Eligibility
Program Description
Visa and Travel Documents
Getting There
AFS Orientations and Activities
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Be between 15 years 6 months and 18 years 0 months old at the start of the program
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- Be in good mental, physical, and emotional health in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policy
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Program Description
As with all AFS high school programs, you will be placed with a volunteer host family while attending a local host school. Learn more about life in Denmark.
Students are placed throughout the Denmark.
The ability to speak Danish is not a prerequisite for the program but we strongly suggest that you learn as much as possible prior to departure.
Vegetarians can be particularly difficult to place, since the Danish cuisine consists of a wide variety of meats and fish.
Visa and Travel Documents
In order to participate in this program, you must have a U.S. passport that is valid for six months longer than your intended stay.
In addition to your passport, you also need a student visa to enter and reside in your host country.
The visa application process for Denmark is detailed, time-consuming, and costly. It involves collecting a number of documents including a parental consent form and transcripts.
The current visa processing fee is US$122, not including the cost of obtaining, translating, notarizing, and mailing the required documents. Please note that these fees and requirements are determined by the consulates and are subject to change.
AFS USA will provide you with detailed visa application instructions in the months prior to your departure.
Getting There
You and your fellow AFSers will travel together from one of the gateway cities in the United States. You all will arrive in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, collect your baggage and pass through customs. You will be met by AFS staff and volunteers and will participate in a welcome orientation together where you will be taught some Danish and participate in activities.
AFS Orientations and Activities
AFS will provide you with several orientations throughout your experience. These orientations give you a chance to gather important information about your host country, to meet other AFS teens from around the world, to share experiences and make friends. These group activities give you a chance to understand and process your intercultural learning experience during your time abroad as well as when you are returning home.
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in Copenhagen. This will be a 4 day orientation that is intended to prepare you for your first weeks abroad. At the language and orientation camp, you will do most of the practical work: cleaning, cooking, shopping, etc. This involves hard work, but it will be an unforgettable experience. You will make friends from all over the world and join in games, singing and dancing. In other words, it will be fun! You will then travel to your host community.
About 10 weeks in to your stay, you will have another orientation, once again organized at the national level and held outside of Copenhagen. This will last for 2-3 days and will focus on cultural and school adjustment. You will also meet with AFS staff and volunteers to evaluate your first few weeks and be offered guidance to make the transition as smooth as possible.
If you are participating in a year program, you will also be offered a 2 day mid-stay orientation about 5 months in to your stay. Once again, this will be a time to meet with staff and volunteers, evaluate the first part of your experience, and gain more tips to aid your cultural adjustment.
Finally, there will be an evaluation camp in the weeks prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize the AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Denmark. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at the student’s expense.
