Denmark is a country that takes cultural exchange very seriously. Educational policies ensure that university students graduate with a good understanding of other cultures, through study abroad programs.

Exchange Seats
There are a total of 5 Universities in Denmark, and all of them have a policy of sending 50% of their students overseas during their university study. Danish Universities form relationships with universities all over the world and set up what they call "exchange seats". An exchange seat permits Denmark to send a student to a host university in another country, while a student from the host institution visits Denmark. The exchange is usually for 6 or 12 months, and can be at any level from undergraduate to Masters or PhD.

A Student's Perspective
Lars Foged is an adventurous, fun-loving Danish student from  the Technical University of Denmark, located about 20 minutes north of Copenhagen. Lars is studying for his Masters Degree from the Department of Manufacturing. Currently, he is an exchange student in Adelaide, Australia.

When Lars applied to come to Australia, he had five choices:  Sydney,  Gold Coast,  Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide. Lars chose Adelaide, where he is staying for 6 months. All of the courses he takes in Adelaide will be credited to his coursework when he returns.

Lars found that the biggest culture shock was a difference in curricula. His school in Denmark uses an exam system, while in his exchange program he receives continual assignments in addition to exams.  Continual assessment has cramped his lifestyle with less time for partying and travelling than he had planned, however Lars has managed some adventurous holidays, and has seen a lot of Australia.

Obtain an Exchange Seat
Many Danish students enjoy exchanges, but there are many vacant exchange seats in Denmark that have not been filled. There are many opportunities for international students to enjoy an exchange period in Denmark. If you're worried about language differences, plenty of courses that are taught in English and supported with English hand-out notes. Also, there are many bilingual people in Denmark, with English, German, and French as popular second or third languages.

If you're interested in obtaining an exchange seat, contact the scholarship office at your university. If they are already linked in the exchange program, you only will need to apply. If they are not linked, the scholarship office must contact the Danish University where you wish to study.

Why participate?