GeronimoDK at 2024-03-11 09:52:45+00:00 ID: kuch9do

I'll try to give you a best case calculation:

You're extremely lucky and find a job right away so you have work from day one and they'll give you exactlt the 20 hours, but since you don't speak Danish and you're in Sønderborg you'll most likely be limited to lower paying jobs like dish-washer, cleaning and similar. A decent employer would pay you at least €18 per hour (before taxes), but you'll probably get plenty of offers for way less, you shouldn't accept those offers! (And if you do accept them anyway you should definitely keep looking for something better)

20 hours * 18€ = 360€ per week, but let's convert this to months because going on it will be easier, so:

360€ * 4,33 weeks = ~1560€/month (before taxes)

Then you have to pay taxes, this is all automatically deducted by the way, bu here we go:

You pay 8% "labour market contribution" of everything you make, this means you're left with:

1560 € * (1-0,08) = 1435 €

Then you pay around 39% in municipal- and bottom tax, but you also have a personal tax deduction of about 556€ per month, so you're left with:

(1435 € - 556 €) * (1 - 0,39) + 556 € = 1092 € per month, after tax.

Sounds great right? Well, you'd still have to pay your rent and bills and find something to eat:

A very cheap dorm room (if you're extremely lucky) will cost you 300-400€ / month, if you find a proper appartement you'll be paying more. A quick search found this dorm which costs around 375 € / month including utilities! Most other places you pay water, electricity and heating apart and that will easily run you 50-100€ / month.

Internet will typically cost you 26-40€/month

A cheap phone SIM will cost you 5-10€/month

Food could possibly, maybe, be done for 200€/month if you live really frugal

So let's just go with 400€ for a dorm and assume that utilities are included, I did say best case after all, but I'm still going to put down internet and phone costs!

1092 - 26 - 5 - 200 = 861€ / month

So you'll be studying for how long before you have to put up the payment for the 3rd semester? 10 months, 12 months?

So best case you'd be able to save up somewhere between 8610 and 10332€ in that time... Then what about the 4th semester, 5th semester..? And that is a very theoretical best case! I would realistically not assume you'd be able to save up more than about half that amount, maybe two thirds if you really try hard! Can you imagine going a whole year without going anywhere, without going out to eat or drink, no parties, no (non-free) socialization? Just stay home, study, eat and sleep. No travels, no going back to visit family, no going to see other towns or cities, nothing. Even going to McDonalds or getting a pizza will easily cost you 10-15€, getting a beer in a pub will cost you at least 4-5€ and possibly double.