Job guide

Most Danish students supplement their income by working alongside their studies.

International students from EU/EEA are allowed to work unlimited hours, while students from the rest of the world can work a maximum of 15 hours per week during the academic year and full time during the summer holidays (June, July and August).

It is not that difficult to find a job. You do compete with Danish students who are used to having a part time job beside their studies, but if you have a certain amount of perseverance you should be able to succeed.

Work Permit

• Nordic students do not need to apply for a work permit.

• Students from EU countries are automatically permitted to work after they have been granted a residence permit.

• Non European students must before arriving to Denmark apply for a work permit together with a visa to study in Denmark. On acceptance you will receive a letter stating you are permitted to work 15 hours per week (as well as full-time during the months of June, July and August). A work permit sticker will be placed in your passport. Remember to bring a copy of the letter with you to Denmark.

For further information 

Salary

The minimum wage per hour in Denmark is approximately 12 Euro, from which taxes will be deducted. You will have to submit a tax deduction card, banking account number, name, address and CPR number to the pay office of your company.

Taxation

The general rule is that any income, earned in Denmark, is subject to taxation in Denmark, whereas any income earned in another country is subject to tax in that particular country. Denmark has entered into double taxation agreements with a number of countries in order to avoid that tax is paid on the same income in both countries. Prior to departure you should contact the local tax authorities in your home country to settle this matter.

Learning Danish

It will of course improve your chances of finding a spare time job if you speak a little Danish. We therefore recommend that you to attend a Danish language course. Foreigners with a CPR number and an official residence in Denmark are entitled to subsidised Danish Language Education. Please contact the International Office for further information.

Qualified Work

If you are looking for qualified work in Denmark we recommend that you either contact Danish companies who have contacts or interests in your home country or companies in your home country who have subsidiaries or interests in Denmark.

Types of spare time jobs

• Distributing newspapers is a good opportunity, since 70% of the paper boys/girls speak another language than Danish.
  MetroXpress: tel.: 77 30 57 57

• Cleaning: private homes are often looking for cleaning personnel and advertise in local papers. 

• Hotels/restaurants: try contacting some of the hotels and restaurants to get a job as a waitress, night watch, dishwasher or the like. Obviously it is a good idea to take advantage of your qualifications, for example if you as a French speaking person try the French restaurants first.   

• Other possibilities: ask your fellow international and Danish students whether they know somebody who knows somebody. It is quite common in Denmark to ask other people about job opportunities, so do not hesitate. They may know somebody who needs a babysitter, a person to walk the dog, a person to clean in a private home or prepare food for a party or the like. 

Check these websites (some are only in Danish)

     > www.workindenmark.dk
     > www.newtodenmark.dk (the Danish Immigration Service)
     > www.careerjet.dk
     > sparetimejob 
     > www.jobzonen.dk
     > www.stepstone.dk
     > www.adecco.dk
     > www.manpower.dk
     > www.temp-team.dk (temp agencies)