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author
Martin Dolský
Martin
Dolský
faculty
Faculty of Humanities
academic year of the stay
2023/2024
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author
Martin
faculty
Faculty of Humanities
academic year of the stay
2023/2024
University of Copenhagen
traineeship
study stay
short-term mobility
other
How does Martin 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?
It was a former hospital building and one could tell. On the surface, it was a lovely university campus but a lot of activities - eating, socializing, even some classes - happened below ground that connected the different buildings.
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?
Yeah, most classes where in English so that international students could join, which was great. There was also a lot of emphasis on interactive classrooms as opposed to simple lecture. Sometimes, it felt a bit forced and it was still challenging to get students involved but it was certainly better than just a frontal lecture and we got to know each other much better. You could also work on and submit papers together - but didn't, it was up to you, which I appreciated.
What is student life like at university?
Yes there are some, it really depends how much you wanna join. No Danish classes but that's because you can sign up for Danish classes that are paid for by the country. You just need to plan ahead and do it early on so that you have time to finish them (you need to pass the final exam to get your deposit back).
Did you study in English or in the language of the host country? What language requirements does the university have?
English. I suppose if you wanted to take classes in Danish, it could be worthwhile to know it but there's no need as most classes are in English and the command of English is well above the European average.
about the city
What was your impression of the city? How would you describe it? What is interesting to see here?
Great, busy, cosmopolitan, not too big. Great urbanism, wonderful bike infrastructure and many interesting contemporary architecture buildings. I also love the canals - I signed up for kayaking lessons and could see the city from below. Also the bridges were super cool.
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?
The scholarship generally pays for accommodation - if you're lucky. If not, not even that. I worked a bit, was very careful about finances and planed my budget ahead.
Please advise your classmates on how to save money—Where to shop? What services can be used to save money?
Certain shops are certainly cheaper than others (consult with locals), bazaars are also good, you can also shop in discounts that many shops offer on goods that are about to expire. Other than that, not going out - which is hard in winter...
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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.)?
I was lucky to find a room on an apartment of my friend's parents. Otherwise I'd recommend student dorms - great for socializing, cheaper than private rental but hard to get - you gotta try as soon as you can.
about experiences
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
Yes, other cities. Going by train's great.
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?
Danes are lovely, friendly, welcoming, little closed at first but Czechs are similar in that. A great way to connect is by doing sports - I did kayaking and climbing and bonded with quite a few people.
final rating
Why here? What makes this location special? Why would you send your friends to your country/city?
The command of English, the great architecture and urbanism, the general happiness levels.
live-saving tips
If I went again, I would definitely remember to pack...
Rain gear, including pants and shoes so that you can bike all year round (or do anything else really). And your bike, unless you wanna buy one. You can rent but you're gonna save money if you bring your own. You can take it by Flixbus there and then by train back.
Before leaving, I would like to know that...
You have to sign up for the Danish courses early so that you have time to complete the course and do your exam - that is, if you're only coming for a semester.
What surprised me most was that...
By how it actually wasn't that difficult to connect with Danes if you tried.
The hardest thing for me was...
SAD - seasonal affective disorder that affects some people more than others, but is definitely more likely to arise the further north you are - less light, more rain. But Danes have developed many great strategies to fight it - consult them.
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