Study start
Everything about study start
We have gathered all the information you need in order to get ready for study start at studystart.cbs.dk
Answer to your application
You will receive the answer to your application on 28 July.
We send out the answer starting at midnight, which means it will take a few hours before all applicants have received their answer.
The answer letter from CBS will inform you about which programme you have been accepted to. The study start is 1 September 2023.
Before you accept your study place at CBS, you should consider whether you are in fact ready to start studying.
Studying at a university can feel like a big change, and you will need to get used to many new things. You will meet many new people. You have to get to know a new place with all its new systems, rules and procedures. The curriculum will be a lot bigger than what you are used to from your upper secondary education, and you will have to get used to new ways of learning and working with knowledge. For many new students study start can be quite tough.
In our experience, the students who navigate study start with the greatest ease and enjoy their programme the most have considered the following beforehand:
Are you ready to study?
As a university student, you are in charge of your own education. What and how much you learn will depend on how much effort you put in. Of course, we do not expect you to master everything from day one – but we do expect you to be aware of the new challenges and put in the work to learn how to deal with them. We also expect you to take responsibility for your own learning, even when it gets tough or difficult to do so.
How is your motivation?
Do you really want to study, or have you chosen to apply because you didn’t know what else to do? You should know that it requires a lot to study at university level, so you have to feel motivated as well as be prepared to spend many hours learning and studying.
What about housing, finances and all the other practical things?
Starting university is a big change. As such, it is best if you have a handle on your finances, your living situation and other practical matters before you start, so that you can spend all your energy getting a great start on your new programme.
Have you been accepted for a lower priority?
Have you been offered a place on a programme you just chose as a fallback option? Do you really know what that programme is about, and what you will be studying for the next three years? Some students find out that their programme is really about something other than what they thought or expected. This is often because they did not spend enough time researching what it was really about beforehand.
If you have any doubts about whether a programme is right for you, you are always welcome to call a student guidance counsellor. They can help you reach some clarity on what is and is not right for you. Contact your student guidance counsellor.
Ask!
If you have question or doubts about anything – ask us.
You can find a lot of information online. But if you have any doubts, or there is something you just need to talk to someone about, you are always welcome to contact us. All kinds of questions are welcome.
CBS can be a very big, and sometimes confusing, place – we know. But there are also a lot of us ready to help you.
In 2023 the introduction week will take place from 21-25 August (week 34). If you want yo make sure you do not miss out on anything, consider not working, traveling or having other plans in that week.
During the introduction week you will get a thorough introduction to all the things you are going to spend the next 3 years doing. You will also get to know your fellow students and often the introduction week is also the place to form your first study groups.
We recommend that you participate in all the introduction week. Experience shows that participation in introductory activities helps get students off to a better start, and has large impact on their student life at CBS.
Find everything about the introduction week on your study programme at studystart.cbs.dk
Please note: you may have to sign up beforehand.
Virtual campus tour
Teaching periods and vacation
The academic year is divided into 2 semester:
- Autumn semester: 1 September to November/December with exams in December/January
- Spring semester: 1 February to April/May with exams in May/June
In some programmes each semester is divided into 2 quarters. There is 4 quarters in a year, with exams every quarter.
Teaching
There is about 12-18 hours of teaching every week, which is typically in the daytime Monday to Friday. You will mostly use the additional time preparing individually, group work and writing assignments.
The teaching periods can be spread out throughout the entire week or you can be off some days. It can also change from week to week depending on your programme.
Vacation
There is summer vacation in July and August and Christmas vacation between Christmas and New Years.
There is usually class in the Autumn break in week 42, winter vacation in week 7 and 8 and the days before Easter. Some programmes might have less classes those weeks as the lecturers takes some days off.
Timetable
Before each semester or quarter start you will get a personal timetable that shows the timetable of the courses that you are registered for. The timetable changes each semester and can be different from week to week.
You can apply for SU when you are accepted into a full degree programme at CBS. Therefore the earliest you can apply for SU is 1 August.
Read more about SU on my.cbs.dk > Student life > SU > Apply for SU – Danish citizen (CBS-login required) or www.su.dk
SU for international students
If you are a foreign citizen, there are certain conditions you have to meet and you must follow a special application process before you can receive any SU.
Read more about SU on my.cbs.dk > Student life > SU > Apply for SU – foreign citizen (CBS-login required) or www.su.dk
Please note that processing time may be up to 4 months.
It can be difficult to find a place to live in Copenhagen. Unfortunately, CBS cannot provide accommodation for students.
If you are looking for housing in Copenhagen, you can find more information and register for residence halls, rental and youth apartments here:
- Student Housing on the City of Copenhagen website
- Bolig og flytning - Studieby København (in Danish)
- findbolig.nu
- Kollegiernes kontor
You can also find many private residence halls in Copenhagen. The easiest way to find them is to google: “kollegium København” or “residence hall Copenhagen”
Another option is to rent a room in a private apartment. On CBS Campus and on Facebook pages for CBS students, you can find people looking for students who want to rent a room.
You can also find various webpages where you can get in contact with people who are renting out rooms or apartments.
Beware of scam!
You should always watch out, when you are looking for accommodation, since there are many scammers who will try to rent a room or apartment to you which they do not own or does not exist.
The police offers good advice on how to make yourself more secure in your hunt for housing and avoid scam.
Make sure to:
- check that the person in fact owns the room or apartment in question
- pay to a Danish bank account – if possible
- always use your common sense
- never let yourself be pressured by an eager letter or landlord
You can find the police’s advice on the Police's webpage on Undgå svindel med lejeboliger (only in Danish) as well as information about how to report scam.
Read more here to learn about your rights as a tentant and how to receive legal aid. Note that the link is for the City of Copenhagen. If you live somewhere else, you need to contact that specific municipality.
Covid-19 in Denmark
At CBS, we are monitoring the development in Covid-19 closely and we follow all recommendations and guidelines from the authorities.
We want CBS's campus to feel safe for everyone. Consequently, we encourage you to stay home and get tested if you experience any symptoms of Covid-19. Read more and keep updated on en.coronasmitte.dk.
If your are travelling to CBS and Denmark from another country, you can find the current rules of entry on en.coronasmitte.dk.
Moving to another country to study can be quite challenging, but help is available.
Find info for international students on my.cbs.dk
Read much more about what CBS has to offer international students at my.cbs.dk > Student life > International Students (CBS-login required)
Get help from CBS' International Student Ambassadors
You can also get help from CBS’ International Student Ambassadors, ISA. ISA are around 25 CBS students who helps new international students to get settled at CBS and in Copenhagen.
Find ISA at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSISA/
How to register in Denmark
You must register with the Danish Civil Register, meaning you need to get a Civil Registration Number (CPR).
You can read all about how to register at my.cbs.dk > Student life > Registration in Denmark
Survival guide to life in Denmark
You can find tips, insights and information on how to get the best possible student life in Denmark in the International Students’ Survival Guide to Life in Denmark.
If you suffer from dyslexia or have a physical or psychological disability which prevents you from completing your programme under the same conditions as other students, you can apply for special support, the so-called Special Education Support (SPS).
Read more at my.cbs.dk > Student Life > Special Educational Support (SPS) (CBS-login required)
Questions?
If you have questions about your starting your studies, study programmes at CBS or anything else, you are more than welcome to contact your student guidance counsellor or Student Hub.