Housing Options at Aarhus University
Written by Patrycja Rogozinska
Here, I will introduce you to the different housing options you have as a student in Aarhus. Since it is a student city, there are many different options, but I will try to make it easy for you.
You can read about:
- Types of housing for students in Aarhus
Specific questions about housing? Please contact AU Housing here.
Dormitories on campus at Aarhus University. Photo: Aarhus University.
The different housing options for students in Aarhus
Moving to a new country is an exciting adventure. Especially moving into such a young and vibrant city like Aarhus which has the highest concentration of students in Denmark.
The first distinction in the complex world of accommodation in Denmark is between dormitories and a private market. The advantage of living in a dorm room is that it is cheap and you live next to other friendly students. The disadvantage might be that in case you share a kitchen with someone, the standards and expectations toward cleanness level might differ among people.
The advantage of living in an apartment that you found at the private market is that you can share it with multiple people, so you can enjoy the bigger space. The disadvantage might be the price. Let’s get into details.
> Learn more about costs of living in Aarhus
Kollegiet (dormitory in Danish)
Surprisingly, there are different types of dormitories in Denmark. Most often you will have your room with a private bathroom and either a shared or private kitchen. It is also possible to apply for an accommodation with your friend or a partner, then you will have your little flat. The greatest thing about living in dormitories is that you can easily socialize and meet people who you might not meet otherwise, for example from different programmes than yours. You can always find someone to talk to, cook together or play board games. Also, every year, each dormitory will organize a Christmas party, spring grills or just spontaneous get-togethers. If you share a kitchen with others, you might like to cook with others.
It might be important to mention that it is not common to live on the campus unless you study at Aarhus BSS in Herning, and you can meet students from other universities. You should be afraid to accept accommodation offer a bit further for the campus because in Aarhus there is great transportation infrastructure and many cycling routes.
If it sounds good to you, I recommend you checking: studenthousingaarhus.dk if you plan to live in Aarhus. You can live in the dormitory as long as you are a student, if you lose your student status then you need to move out within 3-6 months, depending on your contract.
Photos from different flats and dormitories. Please note that the facilities depend on the flat or dormitory.
Private flats
Another option is to look for a room/flat by yourself on the private market. The advantage is that you can move into a flat alone or with other people who might become your new best friends. Or you can move in with several of your friends, since you can find big flats with several rooms, where everyone enjoys their private room and share common areas. Also, you can stay in the flat after graduation, so if you don’t like moving, then it is probably an option for you.
The disadvantages are that your rent might become higher than in a doorm and you need to watch out for scams. From my experience, I can say that you should read the contract carefully before signing it.
When you search for housing by yourself, check this list of things you should be extra careful about on the link below.
> Things you should know when looking for housing on the private market.
If you are a student at Aarhus University, you can visit the AU Housing office or website and ask for help finding accommodation:
Visit AU housing here.
Aarhus City centre. Photo by: Melissa Bach Yildirim, AU Foto.
Tip for you:
It is better to find accommodation in Aarhus and move if you don’t like it, rather than just rejecting every option which doesn’t fit your expectations and ending up in AirBnB for who knows how long.
I hope it helps you and shows that as much as living in Denmark might be more expensive, there are some ways to enjoy it all and be on a budget.
Do you have some other tips or tricks?
Let me know and if you have any questions regarding life as a student at Aarhus BSS, how to stay on a budget or how I found housing, please feel free to reach out to me by e-mail.