Nordic vibes
Peter Peng made the most of the Scandinavian lifestyle during his semester at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) in Denmark.
Peter Peng
Why I chose my host uni:
I was attracted by the vibrant culture and Nordic lifestyle in Denmark. The high-quality and flexible exchange education programme also played a vital part, and I could successfully turn all my study into usable credits back to my AUT degree.
How I found applying to my host uni:
The application process went very smoothly thanks to the help from both the AUT outbound team and Copenhagen Business School (CBS) inbound team. Always look out for emails as sometimes you’re required to make confirmations at short notice!
I obtained a ST1 residence permit – the process is a little more troublesome as I was required to send my passport overseas to Australia to obtain my visa and get my bio metrics recorded. The situation could be different because I held a Chinese passport, but It’s a good idea to start preparing and booking appointment for visa application early.
How I found learning in a different academic system:
It was interesting. My CBS courses had fewer mid-term assignments and heavier weighting on the final assignment or exam. I also had a quarter course, which only lasted half a semester. I found it helpful to have a detailed look at all the course assignments and plan ahead to ease out those especially stressful weeks of study.
What I gained from this experience:
I learned to always be adaptable. Don’t be afraid to give things a try and make them memorable. It’s a great chance to explore and expand your interests while on exchange. Carpe diem and enjoy it!
Top tips for other students
- Attend the semester/ exchange student introductory events – you get to meet other people from all over the world that are also new to the environment, and get to know the university and the city a bit more. It’s definitely worth it
- Try to strike up conversations with other people. Tip: tell people you’re from New Zealand – people will love it and be amazed
- Copenhagen transport can be relatively pricey. If you don’t live close to the university, I highly recommend getting a monthly transport pass or hire a bike. Biking is a great option as it’s very sustainable and the roads are mostly flat in Copenhagen.
- Eating out in Copenhagen tends to be a lot more expensive than New Zealand. However, I found eating in the uni canteen relatively cheap, and you don’t have to worry about cooking and cleaning. I recommend knowing some basic cooking recipes, it will go a long way in saving money
About Peter and his student exchange
AUT degree:
Bachelor of Business in Finance and Information Systems
Host uni:
Copenhagen Business School (CBS)
Host country:
Denmark
5 favourite things
Favourite place in my host city:
Tivoli amusement park
Best dish/food I tried:
Kanelsnegle (Danish cinnamon roll)
Most useful thing I packed to take with me:
My waterproof jacket
Favourite thing about my host uni:
The amazing self-serve canteen
Best trip I took outside of my host city:
Helsinki, Finland