Academic Culture Shocks: Is Copenhagen The Right Fit For You?

By Rudy Cone, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Once you get past the initial excitement of biking through Copenhagen and feasting on all the amazing pastries Copenhagen has to offer, reality sets in… you actually have to study during your study abroad. There is a lot I didn’t know about Denmark’s education system, for better or worse, and I think a guide like this could have really helped me prepare for some of the unique quirks that the University of Copenhagen offers. While I can’t speak for everyone’s experiences, if you’re a social sciences student (especially in psychology) this guide may help you navigate academic life at KU a little easier. 

Timetable and Course Space Competition

Before I even landed in Denmark, I encountered one of the biggest differences between Manchester and Copenhagen: I had to organise my own timetable! I never realised how much of a luxury Manchester’s administration was until I had to personally check that each of my courses, and their exams, did not clash. This was quite challenging at first, especially since courses have limited spaces, which makes finding back-ups crucial. 

You also have to apply for the courses on a system called Mobility Online, wait for approval, and then officially select them on the designated course selection date (PRO TIP: this system opens at 00:00, so stay up and secure your spot). While I’m not a fan of this difference in course selection, being organised will make the process a whole lot easier – and honestly, there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing someone say how jealous they are that you managed to snag a spot in a competitive class. 

It is also worth preparing for how much your timetables vary between semesters, depending on the courses available. For instance, in semester one, I took a 15 ETCS unit, a 7.5 ETCS unit, and an intensive 7.5 ETCS unit which was completed in just five days during reading week. As a result, I was only in university on Mondays and Tuesdays, leaving me with plenty of free time! 

In comparison, semester two offered very few 15 ETCS or intensive courses. Instead, I am taking 4 7.5 ETCS units across four days a week. This has been a major adjustment in workload, highlighting how important it is to really plan your timetable wisely to make the most of your study abroad experience beyond academics. 

Lastly, for Psychology students, I cannot stress how important it is to select courses at times you will be motivated to attend. It is very typical for psychology courses to require 75% (roughly 8/10 lectures) attendance, to be eligible to sit for the exam and receive your credits. 

Assessments 

I also found the assessment styles to be very different than at Manchester. For instance, I have not had to complete a single lab report or any statistical analysis since being here! 

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Some of the main assessment styles include:

Mandatory student participation

This may be assessed through group presentations and does not impact your grade.

Essays

These may be free-choice essays, or you may be given some options of questions. Essays can vary in length, including maximum 10 pages, 10,000 characters, and 20,000 characters. Some essays may be completed during the semester, while others may be completed in 72 hours during the exam period. 

Portfolio exams 

These include multiple submissions throughout the semester which are peer graded, before the final submission at the end of the semester. 

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Another quirk at the University of Copenhagen is the format of submissions. They often define assessments in terms of characters or pages (with one page equalling 2400 characters). This definitely took some getting used to, after heavily relying on the classic template I could download off Blackboard at Manchester. 

Group Work 

It also took a lot of time to adjust to the demands for group work at the University of Copenhagen. While there is some element of group discussion back at Manchester, this is a lot more intense in Copenhagen.

A lot of my classes have required weekly group presentations on assigned readings.  Some courses also give you the option to complete your assignments as group projects, with my experimental sociology professor actively discouraging completing our portfolios individually!

While Manchester really emphasises individual work, which has its benefits, I have really enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone and essentially forcing myself to get good at working and presenting in teams and trusting that other people also care about getting a good grade. If you’re worried about making friends, you can also look at this as a perfect way to meet more people!

Read, Read, and Read Some More 

If you think you get a lot of assigned reading at Manchester, think again! My University of Copenhagen courses have assigned up to 6 readings per course a week (my personal record has been 19 readings in one week), which might take some getting used to. 

It’s really important to make sure you keep up with the reading, as often times an hour or more of class will be centred around discussing the papers. However, a big positive is that professors often encourage you to be self-directed with your reading, not minding if you focus on parts that you find most interesting and relevant to your own learning.  

The Emphasis on Learning 

This brings me to the biggest difference between the University of Copenhagen and the University of Manchester academically. A lot of the time Manchester can feel very academically intense and as though the emphasis is on completing assignments, sitting exams and getting good grades. As a psychology student who needs to achieve 2.1 or higher for postgraduate study, this focus on grades is helpful for helping me secure the future I hope for. 

However, sometimes this means that we, as Manchester students, get wrapped up in our assignments and how lectures and classes can help us achieve those good grades. In contrast, in Denmark, students are taught to be critical thinkers and problem solvers, actively learning rather than memorising knowledge.

While it can take some adjusting to get used to not feeling like you are constantly being assessed throughout the semester, I’ve found it really liberating. Studying in Copenhagen is the perfect opportunity for developing your academic skills and renewing your interest in your studies. 

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In conclusion, I have felt some major differences between Manchester and Copenhagen’s academic systems. If you are considering Copenhagen, don’t let these differences scare you away. Instead, think about how you can embrace them to push you out of your comfort zone, gain more skills and enhance your academic performance for your return to Manchester.