You may know dorms from American pop culture or from personal experience. But how is living in a dorm in Denmark different? We asked Ciel, an American student at Aarhus University, to explain the differences from her personal perspective.
In the US, it is not only common but often required to live on campus for at least the first year, if not all four years, of your bachelor’s degree. This is seen as part of the “college experience” and, though often quite expensive, is one of the things students look forward to most when going to university. Living on campus comes with a lot of benefits – you have a meal plan and eat at the cafeteria rather than cooking yourself (most dorms don’t have kitchens), you can use the gym and take fitness classes, laundry is included, and most appealingly you are usually within a short walking distance to your classes.
In Denmark, and much of Europe, living on campus is uncommon. Most students live in apartments or dorms around the city and walk, bike, or take the bus to campus depending on the distance. This allows students to feel more integrated into society and pushes them to be more responsible as they must manage everything themselves, from commuting to cooking and everything in between. Some dorms also have amenities such as gyms, social rooms, saunas and so on. In Denmark, campus is almost exclusively a place for learning and events centered around the academic community. At Aarhus University, there are some dorms available on campus, but I do not know one person who lives in one and therefore that concept is quite foreign to me now.
In US dorms, there are communities created by university staff within each building to foster a sense of belonging for the students. Typically, there is a Resident Director, who is a full-time employee who lives in an apartment in the dorm and oversees everything that goes on in that building, from events to student emergencies and so on. Each section or floor of the dorm will have a Resident Assistant (RA) who is a student trained and hired to take care of the physical and mental well-being of their students. This also means, however, that there are rules when living in dorms as the building is on university property and therefore the school is legally liable for what happens in them. This results in often strict rules meant to keep the students safe and the university free from legal charges.
Conversely, in Denmark the dorms are more like discounted student housing with shared kitchens and/or bathrooms with few rules placed on the residents. Students are free to live how they like and do what they wish, if it doesn’t cause property damage or lead to illegal activity. Most dorms do require the students to do thorough cleaning of the common spaces, but with great freedom comes greater responsibility, right? Some dorms in Denmark are better designed to facilitate community than others. These dorms have shared kitchens with enough room for people to cook and hang out together. The common spaces force residents to spend time together, so these types of dorms are perfect for extroverts or people who want a built-in community from the very beginning.
Børglum in Aarhus is one of those dorms. Being one of the oldest dorms in Denmark, the building’s architecture is frozen in time and the traditions of the community, such as events and communal dinners, have been passed down through generations of residents. These traditions are possible because some students live in the same room for all five years of uni. In the US, this isn’t possible as you must move out of your room at the end of each academic year, so the community essentially is disbanded yearly. Not all dorms have a history such as Børglum, but dorm culture in Denmark tends to have some common denominators. Other dorms, such as Skovkollegiet, are newer and less conducive to a communal environment. The kitchens are smaller and shared by less people, so you are less likely to spend time with other residents. This is a great option for those who want more time alone, their own space, or are more introverted.
US dorms are notorious for having the exact same furniture country-wide. A light-pine set including a bed, which can be stacked to make a bunk bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a chair. Although basic and not the most aesthetic, having furniture provided is a nice perk most Danish dorms do not provide.
There are only two dorms in Aarhus which come with furnishings. The rest are sadly unfurnished. However, most dorms have a spot where previous residents can leave their furniture for new residents to pick up for free. It’s not a guarantee that you will find everything you need there, but it does take the sting out of having to buy essential items such as a bed and dresser. Other options for furnishing your room include IKEA, Jysk, Facebook Marketplace, and secondhand shops around the city.
Your experience living in a dorm can differ depending on your expectations. However, often dorms tend to surprise those who initially were not too keen on them. If you’re considering living in a dorm, take this as your sign to do it! As an international student, living in a dorm is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture as these dorms are mostly inhabited by Danes. It’s also a good jumping off point to meet people and begin to build your community in Aarhus.
