Typical questions
Do I need a visa or any other documentation to attend a folk high school?
I am already a student, but I would like to stay for a second term. Is this possible?
When should I start the process of applying for the correct documentation etc.?
Do I need to get my own health insurance?
How do I apply for a course at a folk high school?
How much does it cost to attend a course at a folk high school?
Is it possible to obtain a grant to finance my course fees etc.?
Can I get a diploma when I have completed the course?
Does a stay qualify me to attend higher education in Denmark?
What qualifications do I need to be accepted as a student at a folk high school?
Is it possible to learn Danish while taking a course at a folk high school?
Can I bring my children with me during my stay at the folk high school?
What are the principles, ideas and the history of the folk high schools?
What is life like at a Danish folk high school?
What are the important facts about Denmark?
What is Danish culture?
Do I need a visa or any other documentation to attend a Danish folk high school?
Depending on your country of origin, different procedures, rules and documentation requirements apply for residing in Denmark.
Nordic citizens (Norway, Sweden or Finland)
If you are a Nordic citizen you are free to reside, study and work in Denmark without any further documentation.
You should, however, bring a valid form of identification (such as your passport, drivers license or bank card) and register at the municipal civil office to get a personal registration number.
EU citizens and EEA/Swiss nationals
EU citizens and EEA/Swiss nationals may also reside freely in Denmark under the EU rules on free movement, for up to three months without any form of permit or documentation other than your identification card/passport. If you wish to stay for a longer period than 3 months, you must apply for a registration certificate.
The "Certificate og Registration" can be obtained through one of the Regional State Administrations in Denmark and must be applied for within three months after your entry into Denmark. In addition, this certificate makes it possible to obtain a civil registration number and health-insurance card if you bring the certificate and your passport or national identity card to the municipal civil office.
We advise you, however, even if you are only staying in Denmark for a short period (less than 3 months) to register at the local regional state administration office anyway. In most cases, your school will help you with the registration once you have arrived.
To learn more on how to apply for a registration certificate please visit this link:
http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/eu_and_nordic_citizens/eu-eea_citizens/
Other countries
If you live in a country outside the EU/EEA you must be granted a residence permit in order to enter Denmark and follow a course at a folk high school. Thus, you need to apply and obtain your residence permit prior to your travels to Denmark. You can apply for residence permit at the Danish embassy or consulate in your home country once you have been accepted for admission by the folk high school and all the administration has been completed including paying the administrative fees etc.
As part of the application process you will be asked to document:
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That you are enrolled in a course at one of the Danish folk high schools which has been approved by a Danish state authority – for a complete list click
here. The head master of the school must also clearly state if the course you are attending is eligible for state subsidies or not (documentation from the school, signed by the head master of the school).
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That you speak and understand the language of instruction and that you have a working knowledge of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German.
If your application is approved, you will be granted a residence permit for the duration of the course.
Please contact the Danish embassy in your home country for information on costs, application forms etc.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION! When you apply for a residence permit make sure that your passport is valid. The Immigration Service can revoke your temporary residence permit if you do not hold a valid passport or other travel documents.
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I am already a student, but I would like to stay for a second term. Is this possible?
It is possible to stay for a second term at a folk high school of your choice (given that you are accepted by the specific school that you wish to attend), however, depending on your country of origin, different rules and conditions apply.
Nordic countries(Norway, Sweden or Finland)
Citizens of Nordic countries are free to reside in Denmark without further documentation, for as long as they wish. You can enter Denmark without a passport, however, but since you must be able to identify yourself if required, we advise you to bring e.g. a passport/drivers license/bank card.
EU/EEA countries
Citizens of EU/EEA countries who wish to reside and/or study in Denmark for a period of more than 6 months must apply for a registration certificate under the EU rules at the Regional State Administration in Denmark. The application must be submitted within three months after the entry into Denmark.
Further, a Union citizen/EEA nationals must be able to identify him-/herself and prove his/her nationality if the Danish police so requests at a check of that person. Union citizens/EEA nationals who want to travel to Denmark must therefore bring their passport or ID card.
To learn more about under which conditions the registration certificates are issued, and what documents you might need, please click here.
Other countries
If you are from a country outside of the EU/EEA, and you are already holding a residence permit for the purpose of attending a course at a folk high school, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit, resulting in a total maximum of 18 months. The 18 months can be used for several courses at different folk high schools, either as one stay of 18 consecutive months, or as several separate stays.
While the application for extension only can be forwarded during a legal stay in Denmark, it must be forwarded before the ongoing course is finished. Otherwise you will have to return to your home country and start over the process.
It is a condition of the residence permit that you are active and enrolled in the school's programme. If this is not the case, the Immigration Service can revoke your residence permit. The school is obliged to inform the Immigration Service if you are not actively participating in the school's activities.
IMPORTANT! When you apply for an extension of your residence permit, make sure that your passport is valid. The Immigration Service can revoke or refuse to extend your temporary residence permit if you do not hold a valid passport or other travel documents.
Further, please note that your residence permit can only be extended up to three months prior to your passport expirering. In other words, if your passport expires in 12 months, your residence permit can only be extended by nine months. If you hold an expired national passport (i.e. a passport from your country of origin), the diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) of your country of origin will renew it.
All official information can be found at:
http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/studies/folk_high_schools.htm
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When should I start the process of applying for the correct documentation etc.?
The application process is rather lengthy, so please start your application process as early as possible, and no later than 3 months before the course starts!
When you have identified the course and school that you wish to attend, you must contact the school directly to apply for admission.
When the school has accepted you (and all formalities and paying of fees has been completed), you can start the process of applying for a residence permit (depending on your nationality).
If you, by Danish law, do need to obtain a residence permit, it should be the school in Denmark who begins the application process by completing its part (part 2) of the application form and attaching the required documents. The school then sends or gives the form and attached documents to you. You then complete your part (part 1) of the form, attach the required documents, and submit the entire original application to the Danish embassy in your origin country (or in the country where you have resided permanently for the past three months).
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Do I need to get my own health insurance?
Any person staying in Denmark, regardless of nationality, is entitled to free emergency hospital treatment.
However, depending on your country of origin, there are different rules regarding health insurance during your stay in Denmark.
Nordic and UK citizens
Persons from the Nordic countries and the United Kingdom are entitled to the same health services as Danes when they need acute medical treatment.
EU/EEA citizens
Persons from other European Union countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are also entitled to the same health services as residents of Denmark when they need acute medical treatment if they bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You should therefore contact your local authorities to obtain your EHIC card before coming to Denmark.
Other countries
Persons from other countries are not entitled to any free medical care except the emergency hospital treatment and are urged to obtain a private health insurance.
Private insurance
It might be a good idea to get some kind of private medical insurance, even if you are covered by your EHIC card.
This is due to the fact that the EHIC health insurance does not cover expenses connected to home transport in the case of for example severe illness or dental service.
Some insurance companies extend their cover to other countries, so contact your current insurance company in the first instance for further information.
When you attend a folk high school as a resident citizen of an EU- or EEA-country or Switzerland and your stay in Denmark is for longer than 3 months, you need a “Certificate of Registration” from the state administration, which proves that you are registered as a person with permit to stay in the country.
This certificate in hand (and your passport or other national identity card) you can apply to the municipal registry (Borgerservice) in the municipality of the folk high school and obtain a registration number (CPR number) and a health-insurance card and enjoy full coverage by the Danish healthcare system.
This process can be set into motion as soon as you arrive in the country.
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How do I apply for a course at a folk high school?
First, you have to identify schools and courses that fit your interests. Please use this link:
http://www.hojskolerne.dk/courses/subjects-and-themes
Click on the subject you are interested in and you will be led to a Danish homepage and a list of relevant schools; the first schools mentioned will have the subject as a main subject (”hovedfag”), the following list of schools will have the subject as a secondary subject (“øvrige fag”).
Click on the individual school, choose their profile in English and you will be able to read a general description of the school. If the school seems attractive to you, you will find a link to their homepage in English to the right. Here you can explore the school, its profile and its subjects further.
When you have found a course and/or school you wish to attend, you must contact the school directly and apply for admission. After finalising the school’s admission-process (including paying the school fee), you then start the application process for the correct documentation to stay in Denmark.
To find out more about what documentation is required, click here.
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How much does it cost to attend a course at a folk high school?
Each folk high school is an independent school and has individual prices. They are all in the same price range though, usually around DKK 1.200,- per week. This price normally includes fees for the course, board and lodging.
You will have to finance your travel expenditures as well as any additional living costs yourself.
Usually it is not possible to find scholarships for foreign students, but ask each individual school. If a school can offer a scholarship it is usually only up to about 50% of the weekly price.
Please be advised, that if you for some reason should choose to leave before the course has ended, the fees and other costs etc. will under most circumstances still have to be paid by the student/cannot be refunded.
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Is it possible to obtain a grant to finance my course fees etc.?
Only a few of the Danish folk high schools offer grants to their student for the purpose of co-sponsoring the weekly costs of a course.
To find information about co-sponsoring programmes, please go to the website of the school that you are interested in. They will be able to tell you under which conditions the co-sponsorships are given, if any.
Further, the Danish Government has set down a grant (Danish Agency for International Education) for students from new EU member states, in order for them to attend a folk high school in Denmark.
Eligible for this grant are students who are 17½ years old (16½ in the three youth folk high schools) and are citizens of, and has permanent residence permits in, one of the following EU member states: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia or Slovenia.
The course must have a minimum duration of 12 weeks.
The DAIE grant will cover a part of the tuition fee, which includes board and lodging (up to DKK 600 per week).
The Schools normally charge an additional fee, which may vary according to the specific courses. Applications for grants should be made by the Danish folk high schools on behalf of the student, and the grant will be paid to the school.
This means that you must contact the school and agree on admission well before the DAIE admission deadline (preferably a couple of months).
You will have to finance for your travel expenditures as well as any additional living costs yourself.
Please be advised, that if a student leaves before the course has ended, the grant will be cancelled and all costs are to be paid by the student.
Please go to http://en.iu.dk/grants-and-scholarships/folk-high-school-grants to find all the information you need about this grant.
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Can I get a diploma when I have completed the course?
For courses longer than four weeks, a certificate is normally issued.
However, please note that the certificate is mere proof of your attendance of the course, thus the certificate does not qualify you for admission to any other form of education in Denmark!
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Does a stay qualify me to attend higher education in Denmark?
A folk high school is a non-formal residential school offering learning opportunities in almost any subject including history, arts, music, sports, philosophy, theatre, photography etc. The schools decide individually the content of the courses and there are no tests or exams at the end of the term.
Even though the schools receive financial support from the state and belong under the Ministry of Education they are not part of the formal educational system in Denmark. Therefore you will not be accepted at universities, colleges or the like after following courses at a folk high school.
Thus, a course at a folk high school does not qualify to admission to a higher education and does not give access to further education or residence in Denmark!
However, it is possible to follow courses at a folk high school preparing you for a specific professional directions. You can find courses focusing on a career and following education such as e.g.:
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an actor
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a policeman
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a nurse
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a journalist
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an architect
To find information on folk high schools directed at specific career choices, please click here.
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What qualifications do I need to be accepted as a student at a folk high school?
Anyone over the age of 17½ years can attend a folk high school (the three youth folk high schools grant admittance between 16½ and 19 years of age) – no matter their educational background.
The courses are meant to broaden general, social and democratic competences. This means that you can meet young people at 18 who just finished high school; students at the universities taking a year off, 25-year-olds who still don’t know what to do with their life, adults with an education exploring new sides of themselves etc.
Some schools do outline specific criteria for admittance to some of their courses – e.g. age. Please browse through the schools’ websites to find out more.
Please be advised that most of the schools who accept international students either expect you to know some Danish or to speak English.
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Is it possible to learn Danish while taking a course at a folk high school?
Some folk high schools offer residential courses in Danish language and culture either during the summer holiday (3-4 weeks) or during autumn and spring (4-5 months duration). These courses do not normally include formal tests or examinations.
You do not have to speak Danish to attend a folk high school or make your way around Denmark, but understanding the local language might enrich your stay here.
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Can I bring my children with me during my stay at the folk high school?
Not all schools have the capacity for you to bring your children - but some do. These schools offer either childcare full- or part-time during the day, help you find kindergartens and schools nearby. In some cases though, the school expects you to take care of finding childcare and schools yourself.
Please remember to keep in mind, that if you wish to bring your children, each child also needs to obtain the correct documentation needed for foreigners who reside in Denmark.
To learn more about which rules and requirements apply, please click here.
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What are the principles, ideas and the history of the folk high schools?
The first folk high schools, founded in the mid-19th century, was inspired by the educational thinking of N. F. S. Grundtvig.
Grundtvig identified a growing democratic need in society - a need of enlightening the often both uneducated and poor peasantry. This social group had neither the time nor the money to enroll at a university and needed an alternative. The folk high school was then to help people qualify as active and engaged members of society, give them a movement and the tools to change the political situation from below and be a place to meet across social boarders.
The folk high schools have changed naturally - some also radically - throughout time, but many of Grundtvig’s core-ideas about the folk high schools are still to be found in the way they are run today.
The folk high school of today is engaged in a complex modern reality and influenced both by national, international and global questions.
Today concepts of democracy, citizenship and lifelong learning are areas of action at the folk high schools. The way the folk high schools work with the concepts may not in all correspond with Grundtvig’s ideas. In spite of this, Grundtvig is still useful in the visions of the folk high schools of today and their understanding of the concepts.
One of the main concepts still to be found at the schools today is “Lifelong learning”. The schools must educate for life. They must shed light on basic questions surrounding life of people - both as individuals and members of society.
Another element was, and still is, the everyday life at the schools. A folk high school becomes what it is because of the individuals is is made up of. Learning happens across social positions and differences – the teacher learns from the youth and vice versa in a living exchange and mutual teaching.
The schools today are resting on modern values and modern perspectives on life. Many of the folk high schools act as agents in an international and global reality. Both the folk high school and central concepts such as citizenship and lifelong learning are redefined in a context colored by a transnational or even global reality with students from all over the world.
To learn more about Grundtvig and his ideas, you can visit Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_high_school or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolaj_Frederik_Severin_Grundtvig
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What is life like at a Danish folk high school?
A folk high school is a non-formal residential school offering learning opportunities in almost any subject including history, arts, music, sports, philosophy, theatre, photography etc. The schools decide on the content of the courses individually, but must answer to the ministry of education as to the inclusiveness and broadness of the cultural education.
The courses are meant to broaden general, social and democratic competences. The courses last between 1 and 36 weeks and do not lead to any tests or examinations. A completion of a course will also not lead to admittance to any other educational institution in Denmark.
At a folk high school you live together and experience each other in a great number of social situations.
During your stay at a folk high school, you live, eat, study, party and clean together with the other students. Everybody has the same duties and the same rights – no matter sex, social status, religion, nationality, ethnicity etc. As the students often represent a wide range of backgrounds and you live close together in both good times and hard, everybody has to do theirs to get the best out of the day for the school as a whole.
Respect, equality, cooperation, dialogue and tolerance are some of the keywords in making daily life at the folk high schools work. And this is not only the case amongst the students. One of the core-ideas of the folk high schools is equality and mutual learning between teachers and students. The classes are characterized by the free word, dialogue and an open curriculum which can be changed during the course.
Attending a folk high school you must also be prepared to sing - a lot! Singing is a strong part of folk high schools culture. The song promotes the atmosphere of togetherness and transcends the differences which might cause troubles in the everyday life at the schools. The folk high school has a long tradition of community singing - especially from their own Folk High School Songbook. The songbook came in a new edition in 2006 - updated with both new and old songs in both Danish, English, German etc.
The main language at most of the folk high schools in Denmark is Danish – but many of the schools have arranged themselves accordingly to receive foreign students.
At some of the schools they use translation equipment, some have courses especially for international students, some do courses in Danish language for foreigners while others try to implement both English and Danish in both teaching and everyday life.
Before you choose a school it is important to clarify your own needs and talents and what you wish from your stay.
Contact the schools you are considering to learn more about their specific language politics.
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What are the important facts about Denmark?
Denmark is situated in northern Europe and a part of Scandinavia. Greenland and the Faeroe Islands are also part of Denmark, but they are autonomous regions with governments of their own.
Listed below are some of the most important facts about Denmark which might be nice for you to know before travelling here.
Geography
The country consists mainly of islands with the exception of the peninsula, Jutland. It is relatively flat with the highest point rising to only 173 meter above sea level. About 65 per cent of the country is farmland, 11 per cent is woodland and the rest is built-up areas, roads, and lakes.
Population
The total population of Denmark is 5.3 million and the population density is 120 people per square kilometre. The capital is Copenhagen, which has approximately 1.2 million inhabitants.
Language
Denmark's official language is Danish, and most people also understand and speak English.
You might also be able to get by with speaking German, Swedish or Norwegian.
Weather
The weather in Denmark is often very unpredictable. However, there are general forecasts of the four seasons that might help you get an idea of the Danish climate:
The winters are generally wet with occasional snow. It can be as cold as -5 to -15°C and also very windy.
The summers are generally sunny and warm, but some years have a rainy summer, and the temperature rises to about 15–25°C.
You might find that the Danes spend a lot of time inside because of the long periods with rain, wind and chilly weather. But as soon as the sun peeps out between the clouds most Danes run out to get the most of it, no matter what temperature the barometer shows. With snow it is the exact same story. It never fails to fascinate young and old.
Check out local weather forecasts at the Danish Meteorological Institute, DMI, here.
Religion
More than 80% of the Danish population are members of the Danish National Evangelical Lutheran Church. The majority of the members see themselves as protestants, but do not practice or act very much on the religion and its doctrines.
Many of these Danes go to church at Christmas, for weddings, funerals, baptisms and confirmation, but very seldom every Sunday.
Religion is regarded a private matter and usually you will not see explicit signs of people's religion in public.
You should be aware that some Folk High Schools are based on Christianity. You find both Lutheran and Pentecostal schools, and also schools not explicitly run Christian but still defining themselves as Christian.
If you are specifically interested in these schools - or if you wish a more secular school - you should inquire as to what the school of your interest is founded on. Do not be afraid to ask the schools questions on this matter.
National holidays and weekends
Weekends run from Saturday to Sunday. Usually the schools expect that the students stay at the school every second weekend.
The Danes also celebrate several holidays during the year. Some of them are religious holidays and some have their cultural or historical roots.
Specific traditions with regards to food, decoration and celebration of the day are connected to most of the holidays, which are usually celebrated with friends and family.
Most shops, supermarkets and institutions are closed on holidays including on Sundays.
List of national holidays 2010:
New Year's Day - January 1
Maunday Thursday - April 1
Good Friday - April 2
Easter Monday - April 5
General Prayer Day - April 30
Ascension Day - May 13
Whit Monday - May 24
Constitution Day - June 5
Christmas Eve - December 24
Christmas Day - December 25
Boxing Day - December 26
Be aware that the 24th of December is not a national holiday - but this day and especially the evening, the evening before Christmas, is the day where most Danes celebrate Christmas, not on Christmas day.
Politics
Denmark is a modern welfare state and a constitutional monarchy. A democratically elected government and a parliament, Folketinget, govern the country.
Denmark has a law on freedom of religion, ethnic equality, and also a law stating that it is illegal to treat people differently on the grounds of gender, race and religion. There are additional laws to ensure gender equality and the country also has a minister for gender equality.
Denmark has a strong international political commitment and is a member of the European Union, the Nordic Council, the United Nations and NATO.
The country has been a member of the European Union since 1973, but opinions are divided about how the membership of the union should progress. In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty allowed Denmark to opt out of four areas, including common defence policy, the Monetary Union and union citizenship.
Welfare state
Denmark has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Since 1963, industry has accounted for the majority of exported goods. However, North Sea oil and natural gas become increasingly important to the economy, as have biotechnology and information technology. A very high percentage of women are active on the labour market and the unemployment rate has been relatively low since the mid-1990s.
Denmark has a high level of social security and free public services, including a high quality medical and educational sector. A relatively high tax rate makes it possible to provide this service level.
Education
Education in Denmark is provided free of charge at all levels and there are nine years of compulsory education. Public expenditure on education and training corresponds to 7 per cent of the country's GDP and around 13 per cent of total public expenditure.
Adult learning plays a considerable role in the educational system, and many Danes participate in some kind of formal or informal learning. Denmark is also known for its many local associations and organizations at grass root level.
Infrastructure
It is easy to get around in Denmark. You can travel to most cities in Denmark by either train or bus. The transportation infrastructure is well-developed and Danish rail, DSB, as well as various bus companies operate throughout the country.
The capital, Copenhagen, also has a relatively new and small subway, called the Metro, with only two lines and a third line opening i 2018. One of the stops is Copenhagen Airport.
You can easily find out which trains or buses to use and their timetables by using the website Rejseplanen.dk. The site has an English version and connects the various Danish bus- and train-companies.
Most of the citizens in Denmark have their own bike and use it every day as their only mean of transport. You might experience, that many of the Danish students bring their bikes to the Folk High Schools.
If you have a bike and it is possible it would be a good idea to bring it. Otherwise some schools have bikes either to lend or rent for a small fee. On occasion you might be able to borrow a bike from a fellow student.
Attractions
Denmark is a country with a long history and many monuments have been preserved. Thus, a trip to Copenhagen (the capital) is an attraction in itself, and here you will find many historical monuments as well as get a good impression of the Danish culture - fx. by visiting ‘Nyhavn’, a small harbour area, for a drink.
In Copenhagen you will also find:
- The little mermaid statue
- The queen's castle, Amalienborg
- The royal museum of art
- Tivoli gardens
And many, many more...
For further information about Danish attractions and events in Copenhagen as well as the rest of Denmark please click here.
Famous Danes
You might find that the Danes are very proud of their history and heritage, and that they love to talk about it. They have a strong sense of nationality and celebrate every time a Dane achieves success internationally.
Several Danes have made a name for themselves throughout history world-wide, including writers, physicists, philosophers, athletes, designers, architects and movie directors. Just to name a few there is:
- Tycho Brahe, a nobleman, known for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical and planetary observations.
- Søren Kierkegaard, a philosopher, known for being the father of existentialism.
- Hans Christian Andersen, a writer, known and loved for his fairytales and poetry.
- Niels Bohr, a physicist, known for the explanation of the periodic system of elements, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize.
- Jørn Utzon, an architect, especially known for designing the opera house in Sydney.
- Michael Laudrup, a footballer who has played for Juventus, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, etc.
- Lars Ulrich, a musician, known as the drummer of the band ‘Metallica’.
- Lars von Trier, the movie director, known for his uncompromising art films and for shocking the press.
- N. F. S. Grundtvig, identified the democratic need for enlightening the often both uneducated and poor peasantry – and inspired the birth of the Folk High School.
Just to name a few…
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What is Danish culture?
Many Danes have a hard time defining what is typically Danish. Most people find that the most important Danish ‘trades’ has to do with democracy, history and the interaction between the people. However, there are of course some traditions etc. that are typically Danish. Listed below are some of them:
Food
In almost all Danish cities you will find a ‘Pølsevogn’ which means sausage cart. These serve Danish hotdogs in different versions, and Danes normally drink chocolate milk with the hotdog.
In home cooking some of the Danish specialties are ‘smørrebrød’ which is a kind of open sandwich, ‘frikadeller’ which is Danish meatballs, and ‘hakkebøf’ which is a Danish burger served with potatoes, sauce and fried onion.
Generally, the Danes eat relatively healthy and are very consumer conscious. Thus, The Danish consumer market for ecological food is one of the world’s largest.
On a Folk High School you have at least three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most meals are served as a buffet. Many schools serve warm food for lunch and a cold buffet for dinner. This is different to most Danish homes, where the warm meal is served at dinner time.
If you have special needs concerning your diet, because of allergies, religious conviction or being a vegetarian, make sure to let the school know. The meals will be supplemented according to the different needs among the students as far as possible.
Alcohol
In Denmark you are allowed to consume and buy alcohol from the supermarkets (not at bars and restaurants) by the age of 16. Most Danes have their first alcohol experience in their early teens and it is a natural part of their social life and party culture.
Some foreigners are surprised by the Danish use of alcohol and that they really do party on until morning.
Don't ever feel obligated to drink more than you wish to!
Most folk high schools have an alcohol policy and some schools forbid the use of alcohol in the weekdays.
Please also be advised, that drugs are prohibited and results in expulsion.
Sports
Danes love sport. About three out of four children and young people and half of the adult population are engaged in sport activities in their spare time. Denmark has the highest number of sport facilities per capita amongst the European countries.
The most popular activities are gymnastics, soccer, badminton, swimming and handball. Fitness, aerobic, roller-skating and jogging are other popular activities.
Participating in different sports activities is great way to get to know other people. And there are numerous options. Some education institutions have their own sports facilities, which are only open to students and staff. You can also join an independent sports club, however, membership to these are often more expensive.
Hygge
Hygge is an important element of the Danish culture. The word is difficult to translate, but those seeking to grasp its meaning will quickly realize that it is closely associated with having a good time together with friends or family and with eating and drinking.
Humour
Humour is another essential element. To many Danes, humour and irony are closely linked. Understanding this irony is an important part of grasping the Danish mentality.
You might sometimes find that it is easy to misunderstand Danes during a conversation due to the excessive use of irony. In those situations you shouldn’t be afraid to ask.
Self irony is also a big part of the Danish mentality, so if you feel that a Danish person might be trying to ridicule you, it is most likely not the case at all. In these situations you also shouldn’t be afraid to ask either, and you will hopefully be able to laugh at the situation.
Jantelov
The ‘Jantelov’ is a special part of the Scandinavian culture, adopted in the 1920ties from a Aksel Sandemose Novel. ‘The Jante law’ is a group mentality that negatively portrays and criticizes success and achievement by individuals as inappropriate, thus you won’t find many Danes flaunting their success.
Music
Denmark is also known for its many music festivals. During the summer there is a comprehensive and international programme of rock, folk and jazz music to choose from. The most famous festivals are the Roskilde Festival, the Folk Festival in Tønder and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. The Roskilde festival is one of the largest and most trend-setting events on the European rock scene.
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