Description
Aarhus University (AU) is located in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city. Situated on the coast, Aarhus is considered to have a university-town atmosphere, with a vibrant food scene and cultural attractions. Aarhus University is the second oldest university in Denmark and offers a wide range of courses in English, including the arts, humanities, physical and biological sciences, social sciences, and engineering.
For a student’s perspective on studying at AU, see the video below.
Quick Facts
Partner Program Type – Exchange
Minimum GPA – 2.85
Prerequisites – students pursuing the sciences may need extensive upper division coursework within the major. Please contact us at globallearning@ucsc.edu before applying so that we can conduct a pre-assessment with your transcript.
Eligibility – Good academic and disciplinary standing, Min Age: 18, Open to All Majors, Junior or Senior class standing by the time of departure
Term Options
Fall Semester – late August to late January
- you can arrange to take final exams in December
Spring Semester – late January to late June
- students must miss both winter and spring quarters at UCSC to participate in this session
Academic Year – late August to late June
Partner Program deadline dates
Cost
Location
City & University
Aarhus is the second-largest city in Denmark (population: 340,000), located on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula on the waterfront of the Bay of Aarhus. Founded as a Viking settlement in the 8th century, Aarhus is now a popular destination for its music scene, eateries, beautiful skyline, green spaces, museums, and festivals. The university is situated in a beautiful, yellow-brick campus in the centre of Aarhus city.
Learn more about Student Life at Aarhus.
Accommodations
In the spring term, Aarhus University guarantees all exchange students a housing offer from AU Housing. In the autumn term, housing cannot be guaranteed, but AU provides resources on how to find private market accommodations. Learn more about housing at Aarhus or off-campus housing.
You are responsible for applying for, securing, and paying for accommodations directly to the housing provider. Visit the host university website for actual costs.
Student Support
Aarhus University’s International Centre provides a range of services and support for exchange students. Additionally, Aarhus assists exchange students in successfully integrating into the culture, society, and student life.
Country Information Resources
- U.S. Department of State Country Information Page
- CDC Travelers’ Health
- OSAC Country Security Report
Students with Disabilities
If you need support services abroad, notify your UCSC Disability Resource Center (DRC) Coordinator.
Learn more about accessibility and accommodations at Aarhus University.
Identities Abroad and Away
UC Santa Cruz Global Learning is committed to inclusion and equity in our various program options as well as striving to make everyone’s experiences abroad enriching, positive, and safe.
Learn more on our Identities Abroad and Away webpage.
Academics
Host University Courses
As an Aarhus University exchange student, you will enroll full-time in courses alongside other local and international students for a semester or full academic year.
Course Search
Search the AU Course Catalogue.
- Select “English” for Language of Instruction
- Select “Exchange” for Course Type
- Use the keyword search to narrow down subjects
Satisfying Requirements
It may be possible to satisfy major, minor, GE, and/or electives on this program.
Learn more about:
- How to request major or minor credit
- How to request GE credit
Course Load Requirements
You are required to enroll in a full-time course load while abroad as defined by your host institution:
- At Aarhus, a full course load is 30 ECTS per semester, which is approximately two to four courses.
As a UCSC student, you must also continue to meet UCSC Satisfactory Academic Progress, which requires students to enroll in a minimum of 12 UCSC quarter credits per quarter. At Aarhus, you are required to ensure you meet this requirement by enrolling in the equivalent of at least 12 quarter credits for fall semester and at least 24 quarter credits for spring semester after conversion (see below).
Credit Conversion
Aarhus University uses ECTS credits. Each course ranges from 5-20 ECTS credits each. These will be converted to UCSC quarter credits when added to your UC transcript.
- 5 ECTS credits = 4 quarter credits at UCSC
- 10 ECTS credits = 8 quarter credits at UCSC
- 15 ECTS credits = 12 quarter credits at UCSC
- 20 ECTS credits = 15 quarter credits at UCSC
Academic Restrictions
Course prerequisites apply for most subjects, especially for STEM courses which can have stricter prerequisites. See AU enrollment restrictions and prerequisites for more information. If you are unsure about your eligibility to enroll, please contact UCSC Global Learning at globallearning@ucsc.edu before applying to this program.
Academic Differences
Please note that the academic system, such as assignments, exams, course structure, grading system, etc., at your host institution may be different from what you are used to at UCSC. We highly recommend researching the academic system at your host university in advance to best prepare for your experience abroad.
Academic Calendar
We recommend comparing the host university academic calendar to the UCSC academic calendar to see how the academic calendars, holidays, and breaks differ.