“I know more who I am!” International nursing students’ experience of study exchange to Norway: A qualitative study

International student exchange has been enhanced by higher educational institutions, national governments and policy documents for the last two decades. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge and research regarding nursing students’ experiences of going on study exchange to non-English countries like Norway. The study aimed to explore international nursing students’ experiences when studying abroad in a Norwegian Bachelor of Nursing program. The study used an interpretative qualitative design. Ten nursing students from Australia and the Netherlands participated in two focus groups, and provided their motivation letter, written prior to their exchange. The study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist. The findings suggest that the students had several motives and expectations for studying abroad that went beyond nursing skills and competence. It was also of great importance to prepare for the exchange at multiple levels. Another important element central to the students’ development was their relations with the other international students. Their experiences in daily life and their participation in the courses that they took on campus were interconnected and contributed to both personal growth and professional development.