We are happy to welcome you to our community and look forward to an exciting stay with you.
This handbook contains school rules and practical information - hopefully you will find answers to most questions about the daily life and environment at the school. We recommend that you read it thoroughly or search for specific words (e.g. room, needs) for guidance
1: INTRODUCTION & VALUES
The school's core values
2: SCHOOL & EVERYDAY LIFE
Teaching
Schedule
Daily routines
School facilities
3: RESPONSIBILITY & RULES OF CONDUCT
Responsibility
Vacation, absence, time off and "not well"
Socializing and relationships
Lifestyle
4: PRACTICAL & LOGISTICS
Practical functions
Practical tasks
Safety & Security
"Mariager Højskole equips you to serve, learn and follow Jesus - in everyday life and in the world."
70 years of proud tradition of motivating and developing people to be followers of Jesus, equipped to impact their world through God's love and power.
Mariager Højskole is a Bible school that helps you serve, learn and follow Jesus in your life.
Serving like Jesus: Faith is lived in practice. We serve with our hands and engage in everyday life - with responsibility, compassion and courage to make a difference.
Learning about Jesus: Faith rests on the word of God. Through the Bible's narrative, our thoughts and beliefs are shaped - so we learn to understand and communicate who God is.
Following Jesus: Faith is felt in the heart. We seek God's presence and allow love, worship and spiritual rhythm to transform character, relationships and lifestyle.
Mariager Højskole is built on a Christian foundation with five core values:
DISCIPLESHIP: Christian formation puts the relationship with Jesus at the center. Through Bible reading, prayer, service and spiritual practices, character is formed and faith is brought to life - in community with others and in everyday life.
RESPECT: We value diversity and treat each other with consideration. In the love of God, we treat people and environments with respect and responsibility.
RESPONSIBILITY: We take ownership and contribute with what we have been given. With God's help, we take responsibility for ourselves and the community - and are open to change and growth.
COMMUNITY: We build a community with God at the center, where everyone engages and belongs. There is room for diversity, closeness and genuine relationships, where even weakness has value.
TRUST: We believe in relationships built on honesty, presence and openness. Here we dare to give responsibility, think in possibilities and live in integrity - trusting God and each other.
Mariager Højskole is a school that shapes and equips you to make a difference - both in church and society. That's why we prioritize social engagement and church involvement. As a student at Mariager Højskole, you will have the opportunity to be involved in local churches, social mission or travel to invest your skills in good causes.
As a student, you must have at least 21 clock hours of classes per week to fulfill the requirements of the Folk High School Act. At the start of the course, you will create a schedule that suits your needs - whether you prefer an active year or more immersion. The schedule is organized in collaboration with the school staff to both meet the requirements and support your goals.
All scheduled classes, group classes and the like are mandatory. You are required to attend the schedule of your choice. If you are unable to attend, this must be agreed upon. See section "Vacation, absence, time off and "not well"
At the start of the course, you create your schedule to suit your preferences - whether you prefer an active year or more immersion. The schedule is designed in collaboration with school staff to meet your requirements and support your goals.
Bibelskolen is a Danish school, but every year we welcome a group of international students who add a vibrant and colorful touch to everyday life. Teaching is primarily in Danish with the possibility of simultaneous interpretation into English (the teacher lines are taught exclusively in English). Some morning assemblies are held in English, and in the dining hall many students try a language other than their mother tongue - often English. There is translation equipment in both the auditorium and classrooms so everyone can follow along, typically with interpretation between Danish and English as needed.
Lines are Mariager Højskole's teaching blocks. Four out of the five weekdays are spent on your chosen line, giving you the opportunity to discuss, reflect and ask questions. You will also be involved in interactive exercises where your views and life experiences come into play.
Our areas of focus are: Theology, Leadership, and Academic Studies
Electives can be big or small. You choose 1 large elective that runs one day a week dedicated to the large elective that develops and challenges your skills. The small electives you choose according to your interests. Most often 1-3.
Connect is the school’s weekly worship service—an evening gathering featuring worship, teaching, and the opportunity for personal prayer. It is held in the folk high school’s auditorium or the boarding school’s assembly hall and is open to guests. About every other month, Connect is replaced by a group evening, where you meet with your coach and “Life Group” for fellowship and conversation in a home-like setting.
A year at Mariager Højskole is not just about learning - it's also about putting your faith into practice. As a student, you choose a ministry direction where you can use your gifts and develop through concrete service. You can either become part of the Tour Team, which travels to churches and youth groups with preaching and events; get involved in the Social Mission Team, which works with social initiatives in collaboration with local actors; or become an Intern and continue your ministry in your own church or organization with support and sparring from the school.
All students are part of a Life group—a small “family” of about 8 students, along with an assigned leader, assistant, and teacher. The group has lunch together once a week, meets for group evenings, and occasionally prepares group dinners or events for the school. Here, we share our lives and build a sense of community in a safe environment.
As a student, you will be assigned a certified coach from among the school's teachers. Approximately once a month, you will meet for a confidential conversation. You can use your coach as a sounding board for current challenges, future plans or things from your past that you want to work through. The coach is your primary link to the school and helps make your stay as meaningful and fulfilling as possible.
Most evenings there is an opportunity to participate in a student activity. These are optional and truly rewarding for the community. If you want to be a co-organizer or part of the party committee, you are welcome to do so.
Every morning starts with Chapel in the auditorium - a common morning gathering with varying content: worship, prayer, Bible reading or a short devotional. Important information about the day's program is also given here.
Breakfast is served at 7:20 a.m., and you must be seated by then at the latest. Lunch and dinner have open seating. One ring of the bell means it’s your last chance to get food—two rings mean you must return your plate. Always remember to clean up and put your chair back in its place before you leave.
For special needs see "Part 4: Diet & Allergens"
If no special program is planned, the weekday meals are as follows:
07:00 Breakfast
09:30 Refreshment
12:00 Lunch
15:15 Refreshment
17:45 Dinner
21:00 Refreshment
For the safety of all residents, the school must be quiet from 22:00 every night. This doesn't mean you have to go to bed at 10pm, but you should show special consideration for those who wish to sleep or retire. In common areas like the common room, this means that noisy activities should be muted or stopped after 22:00. For example, table tennis and pool should stop inside the common room after this time as the sound disturbs those living directly above the common room and out of respect for the neighbors around the school. In general, we expect quiet and subdued behavior throughout the school grounds at night.
Sunday is a day off with no set activities. We usually go to church in the morning, but the rest of the day is for rest and recharging. The "chill factor" can be quite high in the common room.
for teachers' offices, secretaries and other staff. Ask here for questions about finances, payment, guests or practical matters such as laundry cards. The secretary's opening hours are shown on the info screen. Staff facilities in The Bridge are for staff only.
The common room is the school's central common room and a natural meeting place for community. Here you can relax, play games, watch movies or just hang out with other students. It's open 24 hours a day, but after 10pm it needs to be quiet - pool and table tennis must be set up with consideration for those sleeping upstairs.
After Connect, the common room is often transformed into a café. Here you can buy coffee brewed on the school's espresso machine - but only trained baristas (students or staff) can operate the machine.
The TV screen can be used freely for movie night or games, but remember that the family room is a public space. Choose content wisely so that students, families and international guests feel included.
The library is a quiet area for contemplation, homework, group work or relaxing with a book. Please be considerate and clean up after yourself. Food is not allowed and drinks must be in closed bottles. You can borrow books with your UNI login via the library computer. There are also school computers and a printer - small prints are free, but larger prints can be arranged with the secretary.
The student kitchen is free to use outside of mealtimes. Remember to clean up after yourself thoroughly. You are allowed to store your own food in lockers or the fridge - remember to label it with your name. Bring your own cup for daily use, as the school's tableware may not be taken out of the dining hall.
Fitness opening hours 06.00-22.00. (Unless otherwise announced)
The fitness room is shared with the continuation school and can only be used when it is booked for the school - times are stated at the door. Except during classes. After 22:00 the alarm is armed. Wear clean indoor shoes with light-colored soles and remember to wipe down the machines after use.
The classrooms are primarily used for teaching, but can also be used for coaching and self-study outside school hours. Always remember to tidy up after yourself, close windows, and put chairs back in place. The rooms are locked every evening at 9 p.m. and remain locked all day Sunday. If you need extended access, this must be arranged with the teacher on duty.
If you're taking a break in the room, put your stuff on the chair so the tables can be cleaned. TV screens can be used outside of class, but please be considerate. Projectors are for teaching purposes only. The bridge has two classrooms that are shared with the continuation school - access is via the outside entrance.
Krea is the school's creative workshop and is primarily used by students with Krea as an elective subject. Others may use it with permission from a teacher. Remember to treat materials and tools with care and clean up after yourself.
The sauna is shared with the after-school program and can be used daily from 14-22.
Read the rules on the door before first use.
Only use the sauna after you have washed yourself with soap. Only use it if there are at least two people. Wear clean swimwear. Rinse off the benches if you are the last one. Turn on the sauna with the red button - it heats up in about an hour and turns off automatically after 45 minutes (press again for longer). Water may only be added when the sauna is at least 85 degrees Celsius.
The folk high school uses the Mariager sports hall for indoor sports. The hall is shared with other users and has set times for the folk high school’s students:
Wednesday at 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Thursday at 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Sunday at 7:00–8:30 p.m.
The studio is the school's sound and media facilities and is primarily used by students in the media or worship program. Instruments and equipment may only be used with the teacher's permission and the exit door to the left (out of the house) must always be kept locked. The studio is a workroom - not a living room. The equipment in the auditorium may only be used by teachers or by appointment.
At Mariager Folk High School, we want what you learn and experience to affect the way you live your life - both during your stay here and in your everyday life outside of school. That's why we have some common guidelines to help create a healthy and safe community for everyone.
The rules at the Folk High School stem from our values and are meant to help you live honestly, freely and meaningfully - both in everyday life here and at home, where you represent not only yourself, but also the community you are a part of.
The school is open most of the year, except for a few holidays (e.g. Christmas). Some weekends the school is rented out and you are asked to go home if possible. If you stay, you will be expected to help with practical tasks and temporarily tidy your room. Holidays and days off can be found in the common calendar on the intranet.
If you are at school on a weekend, you must register by Wednesday at the latest.
If you need extra time off, please contact the office well in advance. Longer absences will result in extra payment due to loss of government support - ask the secretary for the current rate.
If you need time off for e.g. a doctor's appointment, you must request the school secretary via the school intranet(Zenbi) well in advance. All absences from compulsory classes or activities require prior approval as the school is responsible for knowing where students are during school hours.
In case of illness, you must call (or send a text message) the teacher on duty before 7:00 that morning on tel. +45 51 88 12 21. When you are reported sick, you must stay in your room all day and rest. You will not participate in classes or activities and you must arrange for a fellow student to bring you food. If you have an assignment, you must find a replacement or let us know so that the assignment is covered.
As Mariager Højskole has many international students, we expect everyone to contribute to an inclusive community. This means that if there are international students at the table or in the group, please speak English so that everyone can follow along. It's fine to speak Danish among yourselves, but be aware of your surroundings - everyone should feel welcome and part of the community.
It's natural for love to happen - also at a folk high school. If you get into a relationship during your stay, we encourage you to be considerate of the community. Be inclusive of others and make sure no one feels left out. We recommend that you take time to get to know each other well and initially focus on life together at the school. Also, show moderation with physical proximity in public spaces, especially during classes and shared activities.
Visiting each other's rooms during the day is allowed, but we have some basic guidelines: If you share a room with another student, you should of course always be considerate and ask your roomie before having visitors. After 21:00 you should stay in the common areas instead; no visitors are allowed in the rooms in the evening/night (also applies to single rooms).
We encourage you to use TV, internet and social media wisely during your stay. The school should be a place of presence and community, so think about your media consumption. Students have access to TV screens in rooms 2, 3 and the common room outside of class time - e.g. for movies or sports. Choose content wisely as it takes place in shared spaces. During class, TVs and projectors are only used for academic content. We also encourage you to maintain a healthy relationship with streaming, gaming and social media so it doesn't take the focus away from college life.
The school is a smoke-free environment. This means that we do not smoke on school grounds or during school activities. If you have previously smoked, you are still welcome as a student - we see it as an opportunity to take steps towards a smoke-free life. Smoking here covers cigarettes, e-cigarettes, snus, vape, hookah etc. As we also travel to other cultures where smoking can be offensive, participation in study trips is conditional on living up to the school's smoke-free policy.
We have chosen to be an alcohol-free school. It is a conscious, shared choice that will provide space for presence, personal development and a strong community with respect for our own and others' boundaries.
We therefore expect you as a student not to consume alcohol at school or outside of school when you sleep at school. In addition, we encourage sensible use of alcohol when you are at home.
We also encourage you to take responsibility for your general well-being and lifestyle. During your stay, we want you to refrain from behaviors that can be harmful or addictive - physically, mentally and digitally. If you experience challenges in this area, we are here to support you. Talk to your coach, a teacher or a good friend where you can share your life and support each other in making good decisions.
We take food allergies into account and are happy to offer vegetarian meals. If you have special dietary needs, please inform the kitchen well in advance of the start of school.
Note: If you wish to eat vegetarian during your stay, we expect you to live as a vegetarian at the start of school.
The laundry is located by the fitness room and is shared with the after-school program. You use an app to create an account and pay for laundry. The machines dose the soap themselves. There is also a dryer and drying room. Instructions are available on Zenbi - read them before you start.
You are welcome to have family and friends visit - just arrange this in advance with the reception. Guest accommodation is generally possible on weekends for a fee for room and board. If you have a friend who is considering becoming a student, they can stay for free for up to two weekdays as part of our "2-day free" program. International guests can stay for up to one week by arrangement. Always remember to give plenty of notice - and guests must of course respect the school's framework and rules.
If you've forgotten or lost something, check the lost and found cupboard under the stairs at the entrance to the family room. Lost and found items are often left here.
Every quarter before the holidays (fall, Christmas, Easter and summer) the closet is cleaned out. You will then have the opportunity to collect your items - anything that is not collected will be recycled.
To keep the school clean and environmentally friendly, we have waste sorting. Ordinary household waste is disposed of in the large container in the parking lot. Special waste such as glass, paper/cardboard, metal cans, batteries, etc. must be sorted and handed in at the recycling station behind the kitchen building (you go through the dishwashing room and out). Containers have been set up for the different types of waste - please ask the staff if you are unsure about sorting.
The city of Mariager has regular bus connections to Hobro and the surrounding area. You can find timetables and connections at www.rejseplanen.dk or by asking at the office.
The school has a couple of minibuses/passenger cars that are primarily used for teaching, trips and other school-related activities. School vehicles cannot be used for private trips. This includes transportation to/from bus and train. If you want to go on excursions together on weekends, you can talk to the teacher on duty about the possibility - perhaps a trip on one of the school buses can be arranged. Only people with prior permission (and a valid driver's license) are allowed to drive school cars. Booking a school car is done through the office and must always be approved by a teacher or staff member.
Free parking is available on the school grounds, alongside the buildings. If you bring a car, you can park it here. If you are driving an electric car, charging is available at the fitness/sauna building (ask the office for details). Please only park in the marked parking spaces - the area right in front of the main entrance may only be used for loading and unloading to keep the fire road clear.
All students participate in daily cleaning. Monday to Thursday we clean for about 15 minutes each morning, and on Friday we spend about 30 minutes getting the school ready for the weekend. You'll be responsible for an area with others, such as hallways, restrooms or common rooms. The cleaning room has everything you need. You are responsible for keeping your own room clean, and if you rent out your room on weekends, you will be given special instructions for room cleaning.
If at the end of your stay you leave your room in disarray or with broken furniture, the school reserves the right to invoice you for any damage and necessary cleaning via an external company.
Approximately every other week, you will have a special duty or practical task at the school. This could be washing up after a meal, helping to make breakfast, sweeping the courtyard or similar. The duty rotates between students so that we all contribute. It's your responsibility to show up and do your assigned task when it's your turn. If you are sick or unable to work the day of your shift, you must find another student to swap with or notify the staff so that the task is done by someone else.
The school has a fixed fire emergency plan. If a fire occurs or the fire alarm sounds, everyone who is not involved in evacuation or extinguishing the fire must immediately gather on the front lawn by the flagpole. Here we line up in groups and do a roll call. If anyone is missing, notify the teacher on duty or the Keykeeper.
The keykeeper is responsible for calling 1-1-2 and contacting the on-call teacher immediately.
At the main entrance you will find a fire board with an overview of escape routes and fire equipment - familiarize yourself with it so you know what to do in an emergency.
The key fob must be used at the front door after 22:00 (until 6:30 the next morning) on weekdays. On weekends, the chip is active from 22:00 to 08:00.
For security reasons, the main doors of the school are locked in the evening. You will be given a personalized blue key fob that gives you access to the buildings during the evening and night hours. Hold the tag up to the sensor (the small box to the right of the door) to lock yourself in. For security reasons, the key fob needs to be updated about once a month - this is easily done by holding it up to the round plate at the entrance to the 90s hallway (main building). Access will then be renewed automatically.
The fjord offers opportunities for outdoor and water activities, but we encourage caution and responsibility. Never swim alone, be aware of weather and current conditions, and wear a life jacket for water activities. All shared water activities must be cleared with the on-call teacher for rules and safety. Always use common sense - safety comes first.