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TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME! 4 IMCC 5 BEFORE ARRIVAL 6 COMMUNICATION 7 GROCERIES 8 DANISH 101 9 COPENHAGEN About Copenhagen University of Copenhagen Arrival Internet access Accommodation Transportation Social program Trips outside of CPH
10 12 13 14 15 15 17 18 20
AALBORG About Aalborg Aalborg university Arrival Accommodation Internet access Public transportation Social program AARHUS About Aarhus Aarhus University Arrival Accomodation Internet Useful links Transportation Social program
23 24 25 26 26 27 27 28
31 32 32 34 34 35 35 35 36
Welcome! This magazine is meant as a survival for all students who are interested in doing an exchange with IMCC. It will hopefully answer all your questions before your stay in Denmark.
We hope that you will enjoy your stay here and that you will go back home with many good memories of Denmark and all the people that you met during your stay. Of course, we also hope that you will have acquired a wider knowledge about the field you have been studying here!
IMCC International Medical Cooperation Committee (IMCC) is an organization for students who want to do volunteer health work. We are both a serious and fun organization that consists of students from different study courses - mostly Health Science students. IMCC is nationwide and spread out on four local committees in Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg. IMMC is organized in three main focus areas - education & information, exchanges & electives, and development & aid. For more than 50 years we have sent medical students to all corners of the world and it is through IMCC that medical students can experience international exchanges. At the moment we have more than 25 active projects working locally, nationally and globally and new ideas are emerging all the time. IMCC offers, besides offering experiences in the world – including in Denmark – the chance to make a difference for others. IMCC is a good opportunity for both personal development and learning lots about organizational work, leadership, project management, implementation and intercultural understanding which will ensure that students will possess highly developed skills that one cannot learn reading a book. Last but not least, in IMCC we are known for our great parties, fun and friendships. IMCC was formed on October 1st 1950. The reason was that there in post-war Denmark was a great interest among Danish Medical students for international contacts, both professional and social. In general, the organization has in recent years been opened up for other study courses, such as Public Health. This provides IMCC the opportunity to evolve as an organization where people with skills from different disciplines can complement each other and develop IMCC’s projects and activities.
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There are several things that you can do before you arrive in Denmark, in order to make your stay even better! Make sure to contact your contact person before you come to Denmark, so that you can agree upon when and where you should meet. Bare in mind that the local committees usually find contact persons a few weeks before you arrive, so please be patient! For any urgent matters, please contact the NORE or LOREs. If you need a visa to go to Denmark, please contact the NORE for questions concerning invitation letters, visa forms etc. The NORE represents IMCC as the hosting party of your stay, and should therefore be the one to sign all official documents. Your contact person is not able to help you with obtaining a visa for Denmark.
Many of you will also be asking which city you will be placed in. Rest assure that we are doing our best to place you in a project as soon as possible! If you cannot wait to book plane tickets before you receive your Card of Acceptance, we recommend that you buy a ticket to Copenhagen. From Copenhagen you are always able to take a train to Aarhus or Aalborg.
We also strongly urge you to contact your tutor doctor, so that you can prepare for your research project. Ask the tutor doctor if they might have any material that you can read before arrival. We would like to inform you that the exchange is a 100% PharmFree. Please read our PharmFree document, and bring a signed copy when you arrive. Also, please ask your own NORE or LORE for a student handbook before you arrive in Denmark. Bring it with you, and make sure to fill it out with your tutor doctor. This will greatly improve your research program!
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We strongly suggest that you buy a new SIM card once you arrive in Denmark, as it can get very expensive to use one’s own from abroad. We recommend that you buy a “taletidskort” – a prepaid credit plan where the balance can be topped again and again, once you’ve run out of credits. You can choose between the following that are the cheapest: Company
Name
M1
Gratis50
Lebara Mobile BiBOB
Price/min
0 kr, until the first 50 minutes are used. Then 0,50 DKK/min Lebara Startpakke 0,29 DKK/ min BiBOB basis 1 øre/sec
Price/SMS
0 kr, until the first 50 SMS are used. Then 0,18 øre/SMS 0,20 DKK/ SMS 0,14 DKK/ SMS
Price for card 99 DKK incl. SIM card 99 DKK incl. SIM card 49 DKK incl. SIM
You can buy Lebara and M1 from most kiosks, and 7 Eleven stores. Just ask for a “Startpakke”, and you’ll get a new SIM card and number in the package.
N
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GR There are many super markets to be found in the capital area, but there can
be huge price differences, for the same products, depending on where you choose to shop.
If you need to buy your everyday grocery like milk, bread, cereal and so on, the cheapest stores are following: This is perhaps the most common store for students to shop groceries. It is small and quite cheap, but most importantly, it is to be found a lot of places. Netto has cheap alternatives for everyday groceries, but often also have offers, for more known brands. Ice cream, bread, milk, butter, cereal, fruit and vegetables, shampoo and a lot of other essential items for daily use, you’ll definitely find them cheaper in Netto. Notice! There is Netto, and then there is “Døgn Netto”. Døgn Netto has longer opening hours, but is not as cheap as just… regular Netto! Aldi is also very cheap, though it is not to be found that many places. It is also a small store like Netto. Alternative for Netto and Aldi as well. Cheap. Lidl is not located that many places, but if you do find one, it is cheap, and have many of the same items like Aldi. A little more expensive than Netto and Aldi. Bigger than Netto and Aldi, thus you can find more items here. This is also more expensive. Føtex is quite big, here you can find, not only groceries, but also clothes, electronics, books and more. The groceries are also more expensive, but there is a lot more to choose between, and often it is also more fresh (e.g fruit and vegetables) A little smaller than Føtex. But here you’ll also find clothes, electronics etc. Groceries are more expensive as well.
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Hi Good bye! Good morning! Good evening! Good night! Welcome (to greet someone) How are you? I’m fine, thanks Thank you (very much) You’re welcome! (for ”thank you”)
Hej Farvel! God morgen! God aften! Godnat! Velkommen Hvordan har du det? Jeg har det fint, tak Tak (Mange tak) Så lidt!
Do you speak (English/ Danish)? What’s your name? My name is … Nice to meet you!
Taler du (engelsk/ dansk)? Hvad hedder du? Mit navn er … Hyggeligt at møde dig!
I’m lost Can you help me? Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)? Go straight. Then turn left/ right! How much is this? Excuse me ... (to ask for something)
I'm sorry! (if you don't hear something) I don’t understand! I don’t know! Yes/ No One, two, three Four, five, six Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten
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Jeg er faret vild Kan du hjælpe mig? Hvor er (toilettet/ apoteket)? Gå lige ud. Drej derefter til venstre/ højre! Hvor meget koster den/ det? Undskyld mig…
Undskyld! Jeg forstår ikke! Jeg ved det ikke! Ja/ Nej En, to, tre Fire, fem, seks Syv, otte, ni, ti
Copenhagen
ABOUT COPENHAGEN Copenhagen (Danish: København) is the capital of Denmark and what a million Danes call home. This city is big enough to be a metropolis with shopping, culture and nightlife par excellence, yet still small enough to be intimate, safe and easy to navigate. Overlooking the Øresund strait with Sweden just minutes away, it is a cultural and geographic link between mainland Europe and Scandinavia. This is where old fairy tales blend with flashy new architecture and worldclass design; where warm jazz mixes with cold electronica from Copenhagen’s basements. You’ll feel you’ve seen it all in a day, but could keep on discovering more for months. Facts about Copenhagen
Native name: København (Copenhagen) Urban Area: 1980 Km² Population: 1,8 million (Greater Copenhagen and regions) Royal residence: Copenhagen - Amalienborg Palace Currency: Danish Kroner Airport: Kastrup Driving: Right side Time Zone: UCT+1 Founded: 1167
UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN With ty of mark. duct
over 37,000 students and more than 7,000 employees, the UniversiCopenhagen is the largest institution of research and education in DenThe purpose of the University – to quote the University Statute – is to ’conresearch and provide further education to the highest academic level’.
Approximately one hundred different institutes, departments, laboratories, centres, museums etc., form the nucleus of the University, where professors, lecturers and other academic staff, as well as most of the technical and administrative personnel, carry out their daily work, and where teaching takes place. These activities take place in various environments ranging from the plant world of the Botanical Gardens, through high-technology laboratories and auditoriums, to the historic buildings and lecture rooms of Vor Frue Plads and other locations. The Faculty of Medicine is a part of the Faculty of Health Sciences. It is housed at the Panum Institute which is a part of the University of Copenhagen. It also houses the Dental School and the School of Oral Health Care and The School for Dental Technicians. The Panum Institute has many facilities including a library, two canteens, lecture theatres, offices, student clubs and two bookshops. The Panum Institute also houses the largest dental clinic in Denmark with approximately 230 treatment chairs. The institute was named after the Danish physiologist Peter Ludvig Panum (1820-1885).
ARRIVAL Take the metro to downtown Copenhagen, and remember to arrange which station you should meet you contact person, and they will meet you there and follow you the rest of the way to you accommodation. The metro only goes one way from the airport, so it’s very easy! But in case you are in doubt, the metro will say “Vanløse station”. It will take you approximately 20 minutes to get from the airport to downtown Copenhagen. When you get out of baggage claim, just go straight ahead. At the end of the building you will see escalators going down (for trains), and escalators going up. Take the escalators that are going up. If you go straight ahead again, you will see the metro.
Before you take the escalators up, buy a ticket by the “DSB (name of the Danish railway) ticket store” (will be on your right hand). Just tell them that you need a ticket to go to city center. If you arrive early in the morning or late it the evening DSB ticket store will probably be closed, but there will be a white ticket automat by the metro. Buy a “4 zones ticket”. It costs around 48 DKK/7 euros.
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ACCOMMODATION Every student will live in a dormitory or apartment. We usually rent rooms from Danish students who go on vacation, and you will either live on your own or have a couple of room mates. Bed linnens and towels will be provided by the tenant. Some tenants will be able to offer internet and a bike, but you will usually have more information on this on your arrival. Exchangees will seldomly live together, but are scattered across Copenhagen. We will do our best to accommodate you as close to the research department as possible.
INTERNET ACCESS At the University of Copenhagen, you can get access to the Internet, with your eduroam login, if you are from Europe. Once you’re logged in, there’s access to internet everywhere at the University and in “Studenterklubben”.
Usually you’ll find Wi-Fi access at most of the cafes in Copenhagen, and in shopping centers as well. If you choose to take the train or the bus, you can also get Wi-Fi access, if you login with your email address the first time. Furthermore, there is Internet access at libraries, and here you can also surf on the Internet on the computers in the libraries, once you’ve booked a time.
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The easiest way to transport yourself around Copenhagen, is definitely by bicycle! You’ll see A LOT of bikes - children, young people and even the elders use the bike to transport themselves from A to B. No matter the distance, this is really the easiest way to get around, as there are lanes for bicycles everywhere in Copenhagen. If you cannot borrow a bicycle, you’ll have to use public transportation. In Denmark, that means trains, busses or the metro. The Danish train company is called DSB. You’ll see a big red sign with an S, where there are train stations. Copenhagen is divided into zones, so you need to know the distance for your travel route by zones, to know how much the ticket will cost. Central Copenhagen is zone 1 and 2, so you will usually only need to buy 2 zones. You can either choose to buy a single ticket (billet), a 10-tour card (klippekort) or a monthly card for your whole stay. We recommend that you buy a monthly card (periodekort) as this will be the cheapest option, if you don’t ride a bike. Remember to bring a passport size picture with you for the monthly card.
So let’s say you need to travel from Copenhagen Central Station (København H) to Nørreport station. This is two stops in zone 1, and the ticket will cost you 24 DKK, if you buy a single ticket. If you choose to buy a klippekort for 145 DKK, where you have 10 cuts, it will cost you 14,5 DKK, for these two stops. These tickets have a time limit, but can be used in the bus and metro as well. The trains have different letters with different colors, A, B, C, E, F. These have different routes, but it will always be the end station that is written on the train. See a map of Copenhagen with zones:
http://www.cph.dk/NR/rdonlyres/ B20702F5-9DFC-4F73-A23138C4AD352BAF/0/DSB_Zoner. gif?nm_extag=Zonekort_DK
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SOCIAL PROGRAM During your stay in Copenhagen, IMCC Exchange and IMCC Research Exchange will provide you with opportunities to get to know the other exchange students better through various social activities. We hope very much that you will participate in these activities. During your first week in Copenhagen, we will host a dinner to welcome the exchange students. This dinner is usually very fun and is a great way to meet both Danish students and exchange students from other countries.
We will also arrange a so-called “social weekend� at some point during July and August. The social weekend consists of almost nonstop activities designed to show you a good time in Copenhagen with both Danish students and other exchange students. It can for example consist of trips to famous Copenhagen landmarks, boat tours on the canals, sailing in viking ships and of course dinner arrangements. We have also in the past hosted a brunch during the social weekend.
Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg will also host social weekends in their respective cities during the summer and if you wish to see the cities you are welcome to join the activities there as well. Exchange students from Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg will of course also be able to join the activities in Copenhagen. Before you leave Copenhagen. we will arrange a farewell dinner for you and the other exchange students. At this dinner you will be given your certificate that proves that you have participated in our exchange program. Welcoming dinner: July 3rd August 1st
Farewell dinner: July 20th to 22nd August 21st
Social weekends: July 14th to 15th (Aalborg) July 20th to 22nd (Copenhagen) August 4th to 5th (Odense) August 11th to 12th (Copenhagen) August 17th to 19th (Aarhus)
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There is a lot more for you to see during your stay in Copenhagen than what is inside the city lines. Here are just a few examples:
– You can take a day trip to the Swedish city Malmø. Malmø is just a short train ride away and is a great shopping city where everything is just a little cheaper than in Copenhagen. – You can also take a trip to Roskilde. Roskilde is a beautiful city and you can see one of biggest churches in Denmark, Roskilde Cathedral (Roskilde Domkirke). The Cathedral has been the main burial site for Danish monarchs since the 15th century and is the church that houses the most royal graves in the world. – In Helsingør you can see the old castle Kronborg that is beautifully located right by Øresund. Here you can see a very famous statue of Holger Danske. The statue is of the old king sitting on his throne sleeping and an old legend says that if Denmark is ever in need of his assistance in war, he will wake up and defend his country.
– In Odense you can see the house of Hans Christian Andersen a very famous Danish writer and poet.
– Denmark has a lot of beautiful nature scenes. You can visit the Cliffs of Møn which is a striking landmark and tourist attraction along the eastern coast of the Danish island of Møn in the Baltic Sea. – Denmark has a lot of amusement parks outside of Copenhagen. You can visit BonBonland which is a candy-themed amusement park and about a 1 ½ hour train ride away from city center. You can also visit Legoland, which is located in Billund but that is a longer trip, and you would have to travel about 3 ½ hours by train. A visit to one of the amusement parks costs approximately 200-250 kr. We hope you have a wonderful time in Denmark!
Aalborg
ABOUT AALBORG Aalborg is the fourth largest city in Denmark with a population of 125.000. Aalborg is located in the north of Denmark, in the region called North Jutland.
Aalborg has about 25.000 students at Aalborg University and consequently Aalborg is a very student friendly city. There’s plenty of things to do and see which we will mention later in this magazine.
The urban area of Aalborg covers 139 km2 (54 sq mi), while the municipal area reaches 1144 km2 (442 sq mi). One would say that Denmark is a flat country, but in fact Aalborg is quite hilly if you go just outside the city center; this is especially known to all the students that bike to the University of Aalborg everyday - which makes you sweaty in the morning! Limfjorden (a shallow sound in Northern Jutland) separates the more southern part from the more northern part of Jutland. Because of Aalborg’s position close to the sound, there is an expansive harbour front. Aalborg is also close to Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark, where you can go by train.
AALBORG UNIVERSITY Aalborg University was created through a merger of a number of well-established institutions, combined with the establishment of a number of new faculties in 1974. From the very beginning, Aalborg University was characterised by its well-reputed education form of problem based project work – also known as the Aalborg model, and by extensive collaboration with the surrounding society. Later on, the establishment of strong research fields has been added, some of which are in the international class.
More than 14.000 students are enrolled at Aalborg University, ranging from students at preparatory courses through doctoral-level candidates. Of these are approximately 10 % international students, coming from different countries around the world. Approximately 6.540 students are enrolled at the Faculty of Engineering, Science and Medicine.
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ARRIVAL Denmark has four airports. If you arrive at Copenhagen Airport Kastrup we recommend you to buy a total flight ticket and take a flight directly to Aalborg Airport (it will take about 30 minutes). From here there are busses to Aalborg city several times an hour, and the ride takes about 20 minutes. You can also go by train to Aalborg city from Copenhagen Airport Kastrup (it will take about 4-5 hours), but flying is often a cheaper alternative.
ACCOMMODATION Every exchange student will be accommodated in appartments next to the hospital.
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INTERNET ACCESS There are a lot of places where Internet is available for free. e.g. at McDonalds, “Studenterhuset�, which is a place for only students. Furthermore, you can connect everywhere at Aalborg University. The university is spread all over the city, so you may always be very close to free Internet access.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The two hospitals in Aalborg are located in the center of the city, which means that you can easily get there by bike or by foot.
It might be possible for you to rent a bike privately from IMCC Aalborg otherwise you can rent a city bike. In Aalborg you can find the city bikes dotted around the town in allocated bicycle stands. It is easy to recognize the bikes with their blue colour and a map in them.
Each bicycle has a coin slot for 20 DKK - you get your money back again when you return the bicycle.
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We will inform you about the social program before your arrival.
Activity
Price
Bowling Pool Trip to the beach Trip to Skagen, Aarhus or Copenhagen Fårup Sommerland (amusement park) Aalborg Zoo Grøn Koncert (concert with different musicians) Aalborg Tårnet (lookout tower) Kunsten (art museum) Viking theme day (museum, dinner, party) Sightseeing bus in Aalborg Aalborg Beerwalk Friluftsbadet (outdoor pool – harbour basin) Swimming Mini golf Music jam every Thursday on Frederikberg Café Legoland (a LEGO® amusement park)
Depends on number of participant, but around 7 € 33 € Free tickets 27 € 3€ 3€ Price will be given later on 8€ 14 € Free About 5 € 5€ Free admission -
Aarhus
ABOUT AARHUS Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark. It is also Denmark’s youngest city with a student population of about 40,000, including the many international students, and there are therefore plenty of things to experience. At the same time we keep the past very much alive here in Aarhus, with the oldest quarters being some of the most atmospheric, bustling and trendsetting in the city.
Aarhus has many museums, parks with great atmosphere, forests nearby and great nightlife with the many cafés and bars. All sights of interest can be reached by bike, as the city is very compact and relatively flat and there are excellent cycling conditions. There are free city bikes during the summer season, which makes sightseeing very easy, enjoyable and refreshing. You can learn much more about sightseeing, bikes, tours and other places of interest in and around Aarhus at www.visitaarhus.com
AARHUS UNIVERSITY Aarhus University, existing since 1928, is situated near the city center in a campus around a park. The University is divided into to 4 main educational areas: Arts, Science and Technology, Business and Social Sciences and Health. The vision is to secure a close, stable and visionary cooperation between professionals in different science fields in order to find best possible solutions to the challenges of the future. The Faculty of Health has offered education of medical doctors since 1933. Today there are about 2000 medical students at the faculty, with about 400 students graduating from the faculty every year.
Research in Health Science is highly prioritized with one of the largest PhD schools in Denmark, managing about 500 PhD students. The Research Centres are situated either on the campus or at one of the three hospitals in Aarhus. Our current projects are all at the hospital at Nørrebrogade 44, Aarhus C.
ARRIVAL The best way to arrive to Aarhus is either by train, if your flight is to Copenhagen Airport, or by bus, if your flight is either to Billund or Aarhus Airport (Tirstrup). The flight tickets to Copenhagen Airport are usually much cheaper and it is also very easy to take a train to Aarhus. The train leaves directly from the Airport (check www.dsb.dk for timetables and prices). The ride takes about 3 – 3.5 hours. If you fly to Billund or Aarhus Airport, a bus will take you directly to the center of Aarhus. No matter which option you choose, there is no need to buy neither the bus nor the train tickets in advance.
ACCOMODATION Every student will live in a student dormitory or a student flat. Please remember, that you have to pay a deposit of 500 DKK on arrival to the apartment, of which you will get 450 DKK back, if nothing is broken and the apartment is in the same state as on arrival. The 50 DKK that you are not getting back are put on our account, so that we are able to pay for any greater damages in a student apartment.
INTERNET
Not all apartments have Internet access. You can find free Wi-Fi in cafĂŠs, library, or use a computer at your research department. Ask you contact person for further information.
TRANSPORTATION We always try to accommodate you as close to your research department as possible, but when it is not possible, you are always able to use a bike or a public bus. Busses in Aarhus run often and are quite easy to find. One ride is 20 DKK and you can use the same ticket within 2 hours from the moment you bought it, even if you change the bus. If you would like to take the bus more often, you can buy a 10-tour card for 130 DKK.
USEFUL LINKS www.dsb.dk (timetables and prices for trains – in Danish only!) www.midttrafik.dk/kundeservice/in+english (timetables and prices for busses in and around Aarhus) www.visitaarhus.com www.bikes4rent.dk www.au.dk/en
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Your contact person will contact you with information about the social program, which varies greatly. We always arrange a welcoming dinner or a picnic, depending on the weather, so that you can meet your fellow exchangees. We will arrange a bike tour around the city center, visits to the museums, the forest and the beach, but we encourage you to stay in touch with the other students and spend as much time together as possible. Suggestions for social activities and sightseeing: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Art museum AROS with Rainbow Panorama Aarhus city Museum The City Hall with the visit to the Tower Botanical garden Quiz night and International students night at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub Salsa nights at Studenterhuset Picnic in one of the parks Moesgaard Museum with Viking Museum Tivoli Friheden Aarhus harbour Memorial park (Mindeparken) with the Queen’s summer residence The Animal Forest (Dyrehaven) Den Permanente (the beach) in Risskov
Tours outside and around Aarhus: • • • • • • • • •
Kalovig Castle Ruin River Guden with canoe tours Djurs Sommerland – recreation park Legoland Western coast of Denmark (cities: Ringkoebing, Hvide Sande, Skagen) Aalborg Odense Ribe Copenhagen
Written by: Afefah Ismail (Copenhagen) Lea Stevnsborg (Copenhagen) Nissa Khan (Copenhagen) Dana Cotong (Copenhagen) Maiken H Mortensen (Aalborg) Sandra Ovesen (Aalborg) Sanna Davidson (Aalborg) Sarah Bach Munkholm (Aalborg) Sofie Hellström (Aalborg) Alexandra Redzkina (Aarhus) Layout by: Dana Cotong A special thanks to our incoming in 2011, Aleksandar Ragaji from Serbia, for all of the great pictures of Copenhagen and “Den Gamle By” in Aarhus.