Denmark: University of Southern Denmark Exchange

Overview 

Experience the vibrant, welcoming culture of Denmark through Ohio University’s exchange program with the University of Southern Denmark. The program is based in Odense, Denmark, the nation’s third-largest city, and the birthplace of famed fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen.  

Denmark is a great place to study abroad! The Danes enjoy a high standard of living and their friendly, welcoming nature makes it easy to get to befriend them. English is also very widely spoken in Denmark making it easy to connect with Danish students and to travel independently. 

The city of Odense is also student-friendly. The city is home to over 30,000 students and is characterized by a lively, youthful atmosphere. Odense also offers a vibrant cultural and social scene. Students can enjoy live music, local arts and entertainment events, as well as several green spaces throughout the city. Odense is known as the “city of festivals” and is home to many celebrations throughout the summer. 

Odense is easy to navigate either on foot, by bus or on bicycle. Many exchange students choose to purchase a bicycle during their stay, as the campus is just a 15 minute ride away from the city center. Odense’s central location within Denmark and the highly efficient Danish rail network make it easy to explore the region. Copenhagen, the nation’s capital, is just 90 minutes away by train. 

Good to know

• This is a tuition free exchange!

Living Arrangements 

The University of Southern Denmark guarantees accommodation for all exchange students, either in a hall of residence or in approved private lodgings of similar standard. 

Program Dates 

Actual dates will vary based on host institutions academic calendar, but below are estimated timeframes.

• Fall Semester: September – December (students usually arrive late August for orientation and return around Dec. 22 or 23)* 
• Spring Semester: Feb – June* 
• Academic Year: September –June (not available 2024-25)

Academics  

Participants will enroll full-time in courses alongside Danish and international students. Students will receive transfer credit for their coursework abroad.

Students can choose among courses offered in English in the humanities and social sciences. Most students select courses in the English Department and American Studies. Other disciplines also offer a select number of courses in taught in English, which may be open to exchange students upon request. 

Current list of courses offered.  Additional available courses will be announced by University of Southern Denmark upon acceptance to the program, normally around May 1 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester. 

Due to limited course offerings in English, this program is best for students looking to fulfill general education requirements or with majors fitting the course offerings. When planning your course selection, you should meet with an OGO exchange coordinator. 

Students will take 30 ECTS hours while in Denmark (ECTS stands for the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). Students earn transfer credit for the hours received in Denmark, and students taking a full-load in Denmark usually receive approximately 15 semester hours.  

Cost  

The students are responsible for health insurance, administrative fee, and out-of- pocket costs. This is a tuition free exchange! Students on this exchange do not pay tuition. Below are the student budget worksheets, which outlines these costs.  

Undergraduate Student Budget Worksheet Fall 2024

Undergraduate Student Budget Worksheet Spring 2025

Items that are not related to the program (i.e., additional entertainment, souvenirs, extra travel, contingency funds) are not included in the cost estimates provided and should be budgeted for separately.  

*Note: 

• If you are nominated to this program, you will be required to pay a deposit to confirm your participation. The deposit is a down payment on the total costs to be billed by OHIO and is determined by the total cost of the program.  

Looking for Funding Opportunities? 

More information on financial aid and scholarships can be found on our funding pages.

Eligibility and Requirements 

The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students of all majors who have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students are selected based on their academic achievements, personal essay, and interview. Students will apply via Ohio University’s  online application  and will also need to fill out an application form to the University of Southern Denmark (this will be provided after your nomination to the program).  

Students who will be on probation at any point during the program for a conduct offense that took place less than a calendar year from the program start date may not study abroad. Read the entire conduct policy.  

This program does not accept NON-OHIO students. 

To be considered for this program, participants must have a at least a high school diploma or the equivalent (e.g. GED) by the start date of the program. Additionally, students should have completed one year of college by the time of travel. Students enrolled in College Credit Plus (CC+) are not eligible for study away programs.

Entry and Exit Requirements 

U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport when traveling outside of the United States. If you plan to study or travel abroad in the next year,  apply for your passport  now. Some countries also require a visa to legally enter or reside in the country. 

Students on the Denmark Exchange program who are US citizens are required to apply for a residence permit in order to reside in Denmark for over 90 days. Students will apply for this permit before departing for Denmark. Detailed instructions and assistance will be provided as part of the orientation for the program.

For more specific visa related information, please visit OGO’s  Visa Information Page 

Information for  Non-U.S. citizens  

Resources 

• Health and Safety
• Accessibility Requests and Accommodations