the queries that I had concerning the degree classification and look forward to commencing the programme from August.
Kind regards, Lloyd
Hello,
My name is Brian Gerrity and I am planning on attending the CMM program beginning Fall of 2015. I was wondering if anyone could connect me to other accepted students? Do groups of students decide who to live with when making housing arrangements?
Thanks!
Brian Gerrity
Hi Brian,
My name is Leah and I’ve also been accepted into the CMM program to begin in Fall 2015. I’m still not 100% sure I’ll be doing it, but I just wanted to reach out and introduce myself all the same!
Leah
Hello Brian and Leah,
Congratulations to being accepted to the CMM 2015/2016 program!
Typically Dagny (the Program Director) will create a group on Facebook once the letters of acceptance have been sent out to both EU and non-EU applicants. I will let her know that there is already existing interest for such a connection!
Normally every student looks for accomodation independently but as a lot of the places are shared flats anyway it would not be a problem to connect as a group and search for a place together. If you are not already aware of it , there is the following website https://uwfhousing.wordpress.com/
which is managed by a former student, to help you with finding a nice place to stay!
Do not hesitate to contact me either by email: nikikar@web.de or phone: +3548979481 if you have any other questions 🙂
Best regards
Niklas Karbowski
CMM Student 2013/2014
Hello Niklas,
Thank you so much for your insightful reply and contact information! I have been browsing that housing website and appreciate all of the information posted. I was thinking it would be nice to connect with other students to figure out housing since most of it seems to be shared.
Brian Gerrity
Hello Leah,
Nice to “meet” you via the internet! I would love to chat more with other prospective students! If you would like to talk more via email my email is gerritybrian@pugetsound.edu.
I am looking forward to meeting more students!
Brian Gerrity
HI. My Name is Laila and I am interested in the programme too.
I just read on the webpage that the amount of credits per semester are more than usuall in other Universities? Is that true?
I for my self am not sure if I could handle any more. I was just enrolled in a masters with ´normal´work load and it was a 7 day week job and very very stressy. Sometimes we only had 1 day to study for an exam. So I was just wondering how it is possible to manage an even higher work load? Could someone maybe give me some insight on their experiences regarding workload and stress?
Has there been anyone who did not finish all modules in the given time period? What were the consequences, if any? Could they redo them in the next semester?
Thank you in advance,
warm regards,
Laila
Hi Laila,
Have you had a look at the course schedule? http://www.uwestfjords.is/skraarsafn/skra/627/
While I am not sure how the number of credits per semester compares to other Universities, the main difference is the all courses on the CMM program are condensed 2,3or 4 week courses, and so you only have one course at a time to worry about.
While some courses obviously have a high workload as you’d expect from a Masters program, and there are always going to be times of stress, there is usually the chance to get some downtime at weekends inbetween courses and also depending on the content of each course.
From my experience, the workload is manageable, there is not so much need to stress about exams since the majority of courses do not have any exam: most assessment is via presentations or reports, and sometimes discussions and other group work.
Not all modules are compulsory, but if you did fail a compulsory course you would be allowed to take it a gain next year. In other courses, there may be he chance to re-take the part you failed (depending on the course) and you can always pick up another course elsewhere to make up the credits. There are more courses on offer than you need for your credits required.
The reason why the semesters are quite long and condensed is partly because the university know there are a lot of international students who would want the chance to go home over Christmas and to not spend 2 years of taught courses in Iceland.
For myself and for most students I think the workload has been manageable, there have definitely been periods of high stress, but that comes with any masters program!
I hope this helps to answer your questions,
Sarah
Ægir Secretary
Hi,
I’ve recently gained a place on the CMM Program, and was just wondering when do people usually move there? Also I have signed up for the Icelandic Crash course and was hoping someone may know a little bit more about it, and if it is majority CMM students?
I was also wondering if there is a way of talking to other students starting in August before we all move there?
A bit nervous at the moment! But really cant wait to get started!
Thank you,
Alex
Hi,
I’m in exactly the same position as you, i was going to do the crash course but wasn’t sure who else would be doing it or when everyone would be arriving as i didn’t want to be the only one there!
Ive just started looking at sorting my accommodation out, have you sorted yours?
Im from the UK whereabouts are you from?
I was also wondering if there was a group or something with everyone going this year so we can get to know each other!
Georgia
Hi Georgia!
Im also from the UK, Leeds to be precise! I have just sorted my accommodation, im staying in Managata 4 in the single rooms but shared facilities.
At the minute I am planning on moving over on Thursday 14th, as the flights from Leeds are a bit of a nightmare and I would miss the Ice Breaker session on the Sunday night if I got the later flight!
It would be great to start a group or something! Im on facebook if you want to add me, would be good to have someone to talk to about what to pack! Im Alex Tyas, and my pic in me in a green blazer with a boy and a ginger girl if that helps!
Glad its not just me who doesn’t really have a clue!
Alex 🙂
Hi guys,
So sorry for the extremely late reply here!
I did not take the Icelandic course myself, and I think the number of CMM students on it each year is very variable (our cohort is very small, so just 3 or 4 people were on it). That said, there is loads of socialising happening during that time and a lot of other international students from across Iceland spent 3 weeks in the Westfjords too, so don’t worry about meeting people as there will be loads going on!
There is also the European swamp soccer championships during august, I think they are just before the icelandic course usually but I will check and link you there.
People on the CMM course tend to arrive at times scattered throughout August then some at the last minute (as I did, and it was really no problem, you’ll have so much time to acclimatise to isafjordur during the winter anyway!)
The University Centre usually organise a Facebook group for all students starting at around this time of year, so you will probably receive an invite soon.
I am also trying to get contact details for all the new students from the University Centre so that Ægir can get in touch with more information about student life.
Do get in touch if you have any questions at all,
Sarah
Ægir Secretary
Sel1989@hotmail.com
Hello! My name is Ryan Ham and I am very interested in attending the University Centre of the Westfjords and studying with the Coastal and Marine Management program. I’m finishing up my last year at the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California studying Global Studies and Maritime Affairs with a minor in Marine Science. I just have a couple questions about the program and life in Iceland that I hope can be answered:
– Are there scholarships or financial aid available for students? Or perhaps teaching assistant or research assistant positions?
– What do you like most about the CMM program?
– How much should I expect to spend on room and board expenses while living in Iceland?
– What additional factors most impact acceptance into this program?
Any additional information is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you have a great day!
Sincerely,
Ryan Ham
Hi Ryan,
First of all sorry for the late answer, but christmas holidays started just before you wrote your questions here and i kind of forgot to look for new posts on this site. However I hope you are still interested and my response will help you with your questions. Feel free to contact me via mail as well for any kind of questions.
1) I will contact some people and give you an answer to that in a couple of days. But as you are from the US I was told about the Fulbright Program, you might want to look into that, it is applicable for US residents coming to Iceland to study. Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fulbright.is%2Fto_iceland%2F&h=5AQHaN0V9
2) Personally I like the atmosphere in and around the University and Isafjördur as well. You come to a completely new country and the people are very friendly and so helpful with every single question you have. That makes living in the town and engaging in the community much easier. Also the vast amount of experience and expertise that is created by the lecturers that come from all around the world is really helpful and makes the program as good as it is.
3) Rooms in Isafjördur are, compared to bigger cities in other countries, quite inexpensive. All of us this year pay between 270 and 340 USD per month. This includes heating, electricity and internet. Here you have an overview over most of the places that are or were used by students: http://uwfhousing.wordpress.com/ The uni centre itself does not offer food during the day except for some baguettes. Groceries are however more expensive then in the US. Especially Meat, dairy products and fruits have significantly higher prices and that is excluding alcohol, which probably has the highest difference in price. As a general estimate I would suppose that you have to spent nearly double the amount of money per month on groceries in Iceland then you do in the US.
4) I am not directly sure what you mean with “additional factors” but out of the documents that you have to hand in for the application it should be your statement of interest and the letters of reference. Pls let me know if your question was aming at something else.
If there is anything more that you want to know, just reply here or send me an email.
Kind regards,
Niklas Karbowski
nikikar@web.de
Treasurer and Online-Appearance – Ægir Student Association
Hi All,
I am the president for the student association this year and wanted to welcome anyone to ask questions about the program or life in Isafjordur.
You can post a message, send me an email or find me on Facebook!
Takk
Chelsey Landry
AEgir Student Association President
Hi,
I just got the e-mail stating that i was accepted to the CMM-program starting this fall.
I read about the need of financial support aswell and i am still wondering how this works. Do I have to show them a print of my bank account to proove that i am capable of supporting my stay?
Another question of mine is about the accomodation. Will I be able to get a place in e.g. one of the shared flats that are mentioned on the homepage from where I am now or do I need to come to Iceland for that?
Thank you very much
Niklas Karbowski
Hi Niklas,
Congrats on being accepted to next year’s program!
Financially, you need to provide an official bank statement showing you are able to support yourself throughout your study. Student loan forms, in my experience, are not accepted by the Directorate of Immigration. Additional information on the amounts are described on the Directorate of Immigration’s website: http://utl.is/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=79&lang=en. Questions regarding what type of proof is accepted can be directed to: utl@utl.is
Accommodation arrangements should be made as soon as possible. As soon as I found out I was accepted, I e-mailed the university contact at the time to express my interest in particular rooms listed online. She was then able to get me in contact with the landlord, at which point I made arrangements for my arrival. Check out this year’s accommodations online at:http://hsvest.is/masters_program/accommodation/. A new page devoted entirely to housing and living in Ísafjörður has been set up at: http://uwfhousing.wordpress.com/. Alex Elliott is a past CMM student running this site and providing information, as a third party, as requested by the University Center. You can contact him for further information regarding next year’s housing availability at: uwfhousing@outlook.com
Hope this helps!
Best,
Chelsea Boaler
chelsea12@uwestfjords.is
PR Rep. – Ægir Student Association
Hi Chelsea,
I was just wondering if you could give me an idea of what the town is like, and what students do in free time. You’ve mentioned snowboarding and volleyball, but are there many other people around, how easy is it to meet people etc? I come from a big city and so although I’d be really looking forward to the experience, this is the aspect I’d be most nervous about. Really grateful fo any information you could give!
Thanks,
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
The town is definitely not a big city (around 2,000 people), but there is lots to do! As mentioned above, there are always extra curricular activities available to the students, such as indoor and outdoor sport and recreation. There are a couple pubs and cafes in town where students hang out, as well as socialize with locals. Once in a while, there are additional festivities around town, such as around Christmas and Easter time.
I grew up in a relatively large city (Winnipeg), and have lived in Halifax for the last five-or-so years before moving to Iceland, and most of the students, in fact, come from much larger cities than where we are living now (Berlin, France, Vancouver etc.). The majority of the students have become involved in the community to some extent. I guess it really depends on the effort one puts in to begin with; if you want to be involved, meet new people, and engage in local activities, I don’t think you will have any problems! Students are involved in organized sports, choir, the knitting club, the kayaking club… others simply enjoy social events like trivia and beer bingo. There is really something for everyone.
I hope this description was able to give you some idea of what to expect, but if you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Best,
Chelsea Boaler
chelsea12@uwestfjords.is
PR Rep. – Ægir Student Association
Hi Chelsea,
Thank you very much for all your answers.
I have got some others questions to ask :
– I noticed that I needed a proof of financial support during my stay in Iceland. At least 1030€ (around ISK163000) per month is required for a single person but they don’t give any duration. Do you know, how many months of financial support I need to prove ?
– Besides, do I have to open an Icelandic bank account, especially for the flat’s rent ? I mean, may I pay for my rent by cash ?
– Then, is there any insurance medical company for students in Iceland ? If yes, what are the fees for the master’s duration and can I register myself from another country ?
Thanks again for your availabilty.
Best regards,
Florian WEBER
Hi Florian,
On the immigration website, they state “A foreigner applying for a residence permit, shall prove secure support for the period of time he applies for to be allowed to stay in Iceland.” Basically, if you are applying for 10 months (Sept-July) , you need to prove for 10 months.
The decision to open an Icelandic bank account is your own. For example, my student loans from Canada provide me with a credit card where I am able to withdraw money (in Icelandic krona) as I wish. However, I pay my roommate cash for rent, and she pays the total amount via bank transfer to my landlord. It is much easier to pay for rent through direct transfer. You will learn that the banking system in Iceland is less restrictive than what most students are used to from their home countries. In my experience so far, I have only needed cash for rent. Other places of business all accept credit cards (which for me, is attached to my student loans). A bank account is easy to set up, and some students have found it helpful to have a separate account with a debit card.
The medical insurance must be provided by an Icelandic company, not a foreign company valid in Iceland. I am not sure of all the rates, since I chose the company with the most accessible English information. The website for that company, Vörður, is http://www.vordur.is/English/life-and-health-insurance. Here you can read the information on the Medical Cost Insurance, which you need to purchase for the first six months of your stay (after which point you are covered by Icelandic public insurance). I would however, suggest purchasing seven months, if it is within your budget, as the public insurance is valid six months from the time your Kennitala (Icelandic ID number) is approved, NOT six months from your date of arrival. This approval waiting period, for some students, has taken up to a month.
I am currently not in Ísafjörður, but once I return next week, I will be looking in to the employment information requested earlier.
Best,
Chelsea Boaler
chelsea12@uwestfjords.is
PR Rep. – Ægir Student Association
Hello Florian,
Here are some contacts your girlfriend can check-out regarding pastry chef positions in town. I am not sure if they are looking for people, or what opportunities they have in her specific field, but she can contact them to get further information.
Bakeries:
Gamla Bakaríið: gamla@simnet.is
Bakarinn: bakarinnehf@simnet.is
Cafes and Restaurants:
Bræðraborg: info@borea.is
Hótel Ísafjörður: vidpollinn@vidpollinn.is
Húsið: +354 456-5555
Edinborg: +354 456-8335
Hope this is a good starting point.
Best,
Chelsea Boaler
chelsea12@uwestfjords.is
PR Rep. – Ægir Student Association
Hi everyone,
I’m French student in environmental management (costline option) and I have some questions to submit you :
– Firstly, I would like to know more about the master degree :
How is the working load ? I mean in addition to classes how many hours you’ve to work at home ? Have you got some time to do sport or stroll around ?
Then what is the general approach of lessons ? I mean, I guess there are some theorical parts but I’d like to know if theachers make you worked as future stakeholder in environmental management ?
– Secondly, I need details on Isafjordur life :
Are there some opportunities for a pastry chef to find a job in the city ? (because if I come, I’ll do with my girlfriend who is pastry chef).
If there aren’t, could she easily find an other job which doesn’t need much experience ?
How is the life in winter ?
thanks a lot
Florian WEBER
Hi Florian,
Congratulations on being accepted to the 2013 CMM Program!
The work load for the courses really depends on the instructor. In some cases, you may have a few smaller assignments, and with others you may have one or two larger assignments/exams. Generally speaking, you are supposed to put in 45+ hrs per week for each course. However, many courses have lecture and/or discussion times scheduled in the morning, with “free” afternoons left open, so you can organize your time as you wish. Many students are still able to participate in extra activities such as volleyball, hiking, swimming, choir, skiing, snowboarding etc. The style of courses also depends on the instructor. There have been some courses more heavily weighted towards theoretical components, while others have included role-play (i.e. as stakeholders), group work/discussion, and field work within the community. Elective options (mostly after Christmas) give you the opportunity to select a course based on your interest, not only in subject matter, but also on content and evaluation schemes.
As for job opportunities, only one of the students from this year’s program is working, and I am not quite sure what opportunities are available in this specific department. Information regrading work permits for France residents is available at: http://www.island.is/english/employment/limited-work-permits. The town of Ísafjörður has just over 2,000 people, and I will see if I am able to find more information regrading this specific sector of employment.
Life in the winter is not too bad, despite the daylight becoming shorter. There are winter activities, such as skiing, and the gym and pools are open all year long. The coldest I remember it being this year was around -25C, with the windchill. However, it is usually around -10, with a fair amount of snow and slush (I’m Canadian, so for me it was nicer than home)!
Hope this answers your questions, if you need anything else, please do not hesitate to ask.
Best,
Chelsea Boaler
chelsea12@uwestfjords.is
PR Rep. – Ægir Student Association
Hi
I am Mohith from India and would to know more about the Master Program in Coastal and Marine Environment.
Could you please let me know the exact tuition fees for the program ( is it 240 ISK or 240000 ISK for Non European students)
Please let me know more about the accomadation facility.
Could please let me know the cost of living per month which included Food,Rent
Kindly do provide your contact number to contact you.
Regards,
Mohit
Hi Mohit!
Thanks so much for your interest in the CMM program, and your inquiries. This website is run by the Ægir Student Association, and so our contact number is the same for the University Center: +354 450 3040.
As of right now, the annual fee is 240.000 ISK for international students, which is equal to roughly 102,496.80 INR. This fee may or may not be different for next semester, and it would be best to contact the University Center directly for this type of information.
As for the accommodation, the University Center lists available options on their website at: http://hsvest.is/masters_program/accommodation/. These accommodations are not owned or operated by the University Center. Rather, they list accommodations that have previously been rented out to students from various landlords in the town. The list is dated for Fall 2013, and so should have available options for next years program. Rent varies depending on the type of accommodation. Prices and utilities are listed on the accommodation page, given above. Most places include heat, water, and electricity. Some include internet.
Food prices vary, depending on where you buy certain items. There are two grocery stores in the town: Bonus and Samkaup. Depending on you diet and what types of food you buy, your bill can vary. Typically, I can spend up to 20.000 ISK or so in a month for one person. Once you figure which store carries the food you buy for cheaper, it’s more manageable. Some of the stores and restaurants can also provide cheaper options. For example, the pizza place has a pizza deal on Tuesdays, and on Thursdays, there is a chicken deal at the grocery store. Other than rent and food, other costs might include going to the theater and participating in sports or outdoor activities, depending on your interests.
I hope I was able to answer your questions appropriately! If you have any other questions regarding costs or organization of the program itself, the best contact e-mail is info@uwestfjords.is, where your inquiries can be directed appropriately. If you have any more questions regarding student life in the town, please don’t hesitate to ask! Also a good resource related to student living in Iceland can be found at: http://www.uwestfjords.is/skraarsafn/skra/316/
Best,
Chelsea Boaler
PR Rep. – Ægir Student Association