Why Feeling Seen Matters: How the University of Oslo Supports Students Before They Arrive

Seeing the Student Behind the Application

For Kjersti Bogen, Project Manager for International Full Degree Recruitment at the University of Oslo, supporting international students begins long before they step onto campus.

When asked what she wishes more people understood about the student journey, her answer wasn't about admissions, visas or orientation.

It was about something much simpler.

"Students don't want to feel alone. They need some touch points now and then... They need to be seen. I think that's the key in communication. They need to feel that they're seen by someone and that there's someone at the other end taking care of them and wanting their best. *Not just pouring out important information which they have to know, but also adding that little extra touch to make them feel seen."

That philosophy has supported how the university supports students during one of the most uncertain periods of their journey: the months between accepting an offer and arriving in Oslo.

For Kjersti, pre-arrival communication is about far more than sending reminders or sharing practical information. It's about recognising that behind every application is a person preparing for one of the biggest transitions of their life. Students are often leaving their home country, family and support networks for the first time, making those early touchpoints just as important emotionally as they are practically.

Filling the Gap Between Offer and Arrival

The University's decision to introduce Goin' began with a simple observation: there was a long period between students accepting their offer and starting their studies where communication naturally became quieter.

As Kjersti explains:

"Our motivation was to fill the gap between when our students received their offers until they started their studies at the University of Oslo. It's quite a few months where they previously didn't hear that much from us and we realised that we needed to do something to kind of make them feel welcome and make them feel a part of a bigger society."

Rather than allowing that period to become one of uncertainty, the team wanted students to begin feeling connected from the moment they chose Oslo.

"There are loads of students coming to Oslo and through Goin' it gave us an opportunity to put them together and link them and show them that you are not alone."

That feeling of reassurance has been reflected in the student experience. 92% of students said using Goin' reassured them that choosing the University of Oslo was the right decision, demonstrating the impact that early connection can have during one of the most uncertain stages of the student journey.

Finding Reassurance Through Community

Moving abroad is about far more than arranging accommodation or completing paperwork. It's about knowing that there are other people experiencing the same journey.

The University wanted students to discover those connections before arriving.

As Kjersti explains:

"Giving the students an opportunity to connect, to find other students either from their home country who are also going to Oslo, from the same degree that they're studying, or who are also interested in their hobby... finding something to reassure them in their choice."

Today, the community has facilitated more than 20,000 friendships between students from 92 different countries, helping future classmates build relationships long before arriving in Oslo.

One student, Emily from Germany, described the impact simply:

"I was so happy when I registered. I got to know so many people and this made me even more excited about going to Oslo! I showed the app to my friends who will also do a semester abroad elsewhere and they wished they also had this."

Another, Jamie from Australia, found reassurance in being able to connect with others facing the same move.

"I'm really happy this has been put in place! I'm glad that I can make a network of other Aussies which should also help with working through my residence permit."

The Value of Peer Support

Alongside future classmates, students can also connect directly with those already studying at the University of Oslo.

For Kjersti, that peer perspective is one of the community's greatest strengths.

"The opportunity to ask current students in the Goin' community is amazing. They can actually get an answer from a peer who's there now to get to know what their expectations should be."

One of the university's most active communities is "Ask a Current Student," where prospective students regularly ask questions about:

• Course registration and Studentweb
• Accommodation and housing
• Travelling to and around Oslo
• Opening a Norwegian bank account
• Student IDs, language courses, exams and study programmes

Rather than waiting for official responses, students are often able to lean on someone who has recently navigated exactly the same experience within the community.

In fact, 93% of students said they used the community instead of contacting university staff or agents for answers, demonstrating just how valuable peer-to-peer guidance can be during the transition.

Communication That Makes Students Feel Seen

Helping students feel seen isn't simply about making more touchpoints or sharing more information. It's about creating an environment where students feel welcomed, connected and confident before they arrive.

When students begin building relationships early, they're no longer preparing for university alone. Instead, they arrive knowing there are people they'll recognise, conversations they've already had, and a community they already feel part of. That early sense of connection can transform uncertainty into confidence and belonging.

The impact of that approach is reflected in the University's student community. 96% of students said Goin improved their sense of belonging to the University of Oslo, while 97% said it reduced concerns about making friends. Together, these outcomes show how meaningful early connections can shape the student experience long before day one.

Students describe that impact in their own words.

Laura from France shared:

"It's a safer way to find and connect with other students and create links before moving abroad! It's reassuring too as a foreign student. I was afraid of being alone when I joined my university, but thanks to Goin' I already have friends to talk to!"

Hugo from Switzerland added:

"I have always started school without knowing anyone. So having the opportunity to chat with others is quite interesting and seeing that many people are in the same situation as me is reassuring."

Remembering Why the Work Matters

"It's seeing student success, meeting students and hearing from them what made a difference for them coming to Oslo or going abroad really, that brings me meaning or energy."

Like many working in higher education, Kjersti acknowledges that there are periods where routine tasks can make it easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.

"You realise that, okay, 'I do this for students'. They are appreciative of what you do and that's really what brings me meaning or energy."

She recalled one student who had been deeply uncertain about studying abroad.

"I met a student this spring who was very hesitant on whether or not she wanted to go abroad. She had really big doubts and I didn't want to push her because she might have had things to deal with, but I presented her with the options."

Several months later, she met the student again.

"She said, 'I had a rough first four weeks, but after that it's been amazing and I don't regret going.'"

For Kjersti, moments like these are a reminder of why supporting students before they arrive matters.

Looking ahead, she believes communities like Goin' help students begin one of the biggest transitions of their lives with greater confidence.

"I believe it has and still will be changing [the student experience] in the fact that students will be able to make a network and connect with other students in a phase where they're kind of insecure and vulnerable and not really sure what's expected or what's waiting for them. They're more sure about what to expect... They're better prepared."

For the University of Oslo, supporting students before they arrive isn't simply about providing information. It's about helping every student feel welcomed, connected and confident before they ever step onto campus.

Or, as Kjersti puts it:

"You are not alone."