Aarhus University Flakkebjerg is located in a rural area in Slagelse and hosts the Department of Agroecology and the Centre for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG). Aarhus University (AU) students can sign up for three-week courses at the location through the AU Summer University.
We have gathered some information about Flakkebjerg and a few of the locations around Flakkebjerg for AU employees who are considering living in these areas.
Flakkebjerg is located on the southwest part of Zealand (Sjælland) near the Great Belt Bridge, which connects Zealand to the island of Funen (Fyn). Funen is a popular holiday spot because of the island’s natural landscapes and historical sites.
There are more than 60 small islands in the South Funen Archipelago that you can explore on foot, by bicycle or by kayak. Flakkebjerg is also close to the Stigsnæs dock where you can take a ferry to Omø or Agersø to explore the islands’ landscapes and culture.
Slagelse has around 35,000 inhabitants and is one of the largest residential areas in west Zealand, with ample shopping opportunities in the city centre.
The commuting time to Aarhus University Flakkebjerg from Slagelse's city centre is around 15 minutes by car or 30 minutes by bus. There is a direct train from Slagelse to Copenhagen, which takes around 1 hour.
Næstved is the third largest residential area on Zealand and is home to approximately 45,000 people. The city centre offers a range of clothing, interior decoration and grocery stores.
It takes around 30 minutes to get from Næstved to Aarhus University Flakkebjerg by car or 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport. There is a direct train from Næstved to Copenhagen, which takes approximately 1 hour.
Ringsted is home to around 24,000 people and is located east of Flakkebjerg. The city centre has many shops and an outlet area where brands offer goods at discounted prices.
The commuting time to Aarhus University Flakkebjerg is approximately 30 minutes by car or 45 minutes on public transport. There is also a direct train from Ringsted to Copenhagen, which takes around 30 minutes.
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and has around 600,000 inhabitants. The commuting time to Aarhus University Flakkebjerg is around 1 hour 15 minutes by car or 1 hour 20 minutes on public transport.
Both Slagelse and Næstved are large residential areas with a range of housing options. Accommodation is more affordable in Slagelse and Næstved than in Copenhagen. Although Ringsted is smaller, it still offers a range of affordable housing options.
Aarhus University has a limited amount of furnished temporary accommodation at Flakkebjerg available to Aarhus University staff and students.
Regardless of where you decide to live, the Relocation Service at the International Staff Office can help you and your accompanying family find a place to call home.
You can also find accommodation via the AU Staff Housing Portal, which provides a platform for private landlords to let or sublet their homes to AU international employees. We recommend that you fill out a 'seeking form' on the website to notify potential landlords that you are looking for housing.
Public transport is popular in Denmark because it is convenient and environmentally friendly. You can read about travelling on buses, trains and metros on Zealand on Your Public Transport.
There is a big difference between the public transport in small and larger cities, and if you need to switch between busses or trains, you can expect the commuting time to be longer.
No matter where you live in Denmark, joining a club or association is a great way to socialise with like-minded people. There are over 100,000 clubs and associations in Denmark, and there is even an old saying: When two Danes meet, they shake hands, but when three Danes meet, they form an association.
Municipalities often list the clubs and associations you can join on their website. Find the clubs and associations in Slagelse (in Danish).
Moving to another country with your partner can be an exciting yet challenging experience. This is why we recommend that your partner registers to the Aarhus University Expat Partner Programme to make the transition of moving to Denmark as smooth and enjoyable as possible. The Expat Partner advisors can help your partner with everything from career advice to social networks and support resources.
The Expat Partner Programme is available to international partners of Aarhus University’s employed staff from postdoc level and up.
In Denmark, every child is offered a place at a public childcare facility from the age of 6 months. You can enrol your child in a Danish daycare and there is even a daycare institution located only a 4-minute drive away from Aarhus University Flakkebjerg. There are no international daycares in Slagelse, Næstved or Ringsted.
The government pays at least 75 percent of the childcare fee depending on your income, but the exact amount parents pay depends on the municipality.
If you are an Aarhus University staff member, please contact the Relocation Service at the International Staff Office for more information about childcare in Slagelse, Næstved and Ringsted.
Selecting a school is a personal choice. For that reason, we recommend that you research each of the schools you are considering before making a final decision.
The closest international primary and lower secondary school to Aarhus University Flakkebjerg is Skt. Josef’s International School in Roskilde. There is a wide range of international schools in Copenhagen, but keep in mind that there is a long commute between these schools and Aarhus University Flakkebjerg. There are no international primary and lower secondary schools in Slagelse, Næstved or Ringsted.
Herlufsholm School is an international boarding school in Næstved that follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
Unlike Danish public schools that are free of charge, international schools require a monthly fee.
You can see a full list of all the international schools in Denmark on the International basic schools in Denmark page (‘basic’ indicates primary and lower secondary education).
Danish public schools are free of charge, and the majority of children in Denmark go to public school. There are many public schools across Denmark, so it is likely that there is one close to where you live. Slagelse has 23 public schools.
If your child does not speak Danish but you would like them to attend a Danish public school, they need to enrol in reception classes first. Reception classes function as a bridging programme for children who need to develop their Danish skills before they can attend a general public school. Slagelse, Næstved and Ringsted all have reception classes for newly arrived children who do not speak Danish.
If you are an Aarhus University staff member, please contact the Relocation Service at the International Staff Office for more information about schooling options in Slagelse, Næstved and Ringsted.
All international residents in Denmark can sign up for the Danish Education Programme. The programme consists of:
The programme is free but requires a deposit of DKK 2,000, which you will get back once you have completed a module or the full programme.
Each municipality in Denmark has its own official Danish course provider, but most language schools offer both online and in-person classes. Slagelse Municipality’s official Danish course provider is Slagelse Sprogcenter (in Danish), which has online and in-person classes located in Slagelse.
Aarhus University staff and PhD students can read more on the Danish lessons for AU international staff and accompanying partners page.
Aarhus University has an overview of living expenses in Denmark for AU staff, PhD students and other students. The overview shows the costs of living in Aarhus, but since expenses (other than housing) are similar across Denmark, you can use the information as a guide regardless of which city you live in.
When it comes to housing expenses, rent can vary a lot from place to place. The further you move away from the city centre, the less expensive your rent it becomes.
For budget examples, see the cost of living page.
At Aarhus University Flakkebjerg, there are approximately 50 academic staff members, 60 administrative staff members and 10 PhD students.
