Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (Online Exchange) - Kines Only
Explore global perspectives on sport from the comfort of home, connecting with esteemed scholars & researchers from the top sport science institute in northern Europe.
Established in 1870, the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (called NIH or "Norges idrettshøgskole" in Norwegian) is a scientific university that specializes in research and education within the field of sport sciences. NIH is located in Oslo, the capital city of Norway and Green Capital of Europe (2019).
The online exchange offers great flexibility, allowing UCalgary students to choose one or more courses (taken simultaneously as your regular UCalgary courseload), study at your own pace, engage in virtual discussion/collaboration, and meet with NIH professors & researchers to expand your knowledge.
Students are welcome to participate in the online exchange by itself, or if desired, you are welcome to apply for a future in-person exchange to NIH to continue your studies!
Key information
Student experience
This video highlights "Introduction to the Movement Sciences", one of the online courses offered at NIH!
Online Exchange program details
The information below was last updated on: October 1, 2025
The Fall (Autumn) semester runs from late August to late December and the Winter (Spring) semester runs from mid January to early June. Students can do the NIH online exchange for one or both semesters, take one or more courses per semester, and combine the online exchange courses with regular UCalgary courses if desired!
The online courses are asynchronous and module-based; study at your own pace with final assignments/exams due at the end of the semester. There will be online interaction with your classmates/instructors and optional live meetings as well.
All of the courses have been assessed by the UCalgary Kinesiology faculty either as KNES 9XX (senior credit) or KNES 2XX (junior credit). Below is the credit assessment as of Fall 2025; note, the courses are currently being re-assessed and may change. Please check the NIH website to confirm when the courses are offered for your desired semester.
- SPM 104: Sport and Sustainability - 10 ECTS (KNES 9XX)
- SPM 120: Performance-enhancement and anti-doping in sport - 5 ECTS (KNES 9XX)
- SPM 121: Sustaining sport for development and peace programs - 10 ECTS (KNES 9XX)
- SPM 123: International Organization of Sport - 10 ECTS (KNES 9XX)
- THP 111: The Female Athlete: Health and Performance - 10 ECTS (KNES 9XX)
- LKI 152: Introduction to the Movement Sciences - 10 ECTS (KNES 2XX; this course can be used towards the BSc Kin science requirement)
Note: 6 ECTS = 3 UCalgary units (1 standard semester course). This means that 10 ECTS = 1 course at UCalgary, 15 ECTS = 2 courses, 20 ECTS = 3 courses, etc.
If you have any questions about the transfer credit or how these courses will fulfill your degree requirements, please contact the Kinesiology Academic Advising Office.
You will be charged tuition at UCalgary at your normal tuition rate. Tuition is assessed according to the number of NIH courses you attend (e.g. if taking two 10-ECTS courses at NIH, you will be charged tuition for two courses, even though 20 ECTS will ultimately transfer back to UCalgary as credit for three courses).
There are no additional costs to attend this program!
Online programs are not eligible for Study Abroad targeted funding. However, because you'll stay registered as a UCalgary student and pay UCalgary tuition for the online exchange, any other funding that you're eligible for (scholarships, student loans, etc.) can be used towards your tuition like normal. We recommend browsing the UCalgary awards database.
This program is open to Kinesiology undergraduate students. Minimum cumulative GPA 2.7.
How to apply:
Click here to access the online application!
- After you log in, use the Study Programs tab to search for the application.
- In the search criteria, enter Program Name = "Kinesiology Semester Online Exchange Norwegian School of Sport Sciences". Leave all other search criteria blank.
- The search results should show 1 application for the online exchange. Click "Apply".
- The "Statement of Purpose" section of the online application is where you write a short statement of why you are applying.
- You will also be asked which course(s) you are interested in taking, and in which semester (Fall, Winter, or both).
- The application will prompt you to read the Norway consular affairs report and enter the report date. As an online exchange participant, this is not mandatory - to skip this question, just enter today's date in the text field.
- No reference letter or other documents are required.
After your application has been received by UCalgary and approved, you will be nominated to NIH. You will then receive instructions to fill out a secondary application form and sign up for your desired course(s).
Do I have to speak Norwegian?
All of the online courses listed in the Academics drop-down above are taught in English.
For students with good knowledge of Scandinavian languages (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, etc.) there are additional online courses taught in Norwegian which you may be able to take. Note these courses have not been pre-assessed by the UCalgary Kinesiology faculty; you may be responsible for sourcing translated course outlines for the course assessment.
Can I take UCalgary courses in the same semester?
Yes, it is allowed to take regular UCalgary courses alongside your NIH online courses! Closer to the start of your semester, your exchange advisor will contact you to check how many courses you plan to take from NIH and from UCalgary, and they will ensure your tuition is set up correctly. If you wish to overload your semester (taking more than 5 courses in a semester) you will need permission from the Kinesiology faculty; please speak to the Kines academic advising office, or contact the exchange advisor at study.abroad@ucalgary.ca for guidance.
Is the online exchange competitive?
Unlike in-person exchanges which are sometimes competitive, the NIH online exchange allows for a generous number of UCalgary students to participate each semester. For this reason, applications are "first come, first considered". Historically, we have never maxed out our allocation for the online exchange and were able to accept all eligible applicants.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Kathryn Bauer
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.