A more sustainable stay abroad

STADS is up and running

STADS is once again up and running, and you can register for spring classes and exams. The registration deadline is Thursday 7 November at 23.59.

Green Guide for AU students going on exchange

Here you will find information on how to achieve a more sustainable - a greener - stay abroad.

Preparing to go abroad

If you are taking the opportunity to tidy up and get rid of things, do not throw away items that could be useful to others
Donate them to AU's secondhand bazar
Give them away or sell them - e.g. via Facebook Marketplace

Getting there

Travel green and begin your adventure abroad from your very own door doorstep by traveling with train, bus or carpool while exploring the world and meeting new people.

Advantages:

Reduce your transport-related carbon footprint
Visit more cities while traveling to your new city
Experience the changing nature and landscape
Travel with non-aircraft-friendly luggage

Disadvantages

Green travel can be more expensive
Green travel is often more time consuming

Train

Traveling internationally by train can be expensive - perhaps you can save money and get more value by getting a Interrail Pass
Seat61 has many tips on train rides all over Europe and the rest of the world - the timetables, prices and links to websites where you can book your trip
Other relevant websites could be Bahn.de, Happyrail, NS International and Raileurop

Bus

Flixbus is Europe's largest intercity bus network
If you want to weigh different travel options Comparabus, BlaBlaBus and Omio could be relevant websites

Carpool

Carpool is a great way to travel green and meet people - perhaps you will meet your very first friend in your new city by getting here?
You can find carpool rides via Facebook or relevant website such as BlaBlaCar or Carpool

If taking the plane is inevitable, you can still lower your emission:

Bring as little luggage as you can
Do some research on the airline – are they doing what they can to lower their emission?

CO2, time, cost? See calculated examples of journeys to universities

Circle U is an alliance between nine European universities who have a strong collaboration on mobility, inclusion and sustainability. Below are calculated examples of how to travel most cheaply, quickly and sustainably to Circle U universities. Find out more about exchange opportunities to Circle U universities here.

*Flights are calculated with departure from Billund airport, with baggage included in the ticket price (15-23 kg).
** CO2 emission has been calculated on www.carbonfootprint.com

Flights have been found via momondo.com.
Bus and rail journeys have been found via DSB, Omio and Flixbus.

Belgrade University

(copy 13)

	COST	TRAVEL TIME	CO2 EMISSION**
TRAIN	102 EURO	25 hours	50 kg
BUS	69 EURO	34 hours	200 kg
PLANE*	188 EURO	6 hours	270 kg

Humboldt University Berlin

(copy 15)

	COST	TRAVEL TIME	CO2 EMISSION**
TRAIN	39 EURO	7 hours	20 kg
BUS	20 EURO	9 hours	70 kg
PLANE*	92 EURO	5 hours	140 kg

King's College London

(copy 17)

(copy 18)

	COST	TRAVEL TIME	CO2 EMISSION**
TRAIN	96 EURO	14 hours	10 kg
BUS	59 EURO	33 hours	180 kg
PLANE*	26 EURO	2 hours	230 kg

Louvain University

(copy 19)

	COST	TRAVEL TIME	CO2 EMISSION**
TRAIN	46 EURO	13 hours	10 kg
BUS	64 EURO	24 hours	100 kg
PLANE*	58 EURO	2 hours	180 kg

Oslo University

(copy 21)

	COST	TRAVEL TIME	CO2 EMISSION**
TRAIN	90 EURO	11 hours	40 kg
BUS	47 EURO	13 hours	90 kg
PLANE*	60 EURO	1 hour	130 kg

Université de Paris

(copy 23)

	COST	TRAVEL TIME	CO2 EMISSION**
TRAIN	82 EURO	13 hours	10 kg
BUS	53 EURO	17 hours	140 kg
PLANE*	88 EURO	2 hours	250 kg

Università di Pisa

(copy 25)

	COST	TRAVEL TIME	CO2 EMISSION**
TRAIN	78 EURO	28 hours	10 kg
BUS	76 EURO	35 hours	180 kg
PLANE*	90 EURO	5 hours	400 kg

Vienna University

(copy 27)

	COST	TRAVEL TIME	CO2 EMISSION**
TRAIN	90 EURO	15 hours	10 kg
BUS	43 EURO	19 hours	130 kg
PLANE*	94 EURO	2 hours	270 kg

Arriving and settling in

Accommodation

Take a night train to avoid accommodation costs while exploring the world
Find greener accommodation options on websites such as EcoBnb and Green Pearls

Obtain necessary things

Use a secondhand bazar for students if your host institution has one
Buy clothes, furnitures and kitching supplies second hand - try Facebook Marketplace or ask a local student

Waste and recycling

Allocate some time to figure out how the recycling system works
Ask your host university or peers if they have any advice about waste and recycling

Living abroad

Getting around

When possible, get around by walking, biking or using public transport
Ask your host university or peers if they have any advice about getting around
Renting a bike (e.g. through Swapfiets) is a great alternative if you do not wish to purchase one - you often get free repairs and when you leave, you simply return it
If public transport is not an option, your can use carpool as a green alternative - BlaBlaCar is used in many European countries

Shopping

Minimize your purchases and buy second hand when possible
Borrow or share clothes with your dorm mates or fellow students - e.g. if you are going to a specific event
Bring your own resuable bag and bring down the consumption of plastic carrier bags

Food

Eat plant based and locally harvested food
Minimize your service waste e.g. by bringing your own coffee mug to campus and using reusable boxes and bags to store your food
Ask your peers if they have any advice about minimizing food and service waste

Books and papers

Buy your books secondhand - ask your peers if they have any advice about buying second books
If possible, avoid printing - use digital notes and e-books as alternatives
If printing is inevitable, print on both sides and in black/white to minimize the use of paper and ink

Preparing to go home

Get rid of your stuff

Do not throw away items that could be useful to others
Give them away or sell them - e.g. via Facebook Marketplace
Donate them to a secondhand store or a secondhand bazar for students

Sustainable souvenirs

Think twice before buying souvenirs - make sure the items will be used and appreciated
Buy sustainable souvenirs such as food, spices, tea and locally produced things
Buy light-weighted souvenirs in order to travel with as little luggage as possible

AU Green Guide

In AU Green Guide, you can find more inspiration on how you can contribute to a greener university

Claus travelled to Munich by train

Travel green to your exchange destination - read about Claus’ journey from Aarhus to Munich.

Gin combats the climate crisis through activism

Get involved in climate activism and grow your network while studying abroad – like Gin does in Aarhus.

Sofie has furnished her room with second-hand items

How will you furnish your ‘home away from home’? Sofie decorated her room in Bergen with second-hand items – read her story.

If you have any advice, ideas or inputs, please write to ic@au.dk.

Revised 02.07.2024

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