Welcome to Copenhagen
A city built for people
Copenhagen consistently ranks at the top of international surveys on safety, sustainability, quality of life, cuisine, and design.
Despite its worldwide prominence, Copenhagen retains a small-town feeling compared to other major European capitals. It has busy shopping streets and plenty of lively neighborhoods to explore, but the atmosphere remains calm and relaxed.
Learn more about this city and what makes it special, both to live and to learn in.
Hygge, wellbeing, and slow living
Danes report some of the highest levels of happiness in the world.
But don’t expect that to mean that Danes are dancing on the streets. What do happiness and wellbeing really mean to a society? And how can you assess such a concept?
You might come to Copenhagen discover what helps people thrive in their daily life, embarking on your own journey toward balance and a more mindful approach to your daily routine.
You can explore these topics in courses related to psychology, neuroscience, and anthropology.
The art of hygge
Danish has a unique word, hygge, that roughly translates to a feeling of cozy, satisfied comfort. Despite what you might hear, you don’t need candles or a blanket to hygge.
Hygge can be laying under the summer sun in a park, swimming in the canals, enjoying dinner with friends, or, yes, cozying up by candlelight.
A community-minded and safe city
Copenhagen is one of the safest cities in the world, and our students report feeling safe and secure walking the streets and using the clean, well-running public transport.
The city’s many public parks and gathering spaces also create a communal feeling, from large green parks to many small fountains, lakes, and benches that dot the city.
Read more about the many ways students engage with local communities.
The Danish welfare state
Part of Danish happiness might be thanks to Denmark’s welfare state, which provides access to publicly-financed healthcare, generous paid maternity leave, and free schooling from kindergarten to a graduate degree.
While many countries look at Denmark with envy, Danes don’t think everything is perfect. See this welfare state model for yourself, speak with locals about their perspectives, and discover all the details that go into a robust welfare state.
An innovative, human-focused design hub
Copenhagen is celebrated for its inclusive, innovative, and sustainable urban design.
With innovative housing solutions, roads that prioritize pedestrians and bikers over vehicle traffic, and urban design that encourages people to come together in public spaces, it is a city designed with its residents’ wellbeing in mind.
Whether you study design and architecture, or just want to enjoy a walkable, human-centric city, Copenhagen has plenty to learn from.
Home to groundbreaking architects and designers
Copenhagen has a long history of innovative architecture and is home to some of the most exciting and innovative architecture firms active today.
From Jørn Utzon, who designed the Sydney Opera House, to Bjarke Ingles Group, who are currently designing revolutionary projects around the world, Copenhagen is a playground for the curious to come visit these sites, study their principles, and get inspired.
Bike forward and people friendly
Urban designers call Copenhagen “a city built for people.” That’s because the city prioritizes public spaces and human usability above cars and large, unfriendly buildings.
The city has more than 240 miles of bike lanes and wide sidewalks to make room for people and bikers. The focus on cycling helps keep the center of the city feeling uncongested and with so many walking streets and little parks, you can easily find yourself in a quiet corner of city.
Step into minimal, natural, Scandinavian design
Copenhagen design extends beyond the city. From furniture to fashion, Danish design embodies the timeless simplicity and thoughtful practicality of Scandinavian minimalism.
Across mediums, you’ll find clean lines, natural, high quality, and a focus on light, whether it be a local café, a simple chair, a lamp, or a new piece of clothing.
The quiet innovators
Danish culture typically discourages bragging so you might not know it, but Denmark is home to global leaders and innovators in several industries.
From shipping logistics to fashion, food, design, biomedical innovation, and even toys, Denmark is the quiet home to some of the biggest names in the world.
See what its like to live in a city with a little bit of everything, or use it as a base to learn more about how this small country plays big roles throughout Europe.
Noma, the best restaurant in the world
Noma brought a wave of attention to Copenhagen when it first won “best restaurant in the world” in 2010, with its focus on innovative techniques and hyper-local, seasonal ingredients.
Since then it has remained among the top of the list, bringing many aspiring and innovating chefs to town. Even without visiting Noma itself, you can see its impact in the rest of the Copenhagen’s exciting food scene.
See how you can explore the food scene through your class in a Food Studies course.
A hotbed for pharmaceutical and biotech research and development
If you’re interested in studying pharmaceuticals, drug development, or clinical research trials, there are few places more active in the field.
Copenhagen is home to Novo Nordisk, a world leader in pharmaceutical technology and development, as well as companies like Novonesis who are working to develop biosolutions to today’s pressing issues around human flourishing.
Mærsk, LEGO, Ganni, and other industry leaders
You probably recognize LEGO, whose name actually comes from the Danish words “leg godt” or “play well.” Mærsk is a global leader in shipping and logistics while Ganni is a growing name in Scandinavian fashion.
Whatever the industry, you might be surprised to learn that Denmark is quietly playing major roles, despite its smaller size.
Explore business and finance courses to learn more about Denmark’s role in global trade.
