Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

In 1829, when Hans Christian Ørsted founded what became the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), he created an eloquent response to an important need in society: to make use of scientific progress in the service of society by applying technology.

DTU has applied this fundamental idea for the past 177 years. Based on intensive efforts in research, innovation and the transfer of knowledge, DTU has contributed to Denmark achieving a leading position within such diverse fields as design, wind energy, biotechnology, electronics and telecommunication. DTU thereby deserves a substantial share of the credit for Denmark being able, despite its modest size, to create and maintain a welfare society that is the envy of many nations.

At DTU, we have always taken our role as a leading force within the technical and natural sciences seriously. We provide education, research and innovation at a high international level. Further, DTU has strived since 1829 to build sustainable bridges between academia and industry. In 2005, DTU manifested this by such accomplishments as concluding 350 partnership agreements with companies.

DTU is a leading technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best universities in the world. The number of publications in frequently cited scientific journals has increased in recent years, and 44% of the publications registered by the Science Citation Index of the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) in 2005 were prepared in collaboration with one or more researchers based outside Denmark. The internationalization of DTU also continued with more than one fifth of DTU's scientific staff being recruited from outside Denmark and with an increasing number of international students.

The special Scandinavian way pervades life at DTU. Students and teachers work more informally than at most other Universities. Education is largely based on the students' active participation and taking independent responsibility. Students learn to work individually and in groups. They also learn to ask questions, be innovative and to find and explore interrelationships. Thus, they are trained to create new value.

Student life

Culture

DTU is situated in Kongens Lyngby which is part of the greater Copenhagen area and employees at DTU thus have access to a great variety of cultural institutions and events.

There are several websites with introductions to cultural life in Copenhagen, listings of museums, theatres, restaurants and night life hints to what is hot right now.

For a comprehensive introduction, you may wish to consult the website of the The Copenhagen tourist agency, Wonderful Copenhagen.

The website AOK (the Danish abbreviation for All About Copenhagen) is good for comprehensive listings and an update on current events.

Living costs

Living in Denmark and the Scandinavian countries is more expensive than in other European countries, and luxury goods are heavily taxed (e.g. cars). On the other hand, many welfare goods are offered for free and Danes generally have a high standard of living.

Language courses

While you may not find it necessary to learn Danish for work purpose, you will without doubt find it worth while for socializing with the Danes, for following the conversation at lunch time and in order to keep track of what goes on at DTU in general. And even more so, if you wish to take part in the governance of DTU. Danish is the official language of DTU and the majority of our departments.

DTU offers a Danish language course for foreign employees which takes place on the DTU campus on Wednesday mornings. The course costs app. 4.000 DKK. Please ask your host department for further information and registration.

Alternatively, there are a number of language schools in the Copenhagen and Lyngby area accommodating for different needs ranging from classes offered at municipal level to private language schools offering individual sessions.

Transportation in the Copenhagen area

Denmark has a good infrastructure and a well functioning public transportation system with possibilities to buy multi trip tickets as well as monthly cards with discount.

Most Danes have a bike and many use this as their daily means of transport. You will find that the infrastructure is adapted to this, offering bike lanes as well as possbilities to bring your bike on the train.

Transportation in the Copenhagen area is done by bus, S-train and Metro.

Social insurance

If you are liable to taxes in Denmark, you are covered by the Danish social security system. There are however some exemptions and limitations depending on which country you come from and the time you have spent in Denmark.

With the exception of unemployment insurance, the Danish social security system covers everything from family support, support for child care, illness, maternity leave and occupational injury to the national pension scheme.