Sophie Ellertsen is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Cyber Security at Noroff University College, fully online. This has given her the freedom and opportunity to combine her studies with her greatest passion: traveling.
When Sophie was deciding how to study, she had no trouble choosing to take the Cyber Security bachelor’s degree online. She already had experience with self-study after immersing herself in anatomy and physiology to become a personal trainer. This meant she already had a method for structuring her days and knew that she thrives when learning in this way.
– I have long wanted to travel for an extended period, a kind of “gap year” that I never got to take because of Covid. Online studies became the perfect solution – I can study and travel at the same time.
Even though she studies online, Sophie experiences a sense of campus life through the backpacker community. It becomes a kind of “international campus” where she meets people from all over the world. At the same time, she can shape her own daily life and retreat into calm days of beach life or excursions to small villages whenever she wants. The flexibility and the ability to choose when to study provide a great sense of freedom.
Flexibility while traveling
For Sophie, the flexibility of online studies is not just an advantage, but a prerequisite for making everyday life on the road work. Studying from different locations in Indonesia involves varying internet quality, changing plans, and unpredictable travel days. This is precisely why she greatly appreciates that the program allows for adaptation.
– When you travel, things often happen that you can’t plan for – delays, power outages, or days when it simply doesn’t fit to sit in front of a computer. Then it’s reassuring to know that I can watch recorded lectures and catch up again at my own pace, she explains.
Time zones have also become a resource rather than a challenge. While it’s night in Norway, Sophie can have long, focused study sessions without interruptions.
– I often study while Norway sleeps and can use time zones to my advantage, she says.
Although the program is flexible, she emphasizes that there are still clear frameworks that must be followed. Mandatory lectures, submission deadlines, and group assignments require planning and structure, especially when you are constantly on the move.
Tropical breaks from studying
Even though Cyber Security requires many hours in front of a computer, Sophie gets to experience things that would never have happened back home in Norway.
– I can ride a scooter to a beach, sit in the sun, meet people from all over the world, and experience cultures up close. I’ve been invited to an Indonesian wedding and lived in the jungle with a local village for three days, an experience I never would have had at home, she says.
Private video clips from Sophie
Structure and community
To maintain focus and discipline, Sophie has developed strong routines. Notion is her most important tool, where she organizes everything related to courses, assignments, lectures, and plans.
– It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by how much there is 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 instructors and Discord servers for collaboration. Sophie herself has taken the initiative to create more collective collaboration around assignments, which she describes as very rewarding.
– I’ve become more aware of how digital tools provide a competitive advantage, both in studies and in working life.
Advice for future students
To others considering online studies, Sophie has clear advice:
– Online studies are best suited for those who can structure their daily lives and take responsibility for their own learning. Engage in both academics and dialogue with instructors and fellow students, and you’ll 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 can’t imagine a better solution right now.
Here you can read more about Cyber Security at Noroff University College.
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