Copenhagen
Denmark
Hej! My name is Gaia – or, should I say, jeg hedder
Gaia – and I completed an exchange as part of my
law degree to the University of Copenhagen,
Denmark, in B semester 2014 (their autumn
semester). This report is here to give you an idea of
what studying in Copenhagen is like, as well as some
useful tips and tricks along the way!
Snow on Christmas Day
in Copenhagen!
Before Leaving: Courses, Visas,
Accommodation, and Preparation
Organising my semester abroad was a pretty complicated and time consuming process. One
thing that you will learn if you choose Copenhagen as your destination is that they have a
completely different attitude towards organisation in their university than we do. The Danes do
not pay for their tertiary education. On the contrary, they receive grants to study, and often take
seven or more years to complete their degrees. This relaxed outlook means that the university
is often unorganised, has short opening hours, and a casual attitude towards things. Don’t get
me wrong, everything you need gets done eventually and in time, but it’s much less organised
and efficient than in countries where we are paying a lot to receive that same education.
The first thing you need to do is pick and apply for your
courses. Your exchange advisors are great at helping you
Cookie baking night
with all of this and will walk you through the process of getting
academic credit. The Copenhagen computer system is a little
bit complicated, but you’ll get there if you persist. For law,
they have a great variety of courses to choose from. I mainly
focused on human rights/international law courses, as that’s
the field I want to work in, however you can have different
tactics depending on your goals for the semester. I had friends
who managed to stack their timetables to only 2 or 3 days a
week, leaving them 4 or 5 day long weekends for travelling!
In the law school, the courses at Copenhagen are also pretty relaxed.
You will have to sit either an oral or written exam, and maybe submit a final assignment. Other
than that, there’s barely any, if not no work other than your assigned readings every week. This
is a lot different from Waikato and may be a bit of a shock, but it’s great because it gives you
more time to enjoy yourself.
Here are some papers that are commonly considered to
be fun and/or have a lighter work load:
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Mediation
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
Intro to Danish Law
Intro to EU Law
Next, you have to get your visa.
This is what I found to be the most challenging because
The gang at bowling
there is no Danish Embassy in New Zealand. When I was
organising this, I had to travel down to Wellington to
have an appointment, get my photo taken for your Danish citizen card, and drop off all the
relevant paper work. This was the only option; you couldn’t go anywhere but Wellington, as a
company called BLS was contracted out to do the applications, as the closest Danish embassy
is in Sydney. Looking at BLS’s website now, it appears that they no longer take applications
in New Zealand, so I advise you best contact your exchange advisor or call the Sydney embassy
and ask how the visa application process works.
The biggest tip I have for your visa, though, is don’t just wait for it to be sent back to you and
always do the application as soon as you can. The
application is sent to Sydney, then Denmark, then back
to Sydney, who pass it on to you (which also means you
should do the application as soon as possible, so make
sure you get it on time). With mine, a week out from my
departure date I still hadn’t received it. I called the
embassy in Sydney to find out that my visa had been
accepted in Denmark, but had been lost in the post on the
way back. That meant they had to quickly fax me a
version of my visa that the authorities in Denmark would
The Little Mermaid
accept (because the post wasn’t guaranteed to make it in time), or else
it would have all been for nothing. The faxed copy wasn’t ideal, but it
all worked out, so that’s an important lesson – keep a close eye on your application, and if it’s
due to have arrived and it hasn’t, make sure you check!
Don’t just trust that it will.
Travel insurance is another thing you should get! The
number of people (including me) who lost
laptops/phones/etc is insane, and the travel insurance is
definitely worth the investment. Shop around for your
best price, depending on an insurance you already
have/your bank/etc.
Accommodation is another thing that you have so sort out
before you leave. When you are applying on the website to be
Gelato in Venice – delicious!
Summertime open air cinema
an exchange student, definitely say that you want to
get accommodation through the Housing Foundation.
Copenhagen is notoriously hard to get accommodation
in if you go it alone. I had friends who were living in
hostels for months before they found a place. Before
you have to make your final decision, go through all
the available dorms and make a list of what your
possible ones are. Some are like flats, some are private
studio apartments with a private bathroom, and some
are private rooms but shared kitchens. There’s something
for everyone, just depends on how you like to live!
Eventually, the Housing Foundation will send you an email saying you can sign on and pick
your housing. As soon as you get this, log on, even if it’s 3am! The rooms go so quickly and
you do not want to be stuck trying to find private housing. Also, this website often crashes due
to the high traffic and you may (like me) be one of the last people to get it, due to the high
volume of emails to go out. So log on and stay on till you get something!
The dorm that I lived in was called Østerbro Kollegiet. As mentioned previously, I was one of
the last lots to get the email, so this was my last option. It was a good dorm, but more on the
expensive side and less hospitable than others. It is also nicknamed the “California Halls”
because of the large number of students from Californian universities that end up there. If it’s
your last option, it’s definitely a great dorm, but here is a list of a few others that are famously
known as the best dorms to live in:
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Tietgen – very hard to get into because of limited, but very
luxurious. If you see it, take it. Everyone wants to live here.
Dorm room and shared kitchen set up.
Signalhuset – very highly sought after. Throws a lot of great
parties. Set up like a flat, so you share with four or so other
people.
Collegium Juris – requires a separate application not through
the Housing Foundation, but absolutely full of law students if
that is your degree.
Studentergården – as far as I know, only two exchange
students can stay here, but if you want to make Danish
friends, this is the place.
Bikuben Kollegiet – dorm room with shared kitchen, but also
a private bathroom and private kitchenette.
Egmont – shared kitchen and bathroom, individual dorm room.
Tons of traditions and great parties. Not many exchange
students here, but you’ll meet lots of Danes!
The entrance to Christiania
If you are a law student, your campus will be right by Nørreport Station, so I recommend you
use that as your guiding point if you decide to google map how far of a bike ride your favoured
dorm is from your campus! Nørreport Station is also
right in the city centre of Copenhagen. This website also
does reviews of the dorms, so take a look when you’re
making your choice: http://universitypost.dk/dormsdisclosed
Finally, you have to book your flights! I flew with Air
New Zealand, but the options are endless. My main tip
with flights is that you look carefully when you will
arrive in Copenhagen. The housing foundation is very
Chill ‘n Grill at the Danish Language
inflexible about when you can pick up your keys for
Course
your accommodation. Their hours are short and only
Monday – Friday, so if you can, pick a flight that will get you there on the times listed on their
website. If that’s not possible, you may need to either stay at another form of accommodation
for a little while till they do open (I used Copenhagen Backpackers, and it was great) or you
can get someone you know to pick the key up for you.
Try your best to organise all this really well before you
leave, because after 30 hours of flying, you’ll be pretty
knackered arriving there.
To do with this, make sure that when you apply, you
say that you do want a mentor to be provided
for you. Mentors are Danish or long-term foreign
students whose job it is to help you get settled in and
show you the ropes. They are invaluable! They will
show you all the good places to go and things to do,
and probably introduce you to a social life. Also, they can
be your nominated person to pick up your key, and may even
pick you up from the airport! Get one!
The love of my life, i.e. my bike,
covered in snow
You will also have the option to sign up for a Pre-Semester Danish Language Course
before you come over. This is a three week course before semester where you learn Danish,
meet other students, and take part in a bunch of social and cultural events. I’d definitely
recommend it! It makes settling in so much easier, lets you meet lots of people from different
faculties that you wouldn’t normally meet, and helps you get a grip on Danish culture!
Arriving in Europe!
To say I was speechless when I finally flew into Europe is an understatement. I had a stopover
in Heathrow Airport, London, before flying on to Copenhagen and got to see England from the
sky on a clear summer’s day. It was love at first sight, definitely. I was euphoric, whispering,
“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it” over and over again. Travelling to Europe had always been
a dream of mine, and I was finally doing it! Even though I had just flown for 25 hours, I was
rejuvenated and could barely stand to stay seated for landing.
Although it’s super exciting, arriving can be quite shocking, too. I arrived in July, during a
heatwave, fresh from a New Zealand winter. The climate change along with the jetlag was a
terrible combination. Team that with landing in Denmark, a
country I knew next to nothing about, all alone, knowing no
one, and I was a mess. A sobbing mess. On the train station
platform. Unable to figure out which way to walk with my
heavy backpack, in the summer heat, to get to my hostel. I
even had a beggar take pity on me. But, although that time
was incredibly hard, I laugh at it now – and I even walked
that first platform on my last day in Denmark, laughing at
myself for being so uneducated and thinking how much I
wish I could go back to that day and do everything all over
again.
One of the many gorgeous
cafes in Copenhagen
The most important thing
for you to remember is that
you can do it, even if it seems impossible! Denmark is an
incredibly safe, happy, welcoming country. Even though the
people may seem stand off-ish in public (you don’t smile at
people in public, you look stoic. It’s something you’ll learn),
if you ask for help, they are more than happy to assist!
Whether you are going for their autumn or spring semester,
you will either arrive in the dead of winter or the height of
summer, both of which can be startling because our seasons
are the opposite – so be prepared for that! Your arrival is
where your mentor (if you have one available) is most
helpful!
Also, as soon as you can after your arrival, you have to
register with the Danish authorities in order to get your CPR
My first bike
number. You need this baby for everything over there – and most
importantly, for your bank account. It’s best to get this number early because it’s crucial. It
also allows you to get your Danish residence card. The office you need to go to is the citizen’s
services office in Vesterbrø. If you are going to open a bank account, I recommend Nordea
Bank, and as for phone plans, pull into any 7-11 and buy a Lebara sim card. They work very
well and will provide you with everything you need.
Copenhagen: the city of dreams!
There is so much that I could say about Copenhagen. I could boast about it for days, and if you
do go, you’re welcome to come and rave about it with me, because I will be in love with this
city for the rest of my life! I’m not going to tell you all its secrets, though, because those are
for you to discover. However, I will give you some helpful tips:
 Transport: BIKE! BIKE! BIKE! You will
depend on and love this thing SO much when you’re
in Copenhagen! Everyone there bikes! The elderly
bike, parents transport their babies on bikes (they’re
called cargo bikes. Honest), three year olds bike on
tiny bikes, they’re everywhere! You should
definitely get a bike when you’re over there to
immerse yourself in the Copenhagen bike culture.
The bikes even have their own raised lanes and
traffic lights! However, be warned, buying a second
Aftermath of a Thanksgiving
hand bike can be dodgy. I had a lot of trouble with the first one
Dinner we organised at
I bought, and so ended up buying really cheap new one (and
Studenterhuset
lost a lot of money in the process). My recommendation is go
on Facebook and search for groups for second hand bikes in
Copenhagen. There are a ton out there and that’s where they’re mostly sold! Also,
having your bike stolen or damaged is a big issue
(I had my tyres slashed once), so invest in a good
bike lock, and be careful that you don’t buy a
stolen bike! It’s your responsibility to check that
out, in the authority’s eyes, so always ask to see
the bike’s papers. On the days that you don’t
want to bike, though, Copenhagen has a great
bus, train, and metro system. It’s all really easy
to work out as most things in Copenhagen are
walking distance away. Everything is close
there. Get a blue swipe card from one of the
At Kronborg Slot
machines that you can top up and
travel away!
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Culture: you will learn all about the Danes when you are over
there. You’ll learn the meaning of hygge, how to dress like a real
“Copenhagener”, how to drink your weight in beer and cider and bike
home unscathed, and why, despite their crazy tax rates, the Danes are
the happiest people on earth. Copenhagen is filled with amazing art
galleries, quirky clubs, cosy cafes, and a thousand little hidden corners
of paradise! You will never, ever get bored there and always love
getting lost!
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Climate: Denmark is cold, and in winter, the sun rises at 8:30am
and sets at 3:30pm. Their summer weather is similar to NZ’s, only lasts
At the Louvre
for less time. However, summer is beautiful, and if you get a chance,
spend some time there during it and enjoy the sun rising at 4am and
setting at 10pm. The long days are heaven. Their winters get cold and there is often
snow, but most buildings have great heating and insulation. I recommend that (if you’re
there in the cold months), wait till you’re over there
to invest in a warm jacket, as the clothes sold in NZ
aren’t built for the weather.
 Uni and the Social Scene: if you live in the dorms,
the social scene is great! Also, the university and the
organisations associated to it organise a ton of fun
events throughout the year. I highly recommend
getting a membership to ESN as they
Budapest
organise amazing trips throughout the
semester, for example to Russia, Legoland,
and the Finnish Laplands! Another great place to get involved in
is Studenterhuset. This is a student café that is volunteer run,
not-for-profit, and right next to the law faculty. They host
amazing events and parties and love people volunteering there.
Go and do it! You can be a part of heaps of groups, including
working at the bar, organising events, etc. You’ll meet heaps of
international and domestic students and have a great time! If you do want
All of us at Prague Castle
to work at the bar, though, get in quick because it’s super sought after.
Email [email protected] even before you arrive and put
your name down for whatever you want. It is awesome experience and you get paid in
free drinks! This is their website: http://studenterhuset.com/en/ Also, for exchange
students, mostly all the social events are publicised through Facebook, so head on there,
search for pages and groups, and like every single one to do with the University and
associated organisations. That’s how you clue into all the events and trips that are
happening – and trust me, there are a lot!
Travelling within Europe
Travelling from Copenhagen is super easy! You can get basically
everywhere within 2 hours on a plane, and if you look around on
different price comparing sites, you can go for really cheap! Also, look
around when booking for the “Youth Ticket” prices – Europe often has
special low fares for people aged between the ages of 18-25. The magic
of Copenhagen is that it is also so close to the other Scandinavian
countries, which a lot of people wouldn’t think to visit. I’d encourage
you to make a trip to Sweden, Norway, Finland, or Iceland when
you’re there! It’s amazing!
During the semester I took three big trips abroad: Dublin, London, and
Stockholm. The magic of Europe is that you can book a last minute Meeting Danny from
ticket to Dublin on a Wednesday (like me!) and fly out on Friday to see The Script
your favourite band play in their hometown, and even meet them outside
their hotel! Or, you can go clubbing in Mayfair in London and soak up
a little taste of how the other half live! Or, You can score super cheap first class train tickets
to Stockholm, wine and dine and feign fanciness with friends on the way up, experience the
Lucia Festival in Stockholm, sing and dance with the locals, and eat your weight in meatballs!
Europe is filled with endless possibilities for travel, so don’t waste it!
I chose to do the bulk of my travel overseas at the end of my trip and spend the majority of my
time in the semester in Denmark, seeing everything that I could across the country and
immersing myself in the culture. However, I know others who travelled 4 days out of seven to
different countries every week, so it really depends what sort of experience you want. You’ll
meet a ton of people who will leap at the chance to travel as well, so you’ll never be alone, no
matter what you choose to do! After my semester, I ended my travels with a whirlwind trip to:
Paris, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Krakow,
Vienna, Slovenia, Slovakia, Venice, and Rome. Best time of my life.
To Do in Denmark!
With Europe at your doorstep, it’s really tempting to spend all of
your time overseas. However, Denmark has a lot to offer, so here
are a few must see places in Copenhagen and the wider country!
 The Little Mermaid statue
 Nyhavn, Copenhagen
Traditional Danish
 Lunch at Paludan Café – right near the uni, I guarantee many
smørrebrød lunch
hours of studying/socialising/just killing time will be spent here
 Tivoli – Copenhagen’s beautiful amusement park! They have different seasons and go
hard out with the decorations for it! Go and marvel at them
 J Day or P Day (depending which semester you
go) – the Danes are big on their beer. Really big.
For Christmas and Easter, Carlsberg releases a
special beer and Copenhageners go and party on
the streets. Easter bunnies or Christmas elves
dance and hand out free bottles from monstrous
trucks at the stroke of 9pm. Do yourself a favour
and experience this.
 Paper Island, Copenhagen – Copenhagen street
food lives here! With dozens of food trucks selling The Berlin Wall, at the East Side
amazing food, you will never go hungry. Take the Gallery
water bus there with friends and have a traditional
Danish smørrebrød or maybe try something a little different!
 Go see a Football match – like the rest of Europe, Denmark is Football-mad!
 Kronborg Slot – the castle that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Catch the train an hour
up north for a day trip, and explore the surrounding town of Helsingor. You’ll also find
the Little Mermaid’s silver brother here.
 Frederiksborg Slot – this castle lives in
Hillerød, about a 20 minute S-Train journey outside
of Copenhagen. The castle and the grounds are
absolutely stunning! Go there.
 Copenhagen Botanical Gardens – absolutely
amazing, especially in summer
 Rosenborg Slot – 400m from Nørreport Station,
Rosenborg is a castle in the heart of Copenhagen
where you can enjoy a leisurely picnic, see the
Danes in their natural habitat, and explore the rose
Bunking down in London together
garden
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Amalienborg Slot and Frederik’s Church – the
winter residence of the royal family in the heart of Copenhagen! Absolute must see.
 Take a canal tour – see Copenhagen from the water, it’s absolutely beautiful
 Climb the Rundetaarn – this tower is right next to Studenterhuset and has a sloping
path that circles all the way up. It was apparently built for a king who was too large and
couldn’t be bothered to take the stairs, so he wanted a horse and carriage to be able to
fit in and take him to the top. It used to be used as an Astronomy Tower. Now, it gives
amazing views.
 Try a traditional Danish hotdog – they’re glorious, and there are stands all over the
city!
 Church of Our Saviour – if you can stomach it, take the hundreds of steps all the way
to the top to see amazing views of Copenhagen
 Christmas Markets/Lights – if you are there for
the autumn semester, go and check out a
Copenhagen Christmas market! Copenhageners
are nothing if not festive for any holiday season,
and they go hard.
 Christiania – Copenhagen’s own little selfproclaimed island of autonomy, where the weed
is ‘legal’ and the people live hippy-esque lives of
peace. It’s really cool to go and check out this
place and their quirky homes! Just don’t take
Typical Copenhagen: snow
photos in the ‘Green Light District’. Big no-no.
and bikes!
 Malmo, Sweden – you can train across the water to Sweden.
Literally. In a 30 minute train ride you can visit Sweden and
explore Copenhagen’s closest neighbouring city, Malmo. Do it.
 Odense and Aarhus – two other amazing cities in Denmark, and worth weekend trips!
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Dyrehaven – about 8km north of Copenhagen is
an expansive woodland filled with over 2,000 wild deer.
It used to be a royal hunting lodge, and now Danes go and
enjoy nature there. Take your bikes up and go deer
spotting together! Bakken, the world’s oldest amusement
park, is in here too, so if it’s the right season, spend some
time there!
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Møns Klint – this is Denmark’s very own answer
to the White Cliffs of Dover. So beautiful.
Exploring Dyrehaven by bike
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Grenen Beach, Skagen – where the Baltic and
North seas meet! This phenomenon is amazing and at the top of Denmark. Totally worth
the trip.
 Frederiksberg Park – this park is in Copenhagen. It’s
absolutely beautiful, and a part of it even backs onto the
zoo where you can see the elephant enclosure.
 Superkilen – this is a really rad looking park in
Nørrebro with a very quirky design. Worth taking a
look.
 Amager Strand or Svanemøllen Strand – these
beaches are absolutely glorious in the winter months,
and from Svanemøllen you can even look across the
Frederiksborg Slot
water to Sweden! The canals are perfect places to swim
in summer, too, and even have fenced off swimming
areas.
 Havnegade – there are trampolines built into the street here. It’s really fun.
I could go on and on forever, but I hope this helps you on your adventure! I thoroughly
encourage you to take on the challenge and study in Copenhagen. You will not regret it, and
the city will have a tight grip on your heart at the end of it all. I guarantee you that.