Sophie Ellertsen is a second-year bachelor student in Cyber Security at Noroff University College, and she is completing her entire education online. This gives her the freedom to combine her studies with her great passion, traveling.
She already had experience with self-studies from before, when she studied anatomy and physiology to become a personal trainer. This meant Sophie knew she could structure her days and thrive with this way of learning.
International campus
– I have long wanted to travel for an extended period, a kind of “travel year” I never got to take because of covid. Online studies became the perfect solution, I can study and travel at the same time.
She found campus life in another way. Through the backpacking community, Sophie experiences a kind of “international campus,” where she meets people from all over the world. At the same time, she often keeps things calmer, choosing beach days or trips to villages where she can experience local culture.
Flexibility while traveling
For Sophie, the flexibility of online studies is absolutely essential. When unexpected things happen, and they often do while traveling, she can adjust and catch up on what she misses.
– I often study while Norway sleeps, and I can use time zones to my advantage.
At the same time, she emphasizes that there are still fixed frameworks, such as mandatory live sessions in the evenings. Then her head is often quite full after a lot of reading, but apart from that she greatly appreciates the freedom.
Tropical breaks from studying
Even though Cyber Security requires many hours in front of the computer, Sophie gets to experience things that would never have happened back home in Norway.
– I can ride my scooter to a beach, sit in the sun, meet people from all over the world, and experience cultures up close. I have, for example, been invited to an Indonesian wedding and stayed in the jungle with a local village for three days, an experience I would never have had at home.
Video: Clip from Sophie’s journey
Structure and community
To stay focused and disciplined, Sophie has developed good routines. Notion is her most important tool, where she organizes all her subjects, assignments, lectures, and plans.
– It is easy to feel overwhelmed by how much you have to get through. My advice is to move the needle a little forward every day, quality over quantity.
She experiences the academic environment as solid, as long as you engage yourself. The platform is rich in resources, with Teams for direct contact with lecturers and Discord servers for collaboration. Sophie has even taken the initiative to create more collective collaboration around assignments, something she describes as very rewarding.
– I have become more aware of how digital tools provide a competitive advantage, both in studies and in working life.
For those considering online studies
For others who are considering online studies, Sophie has a clear piece of advice:
– Online studies are best suited for those who can structure their everyday life and take responsibility for their own learning. Engage yourself in both the subjects and the dialogue with teachers and fellow students, then you will get a lot in return.
She does not regret her choice for a second.
– For me, online studies became the key to combining education with the freedom to travel. I cannot imagine a better solution right now.
Read more about Cyber Security at Noroff University College here.
