Group and project work are important elements of the pedagogical methods used at Roskilde University. Students who have gone to school in Denmark since primary school are used to this, so it is something many of them take for granted. Sometimes this is the only form of evaluation for a course, or it can be combined with, for example, an oral examination. As a new-comer to Denmark, the group work experience can be unusual and frustrating - even if a student has done group work in their home country. It is important that group members sit down during the first meeting and discuss expectations and come to a agreement about how the group work will function and that all understand and agree upon how the work will take place. Having this discussion at the beginning can eliminate problems that could otherwise arise.

Almost all programmes include considerable amounts of project work. This requires flexibility, adaptability and the ability to cooperate. The size and duration of the written projects vary from program to program. If a given course is evaluated totally or partly in the form of written project, this will be stated in the course description.

Individual projects usually last from 1 day to 8 weeks. Group projects can take anywhere from 3 days to an entire quarter or semester.

Projects can be done in many ways. However, common to them all are two things: the process of writing the project and the product itself. In this respect, it might be helpful to keep the following in mind:

Things to include that should help affect your grade positively:

1. Present the “problem” – why have we decided upon this issue?
2. Present a well structured “presentation” - both in written form in the project and for the oral defense, if any.
3. Present your assumptions clearly from the beginning.
4. Present the theories you have used.
5. Present your conclusions unambiguously.
6. Remain critical – even toward your own solution.

Things to avoid:

1. You present theory without applying it
2. You include too many points without an argument
3. Your presentation is without a critical perspective
4. You mistake ‘outline’ for ‘problematization’

Note: As mentioned earlier, the project evaluation is often a combination of a written and oral exam. It may be a group examination – with the possibility for individual grades. Therefore, plan and prepare for the oral exam as well. And plan for a balanced group presentation.