Accommodation

Just as anywhere else in the world, your living costs will be hard to estimate exactly, but the following figures should give you a general guideline.

Two types of accommodation are currently available for international students:

Residence Halls (Kollegium)

Residence hall living offers one of the following:

• A single room - private bathroom, shared kitchen/other facilities
• A single room - shared bathroom/kitchen/other facilities
• A small flat (for one person only!) - private bathroom/kitchen

The monthly rent for living in a student residence generally is generally DKK 1900 and 3200 , and is often cheaper than finding private accommodation.

Private accommodation (rented houses/flats)

• A single room (in a private home) - shared facilities
• Subletting a room from a Danish student
• Sharing a flat/house with other students

Private accommodation is generally a bit more expensive than living in a student residence, but prices vary quite a bit.

International non-exchange students can apply for a room in a hall of residence at the central housing office (the Kollegiekontor) in Aarhus at www.studenthousingaarhus.com

You should submit your application well in advance, and please note that if you apply for housing in August or September, you might have to wait for a room. Your chances of being offered a room is much better if you apply for a number of different halls of residence – also the ones in the outskirts of Aarhus. Once you have a room, you can apply for transfer to a hall of residence nearer to the city centre.

You can look for private rooms to let or sublet in the local newspapers or at various websites.

The Student Congregation offers free online housing advertisements on their website www.sr.au.dk

Transportation

Most Danish students either bike to and from school or take the bus. A new bike can be bought for around DKK 1000-1200 in many major supermarkets, or you might be able to find a cheaper used bike through classified advertisements or police auctions.

A single-ride bus ticket costs DKK 19, but 10-ride tickets may be bought for approximately DKK 115 . A monthly card, which allows you to free rides 24 hours a day, costs DKK 330.

Food and Drink

Expenses for food and drink will naturally vary greatly, but expect to spend at least DKK 1000 a month for the very basics. If you want to move beyond pasta and ketchup, though, the canteens on campus are very good, and a good, hot meal for app. DKK 30  will often be a sensible and tempting alternative for lunch.

Furthermore, the category of "Food and Drink" will often come to include a few beers at the Friday Bar and the occasional trip to a restaurant or a night on the town, so budget accordingly. For the record, a beer at the Friday Bar will generally set you back around DKK 10 or 20, while a beer in a bar in town will cost you about 40 or DKK 50. A meal at a decent restaurant will generally cost from DKK 120 and upwards, while you will often be able to eat for under DKK 100 in a café.

Other Expenses

Books and Course Materials

This is another expense that is hard to estimate very precisely, but depending on the subject you are studying and whether you buy your books new or used, plan to spend between DKK 1000 and 3000 on books per semester.

Phone calls

The absolute cheapest way to make international calls is using calling cards. There are a variety of calling cards available, many of which are specifically for international calls. Ask around after you arrive to find out which one is most affordable and reliable. International calling cards are available at post offices and kiosk around the city.

Many students opt to get a cell phone for the duration of their stay in Denmark. An international calling card would probably still be more affordable in terms of making international calls, but for domestic calls a cell phone would probably be more practical than a regular phone. Many phone companies offer services, where you pay only for the amount of money you use on calls or text messages without having to pay a monthly service fee. Ask around to get the best offer and keep an eye on the weekly advertisement that you receive in the mail.

You may also be able to get a good deal on a used phone from a fellow student. If you have a cell phone at home and it is not SIM-locked, you can bring it and replace your SIM card with a Danish SIM card.

Phone call expenses are hard to estimate as well, but expect to pay at least DKK 150 a month and upwards, depending on how much you talk. Text messaging is very popular in Denmark, and is often much cheaper than calling.

Average budget

The average budget per month could approximately be as follows:

• Student accommodation: DKK 1,900-3,200
• Food and other necessities: DKK 1,700-2,400
• Telephone: DKK 200
• Insurance, medical care: 0 (if EU-citizen)
• Leisure:  DKK500-1,500
• Media licence (mandatory): DKK 200
• Total: DKK 4,500-7,500 – app. Euro 600-1,000

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