A Guide to Housing in Copenhagen: Housing Foundation, Mariendalsvej and more

By Rudy Cone, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

When you apply for study abroad, the pressure to find accommodation can be extremely daunting. And rightfully so, as housing in Copenhagen can be difficult to find. Prices and demand are high, housing foundation accommodations are first come first served, and turning to Facebook runs the risk of being scammed. I’ve created this guide, to be used alongside the information from the placement team and help you feel more prepared. 

The Housing Foundation

University of Copenhagen students receive an invitation to apply for student housing from the Housing Foundation. This is a system which provides international students help with findings rooms offered by private providers throughout Copenhagen. You can familiarise yourself with the booking manual, the housing list, booking procedure and more on their website – I highly recommend this, as information may have changed since writing this. 

If you are a full year student, invitations should be sent out in late June. In this invitation e-mail, you will receive personal login details and a link to access the booking system.  On the day, the email could be sent out at any time from 8am to 5pm (Danish time). Importantly, as the system works on a first come, first serve basis and there will be competition for the rooms, I would really recommend reserving your whole day to be sat around your computer waiting! It’s definitely an anxiety inducing experience, akin to fighting for Oasis or Taylor Swift tickets, but if you can get accommodation through housing foundation it’s really a weight off your shoulders for your study abroad experience.

When you receive your invitation, immediately press on the booking link and enter the login details you are provided with. You will then be entered into a queue. When it is your turn, a table of accommodation options will appear. The system will automatically select the cheapest option. If you are early in the queue, I would recommend having a look at the other available options if those are in your budget, as the cheaper options tend to be further from the city centre. It’s also a good idea to look at the specifications for each listing, as sometimes the same accommodation will have different prices for a room. This is usually because some of the rooms are bigger or may have personal access to a balcony for example. In my experience, I selected a room with a median price for my residence and ended up with the biggest room in my apartment and a shared balcony attached to my room. 

Once you’ve selected and booked your room, you will be sent a rental contract after an hour. You will have 3 days to sign this. You will also have to pay 3 months rent + deposit (roughly £900) within 14 days of booking. Therefore, it is really important you have gotten your funds in order in advance – you will be paying this in July, before student loans come in! It’s also important to factor in you may face additional fees for international payments. 

Key Takeaways:
1. Familiarise yourself with the system
2. Have funds ready for upfront payments
3. Be prepared to act quickly once you receive the email

Mariendalsvej 

I selected Mariendalsvej Kollegiet as my full-year accommodation. This is a modern international student only accommodation in central Copenhagen, offering shared flats of 4-5 people. It costs roughly between £570 and £830 a month, including utilities (electricity, heating, water, internet and laundry). There is a sense of community at Mariendalsvej, with an active group chat where you can make friends, sell or give away belongings, and ask to borrow belongings like air mattresses. 

Communal living space

While the layout may vary, this is the typical communal space. Furniture may vary from flat to flat, with some not having sofas or additional kitchen appliances. The basics are a dining table with chairs, kitchen side with sink, oven and hobs, cabinets, 2 fridge freezers, 2 shared bathrooms with shower, 1 washing machine, 1 dryer. 

There is a shared balcony attached to the kitchen, for all housemates to use. Mariendalsvej also offers 2 rooftop terraces for all tenants, which in the summer is a brilliant way to socialise and make friends. 

The website states that you will need to bring your own cutlery and cooking equipment. However, I would caution bringing your own from the UK, as myself and my friends found that previous exchange students had often left their belongings there for use. It’s better to move in first and check; then you can head to IKEA, JYSK, or shop secondhand on Facebook, or at flea markets and LidKøb. 

Bedroom

The bedroom will consist of a single bed, wardrobe (with mirror), desk, office chair, bedside table, bin, pin board, 2 lamps, extension lead. You will need to buy your own bedding and towels. 

Location

Mariendalsvej is a prime location on the border of Frederiksberg and Nørrebro. This gives you close access to a variety of the most popular cafés and places to go out, outside of the city centre. There are multiple supermarkets to get groceries. It also just a 10 minute walk to the popular outdoor flea market called Vera’s market.

Frederiksberg itself is its own city within the centre of Copenhagen, known as being quite posh and sophisticated. It’s a calmer, greener vibe than the rest of Copenhagen, which can be really nice if you want a mix of city and residential life. Fun fact: it’s actually a law that you should be able to see at least one tree from each home in Frederiksberg! There’s also a beautiful park, Frederiksberg Gardens, which is home to the zoo and a castle, and there’s a shopping centre and a variety of independent stores. 

Mariendalsvej is closest to Frederiksberg campus (5 mins by bike, 15 mins by public transport and 20 mins on foot) but is just a stone’s throw away from all campuses in my opinion. To City campus, it is 15 mins by bike, 25 mins by public transport and 45 mins on foot. To Nørre campus, it is 15 mins by bike, 30 mins by public transport and 35 mins on foot. To Søndre campus, it is 20 mins by bike and 30 mins by public transport. While I highly encourage you to cycle (buy a second-hand bike or rent with SwapFiets), there is a bus stop just around the corner, or the nearest Metro station Aksel Mollers Have 9 mins on foot.

Non-Housing Foundation Options

I am not an expert in this but if you cannot or do not want to find housing through the Housing Foundation, there are other options available to you. I know friends who have found private accommodation through UMEUS (though not highly recommended as more expensive and less supportive outside of Housing Foundation) or on Facebook.

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Finding the right housing is key to making the most of your study abroad experience. It’s important to plan ahead and feel confident in your housing choice so you can settle in quickly and fully enjoy yourself.

Good luck with the house hunt!