Marco: Being an international student in Denmark

We talked to Marco Silva who has a Master of Science in TechnoAnthropology from Aalborg University Copenhagen, and is currently taking his Master of Science in Climate Change at University of Copenhagen‌ How long have you been studying in Denmark? And how long are you planning to study here?

I’ve been studying in Denmark for three years and I plan on studying another year, so that

I conclude my masters in climate change.

What was the study start like in Denmark?

My study start was very positive. Fortunately, I managed to sort out everything that had to do with accommodation and work in the first weeks of my stay. Thus, I could focus on my courses, which not only were very much

Why did you choose a Danish university for your studies?

aligned with what I was seeking, but also delivered in a very dynamic way.

I chose to study in Denmark because it was one of the few places in the world where I could find a Master focusing on the relations between technology and society. Later, I decided to take my second masters in

What was the hardest and best thing about study-start at your Danish university?

Denmark because the best researchers and

I remember that I became slightly

governmental practices in the area are found

overwhelmed by the large amount of

here.

literature to read, but soon I learnt how to handle it wisely. The best thing was to engage myself in discussions in the class and to do

problem-based projects that addressed

came to realize that only a fraction of the

concrete societal issues.

class was active in discussions. That was slightly frustrating because I knew my classmates had the skills and knowledge to

Are you looking forward to starting

support enlightening discussions.

studies again?

I was looking forward to studying further and

Do you have some good advice or

that's why I went for a second masters. I’m

observations for other international

now thinking about wrapping both masters

students about school-start in

together and restart my professional career

Denmark?

with a super boost.

First and foremost, think of studying in Denmark as something rather different from

What were your expectations for your studies in Denmark?

My expectations were to have access to the latest knowledge in the area and to have a lot of practical learning. Also, I was expecting to find super innovative teaching methods something that some universities in Denmark unfortunately lack. The teaching

your country, especially if you don’t come from Scandinavia. The flexibility and responsibility on students is higher and the methodology is therefore different. In order to have energy to adapt to this, try to sort out your accommodation, work and alike as soon as possible. Getting properly informed before moving to Denmark is the first right step.

methodology is still anchored in the oldfashion dogma where only academic theory represents reality. Teachers still teach as if all

Thanks so much for sharing your

students were pursuing a PhD. In fact, nearly

experiences and tips Marco!

all students work in companies after their graduation and they lack the necessary practical knowledge and tools to address concrete issues. Internships and student jobs along studies help in that regard though.

Confused about study-start in Denmark?

Here’s a recap of Marco’s experiences:

How was the study-start in Denmark different, if at all, from what you



There is a lot to read, but you’ll soon get a hang of it.



A good way to learn is to engage yourself in discussions in class!



Sort out practical stuff before heading for Denmark! Find accommodations, work if possible etc.!

imagined it would be like?

On top of what I referred above, I was also expecting quite active students. However, I