Beyond education
As a student in Denmark, you may notice the relaxed atmosphere, the clean environment and that things generally run smoothly. You will find old ornate buildings standing next to modern eco-friendly architecture, speaking of a society that treasures the old, but loves experimenting with the new.
You may also find that that living in Denmark is not cheap. However, if you are sensible and follow local customs, like cycling and eating in, it should not blow your budget. > See examples of a typical student-budget
Cool winters with a warm ambience
It´s true that the Danish weather is not always ideal for wearing t-shirts. The short-lived Danish summers are warm with midnight sunsets. However, winters in Denmark also have their share of warmth with lit streets, social gatherings, and plenty of hot chocolate. Danes often refer to this feeling of warmth as 'hygge'; perhaps the epitome of social life in Denmark.
> Read more about the Danish national treasure ‘hygge’
We love bikes
Despite the cool Scandinavian climate, Danish cities might be the most bicycle-friendly in the world. Bike superhighways crisscross the cities and landscapes, and more than a third of Danes commute to work or school on their trusty two-wheelers.
It is also quite common to go on a bike ride on a Sunday, perhaps with a packed lunch in your backpack. In fact, all you need is a bike to combine an afternoon of city life with a sunset by the coast.
A green lifestyle
A clean environment is important to the Danes. Thirty years of focused energy policy have catapulted Denmark ahead of many other countries in the use and development of renewable energy. Today, Denmark champions wind farming, waste management and other eco-friendly ways of harnessing nature for energy.
A green mindset is also reflected in the Danish lifestyle. Most of us use our bikes in the cities, rather than drive petrol-guzzling cars. And if you don’t recycle your used bottles or batteries your neighbours are likely to disapprove. > Read more about living in Denmark
All this buzz about happiness
Time and again international surveys celebrate Denmark as one of the 'happiest' countries in the world. This of course does not mean that Danes are constantly cheering in the streets or are in fact happier than most other nationalities.
Denmark's int'l rankings
It seems more accurate to say that Danes experience a high level of overall life satisfaction, relating to the fact that Denmark is a society where it's easy to create opportunities for yourself if you have a talent and work hard.
> See also Legatum's Entrepreneurship & Opportunity Index
A progressive society
- News
- New exchange agreement between UC Berkeley and The Technical University of Denmark Feb 16, 2012
- Denmark second most innovative country in Europe Feb 09, 2012
- The US and Denmark best to produce and attract talent Jan 26, 2012
- Aalborg University moves into former Nokia headquarters in Copenhagen Jan 20, 2012
- How do we educate a new generation of responsible leaders? Jan 19, 2012