Is It Hard to Study Abroad in Denmark?

Many students dream of studying abroad, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Denmark is a great place to study abroad and there are many opportunities for students. However, this comes with its challenges. In this article, we would be highlighting some of the challenges that may arise while studying in Denmark and the things you can do to overcome the challenges. 

It is not hard to study in Denmark depending on the school or course of study. Some courses are straightforward while others can be pretty testing. Studying in Denmark can be done without unbearable challenges. This means that with the right resources and information, you can make your study in England easy and possible.

Finding ease in your study in Denmark will depend on different factors which include the type of university you choose and the city or region in which you study or live. Different people find their programs and school easy while others simply don’t.

You want to choose a straightforward program to find ease in your studies. However, if you are interested in a complicated program, you have to prepare for it and bring your A-game so that things don’t take you by surprise.

Studying in Denmark also depends on the level of degree you want and how well you can balance your academic workload and social life. Some students find it hard to find this balance so one aspect affects the other. You should be able to find this balance while studying at any level.

Let’s take a look at some information about studying in Denmark such as the educational standard, cultural differences, and how you can overcome these challenges regardless of where you are coming from. Let’s get right into it. 

Education Standard

Denmark has a slightly different education standard than other countries. For you to study in a country such as Denmark, you need to have certain qualities and educational background which I will point out in this section.

Most programs are delivered in English in Danish schools so you need to have proof of English proficiency. While applying to Danish schools, most programs will require that you meet their English proficiency requirement depending on the school or the program which you want to take.

Even though the official language in Denmark is Danish, more than 80% of citizens speak English and some schools use the English language as the language of instruction. So you should be able to write and learn in English to be able to study in Denmark.

To enroll for undergraduate studies in Denmark, you should have a higher secondary school leaving certificate and an entrance exam that is equal to the upper secondary school leaving certificate in Denmark (ages 16-19). For a postgraduate degree, you should have an internationally recognized three or four-year bachelor’s degree to be able to apply for a master’s degree in Denmark which can be a research or taught master’s program.

For Ph.D., you are to have a master’s degree or an equivalent to apply for a doctorate program in Denmark. To enroll for undergraduate studies in Denmark, you should have a higher secondary school leaving certificate and an entrance exam that is equal to the upper secondary school leaving certificate in Denmark (ages 16-19).

For a postgraduate degree, you should have an internationally recognized three or four-year bachelor’s degree to be able to apply for a master’s degree in Denmark which can be a research or taught master’s program. For Ph.D., you are to have a master’s degree or an equivalent to apply for a doctorate program in Denmark.

Cultural Differences

When you arrive in Denmark for your studies as an international student, you will meet and experience a different culture from what you are used to in your home country especially if you are coming from a country outside Europe.

This new and different culture and way of life is usually the western culture so you may need to keep an open mind when leaving your home country.

Denmark is a highly welcoming society where people are social and respectful. It is one of the world’s happiest countries where people balance their work-life effortlessly with their personal lives. Danes can be informal towards the most formal things but yet they are well-educated people.

This is the kind of environment which you will meet when you study and live in Denmark. Unlike most western cultures, they are a close-knit society but are open to meeting new people.

If you are coming from a country where everyone is so busy with their lives and rarely have time for others, you may be shocked when you get to Denmark to see that things are the exact opposite of what you’ve been used to in your home country.

There is also a minority that speaks both Danish and English even though a larger percentage speak English. So you may want to learn Danish to a reasonable extent if you want to make a lot of friends.

Another thing that you may find different is that there is strict adherence to laid down systems. Things are done according to the country’s system which is one of the things that helps in making things smooth and running. You will also have to learn the basic rules and systems so you don’t go against laid down rules and regulations.

Equality is another dominant way of life in Denmark. They believe that people should have equal access to opportunities and be what they want to be in life. You don’t get to see a sharp difference between two groups or classes (if there are any). 

You may also find a different way of dressing in Denmark than what you are used to. People dress less formally and have no strict adherence to a particular type or style of dressing. 

If you are the type that loves dressing casually and not too seriously, Denmark is waiting to welcome you with open arms. It can be a bit cold in Denmark so you should prepare accordingly if you are going to school and live there. 

Cost of living/Financial barrier

Now let’s take a look at the cost of living in Denmark and some of the financial barriers that you may face while living in Denmark as an international student. 

After taking care of your tuition fee, you want to ensure that you make proper plans for your living costs. You may not have to bother about sourcing for your living costs if you have a scholarship that covers your living costs in Denmark.

However, even if you do, you still need to know about the basic costs of living in Denmark so you can prepare your monthly budget. 

Your living costs include basic things such as your accommodation, feeding, clothing, transport, and other things that can get you by in Denmark. This may cost between $800-$1000 per month. 

As a first step, you will need some funds to live in Denmark so you have to open a Danish bank account. This shouldn’t take so much time as you only need to take a few documents with you including your valid passport or Danish ID. 

Accommodation is often the highest expense that you have to take care of while studying in Denmark especially if you don’t have friends or relatives that you can stay with. You may want to start cutting expenses down from your rent so it can positively affect the rest of your living costs. 

You can get accommodation in student residence halls for about 300 USD – 400 USD per month. prices start from 450 USD to 600 USD per month to rent an apartment alone outside school. It is advisable to avoid expensive cities such as Copenhagen as rent can be up to 1200 USD per month.

You can decide to go for on-campus lodging where you get to share rooms with two or more other students. Residents share bathrooms, kitchens, and other common areas. This is another affordable option for you if you want to cut costs on accommodation.   

It is quite affordable to get food in Denmark. You can get a decent meal for 15 USD if you decide to eat out. On the other hand, making your food at home is much more affordable than eating out so you can get groceries for about 100 USD per month.

You can budget an average of 150 USD to 200 USD per month for your feeding as a student in Denmark depending on your eating habit.

Denmark is a country that has a highly developed infrastructure for cycling so you should get a bike while in Denmark. It is cheap and saves you money and time used in taking and waiting on a bus.

However, the weather can sometimes get unfavorable for cycling so you can resort to public transportation during those times. You can get a student card for student discounts on transportation. 

Best Practices While Studying in Denmark

Now that you have enough information about studying in Denmark, let’s take a look at some of the best practices that can help you get the best from living in England. 

• You should keep an open mind while studying and living in Denmark. To make the best out of your stay in England, stay open-minded and expect things to be done differently than you were used to. When you keep your mind open, you will not experience too much culture shock and you will be able to embrace the new Danish culture with ease.

• Another way to make things easy for you while living and studying in Denmark is to make Danish friends or friends from your country who are now used to the Danish culture so they can hint you on how to behave. You can also stay observant by watching them and from continuous interaction with them, you will be able to catch up fast. 

• You can also try to live in your school’s hall of residence as there will be many students like yourself in there and you’ll be able to relate freely with time.

• Seeking counseling from the school is also a good way to get by. The school understands that you are new and are always welcoming to new or international students who need help.

• Watching more Danish shows or movies before coming to Denmark can help. You get to see how things are done and people behave and react to certain things.

Many international students studying in Europe have been able to blend in the society and culture so you can do so too by following these guidelines and staying positive.