Zara (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Copenhagen

Something I would’ve liked to know is how lengthy the Visa process is and the importance of beginning the application process early. This is especially important for those looking to travel beforehand since appointments at the VSF are hard to come by and they can hold on to your passport for up to a month. Therefore, it is best to begin the application process as early as possible to ensure that you can book an appointment and receive the Visa well before you plan to leave the country.

Another administrative concern to take care of earlier rather than later is accommodation. Although applying through the Housing Foundation was a tedious process, I thought it was worth it to avoid the stress of finding a place on my own. However, it is highly competitive going through HF so prepare yourself by researching options and keeping track of the important dates. The difference in time zones may also require you to pull some late nights/early mornings in order to secure a room, but it is worth it, in my opinion, to ensure you don’t miss out.

From a university standpoint, I found that the communication from my exchange university was not very good prior to the beginning of the semester, and the university website was not always very intuitive to use, so I would recommend following up directly with the individual course coordinators and lecturers for specific course information. There are also multiple different platforms and resources which are used for different student services and communications, so its important that you establish the purpose of each one (it’s less centralised than the UoA services).

Finally, English is not as widely spoken as I expected. While almost all Danes know how to speak English, Danish is the primary language and there are usually no English translations in places like supermarkets or shops. This can make it difficult to navigate certain places when you first arrive. It also makes it more difficult to apply for jobs, since many employers require some level of proficiency in Danish. If you are planning on working, I would recommend looking and applying prior to arriving. Many students consider jobs like tutoring or participating in university projects and experiments.

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

I enjoyed the variety of papers that were made available to exchange students at the University of Copenhagen. This included a range of Danish culture and arts-based courses which enabled me to better immerse myself in the culture and history of Denmark and, in turn, foster a greater cultural appreciation for the place that I was living in and studying. I also enjoyed having the opportunity to take papers that were unique from those offered at the University of Auckland.

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

I took a Danish language course while studying in Denmark which provided a fun challenge and a good way to get immersed in the culture. There is also a huge biking culture in Denmark, so I rented a bike through a monthly subscription service. Not only was it a super fast and convenient way to get around, but it was also a great form of exercise. There are also many museums and art galleries in Copenhagen, which make for great indoor activities. For outdoor activities, many people like to swim in the harbour, even during the winter, as ice bathing is a popular activity in Scandinavia.

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Prepare for the cold and dark! During the winter months, the temperature gets sub-zero and the sun sets early on in the day, so be prepared to spend a lot of time indoors and bring a lot of warm clothes. Waterproof gear such as rain jackets, rain pants and gloves are also necessary to protect against both the snow and the rain, especially if biking is your main form of transport.

2. Embrace the biking culture. Biking was quicker than public transport, and it’s also a great way to get acquainted with the city. Copenhagen is a relatively small city, so it was never more than a 20 – 25 minute bike ride to get anywhere. I would recommend hiring a bike from the company Swapfiets which allows you to rent a bike for a monthly subscription fee. The subscription can be cancelled at any time, which makes it super easy to return at the end of your exchange.

3. Making connections early. Before I arrived in Copenhagen, I used the Goin’ app to connect with other incoming exchange students whom I could reach out to once I arrived in the country. Not only was it a great way to make friends, but it also helped to ease the nerves and anxiety of moving to a foreign country by talking to people who were going through the same experience.

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

Since Denmark is an expensive place to live, it is better to budget more than less, especially if you want to do things like eat out. Moreover, if you are looking to travel before, during, or after the semester then have some additional money set aside. For those travelling before the semester, I’d recommend keeping your exchange funds separate from your travel funds to ensure you have enough to last you for the semester. My weekly budget would’ve averaged around $400 to $450 a week ($350 for rent plus an additional $50 to $100 for groceries, alcohol, activities, going out). I rarely went bought meals or coffee out and opted to bike or walk over taking transport most of the time, so expenses will be higher if you plan on doing these things.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

The purpose of going on exchange for me is to completely challenge myself through new experiences that I would not be able to at home. Navigating life in a new country had its difficulties but it ultimately enabled me to broaden my horizons in so many different ways. I had the opportunity to live with people from all over the world which challenged the way I think and my perspective on many different things. It also helped me feel a lot more connected with different parts of the world and the things going on within it (especially coming from a place like New Zealand, which is more isolated from the rest of the world) and I love the fact that I now have a network of friends that spans the globe. I also gained a whole new sense of independence by living so far from home and having to adapt to a new culture and lifestyle. I think that being open to new experiences e.g., meeting new people, trying new foods, travelling to new places, really enabled me to get the most out of my exchange experience.

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

I would highly recommend giving yourself time to explore and travel Europe. It takes a lot of time and money to get to that side of the world, so you may as well take advantage of it and see as much of it as possible! There is also such a diversity of cultures, so there is so much to experience in a single continent.

Final Comments

Have fun, embrace the change, don’t be afraid to try new things!