additional_tips

CREATE/UPDATE YOUR S&L PROFILE
A profile has been set up for you on the S&L homepage (www.sl.life.ku.dk). S&L will send you a username for creating and editing your profile in a program called Sitecore. See http://portal.sl.life.ku.dk/Vejledning/Hjemmesiden/Sitecore.aspx for a guide to editing your profile.

 

USING GROUPWISE CALENDAR
Take advantage of your Groupwise calendar function to let colleagues know when you will be in or out of the office, attending courses, or attending conferences and other events. You can also use the calendar to send invitations to colleagues for meetings and other appointments. These invitations can either be accepted or rejected, based on availability.
First point of contact for assistance: Officemates

 

ORDER KU BUSINESS CARDS
At specified times during the year, you can order business cards (100, 200 or 300 count) from the divisional secretary. An e-mail will be sent out or a notice will appear in the S&L weekly newsletter when an order can be made.

 

COURSE SELECTION
You can search LIFE PhD courses at http://phdcourses.life.ku.dk/search.aspx
First point of contact for selecting your courses: Your supervisor
Additional advice about course quality and relevance to your project: Officemates
Tip: You are also encouraged to search for relevant courses within other KU departments (i.e. Geography, Economics), at other Danish universities, and even foreign universities, if relevant to your PhD program. With prior approval, you will receive credit toward your degree.

You can begin your search by checking out these course listing pages:
 Århus University (Denmark): http://agrsci.au.dk/uddannelse/forskeruddannelse/phd_courses
 http://mit.au.dk/coursecatalogue/index.cfm
 Danmarks Tekniske Universitet: http://www.kurser.dtu.dk/search.aspx
 European Group for Organizational Studies: http://www.egosnet.org/jart/prj3/egosnet/main.jart?rel=en&content-id=1227251866276&reserve-mode=active
 NOVA (The Nordic Forestry, Veterinary and Agricultural University Network)- http://www.nova-university.org/
 NORDFORSK (Nordic organization responsible for cooperation on research and researcher training in the Nordic region): http://www.nordforsk.org/text.cfm?path=15
 Roskilde University (Denmark): http://magenta.ruc.dk/ruc/forskning/phd/
 Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences: http://www.slu.se/en/education/postgraduate-studies/search-phd-courses/ (they have a campus in Alnarp, only 20 min by bus from Malmö)
 Copenhagen Business School: www.cbs.dk
Other possibilities: Universität Göttingen, Bangor University, U.S. Universities (i.e. Oregon State University Corvallis, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, University of Rochester, New York).

 

COURSE REGISTRATION
PhD students who wish to register for MSc courses must do the following:
1. Obtain pre-approval using the form S9/F9 (see http://www.life.ku.dk/English/Maalgruppe/Employees/phd_intra/Regulations_and_forms/PhD-Forms.aspx) 2. When the pre-approval is in order (not before!) send an e-mail to Ane Mette Holmsten (), in Study and Students’ Affairs, including:
a. Your name
b. Proof of approval of the course c. The name and number of the course you wish to attend
Note: the PhD study board convenes only once a month, hence there can be a substantial delay.
First point of contact for assistance: Your supervisor

 

UTILIZING LIBRARY SERVICES
Set up a meeting with a library representative to learn how to access important resources. Find out how you can access online material and request other materials to be sent to your office when they become available.
Questions are answered within 24 hours on weekdays.
Telephone service: Open weekdays 9-15. Telephone: 3533-2145
Book an information specialist at: http://www.bvfb.life.ku.dk/English/guidance/consult.aspx The specialist offers researchers, PhD and MSc students individual guidance in literature searches of approx. one hour's duration. The offer also applies to smaller groups. Based on your subject they will go through search techniques, relevant databases and other information resources and we can provide a brief introduction to a reference management program. The offer applies when you have experience in searching REX and literature databases.
First point of contact: Library personnel (phone or walk-in consult)
Note: You can also register at public libraries (free of charge with your CPR card) and borrow books and films. Most libraries have a foreign language books section. Most or all of them should have free internet and many of them also have free wifi.

 

PROJECT PURCHASING AND EXPENSE TRACKING
PhD Students are allotted approx. 60.000 DKK each year for three years to be used for their project. Covered expenses include books, research-related equipment, fieldwork expenses, and conference expenses. It is the PhD´s responsibility to track his/her expenditures. If the student would like to spend a significantly larger sum than 60.000 DKK in a single year (i.e. 100.000 DKK) the student should discuss the planned expenditure with the head of the Division (Bo Thorsen).
Expense advances can be requested by submitting the Rejseforskuds form to the Division Head, who approves and forwards the form to the Secretariat. You can find this form at http://portal.sl.life.ku.dk/Default.aspx, under the Blanketter tab, under Rejser, click on Rejseforskudsblanket. Even if your advance is related to books and other non-travel items, you can use this form.
Expense claims can be submitted to the Division Head, who will approve and forward the claims to the Secretariat. For ordinary expenses go to http://portal.sl.life.ku.dk/Default.aspx and, under the Blanketter tab, under Økonomi, click on Udlæg. For travel expenses, go to http://portal.sl.life.ku.dk/Default.aspx and, under the Blanketter tab, under Rejser, click on Rejseafregning.
Travel expense claims should be signed by the PhD student and the Division Head or someone else with the mandate to sign off (ask a colleague), and submitted along with copies of all relevant receipts. Travel receipts should be organized according to categories indicated on expense claim (i.e. Lodging, Transportation), then by date.
First point of contact: Request help from an officemate when submitting your advance request or expense claim for the first time.
Expenses can be tracked online by clicking on “Disoverer” shortcut icon on your desktop and logging in using the same code used for ØSS. Send an e-mail to , regarding any discrepancies between your records and what appears online. Note there can be a significant delay in posting of expenses.
Note: PhD should meet with supervisor to approval his/her general project budget.

 

DANISH GOVERNMENT TRAVEL INSURANCE CARD
Pick up your free travel insurance card from the S&L receptionist. You are entitled to benefits related to certain medical expenses, repatriation, delayed or lost baggage, personal liability, and more, when travelling on University business.
First point of contact: S&L receptionist

 

MOBILE PHONE IN DENMARK
For a subscription, a CPR number is required. A subscription provides the lowest cost packages. Yet a pay-as-you go plan requires neither paperwork nor identification – just walk in to get a new Danish SIM card and purchase credit. All companies are similar; TDC is known to have a good network outside of Denmark.
First point of contact: Friends and colleagues

 

TRANSPORTATION AROUND COPENHAGEN
Daily metro and bus transportation are expensive, but monthly passes are more reasonable (approx. 320 DKK). First-time monthly passes with your photo can be purchased at the bigger metro stations. Once you have your photo inserted (you must provide a passport-sized photo) these passes can be renewed at metro and train stations, and most kiosks. You can also purchase tickets in bulk called klipperkorts (10 clips on a single piece of paper, one or more clips for each journey, depending on the number of zones you cross). These tickets can also be purchased at the metro or train station, and at most kiosks. Klipperkorts are cheaper per ride than purchasing metro or bus tickets one at a time. .
Buying a city map with all the street names is helpful during your first few weeks, until you get oriented. Free maps are available at tourist information kiosks in the City.
Use the journey planner Rejseplanen: http://www.rejseplanen.dk (available in English) to navigate journey times and bus/ metro numbers.
Most individuals use bicycles to move around the city. There are many options ranging from very cheap to very expensive.
Useful websites for buying used items, including bicycles:
www.dba.dk
http://netforum.dsr.life.ku.dk/ (Student Forum at Faculty of Life Sciences)
Big supermarkets such as Kvickly also sell bicycles, and there are many small shops around the city.
Police auctions (held once or twice a year and announced in free, local newspapers) are also an option to find a used bike. A new bike can easily cost 2000-3000 DKK; used bikes are also available in smaller shops. Ads are posted all around Copenhagen as well.
First point of contact: Friends and colleagues

 

DANISH LANGUAGE COURSES IN DENMARK
PhDs have the right to up to three years of free Danish courses. If you can fit the classes into your schedule, other students highly recommend attempting to learn Danish. Not only will it be extremely helpful in your daily life inside and outside of work, it can greatly enhance your interaction with Danes, even though they have excellent English skills, and it can even be fun to learn! Note that if you are registered as living in the Frederiksberg Kommune you will be required to pay a small fee to attend courses.
Some potential schools:
http://www.kbh-sprogcenter.dk/
http://www.studieskolen.dk/
http://www.kiss.dk:83/
http://www.sprogcenter-ia.dk/
http://www.danskbureauet.dk/
http://www.cbsisprogcenter.kk.dk/
http://www.vuf.nu/ (in Frederiksberg)
Another website listing potential courses: http://cip.ku.dk/english/course_catalogue/da_international/
The University also offers some Danish courses and some of these can be found in the e-LIFE newsletter or on the KU website. Search online for other options.
First point of contact for advice: Officemates and other ex-pats

MEDICAL, DENTAL AND PENSION BENEFITS FOR PhDs
You will be assigned a general medical practitioner (“GP”) in your neighborhood when you apply for your CPR card and you are free to choose an alternative if you desire.
Always bring your CPR card with you to the doctor´s office.
MEDICAL: General consults, labwork, and referrals specialists are all free. Most doctors are personally available for phone consultations certain weekdays between 08:00 and 09:00. In case of medical emergencies, you should phone BEFORE visiting the ER (this phone number depends on where you reside, but you should receive a phonebook when you register your address). The General emergency number (police, case of fire) is 112.
Ear, Nose and Throat specialists must be contacted independently from your GP visit, and their consultations are also free. Eye Specialists require a referral, and services are only partially subsidized. If you require glasses you can book an appointment at a local shop.
For female students: GPs can perform some general consults/exams related to gynecological issues, but a referral to an OB-GYN can also be requested for further consults.
Physiotherapy is not fully subsidized, but a slight discount is available with a referral from a GP.
DENTAL: Find a dentist in your neighborhood and contact them. Dental is partially subsidized by the general health scheme, but is still relatively expensive.
UNIPENSION: You are eligible to receive benefits in the MP Pension scheme, through Unipension. This pension scheme is a flexible pension scheme offering pension and insurance converage upon the event of: retirement, critical illness, loss of earning capability, and death. You are initially admitted with basic coverage, but you can tailor your scheme to fit your needs. Information will be sent to you in the mail.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR NEW PHDs
Check out the following websites for additional information for new arrivals:
Skov & Landskab Division 5 guidelines for PhD students: Pick up a copy from Division Head if you don´t have one already.
KU’s International Staff Mobility webpage: http://ism.ku.dk/
Copenhagen´s International Service webpage (full of information on living and working in Copenhagen): http://www.kk.dk/cphinternational.aspx
LIFE Student Forum: http://netforum.dsr.life.ku.dk
All about Copenhagen: http://www.aok.dk/
KultuNaut (Denmark’s largest electronic culture calendar (current and upcoming events): http://kultunaut.dk/
Politiken.dk newspaper: http://ibyen.dk/
Website for buying and selling used items: www.dba.dk – in Danish
Current Listings of Markets and Bazaars throughout Denmark: http://www.markedskalenderen.dk/marked/loppemarked.asp