Studying in the World’s Most Livable City

Written by Will Fantle, Foster undergraduate

I’m now more than halfway through my exchange program at CBS in Copenhagen, and while the days are getting shorter the list of stories continues to grow. Of all the places I’ve been, Copenhagen in my opinion ranks as one of the most livable. The metro system is incredible, and when paired with a bicycle infrastructure designed to accommodate a city with more bicycle commuters than automobile, the city is extremely accessible. Most things are quite expensive, especially eating out, but on the bright side I’ve honed my cooking skills and mastered just about any kind of pasta or chicken combo.

I’ve met people from all over the world, their stories of home only further fueling my desire to travel (of which I’ve done quite a bit!). So far my highlights have been hiking and kayaking in the fjords of Norway, exploring the glaciers and hot springs of Iceland, and experiencing the history and culture of Berlin and Budapest.

Ahh yes, and school. CBS is one of the largest business schools in Europe with over 20,000 business students, and 3,500+ international students. The main buildings are beautiful (one of which has its own bar called Nexus that becomes a club on Thursday nights), and campus food is quite good. Library seating is somewhat limited, as is classroom space apparently as I have had several classes held in the movie theater next to campus. The classes are long and the grading system stressful, with 100% of your grade based on the final, consisting of either an oral exam, four-hour written exam, or 48-72 hour take home papers. However, if you manage the work load and listen in class it isn’t as bad as it sounds (or so I’ve been told). I have had no regrets so far, and can’t wait to see what the second half of this adventure will bring!