Lorina Pencheva

Marketing & Management Communication,
Aarhus University BSS

We have been working with Lorina since the beginning of 2018, when she was in 12th grade and was just beginning to find out what she wanted to do in the future. Together we chose the most appropriate specialty for her – Marketing and Management Communication at the second best university in Denmark – Aarhus University. Her motivation, enthusiasm and confidence were evident during the preparation of the documents and continued to reveal during her education. She will soon have a bachelor’s degree, and you can read about her difficulties, opportunities and successes in the interview with her.

Which high school did you graduate from in Bulgaria? How did you focus on education abroad? And why did you choose Denmark?

I graduated from a high school teaching foreign languages ​​”Yordan Radichkov” in my small hometown Vidin. Even in the beginning of my high school years I could not stay still and I was always looking for opportunities to travel somewhere around Bulgaria. After my first Erasmus+ project, which took place in Portugal, it became clear to me that I wanted to study abroad. I immediately realized that I wanted to embark on the adventure of living in another country and to be surrounded by colorful people of all nationalities.

I was attracted to Denmark by the free education, as well as the good reputation of the Scandinavian universities. These two things in combination seemed like a winning option to me – and it really turned out that way. I knew I needed help from a consulting agency, but I was looking for one that specializes in Denmark – that’s how I came across DanBul Study, for which I am extremely grateful.

What were the benefits of this decision?

The benefits are countless. The transition from high school to university is a big step in the life of every student, and with this step come many changes. I moved from the small Vidin to the second largest city in Denmark, with only two suitcases and big dreams for the future. Here I grew up both as a person and personality, I met friends and hundreds of opportunities for development opened up in front of me.

What were some of the difficulties that you had to face?

The difficulties are relatively less than the benefits, but that does not mean that they are insignificant. The culture shock, building my independence, finding a job and overall orientation in a new country are some of the things that every foreigner in Denmark has gone through. I was lucky enough to be able to rely on my parents during the first year of university until I found a job – and I would point to finding a job as one of the biggest difficulties.

How did you cope with the culture shock? What was it like?

For me, the most noticeable difference was the natural social distance in the Danish society. This, of course, does not apply to activities at the university, but rather outside, in public spaces. However, I realized that it’s much cooler when people pay attention to themselves and not judge random people by their appearance or behavior. The Danes also have a slightly different way of having fun, so I advise everyone to prepare for the liters of beer they drink at parties! 😀

Tell us about your university. What did you like?

Aarhus University BSS is a prestigious university – since September 2020 it is the second best university in Denmark and №106 in the world. In my program there is a palette of courses from different fields – communication, economics, management, business, etc. I have lecturers both from Denmark and from all over the world. I like the broad-mindedness of the lecturers, who are always ready to help and behave more like friends, rather than the classic lecturers I used to have. Also, the variety of subjects allows me to “try” from various development opportunities that I can pursue in my master’s degree.

What is the ratio between theoretical and practical skills that you gain at your university? To what extent would this help you in a real work environment?

At my university, the emphasis is more on the academic knowledge than on the practical training. However, there’s enough of both. I had courses in which we were required to create a marketing campaign for a client, which later came into use for the client in question. Other courses focus on academic writing and research.

Tell us a little about the life in your city?

Aarhus is the Danish Student City – here probably about 1/3 of the population are students. There are many cafes, bars, restaurants, discos, sports clubs and in general there are clubs for all hobbies and interests. Before the pandemic, there were a lot of crazy student parties! There are museums, galleries and beautiful places, a long beach and opportunities for water sports. In general – the free time can be quickly filled here 🙂

Can you find a student job and is it easy to balance with the studies?

The education here is designed to have part-time work and still have free time. As long as you know how to organize your time, work and study at the same time, it is completely achievable and all students do it. Finding a job is difficult in the beginning if you don’t have connections – the easiest is when friends can  recommend you. However, sooner or later, everyone founds a job if they looked hard enough. For work related to the specialty, it is more complicated – you have to have experience, charm and a lot of luck, but with perseverance everything can be achieved.

What is the student life like in Denmark? What opportunities do you have and what do you miss?

The student life in Denmark is much more independent than that in Bulgaria, because you rely only on yourself (and DanBul Study in some situations, of course!) – for civil documents, accommodation, payment of bills, getting used to stuff, etc. There are thousands of opportunities for development even outside the university. For example, I do Latin dances. I was very happy when I found my school two years ago and started attending classes there. I am currently an instructor at the same school.

For the shortcomings – definitely my friends, the Bulgarian nature and the Bulgarian climate. But these are things I have the opportunity to enjoy when I go home during the summer and winter holidays.

Do you have any recommendations for the students, wondering whether to get their education abroad and are most likely to face problems similar to yours? What can they do to protect themselves?

Dare! Denmark is one of the few places in the world where you have a real chance to entirely support on your own while studying at prestigious universities and making international friendships. Eat more fish and vegetables, be informed and be critical of anything you encounter. Over time, it becomes easier and you begin to appreciate the incredible opportunities you get in Denmark. Focusing on the end goal should pull you forward. You will not regret!