The day students from all over the world joined RU…
50 international freshers from 22 different countries had their first day at RU on 16 January. RU Global accompanied them throughout this day and learned about their first impressions of RU and Denmark in general
It's an icy day in January, but in building 4 where the international students gather for the first time, it's warm, and they are treated to fresh breakfast rolls and freshly brewed coffee. People are chit-chatting in the corners and a brave student - a girl from Sweden - is going around shaking hands with all the other students. People greet each other with a smile, and you sense their excitement. Italians, Germans and Kenyans represent but three of the 22 nationalities in total gathered in the room. What they have in common is that they are about to participate in a two-week foundation course at RU before they can commence their respective programmes.
All international students at RU are offered the course which focuses on the learning culture at RU, and the students are given an introduction to problem-oriented project work, group work and the study culture at RU in general.
The International Office, the Centre for Language and Intercultural Communication Services (LICS), the Student Guidance Office, Campus IT and Roskilde University Library are all involved, helping the students settle in at the university by making presentations and talking to the international students about what it means to be studying at RU. During the course, some current RU students visit the international students to tell them about the challenges of project work, examinations and group formation at RU.
Helping students with practicalities
“Where can I buy a cheap mobile phone?”, “Are the residence halls here at Trekroner any good?”, “How do I get a yellow national health insurance card?” The students have lots of questions on their first day, but the course will answer all of them because it covers practical elements such as obtaining a residence permit, a national health insurance card, a bank account - but also how to get to know campus. In addition, the course aims to create networks among the students, and the student organisations, the International Club and the Student Council play an important role in this context.
Overall, the purpose of the course is to ensure that international students have a good and satisfactory student life - academically as well as socially.
Four international students' first-hand impressions:
Arnaud Debize, Lyon, France.
Is this your first time in Denmark?
Yes, I arrived yesterday, and I'm very happy to be here. Right now we are attending the Foundation Course which is a lot of fun because so many international students from many different countries are gathered. People are pretty cool, everybody is smiling and open. It's great to see people from so many different countries of the world. I think it'll be an interesting semester – even if you are only considering this (ed. the meeting with the international students). The university is really big, but at the same time it seems rather quiet here, but I have heard it's because many students are taking their exams today.
What else is on the programme in the Foundation Course over the next few days?
The course takes two weeks. Later this morning, I will get the key to the residence halls, and this afternoon we are going on a tour of the university. We will visit the International Club at RU and see the different departments of the university. Tomorrow, we will go to Roskilde to see the Cathedral – and we will also be introduced to the Danish language and culture. Later this week, we will go on a trip to Copenhagen which will be pretty cool, I hope. Then, next week we will be doing a pilot project at RU, but we'll only be working on it next week. And on 1 February, we commence studying our respective programmes.
Daniel Knapp, Frankfurt, Germany.
What is your first impression of the university?
I haven't thought much about that yet, but I think it seems all right. We don't have any campus universities like this in Germany, only individual buildings around the city, and you have to move between buildings. This is my first time in Denmark. So far, I like being here. I arrived yesterday and spent the night in Roskilde at Danhostel because I couldn't get the keys to the residence halls on a Sunday, but I got them today. I am going to stay at the Rockwool residence halls on Campus.
Why did you choose to go to Denmark?
I didn't prefer one country to another. I spoke to the people at the international office at my university, and they offered me to go to Denmark. I wanted to study abroad for two semesters and that's possible here – that's why I chose to go to Denmark. And I like it here.
Anna Randefelt, Uppsala, Sweden.
I arrived in Denmark last Friday, but I've been here plenty of times before. I chose to be an exchange student in Denmark because my boyfriend is Danish and is doing his studies in Copenhagen and, of course, studying in Denmark allows us to be closer to each other.
How do you like meeting all the other international students?
So far, I've really liked it. I have met some really nice people, and a lot of them are in the same situation as me. The course is a good way of making us get to know each other. The university is a bit like a maze. It's really difficult to find your way around!
Katie Larsen, Georgia, United States.
Is this your first time in Denmark?
Yes, it is, and it's very different from the States. We have very different cultures and very different weather conditions. At home in Georgia, I wear shorts and t-shirts at this time of year, and we don't get snow in Georgia.
What do you think of the university?
I like it. People are really nice – everybody is welcoming. So far, I've only been in Copenhagen, but everybody is just as great there and was more than willing to help me find my way to the university. The meeting with the other international students was good too. I have met a lot of new friends from different countries – I was a little shocked to discover that I was the only student from the States. I expected there to be more, but in a way it is quite cool that no one is from the same place as me.
Why did you pick Denmark?
My entire family is from Scandinavia, and I chose Denmark because it's centrally located in relation to the places I want to see in Scandinavia. Much of my family comes from Norway - I am looking forward to going up there to visit and meet a part of the family that I have never seen before.