Internship in Bergen for students
Bergen is a city with strong professional communities in energy, the maritime industry, technology and media, and that makes for good internship opportunities. Whether you study at UiB, HVL or NHH, an internship in Bergen can give you valuable work experience and a network in Western Norway. This guide shows you how to go about it.
Industries that offer internships in Bergen
Bergen has a business community that differs from the capital's, and you should use that to your advantage. The city is a hub for energy, aquaculture, shipping and renewable technology, and there is also a growing community of start-ups and digital agencies. For a student, this means that an internship in Bergen often gives you specialised skills that are in demand far beyond the city itself.
When you search for an internship in Bergen, it pays to think about which industries are strongest locally. An internship in aquaculture, at an energy company or at a technology company, for example, gives you insight into industries where Bergen leads the country. That way you get relevant work experience that makes you attractive both regionally and nationally when you apply for jobs later.
How to find an internship in Bergen
Many students start and stop with the usual job sites, but the best opportunities are often just below the surface. Use the careers centre at your place of study, go to company presentations and make active use of the student association for your programme. An internship for a student in Bergen often becomes available through contacts and recommendations long before it is advertised publicly, if it ever is, so visibility and networking count for a lot.
A smart move is to use Selja. Instead of writing every application from scratch, you paste in the job ad and get a professional, ATS-friendly CV and cover letter tailored to the job in under a minute. That way you can apply for more jobs in Bergen and the rest of Western Norway without the quality dropping.
Application and preparation
A well-targeted application for an internship in Bergen shows that you know both the company and the industry. Read up on the company's projects, values and latest news, and link your own background to something specific they are working on. As a student without a long track record, you should highlight relevant courses, project assignments, volunteering and part-time jobs that say something about your work ethic and how well you work with others.
Prepare for the interview itself as well. Think through why you want this particular internship, what you can contribute and what goals you have for the period. Good, concrete examples beat general claims every time. Show that you are curious, solution-oriented and willing to learn, because these are qualities every employer values highly in an intern.
Get the most out of your time there
Once you have secured an internship in Bergen, it is about delivering and learning at the same time. Be proactive, ask questions and ask for more responsibility as you settle in. Look after the contacts you make, because a good impression during the internship is often what decides whether you are remembered when a junior position opens up later.
Also use the time to build a portfolio and references. Note down what you have worked on, which results you contributed to and which tools you have learnt. This record makes your next application easier and strengthens your CV considerably. For many recent graduates, an internship in Bergen becomes the starting point of a career in Western Norway.
Bergen as a place to study and live
Bergen combines a strong academic community with a compact city centre, which makes it easy to combine your studies with an internship. Short distances between campus, public transport hubs and most workplaces mean that you can get a lot out of an internship without a long commute every day, even with a full timetable on your programme.
The same closeness makes it easy to build a local network. The city is big enough to have exciting employers, but small enough that people know each other across industries. For a student who wants to settle in Western Norway, an internship in Bergen can therefore give you contacts that last long after the internship is over.