Buying Single Transport Tickets

Information for All Students (Buying Single Transport Tickets)

All DIS students will need to use the DSB app to purchase tickets throughout their summer session(s) in Copenhagen. Whether you live within walking distance of DIS or have a Commuter Card, you will need to purchase single tickets on public transportation for personal travel and DIS-related academic and social events. Learn more about DIS Transportation Coverage for DIS Copenhagen students here

Buying Single Tickets on the DSB App

Transport for a Field Study, Study Tour, or course located offsite from DIS

You can buy a single ticket in the DSB app to get to and from your Field Study, Study Tour departure point (such as the airport), or course located offsite from DIS and bill the journey to DIS. When you purchase these tickets, you can choose the payment option “Invoice” in the DSB app, which means DIS will be billed directly by DSB. Refer to our how-to guide on how to purchase single tickets here. When purchasing the ticket, be sure to use the comments field and write “Academic” (for Field Studies and offsite courses) and “Study Tour” (when traveling to a departure point), to indicate the category of this invoice.

Recommendation: It is a very good idea to purchase tickets in advance. This means if you must depart at 8:30 in the morning for a Field Study, you could purchase the ticket the night before and set your specified departure time – saving you time in the morning and not delaying your class’ departure if you are trying to purchase your ticket while getting on transport.

If you have a Commuter Card: Please check to see if your current commute zones cover the zones needed prior to buying additional single tickets. Refer to our how-to guide on checking what zones to travel through. If your Commuter Card does not cover the zones, purchase a single ticket as advised above. If you are only missing one zone however, buy a one-zone supplement ticket, as outlined in this how-to guide.

Transport for DIS Events

You can buy a single ticket in the DSB app to get to and from all activities officially hosted by DIS, including academic and social events and bill the journey to DIS. When you purchase these tickets, you can choose the payment option “Invoice” in the DSB app, which means DIS will be billed directly by DSB. Refer to our how-to guide on how to purchase single tickets here. When purchasing the ticket, be sure to use the comments field and write “DIS event” to indicate the category of this invoice.

Recommendation: You will receive a receipt via email for every purchase, so be sure to save these to keep track of your stipend spending.

Payment Options: What does DIS cover and what do I have to pay for?

For personal travel, you can still use the DSB app to purchase your own tickets. When you purchase these tickets, you must choose the payment option “Credit Card” in the DSB app, which will bill your personal Credit Card associated with your account.

“Invoice” vs. “Credit Card”

Refer to the chart below with an overview of when to use each payment method in the DSB app.

Invoice (paid by DIS) Credit Card (use for your personal travel)
  • Commuter Card (if you have a Commuter Card)
  • Getting to and from Field Studies
  • Getting to and from Study Tours
  • Getting to and from external DIS classes
  • Getting to and from DIS activities
  • Personal travel (i.e. going to a museum or the airport)

Once you have selected the “Invoice” option once, DSB will set this as the default payment option in the app. You must switch the payment option to “Credit Card” each time you purchase a ticket for personal travel.

Note: DIS does not reimburse expenses related to travel covered by DIS if you fail to follow the proper invoicing procedure, which is outlined in the transportation email sent out before the semester start. If you are experiencing issues with the DSB app, it is your responsibility to reach out to the DIS Student Hub (studenthub@dis.dk) for support.

Frequently Asked Questions about Transportation Tickets

Q\ How does the Copenhagen zone system work?

When using any kind of public transportation in Copenhagen, the price of your ticket will depend on how far you want to travel on public transportation and how many zones you will need to travel through. Learn more about understanding Copenhagen zones and ticketing for public transportation here.

Q\ Can I use the DSB app when traveling on my own?

You will likely want to explore Copenhagen on your own on nights and weekends, and know that you can also use the DSB app for your personal travel costs not covered by DIS. Just choose the payment form “Credit Card” and enter your personal payment details and be sure to flip between payments when traveling on own versus with DIS.

Q\ What do I do if I forgot to categorize one of my journeys (using the comments field) for DIS-related travel?

If the expense is covered by DIS, you must include the purpose of the journey. If you have forgotten to categorize one of your journeys, contact studenthub@dis.dk immediately by forwarding the receipt (sent from DSB via email) and including the correct category.

Q\ What do I do if I accidentally used my own credit card to pay for DIS-related travel?

When you purchase tickets for DIS-related academic and social events, you can choose the payment option “Invoice” in the DSB app, which means DIS will be billed directly by DSB. DIS does not issue refunds for transportation tickets for DIS-related travel if you accidentally use your own credit card. It is your responsibility to ensure you are using the correct payment method for your journey.

Q\ What happens if my phone battery dies?

You do not have a valid ticket if your phone battery dies. If this occurs, we recommend you purchase a ticket for your journey at the kiosks found at every station. Failure to present a valid ticket will result in a 750 DKK fine.

Q\ What happens if my phone is stolen, lost, or damaged?

Please be aware that you are responsible for taking the necessary steps to buy temporary tickets until you have a new/replacement phone to transfer your digital Commuter Card. DIS recommends you go ahead and order a new SIM card so that you can transfer your already purchased tickets and Commuter Card to a new device. Refer to our guide on how to transfer tickets to a new device here. Please remember to update your new telephone number (if applicable) on Online Registration. For more support, contact studenthub@dis.dk.

Q\ What do I do if I receive a transportation fine?

You are responsible for paying any acquired transportation fines before the given invoice deadline. For fines incurred on the metro, you are able to pay these online using your credit card. For all other fines, you will not be able to pay for the fine yourself as it requires a Danish bank account. Therefore, you will need to contact the Student Hub (studenthub@dis.dk) and the staff will assist you in the payment process.