Frequently asked questions
Transport
Bikes
This means of transport is used the most. Bikes can be purchased from previous students (check Facebook group: Køb og Salg I Esbjerg as well as information on the auction in Brørup
Beware that cyclists may be fined by the police for traffic offences, riding without lights etc. Bikes often get stolen and sold on, so it is important to be careful as to where bikes are obtained from, and to remember to lock your bike when you park it. It is also very important to have lights on your bike, both at the front (white light) and the back (red light), as well as reflectors on the wheels and pedals.
Public Transport
Yellow buses: inside of each bus you will find a timetable free of charge. You may also check the timetable of your bus up front – they have irregular departure and arrival times, so be careful about weekends and public holidays. Also make sure that the bus you are travelling on is moving in the correct direction.
Once the bus arrives, check the front, which gives the name of the end destination, to see if it matches the direction in which you want to go.
It is possible to buy a single ride ticket for 19 kr, which is valid for 1 hour. Also a 10-trip ticket is available for 105 kr. These are purchased on the bus. The 10-trip ticket can also be bought at the station. A monthly pass is also available for 315 kr. This must be bought at the station.
Blue buses: these travel to slightly more distant destinations. The ‘X’ buses are direct buses.
Be aware that the bus stops only display the time of departure, not where you are or what direction you are going. Each bus spops at the central station at some point (the change of drivers takes a few minutes).
Taxis: Usually charge an initial fee of ~ 28kr. Total cost is quite high. The “Maxi taxi” comes in handy if there is a large group of people travelling, or if passengers have a lot of luggage.
Phone numbers:
Esbjerg Taxa Tel. 75 14 33 44
Esbjerg Taxa's booking office Tel. 75 14 45 00
Trains: Train timetables can be found, and tickets purchased, at the train station.
Opening hours of the ticket office:
Mon - Fri 8:00 - 18:00, Sat 9:00 - 15:00, Sun Closed
Main Tel. 70 13 14 18 – open all weekdays 9:00 - 21:00
Again, for train rides it is also possible to buy a 10-trip ticket at a discount
Once the office closes, tickets can be purchased from automatic ticket machines. There is also a screen showing times of all arrivals and departures to and from Esbjerg. Information on train travel can also be found at www.dsb.dk
NB! Many students like to travel to Aarhus to visit. Please note that in Aarhus you have to enter the bus at the rear end (not the end where the driver is). Also, the buses in Aarhus only accept coins.
University
Access to school premises/facilities
You will be provided with an access-card and a 4-digit code which can be used to gain access to various buildings and facilities.
Library
An information session is also held in the library during the first few weeks of the first semester, providing information about databases that can be used. A library card is not provided at AAUE, the student card is used.
Opening hours
Esbjerg Municipal Office
Opening hours
Mon-Wed: 9:00-15:00, Thur: 9:00-17:00, Fri: 9:00-13:00
Phone hours
Mon-Wed: 8:00-15:30, Thur: 8:00-17:00, Fri: 8:00-13:00
Contact
Telephone: 0045 76 16 16 16
Email: raadhuset@esbjergkommune.dk and webmaster@esbjergkommune.dk
Visit
Torvegade 74, 6700 Esbjerg
Post office – Post Danmark
Opening hours
Mon-Wed: 9:00-17:00, Thur: 9:00-17:30, Fri: 9:00-16:00
Contact
Telephone: 0045 79 12 12 12
Visit
Torvet 20, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark
Shopping
Grocery chains
Rema 1000, Fakta, Føtex, Netto, LIDL, Spar: usually open till 8pm on weekdays and until 5pm at weekends
Clothes & personal items (in the city centre): open until 5:30pm during the week, open until 2pm on Saturdays (*4pm on 1st Saturday of the month), closed on Sundays
Personal
Exercise & Leisure time
-Fitness World
- Tel. 88 88 27 00
- Kongensgade 27-29 6700 Esbjerg (main square)
- Fitness dk
- Tel. 75 13 37 13
- Gl Vardevej 66 6700 Esbjerg
- City Bowling Esbjerg
- Tel. 75 45 37 77
- Tordenskjoldsgade 22 6700 Esbjerg
- Svømmestadion Danmark (Swimming Stadium)
- Tel. 75 45 94 99
- Gl Vardevej 66 6700 Esbjerg
- Esbjerg Idrætspark (Blue Water Arena)
- Tel. 75 45 94 99
- Gl Vardevej 82 6700 Esbjerg
- Efb Ishockey (Ice Hockey rink)
- Tel. 75 45 39 68
- Gl Vardevej 82 6700 Esbjerg
- Håndboldklubben (Handball club)
- Tel. 75 13 29 76
- Gl Vardevej 82 6700 Esbjerg
Cultural events
- Studiebyen
- International Graduate Club
Discounts on various events/activities [IDA]
Visit the IDA office at Aalborg University Esbjerg and register. This is very simple – all you need is your yellow card, student card and the registration fee. Students who are enrolled for the full 2-year Master's programme pay (check!) 200 kr. for their entire stay. The fee is smaller for students who are only staying for a semester/year etc. It is also possible for AAUE students to invite a guest to various events at a discount price
Laundry
You get your personal laundry card in your mailbox.
Danish language classes (LærDansk)
All information can be found here [www.laerdansk.dk/en]. Also within a few months of your arrival in Esbjerg, you will receive a letter in your mailbox with information about the language classes and how to apply. Be aware that this letter is in Danish, so look out for the LærDansk logo on the letter
Making Calls
[How to get a phone, phone card, chip, credit to call home]
There are several phone companies to join, e.g.:
-3
-TDC
-Telia
-Lebara
-OneMobile
If you already have a mobile phone, you can go to any of the grocery shops, petrol stations or Arab stores and purchase a chip, phone credit and phone cards from the cashier. Phones can also be bought in these shops but not at petrol stations, if you do not have a mobile phone. You do not need a CPR number for this pay-as-you-go number. If, however, you wish to take out a postpaid subscription, this does require the CPR number.
Where to get ‘international’ food
A lot of ingredients and food items not native to Denmark can be obtained at one of the many Arab stores primarily located in downtown Esbjerg
Job Search
Websites:
www.jobindex.dk/cgi/user/english.cgi
www.workindenmark.dk/
Internet Access
A-Plus: The main internet access used (especially in the Hedelundvej and Sct. George accommodation) is purchased from Aplus. There are various internet speeds to choose from, and these can be changed and modified according to the user’s preferences. You´ll get the registration form from A-plus with your housing contract. It may take up to 2 weeks for registration to be completed and the access to open.
YouSee is another internet company.
Visit www.danskkabeltv.dk and http://yousee.dk/Bredbaand/ for more information on these internet companies and their options. It is possible to purchase a wireless router so that the cable need not be used.
Wifi: There are a number of ways to go online.
One way is to buy a USB-Modem, which is actually a usb-stick with a sim card inside. This type of wireless is dependent on the signal available, and the speed may vary. Usually there is a download rate of max 10Gb/mo
Some students also decide to buy their own wireless router to access the internet (wifi-broadband). Remember one access point will allow several users to access the internet on the same internet connection. Hence, four persons can share one line. Be aware that the set-up of wireless access points is NOT supported by any Internet Service Providers. You have to manage the set-up, sharing of IP-addresses and security of the internet connection yourself if you choose to go wireless.
Official procedures
It is important to check the university email for all official university information.
Examination information will also be provided on these sites.
Many letters and mails received in the mail box may only be in Danish. These should be taken to the international student counselor to be translated, so as not to miss any important information.
CPR number
Without a CPR number, your stay in Denmark is not legal. You will need this number for all official matters. The Danish government keeps track of everybody's whereabouts at all times. It is therefore important to keep the Municipal authorities informed about any changes in information, eg. address etc [see accommodation]. It is also possible to obtain a ‘Moving Folder’ (Flyttemappe) from any post office, in which you fill out one form for the Municipal authorities and another form for the post office. The CPR number is also needed in order to get a telephone subscription (postpaid) and internet subscription.
Tax card
Everyone in Denmark has a tax card. Most people are allowed to earn approx DKK 35,000 per year (3,000/mo) without paying tax at all. But everyone has to pay 8 % AM (a fee to the government).
In order to pay your salary, the salary office (lønkontor) needs your tax-info. If, for some reason, the salary office does not have the appropriate info, they will automatically withhold 55% of the salary for tax.
There are several types of tax-cards in Denmark, but for students who will not exceed the 35,000/y, a tax exemption card (fri-kort) must be activated and the info on this card must be given to the salary office.
Licence Fee
This is the fee which must be paid in order to use anything that displays a multimedia signal, such as a radio, television, smartphones, laptops. If you have a television in your common area, someone living in the house is responsible for the payment of the licence fee on it.
In Sct. George, there are no signals for televisions in the rooms. You will have to pay for this in order to get a signal, and this automatically signs you up for the licence fee.
In Hedelundvej, there are already signals, but this does not mean that the licence fee has been paid, this still needs to be paid separately.
Post
It is also important to make sure that your FULL NAME is on your mailbox at all times. If not, even if the correct mailbox number is provided, you will not get your mail.
How to get to the Kommune (Municipal authorities) and go about getting a yellow health insurance card etc.: Your CPR number is needed for this
Banking
Nordea and Danske-Bank are two of the biggest banks in Denmark, where most people have accounts. There is a difference between the DanKort (Dan Card) and a Visa card or Mastercard. Certain places only accept the Dan Card.
Bills
[Post office, online, PBS( PengeinstitutternesBetalingsService/Automatic Funds Transfer system)]
One option is to receive the bill in your mail box and go to the post office to pay it. This incurs a fee of about 25 kr. from the post office. It also incurs a 30-39 kr. charge to receive the paper bill in the mail.
It is therefore an advantage to have online banking. There is still a charge of 30-39 kr. to get your bill in your mail box and pay online.
There is the option to tick ‘ Tilmeld PBS’ (register for PBS) in order to have your bills paid automatically online. After the first payment through online banking, you will therefore not receive any more bills in your mailbox, and bills will be paid automatically.
Accommodation
Once your acceptance letter has been sent in, in most cases, the university will sort out your housing for you, through the housing association Ungdomsbo. Please contact accommodations officer Peter Kringhøj at pk@staff.aau.dk. You will need to pay a deposit in advance. The two main accommocation options are Hedelundvej and Sct. George.
There are possibilities for other accommodation. One other main housing association is Aunbøl. See www.aunboel.dk for more information and click ‘Kontakt’ to send a message with any inquiries.
Please observe that each week one member of the house will have to clean the shared areas (kitchen+halls+bathroom). The caretaker will come and inspect this. See the schedule in the entrance hall of the house.
The caretakers must also be contacted 1-2 weeks before you leave, for them to come and check the cleaning. You´ll also be informed by the accommodations officer Peter Kringhøj. On the day of the inspection, it is IMPORTANT that everywhere is clean (your room, kitchen, halls and bathroom). If you wish to receive your full deposit back, painting of the room must also be done. The paint is provided. If you do not wish to do this, an amount to cover this will be taken out of the deposit and the remainder will be paid to you.
