Among the famous alumni of Aarhus University is the Queen of Denmark, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II who abdicated the throne in 2024. As a young Princess she left Copenhagen for Aarhus and moved into dorm number 9 in the University Park. The Princess studied political science at Aarhus University and also followed lectrues on archaeology which she had also done at Girton College, University of Cambridge.
Also the Queen's oldest son, Frederik, the King of Denmark, has been a student at Aarhus University. In 1986 the King was enrolled at Political Science. He later spent a year at Harvard University and in 1995 King Frederik obtained his MSc in political science from Aarhus University.
Portrait of King Frederik in the occation of his 25th annivesary as an alumnus from AU.
In 1997 Jens Christian Skou received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his discovery of the sodium-potassium pump – a small but vital mechanism found in all of the body’s cells. The pump maintains a salt balance by transporting ions through the cell membrane, which is a prerequisite for muscles and nerves being able to function.
His importance to health science research globally and locally at Aarhus University as a whole and at the Department of Biomedicine in particular has been immeasurable.
A biochemist, Jens Christian Skou began working at Aarhus University in 1947 and was appointed professor in biophysics in 1977 before being award the Nobel Prize 20 years later. Jens Christian Skou died in 2018, 99 years old.
Bjarne Stroustrup is a Danish computer scientist, most notable for the invention and development of the world famous C++ programming language. He attended Aarhus University 1969–1975 and graduated with a master's degree in mathematics and computer science.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a Danish politician and Prime Minister of Denmark from November 2001 to April 2009. He then became the Secretary General of NATO from 2009 to 2014 and later he founded political consultancy Rasmussen Global. Anders Fogh Rasmussen graduated from Aarhus University in 1978 and holds a degree in economics.
Lene Vestergaard Hau is a Danish physicist and holds a ph.d. from Aarhus Univeristy. She is the Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and of Applied Physics at Harvard University. In 1999 she and her research team obtained international notoriety when they succeeded in their attempt to slow down the speed of light.
Former CEO and executive chairman of legendary toy brand LEGO, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp holds a master's degree and a PhD in Economics from Aarhus University. Under Knudstorps tenure, LEGO Group underwent a remarkable turnover and the yearly income went from a loss to drawing notable profit.
