This page contains contains useful information for new students at Bifröst University.
Ingibjörg Guðmundsdóttir, director of academic services
University office
email: inga@bifrost.is
tel: 433 3011 / 699 7535
Alda Baldursdóttir, director of property management and housing, University office
email: alda@bifrost.is
tel: 433 3062
Sigrún Hermannsdóttir, international coordinator
Rector´s office
email: sigrun@bifrost.is
tel: 433 3000
Counselling
The office of the educational and vocational counselors is in Hamragarðar, ground floor.
Marín Björk Jónasdóttir and Toby Sigrún Herman are the educational and vocational counselors at Bifröst University
Counseling hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 pm - 5 pm.
Reservations and enquiries may be directed to marin@bifrost.is and toby@bifrost.is
Open sessions (15 min.) are Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon.
For interviews in the open sessions no advance booking is required - simply show up!
Solutions for students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties.
Library
Andrea Jóhannsdóttir, University librarian
email: andrea@bifrost.is
tel: 433 3098
The library is located in Hamragarðar, ground floor.
Opening hours
The library opening hours are Monday to Fridayday from 09.00 - 16.00. On working weekends for distance learning students, and during times of especially great demand, the library opening hours are extended.
Reading space
A reading room which accommodates about 30 people is in Hamragarðar. Students can sit during the opening hours in the library itself and look over semester projects, final projects and various reference material: unfortunately there is only limited space for readers at present.
Instructions for the Námskjár
Housing security deposit
Students arriving for studies who will reside in university housing will be required to pay a security deposit of ISK 15,000, as provided for in the rental agreement. The security deposit will be refunded on departure if the premises are returned in good condition according to the rules on returns and inspection.
Housing
Keys to residential housing will be available at the University Office during office hours during the period that rental agreements are being made in the first two weeks of the academic year. Electronic keys can be obtained against payment of an ISK 2000 deposit. These keys give access to university premises and fitness centre.
Extensive parking is available near the school and student dormitories. Please use only parking spaces that are marked as such.
Television
For residents of the academic village who are already subscribers, or who are interested in subscribing to the television channels of the 365 miðlar broadcasting company (Channel 2, Channel 2 Sport et al.), please note that the following broadcasting signals are available at Bifröst: Channel 2, Channel 2 movies, Channel2+, Channel 2 Sport, Channel 2 Sport 2, Skjár einn, the National Broadcasting Service and Sky News, – with digital quality. (For further information contact 365 miðlar broadcasting company or their agent in Borgarnes, Omnis hf.)
The university also rebroadcasts several satellite stations, e.g. DR1, CNN, BBC, Cartoon Network, History Channel, Discovery Channer, NRK1 and SVT1.
Configuration of students’ computers
Starting this summer (2009), students’ computers will no longer be configured for the University intranet as in previous years. This means that there will no longer be any need for students to bring in their computers for configuration in the computer services office before the start of studies. Most of the required configuration and setup can be done by students themselves. All the necessary information and instructions can be accessed on the University website under the tab “Services/computer service/logging on”. A video will be available which explains the registration of network cards, setting up printers, drives and print quota software.
The fact that students’ computers are no longer hooked up to the University's intranet means that students will need to exercise greater care as regards virus protection and system updates. The University computer services office will no longer update students’ operating systems and will update only the Trend Micro Internet Security programme, which students are free to continue using on their computers.
Wireless transmitters
Setting up wireless transmitters on the university network is prohibited without the permission of the network supervisor.
Opening hours of the Computer Department
The Computer Department is open on all workdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The employees of the Department are Unnur Ólafsdóttir, who is responsible for services to students and Sigurður Kristófersson, network supervisor.
Practical information:
Electronic key
Between 23:00 and 07:30 in the middle of the week and from Friday around 18:00 to Monday at 07:30 the main building can only be accessed with an electronic key, through three entrances. These are the main entrance to the old building, the side entrance to the new building and the door next to the leisure room. The electronic key is also needed at all times for access to the fitness center (gym and bathing area). The staff at the office gives out electronic keys, for which there is a 2000 kr. deposit.
The fitness center and hot tubs
The fitness center is open daily from 6:00 - 23:00. Spinning and body pump are frequently offered free of charge. As at all Icelandic swimming pools you must wash yourself without wearing your bathing suit before entering the hot tubs. Food and drink is not permitted in the bathing area and it is especially important not to bring any glass. Smoking and alcohol beverages are forbidden.
The laundry
The laundry is in the basement of the building called Hamragarðar. It is free of charge but reservations must be made for a washing machine on the forms that are posted on the wall. Soap is added to the machines automatically. There are also dryers, washing lines, ironing boards and irons.
The bank machine (hraðbanki)
The bank machine is accessible 24 hours a day. It is possible to withdraw money from foreign bank accounts through it.
Housing supervisor
For minor repairs please send a maintainance request. For emergencies, call 695-9908 between 8:00 and 17:00.
Security guard
The security phone is answered after 17:00 every day, on weekends and holidays. The number is 695-9901. This number is for emergencies only.
Pets
Keeping pets is not allowed in individual apartments, in Hamragarðar and Sjónarhóll, nor is it allowed in family apartments furnished by the school.
Price list for services from the Bifröst University Student Housing Authority
The supermarket - Samkaup/Strax
The opening hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 - 18:00; Saturday and Sunday 11:00 - 16:00. The manager is Unnur Alexandra Sigurðardóttir. Larger supermarkets and a variety of shops are located in the nearby town Borgarnes.
Hot food
There are three places on and around campus where one can get a hot meal. The school cafe, Kaffi Bifröst, is normally open every day (weekends in summer may be an exception). It has a daily special at lunch for 990 kr., and hamburgers and sandwiches from the grill. Hreðavatnsskáli (www.hredavatnsskali.is) is ten minutes' walk north of campus, and serves hamburgers and pizza as well as a daily lunch special. Hraunsnef (www.hraunsnef.is) is a farm about 5 minutes' drive north of Bifröst, which has been turned into a nice and reasonably priced restaurant (tel. 435-0111).