Guide for International Students

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Welcome to Odense This guide is intended for exchange students at University College Lillebaelt, Denmark. It contains information that we hope will be useful for you during your exchange in Denmark. Wishing you a pleasant stay in Odense!

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Contents About UCL

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The Danish Way of Teaching

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The Danish Grading System

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Studying at UCL Accommodation at Rasmus Rask

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FAQ

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Private Accommodation

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Social Activities

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General Practical Information

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Arrival/Departure

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Useful Addresses

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Useful Links

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International Staff

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About University College Lillebaelt We educate social educators, teachers, nurses, radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, biomedical laboratory scientists, public administrators and social workers. University College Lillebaelt covers part of the Southern Region of Denmark and has approximately 7,000 students and 700 employees. University College Lillebaelt delivers educational programmes of the highest quality with research based education and a focus on practical training. At University College Lillebaelt, students are encouraged to begin a lifelong personal and professional educational journey. We give students the opportunity to become more independent, reflect on their professional and personal development and begin a professional career. University College Lillebaelt is spread out over the Southern Region of Denmark in four cities from Vejle and Jelling in Jutland to Odense and Svendborg on Funen. The administration is placed in Vejle and the International Unit in Odense. We look forward to seeing you on campus!

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The Danish Way of Teaching Danish higher education has a long tradition of combining academic excellence with a dynamic and innovative approach to education and research. Danish higher education is well-known for its high international standards. Educational institutions offer a dynamic study environment, emphasizing independent study, initiative and project oriented learning. Studying in Denmark can be an excellent stepping stone for your future career, and will provide you with new skills and a unique experience. Studies As a student at a Danish higher education institution you are ex-pected to play an active role in your learning process, and take responsibility for planning and carrying out your projects, either independently or together with other students. In addition to at-tending lectures you will be expected to participate in discussions and continuously develop your critical thinking and analytical skills. For international students, the Danish approach to teaching and learning can introduce a whole new way of studying and thinking, which will challenge you and provide you with an excellent plat-form for your future career.

Practice placements During the practice placement you will gain valuable hands-on experience within your field of study which will prepare you for entering the “real life” after finishing your studies. Although you will be assigned to a supervisor, it is important that you are independent and take responsibility for your own learning, as this is an important part of the Danish way of learning and it helps you to gain the most of your practice placement.

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The Danish Grading System The 7-point grading scale used in Denmark is compatible with the ECTS grading scale. Pass/fail assessments may also be used.

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For an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material, with no or only a few minor weaknesses.

A

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For a very good performance displaying a high level of command of most aspects of the relevant material, with only minor weaknesses.

B

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For a good performance displaying good command of the relevant material but also some weaknesses.

C

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For a fair performance displaying some command of the relevant material but also some major weaknesses.

D

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For a performance meeting only the minimum requirements for acceptance. (This is the minimum grade for passing an exam).

E

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For a performance which does not meet the minimum requirements for acceptance.

F

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For a performance which is unacceptable in all respects.

F

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Studying at University College Lillebaelt Academic calendar The autumn semester: Starts in August or September and ends in December or January. The spring semester: Starts in January or February and normally ends in June. Holidays Summer holiday: July 1st until August 31st. Public holidays January 1st New Year's Day (Nytårsdag) Thursday before Easter Maundy Thursday (Skærtorsdag) Friday before Easter Sunday Good Friday (Langfredag) Monday after Easter Sunday Second day of Easter (2. påskedag) Fourth Friday after Easter Prayer Day (Store Bededag) Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag) Monday after Whitsunday Second day of Whitsun (2. pinsedag) June 5th Constitution day (Grundlovsdag) December 24th-26th Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Second Day of Christmas (Juleaften, 1. og 2. juledag)

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Accommodation at Rasmus Rask If you have accommodation through the University College, please contact the International Unit for any questions you may have. You can contact the International Unit daily between 9:00-16:00 and it is located at the Department of Social Education, Rømersvej 3. Contact Mr. Søren Ulriksen: Phone: +45 6318 3137/ E-mail: [email protected] If you stay at the Rasmus Rask dormitory, please visit this link be-fore you contact the International Unit or the dormitory associa-tion, as most information can be found there: http://www.kollegieboligselskabet.dk/exchange-students Payment of deposit and rent at Rasmus Rask If you have not prepaid your deposit and rent for the first month, you will have to transfer the amount immediately after your arrival. You can use the transfer information below if you transfer from a foreign account: Account owner: KOLLEGIEBOLIGSELSKABET IBAN: DK74 0828 0000 3133 43 With BIC FAABDK21 Through BIC SPNODK22 When transferring money - please remember to include your lease number in the transfer text. Otherwise Kollegieboligselskabet (KBS) won't be able to see where the money is coming from. If you are not transferring from a foreign account, you can use the payment slip attached in the Lease Agreement. If something in your room is not as it is supposed to be you will have a moving in report to fill out with room defects. This must be handed in at the KBS office within 14 days after you have moved in. If you do not fill out this paper you have accepted the room as it is and you will be held responsible for room defects. When you arrive in Odense you will already have a room available and assigned for you. It is not possible to change the room.

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Termination of tenancy In order to terminate your tenancy you must fill in a notice of termination and deliver it to the office of KBS. You can print a notice of termination from this website: http://www.kollegieboligselskabet.dk/exchange-students You have 3 months of notice. This means that you must pay rent for 3 months after you have delivered the notice of termination to KBS. The 3 months of notice begins when KBS receives the notice. The moving out date is always on the 1st or the 15th in each month. According to the lease contract you must leave your room two weeks before the end of the termination. It is very important that you are absolutely sure about the moving out date. When KBS has registered your termination, it will be impossible to change it. The janitor will make an inspection of your room on the moving out date. Approximately one week before the janitor will leave a note in your mailbox telling you the time of the inspection. This note can also be send to your e-mail, so please check your inbox for notices regarding your accommodation. Before the inspection you must clean properly. In Rasmus Rask the first tenant who leaves is responsible for cleaning the bathroom. The second tenant who leaves is responsible for cleaning the kitchen. Settlement of deposit Your room has to be restored and painted after you have moved out. KBS has professional craftsmen and painters to do the restoration. The expenses of the restoration will be withdrawn from your deposit. The rest of the deposit will be transferred to your bank account about one month after the moving out date. Therefore make sure to write a correct bank account number. Any transaction cost will be paid by the tenant.

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Frequently Asked Questions Can I change my room? No, unfortunately not. What should I do with the moving-in-rapport? If there are any damages or failures in your room, you must write all of them down on the moving-in-report. Within 2 weeks after the moving in date you must deliver the document at the office of KBS. What does the amount from the first bill include? The first bill includes the deposit (3 months of rent) + the rent of the first month. You will receive a new bill for the rent of the following month. Where can I pay my bills? You can pay your bills at the post office, in the bank or through your e-bank account. How do I get access to the internet? Along with your keys you received a letter with a user name and password to the Internet. If you have problems with the Internet, please con-tact: "Foreningen Kollegienet Odense" by E-mail [email protected] or by phone +45 6550 3638 How can I terminate my tenancy? By filling in a notice of termination. You can find a notice of termination at the KBS web-site: http://www.kollegieboligselskabet.dk/exchange-students - see Notice of Termination. Make sure to deliver the notice of termination at the Accommodation Office at your place of education or at the office of KBS. How long is the notice of termination? 3 months. Also re-member you must pay rent for extra 2 weeks after the end of the termination on either the 1st or the 15th of a month. This period is for maintenance of the room. Can I change the time of the inspection? No, unfortunately not. If you can't attend the inspection remember to put the keys, laundry card etc. in the janitor's mailbox.

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Can I paint my room before I leave? Your room has to be restored and painted after you have moved out. KBS has professional craftsmen and painters to do the restoration. The expenses of the restoration will be withdrawn from your deposit. The rest of the deposit will be transferred to your bank account about one month after the moving out date. Therefore, make sure to write a correct bank account number on your notice of termination. Any transaction cost due to international transfer fee must be paid by the tenant. When will I receive my deposit? About 4 weeks after your moving out date. Painting, cleaning, missing keys, laundry cards and outstanding rent will be deducted from the deposit.

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Private Accommodation Some students will be offered accommodation with private landlords, in the case the dormitory is full. Students living with private landlords will receive individual lease agreements, which might differ in content from what is written in other lease agreements. In most cases, private accommodation lease agreements are less strict regarding the moving in/out dates, payment of rent/deposits and other conditions. Students staying with private land lords will not pay more than max DKK 2.500 per month and a max of DKK 5.000 in deposits. Please contact your private landlord, should you have any questions regarding the content of the lease agreement.

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Social Activities At University College Lillebaelt we work hard to ensure the social integration of our international exchange students. To do this, University College Lillebaelt arranges a variety of social and cultural activities for our international exchange students. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN), situated in Odense, offers help in both the social and practical integration process. This is mainly done through activities such as trips to various places within the country, movie nights, international food fests, sport activities and last, but not least, parties. Among other things, there is a welcome party, a trip to Germany and an international dinner each semester. The main focus of the network is on current exchange students, who might find it difficult to move to another country, far away from family and friends. The activities are carried out by Danish students, who work voluntarily on helping and supporting our international exchange students. By bringing international exchange students together with Danish students at UCL, we aim to bridge the gap between cultural boundaries, but also to let our students gain valuable knowledge, new perspectives, and important networking opportunities for their future careers. Read more at www.esnodense.dk or www.ucl.dk/international

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General Practical Information Insurance University College Lillebaelt does not cover any medical costs for exchange students (including accidents in connection with studies). All students are responsible for their own health, accident and travel insurances. Do not forget to take insurance that covers all of these during both your stay in Denmark and your travel to and from Denmark. For eventual leisure time excursions, it is advisable to make sure that the insurance is valid in Denmark´s neighboring countries as well. Students from EU countries must also bring their European Health Card with them. For further information on the card, please con-tact the social insurance office in your home country. Note that the European Health Insurance Card is not valid during your travels to and from Denmark or during any excursions to a third country. Remember to bring a valid copy of your insurance policy with you. The citizens of EU countries are entitled to all health services in Denmark, if they are covered by health insurance in their home country and they have the European Health Card. Even so, all ex-change students need separate insurance that covers the whole exchange period. For more information visit: www.newtodenmark.dk How to get in touch with a doctor Phone your doctor in his or her office hours, typically in the morning, to make an appointment. The name, telephone number and address of your doctor are written on your health insurance card. You can also look it up in the telephone directory under Læger. You must always remember to bring your yellow health insurance card with you. It is also a good idea to bring an accurate and complete physical and mental health information document to secure a safe and healthy study abroad experience.

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Doctor on duty If you need to consult a doctor outside regular working hours on weekdays (i.e. between 16:00 and 08:00), on weekends or public holidays, you must call the Doctor on Duty (Lægevagten). Phone 7011 0707. It should only be used in case of an acute illness. You have to call in advance to talk to a doctor before going to see him/her. Emergency In cases of a serious emergency, dial 112 (free call from pay phones). Ask for an ambulance, the police or the fire department (whatever is relevant), state your name, address and the telephone number you are calling from. Stay by the telephone until your in-formation has been confirmed. If you need emergency treatment you can contact the Emergency Room at Odense University Hospital, phone 6541 2270 or 6611 3333 (Skadestuen), which is open day and night for injuries in-curred within the last 24 hours. On those conditions, emergency treatment is free. In case of acute illness outside the doctor’s opening hours (08:00-16:00), please use the “Lægevagten” phone: 7011 0707. How to get in touch with a dentist If you need dental treatment you are free to choose your dentist. Look in the telephone directory under Tandlæger, or ask a friend to recommend one. Please note that you will usually have to make an appointment in advance, and that dental treatment is fairly ex-pensive in Denmark.

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Arrival/Departure On arrival  If you are an EU/EEA citizen who will stay for more than 3 months and you have not applied for a residence permit from your home country, please contact Statsforvaltningen Syddanmark to do so immediately. 

When you have received your residence permit, you must go to the National Register (Folkeregistret) to be registered and receive the Danish central registration number (cpr. nr.), pro-vided your stay exceeds three months (special rules for Nordic citizens apply). Remember to bring your passport and residence permit. Some of our departments arrange to follow students to the National Register. Please ask the international coordinator.

 Pay deposit and rent for the first month at the local post office (does not accept credit cards) or at the Nordea Bank, Vestergade 64, 5000 Odense C (accepts some credit cards). During your stay You will have to pay rent and it is due on the 1st every month. You will be forwarded a bill every month, but it is your responsibility to pay the rent in due time. If the rent is not paid in due time you will be added a fee of DKK 255.00,- on your next bill. Before your departure from Denmark 

Notify the National Register (Folkeregistret) that you will be departing the country  Hand in your Danish Health Insurance Card at the National Register (Folkeregistret)  EU citizens must send their residence permit to Statsforvaltningen Syddanmark with information on their planned day of departure  Please give notice of termination of tenancy no later than 3 months before departure.

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Useful Addresses International Unit University College Lillebaelt Rømersvej 3 DK - 5200 Odense V Phone: +45 6318 3137 Mail: [email protected] The Dormitory Association: Kollegieboligselskabet (KBS) Cortex Park 18 A DK - 5230 Odense M Phone: +45 6613 4008 E-mail: [email protected] Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 11:00 –15:00 Friday 10:00 –12:00 Doctor on duty Phone: +45 7011 0707 Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 16:00 – 08:00 Weekends and public holidays 24 hours Emergency room (Skadestuen) Odense Universitetshospital J.B. Winsløvsvej DK - 5000 Odense C Phone: +45 6541 2271 / +45 6611 3333 Police Station in Odense Hans Mules Gade 1-3 DK - 5000 Odense C Phone: +45 6614 1448 Emergency call: 112

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National Register (Folkeregisteret) Odense Kommune, BorgerServiceCenter Skulkenborg 1 DK - 5000 Odense C Phone: +45 6613 1372 E-mail: [email protected] Opening hours: Monday – Wednesday 10:00 –15:00 Thursday 10:00 –18:00 Friday 10:00 –13:00

Odense Tourist Bureau Rådhuset DK - 5000 Odense C Phone: +45 6612 7520

Library The Main Library Odense Banegård Center (The Railway Centre) Østre Stationsvej 15 DK - 5000 Odense C Phone: +45 6551 4301 Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 10:00 –19:00 Friday 10:00 –16:00 Saturday 10:00 –14:00

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Useful Links University College Lillebaelt: www.ucl.dk/international Denmark’s official website: www.denmark.dk Official travel guide to Denmark: www.visitdenmark.com About education in Denmark: www.studyindenmark.dk Information on Odense: www.visitodense.com Danish Immigration Service: www.newindenmark.dk Odense Municipality: www.odense.dk Find a job in Denmark: www.workindenmark.dk Guide on living abroad: www.justlanded.com

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International Staff International Relations at University College Lillebaelt are organised at a central and department level. The central International Unit closely cooperates with the International Coordinators at each of the departments. Søren Brolund Ulriksen International Relations Officer, International Unit Tel: +45 6318 3137 E-mail: [email protected]

Christina Højsgaard Madsen Head of International Unit Tel: +45 6318 3114 E-mail: [email protected]

Charlotte Birk Olsen International Coordinator, Dept. of Biomedical Laboratory Science Tel: +45 6318 3146 E-mail: [email protected]

Brit Naldahl Pourroy International Coordinator, Dept. of Biomedical Laboratory Science Tel: +45 6318 3149 E-mail: [email protected]

Mette Bro Jansen International Coordinator, Dept. of Nursing Tel: +45 6318 3113 E-mail: [email protected]

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Annie Klint International Coordinator, Dept. of Social Work & Public Administration Tel: +45 6318 4721 E-mail: [email protected]

Grethe Egmont Nielsen International Coordinator, Dept. of Occupational Therapy Tel: +45 6318 3159 E-mail: [email protected]

Anne Sofie Nielsen International Coordinator, Dept. of Radiography Tel: +45 6318 3259 E-mail: [email protected]

Helle Precht International Coordinator, Dept. of Radiography Tel: +45 6318 3180 E-mail: [email protected]

Susanne Holm International Coordinator, Dept. of Radiography Tel: +45 6318 3183 E-mail: [email protected]

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Mette Richter International Coordinator, Dept. of Social Education Tel: +45 6318 4556 E-mail: [email protected]

Yulia Tinyakova International Coordinator, Dept. of Teacher Education Tel: +45 6318 4321 E-mail: [email protected]

Gabriella Dahm International Coordinator, Dept. of Teacher Education Tel: +45 6318 4321 E-mail: [email protected]

Inguna Kaulina International Office Assistant Dept. of Teacher Education Tel: +45 6318 4324 E-mail: [email protected]

Leif Zebitz International Coordinator, Dept. of Physiotherapy Tel: +45 6318 3179 E-mail: [email protected]

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We look forward to welcoming you at University College Lillebaelt!

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LILLEBAELT INTERNATIONAL UNIT Rømersvej 3 DK - 5200 Odense V Phone +45 6318 3137 [email protected] www.ucl.dk/international

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