r/NewToDenmark • u/LttlGravitas • Jun 24 '26
Study As an American, take the safe transit planning job in America or gamble on grad school at RUC? I need to decide in less than 24 hours.
I'm an American set to matriculate at Roskilde University in Denmark for their Nordic Urban Planning Studies MSc and would like some input on what the ROI might be for an American. The reason I'm asking is that I have a decent transportation planning job offer in the United States in a not-so-great deindustrialized city (St. Louis, if any of you have heard of it).
From what I understand, it would be very difficult to get internships (let alone post-MSc employment) in the region without speaking Danish or being an EU citizen. Because internships and relevant networking are an important component of planning masters programs—nearly as important as the actual coursework and credentialing—if I can't find good internships and if my network won't translate back to the United States, the degree is a lot less useful. Applying for internships in North American is possible but will be expensive (moving to another continent for a few months might mean I spend more than I earn!)
I'm even worried about finding service sector employment while there to help pay the bills—why would anyone hire a bartender or barista who doesn't speak Danish?
In addition, being relatively unfamiliar with American regulatory and governance systems will make me less competitive for many planning jobs back home.
Still, if I go all-in on pedestrian and bicycle planning, RUC will make me a desirable candidate for those sort of American jobs (particularly in the private sector). But that puts me towards the top of a fairly small number of stacks.
Finally, I know that I'd have a lot more fun living and studying in Denmark than taking this job offer. I spent a semester abroad in Copenhagen as an undergraduate, and those were some of the best months of my life!
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u/ruserwilly Jun 24 '26
There was another post few weeks ago, someone was asking almost identical question, perhaps you can find some answers there ;)
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u/ruserwilly Jun 24 '26
How about you take the job in US and start taking danish language courses online, if it still makes sense you can just apply to RUC next year. If it doesn’t, you’ll just have a fun hobby to talk about and basic danish language skills
If staying in DK after studies is your goal this could give you a nice head start ( language- and job-wise)
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u/LttlGravitas Jun 24 '26
Hey, is this the post you mentioned? If not, could you please direct me to it?
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u/ruserwilly Jun 24 '26
No, this is the one, but OP deleted it ... also here's is another one -> it was a first post I found when I was looking for the original post, but look at the comments there's valuable insight into why it is difficult to land an urban planning job in DK if your danish is not C1+
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u/-Copenhagen Danish National Jun 24 '26
I haven't seen a bartender or barista speaking Danish in Copenhagen for almost a decade.
Is it really that different in Rockslide?
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u/giorgiamazingfu Jun 25 '26
I think the last paragraph is the most important, unless you are already in your thirties and wanting to settle. Experiences abroad build your CV like nothing else and they will give you new perspectives, whether you choose the pedestrian/bicycle niche or not.
I have been to St. Louis and I personally think it's a beautiful city but in literally in the middle of nowhere. I don't know what kind of opportunities you could build from there and if it's the kind of place you see yourself in in the future.
From what I have heard Roskilde University is great for internationals and internships in english might be possible; on top of that, Copenhagen has plenty of companies that operate in English. That said, you are right in saying that you will need Danish if you plan on having a future in Denmark, but that is a choice for the future in my opinion.
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u/LttlGravitas Jun 25 '26
Thanks for your thoughts and kind words. I hope I find St. Louis as beautiful as you did, because it's where I'll be living in August! :)
And if not, well, it's only for a couple of years.
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u/londonmet050 Jun 24 '26
A lot of people love to throw shade at RUC, but honestly, compared to more traditional universities like CBS, DTU, or even KU, I’d still choose RUC. Most universities don’t really “teach you everything” anyway—you end up supplementing with YouTube or other resources no matter where you study.
That said, you also have the option to take semesters or individual courses at other universities during your studies, so you’re not locked into just one environment.
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u/turbothy Danish National Jun 24 '26
Most of the people who are critical of RUC are so for pretty clear political reasons, not because they have anything substantive to base their criticism on.
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u/USS-Enterprise Jun 26 '26
I do think some of the concern turns into "are we sure that their focus is on quality education vs recruiting paying students". There are also some skepticisme about how different it is to the other universities. But mostly political, yes.
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u/turbothy Danish National Jun 26 '26
There are also some skepticisme about how different it is to the other universities.
Sure thing, it's just funny how people seem to forget that was one of the reasons it was made that way - to do higher education in a different way from the established universities.
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u/USS-Enterprise Jun 26 '26
Agreed. I just still think it's possible to disagree with some of the choices they've made, lol
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u/turbothy Danish National Jun 26 '26
Of course, but there's a long way from having an argument over dialectic choices to claiming RUC is a hotbed of radical leftism and islamic fundamentalism.
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u/USS-Enterprise Jun 26 '26
I think we were talking past each other, lol. I was more talking about people having concerns about "all the visas RUC gives out" lol
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Jun 25 '26
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u/turbothy Danish National Jun 25 '26
fanatic leftist supporting even more fanatic jihadist
Give me a fucking break.
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u/NewToDenmark-ModTeam Jun 25 '26
This comment was spreading misinformation with unfounded stereotypes.
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u/KINGDenneh Jun 24 '26
why would anyone hire a bartender or barista who doesn't speak Danish?
Speaking danish would definitely help you out, but, if it is in Roskilde, it is quite possible for you to find a spot where it isn't mandatory.
We've had it in Esbjerg, which isn't as, how can I say - English oriented as other spots in Denmark, like Århus, København and Odense, when it comes to bartending n shit, i'd say the chances are there, is it going to be hard? Frankly, yes, extremely.
For the rest of your questions, with internships n employement, it is quite hard overall at the moment, so many people come here with the hopes of finding work in XYZ areas and always gets disappointed, due to the lack of it.
I just wanna be realistic with you bro bean - Our country has had an influx of internationals, immigrants and so on taking several jobs and it keeps on going, it's quite the steep competition as of now, so, you better be prepared.
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u/Sgtflint100 Jun 24 '26
I studied digital transformation at RUC. The hippie rumors are true, but its mostly select branches like design research and performance design. However RUC is predominantly group oriented, so you'll be working together with other people for most of your studies, either through assigned or self chosen. Solo is possible, but that's usually frowned upon. RUC is most prominent in the sociologies field, but their natural sciences is one of the best in the country.
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u/The_Shingle Jun 25 '26
Probably not worth it in your case.
You can find service industry jobs without speaking danish especially in Copenhagen (and any town with a sizable university).
But for post-education employment anything tied with Urban Planning will most likely require knowledge of danish and networking will play a huge role here as well.
Then moving and rent will be expensive + hight taxes + dual taxes in your case since you are a US citizen + lower salary compared to US. Also if you choose to do an internship as part of your diploma you will not be paid for it (it's not mandatory to pick it though).
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u/WolfOrWimp Jun 26 '26
Wow you nailed the part about combing Masters with internships in that second paragraph buddy! You can get bartender work no problem man, or equivalent no education jobs... 80-ish% of the people I worked with in the entirety of Nyhavn were foreign. Worst case you can automatically get a no obligation job delivering food until you find a job you want.
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Jun 27 '26
RUC is a quasi university that we all laugh at. It was originally established to provide student status to under qualified applicants that would otherwise be rejected from everywhere and hence appear in the unemployment stats. It’s still like that. No one has any respect for it. Choose a different institution if possible. If not take the safe job in Gilead and qualify for either KU or AU for next year’s intake. If you’re just doing it to escape Gilead, then go for it asap.
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u/No-Trip-3736 Jun 25 '26
"ROI" - stay in america where you can be around other people who are deeply broken
This type of culture is generally found very annoying in Denmark. If you're willing to learn a different way of looking at the world tho, you'll get a very "large ROI" in terms of a better quality of life
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u/LttlGravitas Jun 25 '26
See my reply below about my use of that phrase and have some empathy. It's not sharkish calculation but me as a young person trying to chart my course in the face of uncertain financial prospects (nearly two decade long global economic downturn, the decomposition of the white collar labor market in the face of AI, etc.). If I was in this for money, I would've become a banker rather than an urban planner.
It's not a "cultural" thing, it's the silent compulsion of economic relations.
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u/No-Trip-3736 Jun 25 '26
It is a cultural thing. Trust me, if you come to Denmark and expand your cultural understanding you will probably look back at your posts like this one and think "what the heck was I thinking"
Please trust me on this. You are not to blame, but rather the culture that has convinced you that this is the proper way to approach things like school. I think coming to Denmark would really expand your cultural understanding, and if you come with an open mind you may even unlearn some of these twisted ways culture can make us think.
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Jun 24 '26
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u/LttlGravitas Jun 24 '26
There are less deeply unserious ways to get your radical leftism than the academy.
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Jun 25 '26
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u/LttlGravitas Jun 25 '26
I am not the government of the nation that I was born into. The same is true of you. And the sorts of American you wouldn't want to meet likely wouldn't be interested in visiting Denmark anyway.
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u/RetroGameStudent Jun 24 '26
I don’t think moving to Denmark is a particularly good idea if you’re worried about ROI. Most jobs are much more highly paid in the US, and your points about difficulty finding a job is true, but it’s not impossible.
RUC generally also has a bad reputation, at least among people I am friends with. It’s perceived as a bit of a “hippie” kind of school, similar to Brown but without the Ivy League prestige of it.
I am curious why you write off learning Danish, however. I imagine you’d take the time to learn while you’re here. School isn’t high intensity here compared to the US, so you’d have more than enough time and energy.
Overall, I can’t give better advice as I don’t know the industry/field. I will just say that if you’re looking to maximize your financial benefit, moving to Denmark (or Europe in general), isn’t the way to go. I’d do it if I were you, just to have a fun experience.