Erasmus Experience in Copenhagen, Denmark by Angela

Why did you choose to go to Copenhagen, Denmark?

I went to Copenhagen as part of my PhD degree, so I choose the city/University because one of the most renowned professors in my field is currently working there.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I went to UCPH though a private contact between my professor here in Brazil and the professor at UCPH. So I was employed by the University as a Research Assistant, and I received around 5500 DKK (without taxes).

What is the student lifestyle like in Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is an amazing city, for everybody. They have a lot of discounts for students, specially at pubs and coffee shops, and there is always several events all over the year.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Copenhagen to other students?

Definitely. The structure of the UCPH is amazing, the staff is very helpful and the University system is very organised. They also have several welcoming events to explain about the University.

What is the food like?

The food is usually very healthy. The problem is that everything is very expensive.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Copenhagen?

Yes. It is very hard to find accommodations at UCPH, takes a lot of time and it is very expensive as well. The UCPH has some dorms that students can rent. However, I found a dorm in an apartment of a danish girl by looking for in a facebook page.

How much does it cost to live in Copenhagen?

It depends on your life style, obviously, but in general it cost a lot. But totality worth it.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

I found danish very difficult, because there is no similarity with portugues. But everybody speaks English, everywhere. The UCPH also has some intense danish courses, for free.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Copenhagen from your city?

I am from Brazil, so I had to go by plane. But in the city, you can buy travel tickets that cover bus, train and metro inside Copenhagen.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Copenhagen?

Copenhagen has a lot of pubs. So you can go each day in one pub, and still you will not know all of them. That's what I did.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Copenhagen?

Tony's restaurant. Ask for meatballs and Tiramisu.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Copenhagen has several museums with a lot of interesting exhibitions. During the summer the city holds nice events open air. Movie theatres and theaters are also easy to find.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Copenhagen in the future?

Enjoy as much as you can, even when the sun does not appear for two weeks, or when it is snowing all day, or when it is raining for days in a row. The city is dark outside, but when you open any door, there is a lot of things to do. And also, please, study hard.