THE Student HANDBOOK

THE

STUDENT HANDBOOK

This handbook is made for the international students coming to study in Aalborg; as a help this will be provided for you with all the information needed regarding moving to Aalborg, Denmark.

By Anna Høite Meersohn

A great, warm welcome…

…to our town, to your dream education, and to some of the best years in your life!

The time we spend studying is a wonderful and exciting time

– it is fun, challenging, difficult, and simply fantastic all at once.

I am proud and delighted to wish you a warm welcome as a student in Aalborg. I am, of course, pleased that you have chosen Denmark as the country for your studies – but I am even more pleased that you chose Aalborg as the city that will set the scene for your studies in the coming years. And I am glad, too, that you chose us, because Aalborg is a city that really has a lot to offer you.

In Aalborg we really appreciate all our students – whether they come from abroad or from Denmark – because every one of you helps to add color to the city and bring even more life and high spirit.

In return, we make a very special effort to make it an attrac- tive town to study in.

I hope you enjoy your studies and the town, and I hope you will have some fantastic years here in North Jutland. We will do our best to help you feel at home in our town.

With best wishes

Thomas Kastrup-Larsen

Mayor

Content

Accommodation ...... 6

General about accommodation in Aalborg ...... 6

Prices ...... 7

Deposit ...... 7

Heating, water, electricity and gas ...... 8

What if I can’t find accommodation before I have arrived in Aalborg? ...... 8

Internet ...... 9

Furniture ...... 9

Complaints about your housing situation ...... 10

Costs of living ...... 11

Transportation ...... 11

Places to shop for groceries in Aalborg ...... 12

Tips for when buying groceries ...... 14

Facebook pages for students ...... 14

Fitness centers and Sport activities in Aalborg ...... 15

Health system and emergencies ...... 16

Emergencies ...... 16

Medical ...... 16

Pharmacies ...... 17

Dental ...... 17

CPR, taxation and S.U. in Denmark ...... 17

What to do when you come to Denmark? ...... 18

Bringing a car with foreign number plates to Denmark ...... 20

What is S.U.? ...... 21

Events in Aalborg ...... 23

Annual events ...... 23

Places to visit in and around Aalborg ...... 24

Welcome to Aalborg

There is a lot to learn about Denmark and we hope that this handbook will show you the way through some challenges and give you some knowledge about how it is to live in Denmark and especially Aal- borg.

Denmark is a small country placed in Northern Europe, just north of Germany, surrounded by ocean and the other Nordic countries. It’s a country consisting of 5,6 million inhabitants who were known back in history to be the dangerous Vikings. It’s a country filled with stories and places to see our old history but at the same time one of the most developed countries in the whole world, in regards to technology, medicine, etc. Today we are very known for being the happiest people on earth; this is affected by feeling safe… the government in Denmark has always put the welfare of the people as high a priority as possible, which means that our taxes are very high but with this, you can get a university

degree without paying for it, everyone can go to school, go to the doctor without having to pay, we get help if we have children, we get help if we become unemployed or homeless; no matter what happens there will always be a way to get help; this makes us feel safe… that we don’t need to worry all the time and that we are living in a safe country filled with opportunities. We are also known for our culture and attractions, like our monarchy which is the oldest uninterrupt- ed European monarchy, or Hans Christian Andersen, a world-known writer who wrote tales like “The little Mermaid”, which we have a statue of in Copenhagen; we also have the best restaurant in the world! We have a lot more to see all over Denmark, you will be busy when coming here!

So what about Aalborg? Aalborg is the fourth largest city in Denmark, placed in the Northern part of Jutland with over 200.000 inhabitants. A long time ago Aalborg was a Viking-city! Aalborg is a very international city with around 30.000 students, of these there is around 3000 international student from over 20 different countries all over the world. Years ago Aalborg was mostly known for the industry, which created a workers city; since then it has changed into a city known for the culture, music and art affected by people coming from all over the world of all ages, implementing a little piece of their traditions into Aalborg; still this is a city filled with history and Danish culture, this mix makes it an interesting city filled with events and exiting things to see. Because there are so many students in Aalborg, the city is always working hard to improve the city to make the students who lives in Aalborg feel at home and give them plenty of possibilities for hobbies, activities, night-life and events throughout the year, so there is always something to do!

In this handbook you will find all the information you need to prepare when planning to move to Aal- borg.

Accommodation

When you get your acceptance from your university the first thing to think about is accommodation. Aalborg is a university city, which means that there are plenty of opportunities for accommodation; but where should you go? What should you expect? There are many questions when trying to find a place to live in another country and here you will find all the information you and start searching; and don’t worry, the web- need. site is also in English!

When you have signed up as a candidate you General about accommodation in Aal- borg are now inside the AKU-register of all student In Aalborg there are more than 6.000 dorms accommodations in Aalborg; here you will see a and youth-apartments, moreover there are map which shows the various areas of Aalborg, plenty of single rooms and private owned where you should click on the area which you apartments rented out for students. Further- would like to live in and look through the vari- more, Aalborg is always planning and building ous possibilities for accommodation in that new and modern facilities for new-coming stu- specific area. dents to develop the city to become more stu- The red area is the center of Aalborg, where dent-friendly and attract more students from you will find the city center, which is the most all over the world. expensive area to live in. Next to the center you see the yellow, brown, When you start searching for accommodation light brown and green area, which are the clos- in Aalborg you have to go to www.aku- est to the center and the various schools and aalborg.dk where you sign up as a candidate

are of course cheaper than living in the center for rent. In Aalborg you will find of Aalborg. accommodation from 2.000 – 4.500 and the

In the areas around the above mentioned are outside of Aalborg and far from the city center, this means that you will not have the same ac- cessibility to the schools and the city center.

When you click on the areas you will be able to see a list of various possible apartments or rooms which you will be able to click on and most expensive place to live is of course the look at the specific information about prices, city center. If you want to find the difference- size, etc. When you have found a place which between your city and Aalborg regarding prices you would like to sign up for, you add it to you of accommodation etc. look at wish-list, which will then lead you to infor- www.numbeo.com. mation about your queue-number etc.

Please just add the wishes for your accommodation, which you are interested in and can Deposit In Denmark, before you move in to your new afford. apartment or room you have to pay a deposit.

The deposit is insurance for the landlord, so One thing you have to remember is that if you that if you damage the apartment, you haven’t say “No, thank you” when you get an offer from paid your rent or the apartment needs to get AKU-Aalborg about an apartment or room new inventory the landlord will subtract the which is now available for you, there is a limit; money from the deposit which you have paid. if you say “No, thank you” four times your ac- The deposit is normally the rent of the accom- count at AKU-Aalborg will be deleted. modation for 3 months; this means that if the

rent on your apartment or room is 2.500 Danish Prices crowns, you would have to pay 7.500 Danish Living in Denmark is more expensive than most crowns before moving in. countries; this is especially regarding the prices 7

the rent but not the electricity, gas and the wa- The deposit varies from place to place, some- ter usage. times it is only 1-2 months’ rent or more than For example when looking at AKU-Aalborg’s three, which means that the deposit can be up database of accommodation you will find this to 20.000 Danish crowns, but it will always be when clicking on a specific apartment or room stated in the description of the accommodation which you have found: when you search for them online.

If you are offered an apartment, where the de- This shows the rent, which is 1.912,00 Danish posit is called (in Danish) “Indskud”, you can crowns and heating (A conto varme) 165,00 apply for a loan from the municipality. (Please Danish crowns, which makes the total amount notice, it’s only the type of deposit called (in of rent: 2.077,00 Danish crowns. But as you can Danish) “Indskud”, to which you have this op- see it says nothing about the electricity, gas and portunity. Ordinary deposit you will have to pay water. This is because the water, gas and elec- by yourself). You can find further information at tricity are provided by a private company in www.borger.dk This means that if you lend this Aalborg; therefore once or twice a year you will money from the municipality, so that they pay receive a letter from these companies who will for the “indskud” and you move out, the land- either ask you to look on a monitoring device lord will pay the money back to the municipali- and write to them how much you have used or ty, resulting in that you don’t have to pay any- they will tell you when they will come to check thing unless you have made damage in the and you would have to be available and be at apartment or similar, which means that you will home in that period of time; this will then show have to pay the money for reparation, etc. back how much you have to pay to these companies to the municipality. for your consumption.

What if I can’t find accommodation be- Heating, water, electricity and gas fore I have arrived in Aalborg? Here is something you have to be aware of If you still haven’t found accommodation be- when looking for accommodation, cause in fore coming to Denmark, we have a housing Denmark normally the heating is included in guarantee which means that you have a place

to stay at a hostel in Aalborg for a very low ent suppliers, it is called price until you find accommodation. www.bredbaandsguiden.dk. There will be a bed provided for you with bath- This website is in Danish but with a little effort room and kitchen facilities for 80 DKK pr. day, and help from here you will not have any prob- which is a very low price in Aalborg. lem figuring out where to look. This offer ends the 15th of November, after this Under “Bredbåndspriser” you will be able to date you would have to pay full price for the find a list of all suppliers and their prices for accommodation at the hostel, which is 210 for their various services. On the side you will be students under 26 years and 315 for students able to set your requirements to find the per- above. fect match for you. To be able to get this offer, you have to have a membership at AKU-Aalborg. Furniture After getting your membership at AKU-Aalborg, There are plenty of possibilities to find cheap you will be able to see your applicant number furniture for your new apartment. in your profile on AKU-Aalborg’s website, which Other than IKEA placed in the south of the city you have to use when booking at Danhostel you will be able to find plenty of second-hand Aalborg to get your guarantee for housing. shops where they sell all from books and clothes to all kinds of furniture at a very low You will be told more about this offer and the costs. specifics from the international office at your In the picture below, showing a map of the cen- place of education. ter of Aalborg you can see all the second-hand stores and IKEA-Aalborg. If you want to find the

Internet In Aalborg we have around 10 different internet-suppliers, which means that there are plenty of possibilities for various prices and speed. To see and compare the various possibilities you have there is a website made to compare the various prices and services from the differ-

specific address you can go to Google Maps and Deals with: Formalities regarding rent/ rent search for “Genbrug”. increases, interior condition when moving, lack Moreover we students in Aalborg have a very of maintenance, renovation on vacation, re- good network on Facebook where we sell all payment of deposit, payment of utilities, swaps, kinds of things to each other, from books for sub lettings and continuation of the lease, rules school, clothing, electronics and furniture; they and regulations – what are you allowed to do, are called “Aalborg Market”, “Girls’ Marked the legality of decisions of tenants' democracy. Aalborg” and there are many others, it’s just So if you have any problems with something about searching and you will be able to find a mentioned above contact them by using the lot of things at very low prices. contact information below.

Complaints about your housing situa- Contact: Aalborg Kommune, Postboks 462, tion Boulevarden 13, 9100 Aalborg, [email protected], You should always feel free to ask your landlord Phone: 9931 1742 if you have any doubts about your housing situation (maintenance, rent etc.). Furthermore Huslejenævnet (Private landlords only): your place of education can help you with Deals with: Rent size, rent increases, water and questions and queries. You have rights as a heating accounts, renovation on vacation, view- renter in Denmark – these rights are defined by ing of the apartment when moving out, no re- law and in the agreement in your leasing con- fund of deposit, lack of maintenance. So if you tract. have any problems with something mentioned But in some cases it may be necessary to con- above contact them by using the contact in- tact one of the public housing boards – the cost formation below. to bring a case to these public housing boards will be around 20 euros (140 DDK) – see de- Contact: Aalborg Kommune, Boulevarden 13, scription below: 9000 Aalborg, [email protected], phone: 9931

1616 Beboerklagenævnet (Only subsidized housing/ social housing): If you have any further questions for accommodation in Denmark, feel free to contact oth-

er students on Facebook, the International Of- until mid-March) is a bit rough if you are riding fice at your place of education or the municipal- a bike. ity of Aalborg, we will be happy to help you at There are plenty of bike-stores around Aal- any time! borg’s city center where you can buy new bikes, but it’s quite expensive. Another opportunity you have is to go on the students Facebook- Costs of living sites and ask if anyone is selling a bike, there is Denmark is an expensive place to live, especial- always someone selling their bike, and here you ly for students and there are plenty of expenses have the opportunity to find a bike for a very to think about when you don’t live with your low price. parents and when it’s in another country with another language, it’s hard to know where to Aalborg Kommune bikes – You can find Tourist- go to get the best discounts or where the bike all around Aalborg and they are available cheapest places to buy groceries are. for 20 DKK, which you receive back when you In this section of the handbook you will be pro- return the bike to the specific stands. vided with information about different expenses and what possibilities you have around Aal- borg. Taxi

This is the most expensive way of transporta- Transportation tion of all. For example, a taxi-ride from the Transportation is known to be expensive in airport to the main bus-terminal in the center, Denmark but there are ways to get around which is a taxi-ride of around 7 km, will cost without spending all your money. you around 200 DKK, where you could take the

bus for 20 DKK for the same starting point and Bike destination. This is the cheapest and most student friendly way of transportation. Fortunately Aalborg Bus Kommune has provided very good bicycle A single ticket for the bus costs 20 DKK and it’s routes everywhere. This means if you have a valid for 1 hour and it covers 2 zones – which bike you can save around 4200 DKK a year. The means the whole center, Nørresundby and the winter season (which starts from mid-October 11

south part of the city where you can find IKEA. Rejsekort (Travel-card) Tickets can be bought from inside the bus, only This card is a magnetic card which you can with cash. If you want to use the bus as every- charge with money online or at the main bus day transportation, you can buy a monthly tick- terminals or the train stations. This you can use et, which costs 378 DKK for 2 zones in all busses. to pay for transportation both for trains, met- If you need to see how to get from one place to ros and busses in the whole country. This is a another with public transportation you can use cheaper solution than paying cash. www.rejseplanen.dk, it’s a website where you can enter your starting-point, destination, time, Airplane etc. and it will give you different possibilities for We have an airport in Aalborg, which you can transportation. Don’t worry, it’s also in English! reach easily with the bus which goes directly there. Train From here you can reach Copenhagen, Amster- To buy a train ticket you can go on www.dsb.dk, dam, Alicante, Barcelona, Greenland, Istanbul, which is also in English, you will be able to type London, Malaga, Mallorca, Oslo, Nice, Reykjavik, in your starting point, destination and time; Split, Stavanger, Stockholm and Torshavn. from there you will be able to look at your vari- There are around 16 daily flights to Copenha- ous possibilities and prices for the travel. gen which takes around 30 minutes and costs You might get really good deals if you book around 349 DKK for a one-way trip. your ticket around 2 months in advance from the day of your journey; these tickets are called IMPORTANT: TRAVELLING WITHOUT A TICKET “Orange tickets” and can be bought only online. WILL RESULT IN A 750 DKK FINE! With these you can take the train from Aalborg to Copenhagen for 159 DKK instead of the Places to shop for groceries in Aalborg normal price of 419 DKK. ALDI If you will travel with the train often it’s better, This supermarket is with a smaller assortment, economically, to buy a DSB Wildcard, which is a cheap and good quality products. card for people under 26 years and with this Opening hours: you can get up to 50% discount on your tickets, Weekdays: 08-20 Weekends: 08-18 depending on the day you will travel. www.aldi.dk

BILKA NETTO This is the biggest shop in Aalborg. The prices Here you will find a lot of nice offers, low prices are similar to the other shops but there are also on organic products. more brands and a very big assortment. You Opening hours: 08-22 all week can find not only groceries, but also other www.netto.dk things, such as electronics, bikes, etc. Opening hours: 08-22 all week REMA 1000 www.bilka.dk Very well organized shop with a lot of quality products for low prices. FAKTA Opening hours: 08-21 all week Good prices, always open, you can find it al- www.rema1000.dk most on every corner. Opening hours: 8-22 all week www.fakta.dk Føtex They have a lot of high-quality products for a KIWI medium-high price and a big assortment and a There is a lot of nice offers and discounts. It’s lot of ecological products. They also have a the shop with the longest working time. bakery in the store. Opening hours: Opening hours: Weekdays: 07-23 Weekends: 08-22 Weekdays: 08-21 Weekends: 08-21 www.kiwiminipris.dk www.foetex.dk

LIDL SuperBest This is a shop with a big assortment and very They have a big assortment of high-quality low prices. products for a medium-high price range; they Opening hours: 08-21 all week also have a bakery inside the store. www.lidl.dk Opening hours: Weekdays: 08-20 Weekends: 08-18 www.superbest.dk

Eurospar . If you are looking for a specific product They have a big assortment of low-medium on discount, but you don’t know where quality products in a low-medium price range. they have it on discount, you can go on Opening hours: www.tilbudsugen.dk and write the Weekdays: 06:30-20 Weekends: 07:30-20 name of the product; here it will show www.eurospar.dk you if there is a discount and in which shop you can get it. Super Brugsen Big assortment of high-quality products for high Facebook pages for students prices; here you will also be able to find a lot of Roommate in Aalborg - The best place when it ecological products. comes to looking for flats and place to live. Opening hours: 09-22 all week From students for students. (English) www.superbrugsen.dk Aalborg Marked – Buy and sell group (English) Salling Super Girl’s marked Aalborg – The same as Aalborg Salling Super is located in Salling and here you Marked, but for girls (English) will be able to find very high-quality products for high prices, but here you will also find ex- International Aalborg – Everything that is hap- traordinary products which you will not find in pening in Aalborg (English) other supermarkets; if you want to cook something special. International network Aalborg – for students, Opening hours: jobseekers, who have just arrived in Aalborg Weekdays: 09-20 Weekends: 09-18 and seek to form networks and ease their inte- gration in Denmark (English) Tips for when buying groceries . You can find more and better offers in Salg af tøj, sko osv. For Nordjylland og Aalborg the shop if you go around 1 hour before omegn! – This is a huge market group for eve- they close. Sometimes the food with an rything you can think of. NB: It’s in Danish and approaching expiration date gets a big most people who post there are Danish (it has decrease on their prices. around 25,000 members)

Aalborg free stuff - Page for free stuff. train between 09:00 -16:00 in the weekdays; if you want to train in the weekends or earlier Fitness centers and Sport activities in than 9 in the morning and later than 16 in the Aalborg afternoon you have to pay 130 DKK extra. Fitness centers www.fitnessdk.dk Fresh Fitness - This is a low-price fitness center with a lot of different possibilities and offers. Butterfly Fitness for women – This fitness cen- They are open 24/7 and are placed in the center is only for women, they have various possi- ter, right next to the train station. The sign-up bilities for membership. fee is 299 DKK, and then the monthly payment www.butterflywomen.dk is 149 DKK. www.freshfitness.dk Sports activities Aalborg offers a great variety of sports in dif- Fitness World – This is the biggest fitness chain ferent sport clubs, here are the most popular: with a lot of different opportunities for different kind of training. Badminton – www.abc-aalborg.dk/Cms/ Here there are different kinds of membership Basketball – www.aalborgbasket.dk prices according to your needs and the sign-up Football – www.fodbold.aabsport.dk fee is 299 DKK. Handball – www.aalborghaandbold.dk www.fitnessworld.dk Karate – www.shikon.dk Running – www.aalborg-roadrunners.dk DGI Huset in Nordkraft – This is a small fitness Swimming – www.aalborgsvommeklub.dk center located in Nordkraft. Here there is no Volleyball – www.aalborg-hik.dk sign-up fee and the monthly payment is 149 DKK. If you want to see a full list of all sports and www.dgihusetnordkraft.dk sports clubs in Aalborg, you can visit www.studyaalborg.dk/sport-og-fritid.aspx Fitness DK – This is a big fitness chain with a lot of opportunities. The sign-up fee is 299 DKK and the monthly payment is 169 DKK if you

Health system and emergencies example broken arm, illness, need for stitches When travelling to another country you should or something alike you can call the hospital have a Health Insurance, which will cover you which is open 24/7, see the contact information for the first month when you come to Denmark. below: Afterwards you will receive your CPR number, which will include a Danish Health Insurance Aalborg Hospital South Card. Hobrovej 18-22 This card, which you will receive around a Phone number: +45 99 32 11 11 month after you come to Denmark, will give you free medical care for the rest of your stay Police station in Denmark. Jyllandsgade 27 Phone number: +45 96 30 14 48 Emergencies E-mail: [email protected] In case of emergency you can call 112 which is free to call from your own phone or public Medical treatment phones. This is the number for the ambulance, As mentioned before when you arrive to Den- police and the fire department. mark you will receive your Health Insurance When you call you have to tell your name, the Card which will give you free access to medical address you are calling from or where there is a treatment by doctors and in the hospital. need for help and the phone-number you are calling from, after that you have to stay on the When you are registered in the National Regis- phone until the information you have given is ter you will be asked to choose a doctor, here confirmed and help is on your way. you will be able to choose a doctor according to the area in Aalborg you want your doctor to be, If something has happened which is not a life- if you want a male or a female, etc. You can threatening situation you can call the police on also go on the internet and search for recom- 114. mendations for a good doctor in Aalborg; otherwise you will always be able to change your If you need treatment if you have had an inci- doctor if you are not satisfied. dent, occurred within the latest 24 hours, for 16

When you go to your doctor, always remember Thought there is the “Budolfi Apotek”, which is to bring your card, since it contains all the in- open 24/7, it’s placed on the corner of Vester- formation about you which the doctor will need bro/Algade in the center of Aalborg. to treat you. The phone number to reach this pharmacy is If you haven’t received your card yet but need +45 98 12 06 77. to go to the doctor you have to bring your Health Insurance papers. Dental treatment Dental treatment is very expensive in Denmark, To get an appointment with your doctor you of course depending on which treatment you can call them, normally between 8 and 9 in the need and it also varies from dentist to dentist. morning; you will be able to find their number There are some dentists in Aalborg who offers a on your Health Insurance Card. discount for students, for example the dentists Normally the doctors are available in the week- “Anneli Paludan & Anja Krogh” who are placed days between 8 in the morning to 4 in the af- in Nørresundby, right next to the city center, on ternoon; but closed in the weekends and in the Østerbrogade 142; they offer a discount of 41%. holydays which means that if you have an issue which you have to talk about with a doctor you You can search for a dentist and to make an can call “Lægevagten” which is a doctor availa- appointment you have to call them in the ble at any time the normal doctors are not, this morning, to have the best chance of getting to doctor is normally situated at the hospital; the talk to the dentist as fast as possible. If you phone number to get in touch with this doctor need to get in touch with a dentist in the week- in Aalborg is +45 70 15 03 00. ends or in the holidays you can call “Falck” on +45 70 10 20 30 and they will tell you which Pharmacies dentist is available for you. There are several pharmacies around the center of Aalborg. CPR, taxation and S.U. in Denmark Normally they are open from Monday to Friday The Danish Welfare state is mostly based on from 9 in the morning to 17:30 in the afternoon, the concept that we all have equal rights and and on Saturdays from 9 in the morning to should all have access to various services, 14:00 in the afternoon. which will be paid through the taxes.

If you are coming to Denmark to live, you have The Danish taxation system is progressive, to provide the Taxation System information which means that the more you earn the more about your incomes even though it’s from a you should pay. source outside of Denmark. As soon as you get your Health Card in Den- It’s based on: mark (your CPR) the taxation system will be . That everyone must be able to get help automatically provided with all the information in situations, such as unemployment or they need, moreover when you get a job in illness. Denmark your employer will provide infor- . All children must attend school and mation about your salary, the banks will pro- have the possibility of completing an vide them information about your income and education. expenses and last but not least the unemploy- . All citizens must have access to infor- ment funds and unions will provide information mation and guidance, like libraries or about your membership payment etc. media. . The tax rate in Denmark is one of the What to do when you come to Den- highest in the world, as Denmark has a mark? very large public sector. When you come to Denmark, as mentioned . The public sector looks after many ser- before you have to get your CPR number, which vices. gives you access to the healthcare system in Denmark. All citizens use the public sector; therefore it is a general principle that therefore, all citizens To get a CPR number, you need to go to the have to pay for it. The tax funds pay for differ- local municipality’s Citizen Service Centre and ent expenses, such as: welfare benefits, state there you need to bring: pension, child benefits, schools, hospitals, li- . Valid registration certificate or residence braries and the police. permits. . Passport/ID card with picture. . Nordic CPR number if you are from a Nor- dic country

. A proof of your address in Denmark, for Danish crowns pr. year. without paying full example a rental contract or a letter from taxation, this would normally be 8%. your landlord. . If you earn more than 42.000 Danish . Marriage certificate, if you are married. crowns pr. year you have to pay 39% of . Children’s birth certificate if you have chil- your income to the taxation system. dren. . You need to get a bank account called . The blue health insurance card, if you are a “NemKonto” which is an “Easy Account”. student. This account is used for your salaries, therefore it’s very important you have it, After a month or two you will receive your CPR otherwise your employer will not be able number and your Health Card in your mailbox; to pay you your salary. which looks like this: This you can get at any bank. . You have to get “NemID” (EasyID), which is a common log-in solution for Danish internet banks and government websites. This is very important to get since you will not be able to go on any Danish internet bank site or pay your bills, etc. without having this card.

You can get it fromwww.nemid.nu/dk-en/ and After getting your CPR there are a few other order one for yourself. things which are important for you to get a job, salary, etc. . You need to get a tax card, which whoever will pay your salary will provide for you. This is a card with a limit, which means that if you have 42.000 Danish crowns on this taxation card you can earn up to 42.000

Bringing a car with foreign number If you want to apply for permission to drive plates to Denmark your vehicle in Denmark without paying Danish If you have a car and want to bring it with you registration tax you have to be staying in Den- to Denmark there are certain things you need mark because you are a student or because of to be aware of. short-term employment. You are allowed to drive a foreign vehicle in What you can do if you bring your car with for- Denmark if: eign number plates to Denmark is: . The vehicle has temporary stickers that 1. Apply for permission to drive your vehicle are valid for a maximum of seven days. in Denmark without paying registration tax. The stickers must have been issued by a 2. Seek permission from SKAT to pay quarter- competent authority in an EU/EEA state, ly a proportion of the normal vehicle regis- the Faroe Islands or Greenland. tration tax. . The vehicle has been rented abroad for 3. Import it and have it registered to Danish a maximum of seven days; the driver's number plates. name must be listed on the rental agreement, and the driver must drive These various options vary depending on how from the border directly to the destina- much you use your car here in Denmark or tion in Denmark where the vehicle is to what you are here in Denmark for. be delivered according to the rental agreement. The taxation also varies according to which kind . The registered owner or user is a pas- of car you own, how old it is, how much it pol- senger of the vehicle. lutes etc. The calculation to find out how much you have to pay in taxes is made from a basis of If you want to seek permission to pay quarterly information collected by a car-service; here a proportion of the normal registration tax you they write down all information about your car can apply if: and send it to SKAT, who then sends you a let- . If you are a foreign national and live in ter saying how much you have to pay, depend- Denmark for a period of one to three ing on whether you choose option number 2 or years, you can seek permission from 3 mentioned above.

SKAT to pay quarterly a proportion of month; lately they have changed it to also be the normal vehicle registration tax. valid for international students. . You are considered a foreigner if you Every month the Danish students receive a are not a Danish citizen. monthly payment from the government be- . Citizens from the Faroe Islands and cause they are students; this is valid from when Greenland are not regarded as foreign- they turn 18 years old. ers. So not only is it for free to get a good and long education in Denmark, but we also get paid to If you want to register for Danish number study! You might find this weird but the Danish plates you must bring your car for inspection; if government has seen this as an investment for doesn’t pass through inspection it cannot be the future of Denmark; they give all people, no registered as a Danish vehicle; this will be done matter their family-background or economical at an inspection center, like a car-service. After situation the opportunity to get a good educa- the inspection, all the information about your tion. Moreover they pay them so that they car will be sent to SKAT and they will make an have the opportunity to be stable economically evaluation of your car and decide how much so that they can live wherever they want to, you have to pay in taxes and for registration of have money for books, computer and whatever the car so that you can get your number plate. else they need for their education and living, since living in Denmark is also very expensive. If you need more detailed information you can go to SKAT’s website (www.skat.dk) and search If you are not Danish you must fulfill some spe- for “Bringing a vehicle with foreign number cial conditions to be placed on an equal level plates to Denmark”; there you will find all the with Danish citizens and also be able to receive forms you need to fill in and more detailed in- the State Education Support, which is this eco- formation. Otherwise you can always ask at the nomical support payment from the Danish gov- municipality offices for help. ernment.

What is S.U.? There are two different sets of rules; one set of S.U. is an economical help which the govern- rules is according to Danish rules and the other ment provides for Danish students every is according to EU rules.

Denmark and you must be supported If you are a foreign citizen and apply according and live together with your child. to the Danish rules you must fulfill one of these requirements: Remember that you can only get S.U. if you 1. You came to Denmark with your parents. study in Denmark and in addition to that you 2. You are married to or living in a registered must fulfill one of these requirements. partnership with a Danish citizen. 3. You have worked in Denmark. Most of you will be able to receive S.U. because 4. You have resided in Denmark for a mini- of being an EU or EEA citizen in Denmark and mum of 5 years. working here as the requirement number 3 5. You belong to the Danish minority in according to the EU rules. Southern Slesvig. If you wish to apply to receive S.U. in this case you have to: If you are a foreign citizen and apply according 1. Be an employee or self-employed in to the EU rules you must fulfill one of these Denmark, or requirements: 2. have previously been an employee or 1. You are the child of an EU or EEA citizen self-employed in Denmark (there must with a residence in Denmark or if not, is be a connection as regards content and working in Denmark. time between your work in Denmark 2. You are married or are in a registered and the study program for which you partnership with an EU or EEA citizen, are applying for SU), or moreover you have to be employed in 3. Have been an employee or self- Denmark and live with your partner employed in Denmark, but in need of while working in Denmark. re-training as a consequence of involun- 3. You work or have worked in Denmark. tary unemployment 4. You have resident in Denmark for at least 5 years. When you want to apply you have to be able to 5. You are a parent of an EU EEA or Swiss prove that you are employed in Denmark ac- citizen; your child must be employed in cording to the EU-law.

In order to be regarded as an employee in concerts, musical events, markets, children’s’ Denmark according to the EU-law, you have to games, sports events and competitions. Most have had a minimum of 10-12 hours or work of the events are for free. per week; moreover you have to provide documentation that you have been employed by a Aalborg Carnival – This is the largest carnival in genuine and effective workplace, which means Northern Europe, with up to 25.000 partici- that you have to be able to present as a mini- pants from all over the world. Here everyone mum that the company is registered in the Dan- participates in the parade at the end of Carnival ish National Register (CVR) and have had a Week in the end of May, which is held all over turnover. the city. A proof can be for example an employment contract or documentation of payment from the company you have been employed by.

Remember that when you start receiving S.U., it will also be taken into account as a salary; therefore it will be included on your tax-card, as mentioned in the section regarding salary. If you need more information you are always welcome to ask your place of education, go to the S.U. website (www.su.dk) and find more The Blue Festival – This is a four day long jazz information. and blues festival, also called “The Mini New

Orleans Festival”, which gathers Danish and Events in Aalborg International musicians at several places Annual events around Aalborg. This is one of the biggest festi- Aalborg in Red Festival – This is a weeklong vals in Denmark and most of the events have festival which is held in the first week of Sep- free entrance. tember. It takes place all around the city and includes many different activities, such as music

Places to visit in and around Aalborg Aalborg Zoo – This is the second biggest zoo in Denmark and one of Aalborg’s most popular attractions. There are more than 1.500 animals from all over the world.

Aalborg Historical Museum – The museum is Event organizations located in the city center and is open from Studenterhuset (The student house) - is located Tuesday to Sunday. The price for students is 15 in the center of Aalborg on Gammeltorv. This is DKK, but remember to show your student card! the most popular place for students, to gather and get to know new people, study, play games, Lindholm Høje Museum – This is a Viking burial party and go to concerts. The student house is site, located in Nørresundby and is usually open run entirely by volunteers who, in their daily during the daylight hours. life are students in Aalborg. At the Student house there are a lot of concerts, competitions, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art – karaoke-nights, etc. during the whole year and This museum is called KUNSTEN museum and every Wednesday they have the International has a permanent collection of Danish and for- Night, where a lot of international students eign art. They also have different special exhib- gather at the Student House to have fun. its, concerts, movies and lectures. It’s opened from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. The price for students is 20 DKK, so remember your student card!

For more information regarding what’s hap- pening in and around Aalborg you should look at these links:

. www.visitaalborg.com . www.studenterhuset.dk I-Life – This is an organization which is estab- . www.facebook.com/ILifeAalborg lished for students for arranging trips and . www.visitnordjylland.dk events for both Danish and international students. They work to integrate the international community in Aalborg through organizing various trips, activities, events and parties.