Denmark

You will undoubtedly experience many moments of what the Danes call hygge, a special word for comfort that means an all-embracing feeling of warmth and well-being. Hygge may come when you are eating with your host family or laughing with friends at a club.

Danes consider themselves to be thoroughly modern, relaxed, casual, and tolerant. While Danish families usually own a car, a bicycle is a more popular mode of transportation. You may find yourself using one to get to school or to go out with friends. Gatherings of young people are generally informal—you may go to the movies, to someone’s house, or to an ungdomsskole, disco, or café.

Academic Programs

The Danish equivalent of high school is divided among three different types of schools: gymnasiums offer general academic education, business schools offer business and commercial studies, and technical schools offer technical and vocational training. Based on your interests and qualifications, you will attend the type of school and have access to a curriculum that best suits your educational goals. Compulsory subjects will be Danish language and literature, history, and foreign languages. You will also be able to participate in a wide range of optional classes and may have the opportunity to participate in a school study tour in Europe.

As a YFU year or semester student in Denmark, you will participate in a five-day orientation with international students from different countries upon arrival. Basic language training will be provided at the orientation. Students will also have a post arrival weekend 2 months after arrival and a re-entry orientation before they return to the US.

While many students may bike to school each day, some students will ride the bus. Students are required to purchase their own bus card with can cost approximately 350 Danish Kroner a month.

College Credit Academic Program
YFU, in collaboration with Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, Maine, are pleased to offer an accredited ten-week Community College Study Abroad Program in Ronshoved, Denmark. Participants will attend Ronshoved Hojskole, a traditional "folk school" learning institution that is unique to Denmark's system of higher education. The students will earn 12 credit hours of transferable college or university credit through Southern Maine Community College. In addition to the credited courses of Danish Language, Culture and Society, and Denmark and the EU-National Questions in Europe and Denmark: A Cultural Immersion Experience, students will also participate in the folk school's other activities and classes such as physical education, outdoor life, nature experiences, mythology, and music. Participants will live in the Ronshoved Hojskole student housing complex and will also spend time with YFU selected mentor families in the community. Eligible participants will be recent high school graduates or college or university students between the ages of 18 and 22. Travel costs and insurance are not included in the program fee.

Programs, Departures, and Costs

Additional fees for books or course materials may apply.
* Travel costs and insurance are not included in the program fee for the College Credit semester program.

Online Resources

To learn more about Denmark, we recommend:

• E-mail YFU Alumni from the Alumni Referral List with your questions
• Visit your local library to find reference books, travel guides and essays, Danish language dictionaries, and many more country resources 
• Use an internet search engine to find informative web sites 
• Royal Danish Embassy in Washington, DC web site
• Danish Tourist Board web site
• Danish Museums Online web site
• Legoland Denmark web site

"I loved my experience. My family was great and I learned things I never expected to learn." - Kelly Schatz

All YFU Programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.
Last Updated: September 30, 2008