» For future students  » Arriving in Denmark  » Useful facts about Denmark 

Useful facts about Denmark

 

 

 
Weather
The Danish winter can be rather cold with temperatures down to minus 10 degrees Celcius.
Danes, however, will tell you that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. So don't forget to bring your warm sweaters and woollen socks. On the upside, all Danish housing has central heating and the public infrastructure is designed to deal with the winter weather. During the summer (June, July, August) temperatures can reach 25 degrees and it does not get dark until 11pm.
 
“The weather here really puzzles me. I have to wear thick clothes and gloves in the morning in the autumn. But in the afternoons these things are unnecessary – I just need to wear a shirt when I ride my bicycle home from school. And it rains at no notice. So every morning I struggle with myself – what should I wear or do I need to bring my raincoat?”
Zhang Wen from Jinan in China (International Semesters in Environmental Construction Engineering)
 

To see what the weather is going to be like for the next few days, go to The Danish Meteorological Institute DMI.

 

 

Currency

The Danish currency is the Danish Krone (DKK). The exchange rate is typically about 7,5 DKK for 1 Euro.

You can see the current currency rates at the website of Denmark's National Bank nationalbanken.dk.

 

Please note that you cannot pay with Euro in Denmark and we would therefore advise you to exchange money from home so you have some cash when arriving in Denmark. It is generally possible to pay with VISA in all shops in Denmark. 

 

Work

You can apply for a work permit. However, the Engineering College recommends that students limit any non-curricular work to a minimum. Foreign students from the “old” EU member countries and the Nordic Countries do not need to apply for a work permit – they are allowed to work up to 15 hours a week and to have full time work in June, July and August.
 
Foreign students from the “new” EU member countries can either indicate on the application form for residence permit that they wish to apply for a work permit (same conditions as above), or they can apply at the Immigration Office. Foreign students from non-EU member countries must apply at the Immigration Office for a work permit (same conditions as above).

If you have any questions, you can also contact the Immigration Office (Udlændingeservice), Ryesgade 53, 2100 København Ø.
 
You can also visit the Official Portal for Foreigners and Integration New in Denmark. 
 
 

Insurance

Once you have your Social Security Card, you do not have to pay to go to the doctor or the hospital. However, you do have to pay for the dentist and medicine yourself.
If you do not have an insurance from your home country that covers you abroad, you can get a special insurance for foreign students.
Contact the International Health Insurance +45 33153099, e-mail: ihi@ihi.com 
 

Internet access

You will have internet access at the Engineering College, and you will have access to the building every day at all hours. If you want internet access in your room you will need to pay for it yourself. 
Furthermore, the College has an intra-net called CampusNet which you will also have access to. 
It is of paramount importance that you chech your school e-mail and CampusNet every day as this is how you will receive important messages from the Engineering College and from your teachers.
 

Bike 

In Aarhus, there are free city bikes. You put 20 kr inside and borrow the bike for 24 hours (you cannot lock them). When you return the bike to a city bike station, you get your money back. 

 

Read more about the city bikes on the website of Aarhus Citybikes, here you can also see a map of city bike stations.

 

You can also get your Buddy to help you buy a second hand bike at a police auction. 
The auctions are held at: Skanderborgvej 104-106, Underetagen (Basement), 8260 Viby J 
on the first Wednesday in every month at 1 p.m.. The bikes can be examined from 12 pm - 1 pm.
Bus lines 5 – 15 – 25 – 52 – 55 will take you there.
 

Sporting Facilities

In Aarhus there are many clubs where you can do sports. The Engineering College has a Fitness Club, which you can join through DSR, and close to the College there is a swimming stadium. Studenterhus Aarhus will be able to help you finding your sport at http://www.studenterhusaarhus.dk/?q=en