A good university is characterized not by its qualified research and teaching alone, but also by its student environment. Aalborg and its surrounding areas offer you a wide range of social and cultural activities.

Explore Europe
During the holiday periods, over long weekends, and in between exams in January and June, you'll find ample opportunities to explore Denmark and nearby countries. The International Office organizes an excursion to Skagen each semester, and groups of students usually organize a weekend at a nearby cabin at the beginning of each fall semester. You'll probably be most satisfied, however, if you take a "do-it-yourself" approach to exploring Europe-then you'll have nobody to blame but yourself!

The brochure "Top of Denmark" identifies numerous interesting sites and activities in towns north of Aalborg. They can be reached by train or bus in less than two hours at a cost of approximately 75 kr-add another 25 kr if you take your bicycle on the train-plus 80-120 kroner per night if you decide to sleep over at a youth hostel. You'll find similarly interesting activities to the south and west of Aalborg. For example, Hjerle Hede--a living museum of Danish history from 1500 to 1900 is just 2 hours by train, and the wonderful beaches on Denmark's west coast, which attract thousands of tourists each summer, can be reached in an hour.

Copenhagen is but six hours from Aalborg by train, and purchasing a Copenhagen Card makes a weekend visit quite affordable. Denmark is also a good "jumping off" point for visiting other points in Northern Europe. Stena Line and Color Line offer special prices throughout the year to attract visitors to Gothenberg, Sweden and Oslo, Norway from Frederikshavn and Hirtshals. Charter companies organize affordable ski trips to Norway, Sweden and Austria during February and March, as well as trips to the sun-filled coasts of Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands-many of which are targeted especially at students.

Combining your academic interests with your desire to visit other points in Europe makes a lot of sense and is an economical use of your time and money. Will you be doing your project on a topic relating to Northern Ireland, England, France, Germany, Spain, or about policies of the European Union? Then plan your project and structure your time to spend one or two weeks visiting these countries to collect data for your project-with advice and assistance from your project advisor.