Herning is in Central Jutland (Midtjylland) and is home to approximately 51,000 people. Aarhus University Herning hosts the Department of Business Development and Technology (BTECH) and is located east of Herning’s city centre. Around 35% of the full-time students at BTECH are international.
We have gathered some information about Herning and a few of the locations around Herning for Aarhus University (AU) employees and students who are considering living in these areas.
Herning is a family-friendly city that is rich in culture, leisure activities and beautiful nature. There are ample shopping opportunities and large cultural institutions in the city centre.
Herning’s central location makes it easy to travel to other locations in Jutland (Jylland), and the city also hosts large international events. Once a year, Herning hosts an International Citizen Day, where newcomers can learn about Herning and network with fellow internationals and Danes.
There are direct train and bus routes from Herning to Aarhus and Copenhagen, and Herning is only a 40-minute drive away from the international airport in Billund.
It takes approximately 10 minutes to commute to Aarhus University Herning from the city centre by car or bus.
Ikast is a residential area with approximately 16,000 inhabitants that is located east of Aarhus University Herning in Ikast-Brande.
Ikast-Brande is home to many international corporations, so there is a large international community in the area. Ikast has an international kindergarten, an international school and an International Baccalaureate (IB) school.
There are several supermarkets in the city centre of Ikast, and it only takes about 10 minutes to get to the centre of Herning by bus, where there are many shopping opportunities. From Ikast, the commuting time to Aarhus University Herning is around 10 minutes by car or 20 minutes by bus.
Billund is a residential area with around 7,000 inhabitants that is located south of Herning. It is the home of LEGO®, and the large international corporation is a big part of Billund’s identity. Billund has an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, several supermarkets and even an international airport.
From Billund, the commute to Aarhus University Herning takes around 45 minutes by car or 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark and is home to around 335,000 people. The main Aarhus University campus is located in Aarhus. The city also has an international daycare institution and an International Baccalaureate (IB) school.
From Aarhus, the commute to Aarhus University Herning takes around 1 hour by car or 1 hour 30 minutes by train.
Viborg is a residential area with approximately 40,000 inhabitants that is located north of Herning. You can read more about Viborg on the Aarhus University in Viborg page.
Commuting from Viborg to Aarhus University Herning takes about 45 minutes by car or 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
If you prefer a short commute, there are housing options in Herning and Ikast-Brande. You can also choose to live in Billund, Viborg or Aarhus if you do not mind a longer commute. Renting a property in Herning, Ikast-Brande, Billund and Viborg is more affordable than in Aarhus.
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.
For students, visit the housing options for international students at AU page for information about housing in Herning.
Public transport is popular in Denmark because it is convenient and environmentally friendly. You can read about public transport in Denmark on VisitDenmark’s how to get around Denmark with public transport page.
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 an 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. Read more about the clubs and associations in Herning on their active leisure and nature experiences page.
Herning shares two international communities with Ikast-Brande: International Society and Expat in Herning and Ikast-Brande.
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 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. The closest international kindergartens to Herning are in Ikast-Brande and Billund. There is currently no international kindergarten in Herning. You can also enrol your child in a Danish daycare, which might give you a shorter commuting time, as there are many Danish daycare institutions and they are often close to residential areas.
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 Herning.
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 schools to Aarhus University Herning are in Ikast-Brande, Billund and Aarhus. Unlike Danish public schools that are free of charge, international schools require a monthly fee.
Ikast-Brande International School follows the Cambridge international curriculum. The school is located in the west of Ikast.
The International School of Billund was established in 2013 by The LEGO Foundation, and it follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The school is located in the centre of Billund.
Aarhus International School follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The school is located in the centre of Aarhus.
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).
The closest international upper-secondary schools to Aarhus University Herning are in Ikast-Brande and Aarhus.
Ikast-Brande Gymnasium follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The school is located in the west of Ikast.
Aarhus Gymnasium follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The school is located in the north-west of Aarhus.
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. Herning has 23 public schools.
If your child does not speak Danish but you would like them to attend a Danish general 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. Herning, Ikast-Brande and Billund 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 Herning.
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 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. Sprogcenter Midt Herning is the official Danish course provider in Herning. Sprogcenter Midt Herning has online and in-person classes located in Herning.
Aarhus University staff and PhD students can read more on the Danish lessons for AU international staff and accompanying partners page.
If you are a student, you can read about Danish language classes and the rules that apply to you on the learn Danish 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 for 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 centres, the less expensive your rent becomes.
For budget examples, see the cost of living page.
At the Aarhus University Herning Campus, there are approximately 55 academic staff members, 15 administrative staff members, 30 PhD students and 1,350 other students.
