Sammen

What Sammen does

Sammen (Studentsamskipnaden på Vestlandet) is a statutory Norwegian student welfare organization (studentsamskipnad) headquartered in Bergen, serving the students of 13 member educational institutions across the Vestlandet region of western Norway. It operates as a non-profit, student-governed entity in which a student holds the chair of the board and students form the majority, with all surplus reinvested into member services. Sammen's service portfolio is unusually broad for a welfare organization: more than 5,000 student housing units across five cities (Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, Stord), seven fitness centers plus a swimming pool and climbing walls operated as Trene Sammen, free mental-health and career-guidance services, 22+ campus canteens and cafés, nine kindergartens, a 74-course catalog, and cultural sponsorship administration.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across semester fees (650 NOK per semester, collected by member institutions on Sammen's behalf), housing rent, tiered fitness memberships (259–509 NOK/month), food and beverage transactions, kindergarten fees, catering (B2B), health-fund support distribution, and cultural sponsorship through Kulturstyret. The pricing architecture is student-subsidized: services are free or discounted for any student whose institution collects the Sammens semester fee, which generates a high-volume, recurring revenue base anchored to regional enrollment.

Technology infrastructure comprises the Min Side member portal, the JustIN Mobile app for digital housing keys, the iBooking platform for fitness and course bookings, a public API exposing student events and associations to institutional partners, and identity/payment integrations with BankID (contract signing) and Vipps (invoice payment). Telia provides broadband to housing stock in Bergen, Haugesund, and Stord. Digital channels extend service reach to remote and gathering-based students who do not regularly attend a physical campus, complementing the owned five-city physical footprint.

Name

Sammen

Legal name

Studentsamskipnaden på Vestlandet

Website

https://sammen.no

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sammen (Studentsamskipnaden på Vestlandet) is the statutory non-profit student welfare organization for the Vestlandet region of Norway, serving students at 13 member institutions with integrated housing, fitness, mental health, career, dining, and childcare services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Welfare Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (7213), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Short-Term Student Housing (Summer/Intensive Programs) (EDAIALAF)

Keywords

• Student welfare services
• Student housing operations
• Campus fitness centers
• Student mental health
• Student childcare

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergen

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Semester Fee Collection: Students pay semester fee to member educational institutions, which collect on behalf of Sammen. The fee is 650 NOK per semester (increased from spring 2024).
2. Fitness Memberships: Revenue from student, regular, corporate, and retiree/student membership tiers at Trene Sammen fitness centers. Student memberships from 259 NOK/month, regular from 509 NOK/month.
3. Student Housing Rent: Rental income from over 5000 student housing units across Vestlandet. Rent varies by unit type (hybel/hybelleilighet/leilighet/family). Example: Lotheveien hybelleilighet ~6300 NOK/month + 575 NOK electricity.
4. Food and Beverage Sales: Revenue from campus canteens, cafés, and catering services across Vestlandet. Digital gift cards also sold.
5. Catering Services: Catering and service delivery to member institutions by Sammen Catering.
6. Childcare Fees: Revenue from kindergarten services at nine Sammen Barnehager locations. Costs vary by arrangement.
7. Health Fund Support: Sammen provides financial support to students with high health expenses through a dedicated health fund.
8. Sponsor and Cultural Funding: Kulturstyret manages and distributes Sammen sponsorship funds to student culture and volunteer activities. Only student activities are supported.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Sammen (Studentsamskipnaden på Vestlandet) is a non-profit student welfare organization that provides housing, fitness, mental health, career guidance, childcare, food and beverage, and student life services to students enrolled at 13 member higher-education institutions across the Vestlandet region of Norway. Students access services primarily through a 650 NOK semester fee collected by their institution, with additional subscription, rental, and transactional charges for specific housing units, fitness memberships, kindergarten placements, meals, and courses. Service delivery is anchored at owned physical facilities in five cities (Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, Stord) and supported by digital platforms (Min Side portal, JustIN Mobile app, Membro fitness app, iBooking, public API).

Product overview

Sammen (Studentsamskipnaden på Vestlandet) is a student welfare organization serving the Vestlandet region of Norway. It operates as a multi-service platform offering student housing (over 5,000 units via Sammen Bolig), fitness (Trene Sammen — seven gyms, swimming pool, and climbing walls in Bergen), mental health services, career guidance, campus dining (20+ canteens and cafes), kindergartens for student parents, student benefits (health fund, activity grants, cabin rental), and a course catalog. Students access services through the Min Side portal, the Membro fitness app, and an online booking system. A public API is available for educational institution partners. Semester fee is NOK 650, and the organization serves students from 13 member institutions including UiB, HVL, NHH, and BI Bergen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sammen Bolig (Student Housing) Rental of more than 5,000 student housing units across Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, and Stord in the Vestlandet region of Norway. Housing types include rooms (hybel), shared rooms for exchange students, studio apartments, apartments, accessible units, and family apartments. Students apply via an online portal, sign digital contracts via BankID, and access units with physical or digital keys through the JustIN Mobile app.
• Trene Sammen (Fitness Centers) Multi-center fitness subscription providing access to eight fitness centers in Bergen (City, Fantoft, Kronstad X, Lehmkuhl, Studentsenteret, Vektertorget, Årstad), a swimming pool, climbing walls, group exercise classes, squash courts, golf simulator, and personal training. Membership tiers are available for students (from 259 NOK/month), non-students (from 509 NOK/month), and corporate/employee groups. Reservations and access are managed through the Membro app or website.
• Sammen Helse (Health Services) Health services for students including a doctor (lege), health clinic (helsestasjon), and dentist (tannlege). A dedicated health fund (helsefond) provides financial support to students with high medical expenses covering psychologist sessions, psychiatric clinic fees, psychotherapy, physiotherapist treatments, dental injuries, and transport costs.
• Sammen Psykisk Helse (Mental Health) Free mental health support for students including online and in-person courses on stress management, study skills, sleep improvement, and exam preparation; peer groups; one-on-one counseling with therapists and psychologists available in Bergen, Haugesund, Stord, Sogndal, and Førde plus digital options; physical-activity programs; and self-help resources. No referral is required.
• Sammen Karriere (Career Services) Free career guidance for students including career counseling sessions in person in Bergen or online, interview practice, CV and cover letter reviews, career-related courses, and the Externship job-shadowing program at Bergen-based companies. Services are available digitally regardless of student location.
• Sammen Mat og Drikke (Food & Beverage) Operation of 22+ campus canteens and cafés across Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, and Stord including Alrek kafé, Kronstad kafé, Studentsenteret kafé, NHH Merino kaffebar, Muntlig pizza & burger, and others. Offerings include discounted student breakfast before 9:30 AM, 2-for-1 dinner on Wednesdays, the reusable Sammen coffee cup (NOK 49), digital gift cards, and Sammen Catering services for institutional events.
• Sammen Barnehager (Kindergartens) Operation of nine kindergartens across Bergen, Haugesund, and Sogndal including Blokksberg, Bortigard, Fagertun, Fantoft, Fantoft Gård, Jekteviken, Nerigard, and Oppigard. Student parents receive priority admission, exam guarantees when a child is sick, flexible opening hours, and preferential access to family housing. Overall parent satisfaction was 4.73 out of 5 in the 2025 Udir parent survey.
• Studentgoder (Student Benefits) Student benefits including the health fund (helsefond) for high medical expenses, activity grants administered through Kulturstyret for student organizations, free rental of sports and outdoor equipment, free lending of hobby and leisure equipment, the Sammen-hytten student cabin on Kvamskogen accommodating 34 people, and reduced weekly gym access for visiting students at NOK 100 per visit.
• Sammen Kurs (Course Offerings) Free courses for students across Career (CV writing, interview prep, LinkedIn), Mental Health (stress management, sleep improvement, study techniques), Student Life (leadership, event organization), Study Mastery (Pomodoro, exam tips), and Fitness (climbing, swimming, Pilates instructor training, weightlifting). Catalog includes 74 courses delivered both in-person and online across Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, and Stord.
• Min Side (Member Portal) Digital member portal used to manage housing applications, sign contracts, report maintenance issues, retrieve digital keys through the JustIN Mobile app, manage fitness membership bookings and class reservations via the Membro app, track invoice payments, and use a loyalty card for dining rewards.
• Studentliv (Student Life & Associations) Support for student organizations and volunteer activities across Vestlandet including guidance and courses for starting or running student associations, event calendar publishing, distribution of sponsorship funds via Velferdstinget Vest, free advisory support, and a dedicated portal at studentliv.sammen.no for finding and managing student associations and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sammen Barnehagene achieved 4.73/5 overall satisfaction in 2025 Parent Survey (Udir)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universitetet i Bergen (UiB)coreOthersUiB is a member institution whose students pay semester fee to access all Sammen services including housing, fitness, health, career guidance, and childcare.
• Høgskolen på Vestlandet (HVL)coreOthersHVL is a member institution whose students across multiple Vestlandet campuses access all Sammen services.
• Norges Handelshøyskole (NHH)coreOthersNHH is a member institution whose students access all Sammen services including canteens, housing, and fitness.
• VID vitenskapelige høgskoleminorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• NLA HøgskolenminorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• KristianiaminorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• Handelshøyskolen BI, BergenminorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• NoroffminorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• Fagskulen VestlandminorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services, including activity support funding.
• Bergen Arkitekthøgskole (BAS)minorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• Kunstskolen i Bergen (KiB)minorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• SkrivekunstakademietminorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• Fagskolen Rogaland, studiested HaugesundminorOthersMember institution with students accessing Sammen services.
• Spenst (Sogndal and Førde)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFitness partnership for students in Sogndal and Førde where Sammen does not have own fitness centers. Students can train at Spenst with their Sammen membership.
• Studentidrettslaget HSI (Haugesund)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent sports organization in Haugesund offering fitness facilities for Sammen students.
• Råmund Studentidrettslag (Stord)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent sports organization on Stord offering fitness facilities for Sammen students.
• KulturstyretcoreOthersSammen Cultural Board that manages and distributes sponsorship funds to student culture and volunteer activities. Student democracy body that reviews funding applications.
• AK Bjørgvin (Weightlifting Club)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeightlifting club collaborating with Sammen on introductory weightlifting workshops at Vektertorget fitness center.
• BSI Friluft (Outdoors)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoors organization partnering with Sammen for winter swimming events and hiking trips like båltur to Skomakerdiket.
• Bergen Clothing SwapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClothing swap organization partnering with Sammen for the annual Gjenbruksfestival sustainability event.
• BIR (Bergen Interkommunale Renholdsverk)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaste management company contributing reuse items to Sammen Gjenbruksfestival.
• IntrumminorOthersDebt collection company used for overdue student housing payments.
• TeliaminorOthersInternet service provider for student housing in Bergen, Haugesund, and Stord with 100/100 Mbit broadband and wireless router.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• SiO (Studentsamskipnaden i Oslo og Akershus): SiO is the largest studentsamskipnad in Norway, serving students in Oslo and Akershus. It operates the same integrated student welfare model — housing, fitness, dining, childcare, health, and career services — under an identical statutory mandate, making it the closest direct peer to Sammen.
• SIT (Studentsamskipnaden i Trondheim): SIT provides student welfare services across Trondheim, including housing, dining, fitness, and bookstores under the same statutory studentsamskipnad framework. It serves a comparable student population at NTNU and other member institutions, making it a direct regional peer.
• SiS (Studentsamskipnaden i Stavanger): SiS delivers student housing, dining, and welfare services to students at the University of Stavanger and other member institutions. It operates under the same Norwegian studentsamskipnad mandate with a comparable service portfolio, making it a direct peer focused on the Stavanger region.
• Studentsamskipnaden i Tromsø (SiT): SiT serves students in the Tromsø region including UiT Norges arktiske universitet, providing housing, dining, and welfare services under the same studentsamskipnad mandate. Operates a comparable integrated service model across northern Norway.
• Studentsamskipnaden i Ås (SiÅs): SiÅs provides student welfare services primarily to NMBU in Ås, including housing, dining, and bookstore services. A smaller but directly comparable studentsamskipnad with the same statutory mandate and service model.
• Studentsamskipnaden i Gjøvik (SiG): SiG serves students at NTNU's Gjøvik campus, providing housing, dining, and welfare services under the same studentsamskipnad framework. Smaller scale than Sammen but operates an identical integrated service model.
• Studentsamskipnaden i Molde (HiMolde): Operates as a smaller studentsamskipnad serving students at the Molde University College. Provides comparable welfare services under the same statutory mandate, though at a smaller scale than Sammen.

Broad incumbents

• Unite Students (UK): Unite Students is the UK's largest provider of purpose-built student accommodation, serving over 70,000 students across 23 university cities. While operating as a commercial (for-profit) enterprise rather than a welfare organization, it is comparable in scale and focus on student housing infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sammenbergen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sammen-studentsamskipnaden

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sammen