About Nordfyns

A different kind of school. A different way to learn.

Imagine spending several months living and learning with people from Denmark and around the world. Trying subjects you've never tried before. Creating your own schedule. Travelling together. Spending your afternoons at the beach, in the workshop, on the mountain bike trails or around a bonfire with your new friends.

There are no grades. No exams. And no pressure to perform academically. Instead, you get time and space to explore your interests, challenge yourself, meet new people and figure out what you're curious and passionate about.

Welcome to Nordfyns Højskole!

What is a Danish Folk High School?

If you've never heard of a Danish Folk High School before, you're not alone. The concept of højskole is quite unique to Denmark.

A Folk High School is a non-formal residential school where you live, learn and socialise alongside other students for several months. You don't need to follow a traditional academic programme, and there are no grades or exams. Instead, the focus is on learning, personal development and community. Figuring out who you are, and what you want to do with your life.

You choose the subjects that interest you and create your own schedule. You live at the school, eat your meals together, take part in activities and spend your everyday life with your fellow students. Think of it as a mix between a school, a shared home, a gap year and a community – with plenty of freedom to make the experience your own.

Folk High Schools have been part of Danish culture since the 19th century and remain a unique part of Danish society today. There are around 70 Folk High Schools across Denmark, each with its own character and focus.

Why choose Nordfyns?

Nordfyns Højskole is located on the island of Funen, in one of the most scenic parts of Denmark. But what makes the school special isn't just where we are. It's who you meet, what you do and how you spend your everyday life together.

🌍 An international community

At Nordfyns, you'll become part of a diverse community with students from Denmark and different parts of the world. You'll meet people who have grown up differently from you, speak different languages and see the world from different perspectives. But being an international school isn't just about having students from different countries. It's about being curious about each other.

Our Danish students are just as curious about the people they meet from other countries as our international students are about Denmark. They want to hear your stories, learn about where you come from and share their own culture with you. At Nordfyns, international students aren't a separate group. We are one community.

You don't have to be Danish to feel at home here. Whether you're from Denmark, Germany, the US, Japan or somewhere in between, you're part of the same community from day one. You'll live together, eat together, travel together, laugh together and probably spend far too many evenings talking about life. You might arrive in Denmark not knowing a single person. Before long, you might find yourself having dinner with Danish students, joining a spontaneous activity, hanging out in the café or making plans for the weekend with people from all over the world.

You don't just learn about other cultures. You experience them through the people you live with.

🎨 Build your own schedule

One of the most unique things about Nordfyns is the freedom to decide what you want your everyday life to look like. Here, you choose the subjects that interest you and combine them in your own schedule. You might spend your week making ceramics, going mountain biking, exploring sustainability and getting stuck into a creative project. Or you might discover completely new interests along the way.

There is no right combination. You make it your own.

Our classes are not about getting the highest grade or passing an exam. They're about being curious, trying things out and learning because you actually want to.

Discover our subjects here.

🌱 Learning beyond the classroom

At Nordfyns, learning doesn't stop when class ends. Some of the most memorable parts of your stay might happen on a trip, during a spontaneous afternoon activity, while cooking dinner with your friends or sitting around a fire late at night. We travel together during the semester, explore Denmark and take part in activities outside the school.

You'll also have the opportunity to join our longer trip to Japan, where you'll experience Japanese culture, take part in volunteer work and explore the country together with your fellow students.

The people you share these experiences with often become just as important as the places you visit.

🏡 A home away from home

Moving to another country can feel exciting – and a little overwhelming. That's why community is such an important part of life at Nordfyns.

You'll live at the school alongside your fellow students, share meals and everyday routines, and always have people around you who are going through many of the same experiences.

Whether you're trying to navigate Danish public transport, wondering what something on the menu means, missing home or simply need someone to talk to, you're not doing it alone.

For many students, Nordfyns becomes a home away from home.

Explore rooms and accomodations here.

What is life at Nordfyns actually like?

There isn't really a “normal” day at Nordfyns. And that's part of the fun.

One day might start with a morning class, followed by lunch with your friends and an afternoon in the ceramics workshop. Another might involve mountain biking through the forest, a trip to the beach or a spontaneous game of volleyball.

In the evening, you might cook together, hang out in the student café, relax in the sauna or sit around one of the school's firepits.

The school grounds are a little like an eclectic village. Our main building is a former community school from 1914, and over the years the campus has grown to include student accommodation, classrooms, creative workshops, music spaces and lots of outdoor areas.

You'll find gardens with fruit and vegetables, sports courts, a DIY greenhouse built from repurposed windows, a sauna and shelters and firepits created together with former students.

Life on Funen

Nordfyns Højskole is located in Harritslev, close to the small coastal town of Bogense. You'll have nature right outside your door, while still being close enough to explore the rest of Denmark. Bogense is about 3 kilometres away and has shops, cafés, restaurants and a lovely beach.

Odense, Denmark's third-largest city, is around 30 minutes away by bus. And when you want to explore Copenhagen or other parts of Denmark, it's easy to travel further afield.

So while you're living in the countryside, you're never far from the rest of Denmark.

Explore the area around the school here.

And then there's Japan

The adventure doesn't necessarily end when the semester does. We offer a two-month trip to Japan, where you can experience Japanese culture up close, take part in volunteer work and explore the country with the people you've spent your semester getting to know.

Think about it: You arrive in Denmark not knowing anyone. You spend months living, learning and travelling with your new friends. And then you get on a plane together and experience Japan.

It's difficult to imagine a better way to turn a group of strangers into lifelong friends and exploring a new culture.

Find more information about our trips to Japan here.

Who comes to Nordfyns?

Most of our students are between 18 and 25 years old, but what they have in common isn't a specific educational background or a fixed career plan.

Some students come straight from high school. Others have been to university, taken a gap year, worked for a while or simply feel like they need a change.

Some know exactly what they want to explore. Others have no idea yet.

You don't need to have your future figured out before you arrive. You just need to be open to trying something new.

Is Nordfyns for you?

Nordfyns might be the right place for you if you...

want to meet people from different countries and cultures
want to experience Denmark as more than a tourist
are curious about trying new things
want a break from school, university or work
don't know exactly what you want to do next
want to develop new skills without worrying about grades
enjoy being active, creative, curious or outdoors
want to travel, but don't want to travel alone
are looking for a strong community and a place where you can be yourself