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author
Tong Lin
Tong
Lin
faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
academic year of the stay
2024/2025
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author
Tong
faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
academic year of the stay
2024/2025
University of Copenhagen
traineeship
study stay
short-term mobility
other
How does Tong rate their stay?
university
city
accommodation
financial demands
about university
What made your university special? What were the facilities where you studied and the university equipment like?
When it comes to the University of Copenhagen, the first thing that comes to my mind is the student organizations. The University of Copenhagen is composed of buildings from different faculties scattered throughout the city, which is quite similar to the structure of our own university. In such a large campus, the way to interact with local students and make friends becomes especially important. It is actually quite difficult to integrate into the environment, find friends, and establish stable interpersonal relationships on your own. Therefore, the student organization within my Department of Political Science became particularly important. Most of the main courses in international politics were held at the University’s main campus in central Copenhagen, near the river. This is a historic and character-rich area. The campus is well landscaped and the facilities are classic, which can be “deceptive” in a way—by the end of my studies there, I still couldn’t confidently say I wouldn’t get lost on campus.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your "adoptive" university? What made it special? What were the premises where you studied and the university facilities like?
What impressed me the most about studying at the University of Copenhagen was the heavy emphasis on group work in exams. Nearly all of my courses were completed through group projects. During the teaching semester, there were no midterm exams, and final assessments were usually in the form of written reports submitted by the whole group. It can be said that the university places greater emphasis on cultivating students’ collaboration and co-learning abilities. However, in terms of academic pressure and the intensity of exams, it was not as strict as our home university. The university’s administrative departments and professors are more “relaxable,” and you need to be mentally prepared for delayed email responses from the administration—they are far less efficient than our university staff.
What is student life like at university?
As I mentioned in Question 1, it is relatively difficult for international students to integrate into local social life if you rely solely on school-wide student activities rather than joining specific student organizations. I went on exchange during the fall semester and participated in the “Pre-semester Master” cultural and language course offered during the summer break. I highly recommend this course because it is designed specifically for exchange students, and being around a large group of international students makes it much easier to find future classmates and friends to live with. Due to the distribution of departments and faculties across the city, the university lacks a unified system for organizing leisure activities, so students need to enrich their spare time on their own.
Did you study in English or in the language of the host country? What language requirements does the university have?
Due to the prevalence of group assignments and the generally high level of English proficiency among Danes, good English communication and academic skills are necessary. Although the program does not set specific English proficiency requirements, I believe a minimum level of B2 is required to meet the demands of everyday coursework.
about the city
What was your impression of the city? How would you describe it? What is interesting to see here?
Copenhagen is a city that is both bustling and peaceful. During the summer, when the weather is nice, the scenery in Copenhagen is breathtaking. The city strongly advocates for environmentally friendly travel. Compared to the expensive public transportation, cycling is a highly recommended way to get around. On good-weather days, you can freely ride your bike through the city. Around 90% of people on the streets can communicate in English, so it’s easy to ask for help when facing difficulties. The international and multicultural nature of the city is also reflected in its wide variety of restaurants and grocery stores. Moreover, Copenhagen has one of the highest minimum wage standards in Europe. When possible, a part-time job with no more than 20 hours a week can greatly help alleviate financial pressure. The clean urban environment, orderly management, and relatively safer public security compared to other European capitals enhance the livability of the city, despite its high costs.
about finances
In your experience, how far does the scholarship go? What percentage of your expenses did it cover? What is your opinion on prices in the country in general?
Even though the scholarship support was at the highest tier, it was still clearly insufficient to cover the high cost of living in the city. I was very fortunate to secure one of the lowest-rent rooms through a student housing platform provided by the University of Copenhagen. This small bedroom, about 9 square meters in size, cost nearly 750 euros per month. Therefore, the scholarship couldn’t even fully cover the rent, let alone living expenses, which vary from person to person. After exploring different corners of the city and finding affordable grocery shops, I managed to reduce my living costs to about 350 euros per month. However, from what I know, most students who shop in chain supermarkets need at least 500 to 600 euros monthly. Unlike in our country, their supermarkets rarely offer year-round discounts. Unfortunately, Copenhagen is indeed an expensive city.
Please advise your classmates on how to save money—Where to shop? What services can be used to save money?
As mentioned previously, opting to ride a bike instead of using public transportation is a very wise way to save on living expenses. Taking the Copenhagen metro, for instance, usually costs at least 3 euros per ride. So relying on public transport for commuting is extremely expensive. I recommend downloading local second-hand trading apps as soon as you arrive in Copenhagen and buying a second-hand bicycle. Be sure to choose a bike with gears, as it becomes essential when riding against strong winds. When your exchange semester ends, you can resell the bike to incoming students. Therefore, purchasing a second-hand bike instead of renting is a must. For shopping, I recommend exploring Middle Eastern supermarkets where you can get vegetables and meat at half the price of local stores. You can also check out Middle Eastern or Turkish butcher shops where the meat is fresher and cheaper. If you have access to a fridge, buying in bulk is very cost-effective—even cheaper than in Prague. Additionally, Copenhagen is the birthplace of Too Good To Go, and the city offers many “food rescue” bags that help reduce food waste. If you mainly eat bread, buying one “surprise bag” per week is more than enough, as the prices of bread in local bakeries and supermarket bakeries are surprisingly high.
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about accommodation
What type of accommodation did you choose? Would you recommend it to others? If not, what type of accommodation do you think is best based on your experience (dormitory, private apartment, private dormitory, shared room, etc.)?
Copenhagen does offer cheaper student accommodations, but only to students whose study period exceeds one year. If you are considering a two-semester exchange in Copenhagen (and your schedule allows), I strongly recommend it. After dealing with the complicated administrative procedures, you'll have enough time and space to find a higher-paying off-campus part-time job. At that point, you can search local Danish student rental platforms to find apartments at half the price exchange students typically pay. If, unfortunately, you are like me and only stay for one semester, due to the tight rental market and strict rules on moving out, cleaning, and insurance, I suggest booking a dormitory as early as possible through the university’s partner websites. Rooms are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you book, the better your chance of getting a cheaper room. If you’re at the South Campus, you can live in the default recommended dormitory, although the rent (with property fees) is similar to that in the city center. But if you’re lucky enough, I recommend choosing apartments located in wealthier areas, as they offer better facilities and elevators for a similar price. For example, in shared apartments, you may have access to a washing machine and dryer, saving you a lot on laundry costs.
about experiences
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
Traveling to Sweden from Copenhagen is very convenient. You can also regularly check for cruise deals to visit Oslo, Norway, at a very low cost. However, during my exchange period, I didn’t manage to go on any international trips.
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
If time allows, the Copenhagen city government offers free Danish language courses. Typically, you have a high chance of passing the first beginner-level course within three months. Unfortunately, due to administrative and visa time constraints, I was unable to attend this course.
final rating
Why here? What makes this location special? Why would you send your friends to your country/city?
Despite Copenhagen being an extremely expensive city, I am still deeply grateful for this Erasmus study experience. Copenhagen is undoubtedly one of my potential career destinations in the future. Across Europe, it offers very attractive salary levels. Though the high cost of rent remains a challenging reality, with a lifestyle tailored to individual needs, it’s still possible to keep overall expenses within a reasonable range. This reflects the city’s diversity and the possibilities that come with its inclusivity. I highly recommend Copenhagen to those who love the ocean, natural scenery, cycling, and sports. During the comfortable seasons and in good weather, you’ll live a dreamlike life here.
live-saving tips
If I went again, I would definitely remember to pack...
when filling out administrative forms, be sure to clearly write your building and room number. Many administrative processes in Copenhagen are done through mail, and because I forgot this information, I missed out on many potential opportunities. As for items to bring, I suggest packing a good-quality raincoat, rain boots, and waterproof pants. It rains so much here—you probably don’t want to experience “going to class with a soaked bottom.”
Before leaving, I would like to know that...
What surprised me most was that...
The hardest thing for me was...
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