Practical Information
Copenhagen and its suburban areas are student-friendly and safe, with excellent public transportation that makes it easy to get around. The city has a rich cultural life with many concerts, performances, exhibitions and festivals. Copenhagen often tops international surveys determining the quality of life, personal safety and even the happiness of its citizens. A clean environment is important to most Danes, and Copenhagen is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. More than a third of Copenhageners commute to work or school by bicycle – all year round!
Prospective students can read about living and studying in Denmark on the website Study in Denmark. Here you will also find information on estimated living costs.
Living in Copenhagen
The Royal Danish Academy of Music is located in Frederiksberg, part of Denmark's Capital Region.
Copenhagen has been deemed one of the most liveable cities in both Europe and the world. This is, amongst others, due to its rich cultural life, safety, public healthcare and well-functioning infrastructure.
Language
Danes are known for a high-level proficiency in English. Although the official language in Denmark is Danish, a majority of the population speaks English. Currently, international students at RDAM are offered free Danish lessons to obtain an everyday command of Danish. We do, however, recommend international students to learn some Danish while studying in Denmark.
Cycling
Copenhagen has a comprehensive system of bicycle lanes and is considered amongst the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. Actually, more than one-third of Copenhageners commute to work or school by bike – all year round!:
Public Transport
Copenhagen also has a reliable public transport system. It includes a network of Metro, s-trains and busses (including waterbuses), which can all be accessed with the same ticket:
Gateway to Europe
Copenhagen Airport is the biggest in Scandinavia, making it easy to connect with the other Nordic and European countries and the rest of the world. Further, it is located close to the centre of Copenhagen. You can take the train or metro from the city centre of Copenhagen to the Airport in approximately 15 minutes:
Safety
Copenhagen has been ranked as one of the safest cities in the world. This is due to factors such as access to healthcare, low crime-rates, lack of natural disasters and the safety of the infrastructure:
Access to Healthcare
As an international student at RDAM and a resident in Denmark, you will have access to free medical care. The Danish healthcare system offers equal and universal access for all residents, with only a few exceptions such as dental treatments and physiotherapy:
CPR number
All international students must register with the authorities and apply for the ‘Civil Personal Registration number’ (CPR) to be able to access the Danish healthcare services. Please note that different rules apply depending on whether you are EU/EEA, non-EU/EEA or Nordic student:
The Copenhagen Post is the leading Danish news source in English. It also includes a weekly podcast with news of the week:
Another news source is The Local, which is a Europe-centered English online newspaper with a Danish section:
The Murmur is a monthly newspaper written for an international audience in Denmark. It is a source of insightful, alternative journalism about Danish issues as well as international trends and developments that affect Denmark:
Your Danish Life is a magazine for ex-pats living in Denmark. Published 4 times a year, the magazine has articles about history, leisure, travelling, tips from ex-pats, and much more:
Music
RDAM organises around 200 concerts every year, and most of them are free. You can find all of them in the Academy’s calendar:
There are plenty of concerts being held in concert halls, churches and libraries all around Denmark. Some of them are even free. Visit Live Klassisk in order to find a concert near you:
Theatre, Film, and Sport
Copenhagen has a lively and diverse cultural scene. On Kultunaut you can find events related to music, theater, sports, art and film and others. Search through categories and regions to find activities and events that suit your interests:
Danish Public Library has a streaming channel. On Filmstriben you can watch films for free. Please note that the website is in Danish:
Finally, in Denmark there is a strong tradition of doing sports together in clubs – we call them ‘foreninger’. Read more about ‘foreningsliv’ and find a sports club near you:
Museums
Many of the museums in Copenhagen offer free entrance once a week. Some of them are listed below:
Other museums offer student discounts. Visit the webpages of the specific museums to find further details.