Life in Denmark

Preparing for your new life as a student in Denmark? You are probably nervous and exited at the same time. In this section, you can find everything you need to know about living in Denmark as a student – from how to find housing to getting a residence permit and which insurances you may need. 

Everything you need to know about living in Denmark 

housing

Student accommodation in Denmark

Get tips on finding housing here!
woman looking at juice in supermarket

Cost of living in Denmark

Plan your student budget here!
Laura, Software student at VIA

See what our students say about life in Denmark

Meet international VIA students
Student life

Socialising and growing your network

How to meet new people in Denmark
The Danish flag

Does it really rain all the time in Denmark?

Get facts on Denmark here!

Practical preparations to life in Denmark

Visa and residence permit

If you plan on studying in Denmark, you may need a visa or residence permit depending on where you come from. 
Learn more about Visa and residence permit

CPR number

When arriving to Denmark as an international student you need to get a CPR number. You will need this to e.g. get healthcare. 

How to get a CPR number in Denmark

Insurance

When moving to Denmark, check up on your insurances to make sure you have the coverage you need - health insurance, car insurance - what will you need?

Insurance in Denmark

Housing benefits

In Denmark, housing benefits are financial assistance provided by the government to help low-income households cover living costs. 

Learn more about housing benefits in Denmark

SU in Denmark

SU, Statens Uddannelsesstøtte, is the Danish State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme. A financial aid programme that provides support to eligible students at institutions of higher education in Denmark.

Learn more about SU in Denmark

Study Danish in Denmark

Learning Danish will give you multiple advantages as an international student in Denmark. Find out which and how to study Danish in Denmark here! 
Learn more about studying Danish in Denmark

Living in Denmark as a foreigner

There are a few things about Denmark and Danish culture you may want to know, if you are planning to live in Denmark as a foreigner; Denmark is considered a very safe country and there is a high level of respect for the common good, while at the same time providing a high degree of freedom for the individual to make his or her own choices. Other principal values are equal opportunities for everyone, respect and tolerance, which makes life in Denmark as a foreigner easy no matter who you are and where you come from. Find more facts about Denmark here

As a foreigner living in Denmark, you may also notice that it is a very green country. Both in terms of nature being close by no matter where you live, but also when it comes to green sources of energy and focus on sustainability, which is also in focus in the teaching at VIA – learn more about sustainability at VIA here.

Daily life in Denmark

When you first come here, you will probably notice that daily life in Denmark takes place in a very orderly fashion and runs smoothly. Queuing systems for everything from the bakery to pharmacies and public citizen services, the buses and trains are on time and so on. This also goes for the public service sector, which has a high degree of digitalisation and self-service.

The informal way of life with focus on equality also comes into play at schools and workplaces, which are generally non-hierarchical and relaxed. Learn more about the teaching style at VIA here and working in Denmark here