Denmark: International Business Academy

Kolding, Denmark

University: International Business Academy

Exchange Program: Magellan Exchange

Application Deadline: March 10 for Fall Semester & October 10 for Spring Semester

VISA Application Information: Embassy of Denmark

General Information:

Location: Denmark is a Scandinavian country and is located in the northern part of Europe, southwest of Sweden, south of Norway and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark has been a member of the EU since 1973 and, is also the founding member of the NATO and OECD. The official language of Denmark is Danish but a large majority of Danes also speak English as their second language as they are taught English at a very young age in school. Denmark is considered one of the happiest countries in the world.

The International Business Academy is located in Kolding which is one of the most popular destinations in Denmark. It occupies about 60000 inhabitants and is conveniently located for rail and air transportation. It is in close proximity to the woods and is well known for its beautiful countryside and beaches.

Climate: Denmark has a mild climate with no extremes of heat or cold. In the light summer months of June to August, the average daytime temperature is 66°F (19°C) and in the coldest month of February the average is 34°F (1°C). Being a coastal country Denmark can be somewhat wet and windy and light rains are expected anytime of the year.

Currency: The basic unit of currency in Denmark is the Danish krone.

Transportation in Kolding:  Copenhagen is Denmark’s main airport and there are direct trains to Kolding which take about 2 hours to get there. The railway system connects to most cities in Denmark and is on the main line from Germany in the South. The IBA is a 10 minute walk from the railway station.The bus network system in Kolding is also a very self sustaining network system that connects it to various towns and cities. Students in Kolding prefer to cycle as there are excellent cycling paths that are well laid out and safe. Most parts of Kolding are within 15-20 minutes by walk and hence it is very convenient for people to get around by foot.

Living Arrangements: There is no "on-campus" housing available. IBA will assist students with finding self-catered apartments. The private apartments cost about 2500DKK a month but the shared apartments are much lesser. Students are expected to pay 3 months of rent as an advanced deposit and a part of the amount maybe retained by the landlord in the end as they like to redecorate the apartment for the new tenant. A much smaller deposit is usually collected when the apartment is rented from the IBA. Hence it is essential that students send their materials early in order to begin the housing search through the school.

Food: The Danish cuisine is mostly influenced by other Scandinavian countries, and also from Germany and the Netherlands. Meat, fish or any other kinds of seafood is staple part of Danish cuisine. Potato is the indispensable vegetable of Danish diet and it is usually present in all the meals of the day. Like any other Scandinavian country bread is also an essential component of a Danish diet. Overall there are numerous café’s and restaurants for students in Kolding. The cost of living for students is more or less the same as most European countries.

Social Activities: Kolding is both a university town and commercial center that has a rich and varied cultural life. It has numerous cafés, discotheques, galleries, sports arenas and museums that have made it one of the most popular locations in the west of Denmark. Since Kolding has a number of higher education institutes, there are over 3000 students in the city that have a great impact on the cities recreation. The city council and the municipalities consistently promote new ideas and initiatives for the student’s well-being.

Student Services: The IBA International Office is situated in the university campus and is staffed by 5 full time individuals. The IBA International Office begins communicating with the students once they have been accepted into the university and post arrival on the campus they assist students with registration procedures, accommodation and initial transition into the Danish life. The Student council at the IBA plans activities for the students such as “Friday bar” and various other social arrangements, events and parties.