Aarhus University is a young, modern university established in 1928. It has grown to become a leading public research university with international reach covering the entire research spectrum.
With more than half of its 38,000 students enrolled at Master’s or PhD level, Aarhus University is a graduate university. Today more than 10 per cent of our students are international. Among our students more than 120 nationalities are represented.
As a student at Aarhus University you will become part of an international study environment characterised by research excellence and innovation. We encourage critical thinking and active learning, and we believe that a degree from Aarhus University gives you a great starting-point for a future international career, be it in research, industry or in the public sector.
Top 100 University
Aarhus University is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top universities. It was ranked number 78 in the 2023 Shanghai ranking and number 143 in the 2023 QS World University Ranking.
Study in English
Aarhus University offers more than 50+ complete programmes in English at Bachelor and Master’s level. Furthermore all PhD programmes are in English.
Research-based teaching
At AU, teachers are active researchers and teaching takes place in an informal context. All programmes are deeply rooted in research and are reviewed on an ongoing basis to meet the highest national and global quality standards.
International accreditation
Aarhus University’s School of Business and Social Sciences (BSS) is accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS for the school’s core business activities.
Favourable tuition fees
Tuition is free for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. For other students, tuition fees are set annually and can be found online.
English – no problem!
Danes were recently ranked as the best non-native English speakers in the world, so it is easy for international students to get along in Denmark even if they don’t speak Danish.
Safe, secure, equal
Denmark is widely cited as one of the world’s most liveable places. It has the world’s highest level of income equality according to the OECD.
An international university
More than 10 per cent of Aarhus University students are international, representing over 120 nationalities.
Professional service and guidance
The International Centre offers a full induction and introduction programme as well as professional support and guidance throughout your time at AU.
Career counselling and job bank
AU offers free career counselling and a free job bank for international Master’s students and graduates.
Staying in Denmark after graduation
The work and residence permit automatically granted to those who complete a higher educational programme in Denmark is valid for an additional three years after completion of the degree, so graduates have plenty of time to look for work in Denmark.
Located on Scandinavia’s southern edge, Denmark is Europe’s gateway to the Nordic region. Denmark is a safe and secure country with a very low crime rate. The Danes are relaxed, informal, and often ironic. ‘Hygge’ – making people feel at home – is an essential part of life. Maybe that is why the Danes have so often been named as the world’s happiest people. Most Danes also have a good command of English, so you can communicate easily even if you don’t speak Danish.
LIVING COSTS
The standard of living is high and the economy performs above the European average. Accommodation, food and transport are therefore relatively expensive in Denmark compared to other countries. But salaries and PhD stipends are correspondingly high, and services such as medical treatment are free of charge.
Sample prices:
| Housing/rent: | EUR 320–600/ month |
| Food and daily expenses: | EUR 200–350/ month |
Bus ticket: | EUR 2.70 per ride EUR 19 for ten-ride pass |
| Insurance (accident and personal belongings): | EUR 270/year |
| Estimated monthly expenses in total: | EUR 600-950 |
| 1 Euro = DKK 7.45 |
LIVING IN AARHUS
The university’s main campus is located in the city of Aarhus. Aarhus is a dynamic city on Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. From here, beach, harbour and forest are all within a 15-minute bike ride.
With a Top 100 university right in the heart of town, Aarhus is swarming with students eager to study and have a good time too.. The city is ripe with opportunities aimed at students. Concerts, museums, nightlife and shopping (as well as dormitories) are all within walking distance.
Every year our celebrated Spot Festival showcases more than 130 upcoming bands, while the three-day Northside Festival displays the most popular acts in alternative music. The art museum, ARoS, delivers groundbreaking works from some of the world’s most progressive artists.
And the shopping is rated the best in Scandinavia.
The city’s new urban waterfront project has created stunning new housing and vibrant multi-purpose urban spaces in the old harbour area, while Northern Europe’s biggest hospital is nearing completion in the northern part of town.
Aarhus: Young and well-educated
30 per cent of the city’s residents are aged between 20 and 34
33 per cent are university-educated
50,000 are students
A few of AU’s business development, technology and education degree programmes are based outside Aarhus. Read more about our campuses in Herning and Copenhagen (Emdrup) here.
DEGREE STRUCTURE
Study programmes at all Danish universities are research-based, analytical and theoretical. They provide a broad academic foundation as well as the opportunity to specialise. The degree structure is linked to the Bologna process and is based on three main levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees.
At AU, students who are particularly well qualified can begin a PhD programme even before they finish their Master’s degree. Alongside traditional three-year PhD programmes commencing after Master’s level, a number of attractive four- and five-year PhD programmes can be accessed either one year into the Master’s programme (the 4+4 model) or immediately after the Bachelor’s degree (the 3+5 model).
STUDY AND TEACHING ENVIRONMENT
Instruction at Aarhus University is generally structured around lectures, seminars, project-oriented work, practical exercises and – for some students – laboratory classes. Students are expected to participate actively in academic discussions during class.
As a student in Denmark you will also experience student-centred learning and and open debate during class and also a close collaboration between students and teachers.
PHD STUDIES AT AARHUS UNIVERSITY
An ambitious university
As the first Danish university to admit students to PhD programmes before completion of a Master’s degree, AU has a tradition of working with talented students as early as Bachelor’s degree level. This flexibility – and the fact that all programmes are taught in English – makes AU’s PhD programmes very attractive to young talent. Around 1,800 PhD students are currently enrolled at AU, of whom about 25 per cent are internationals.
AU’s four PhD graduate schools give PhD researchers a support base that provides access to pooled networks and helps to develop and promote their work internationally. With the aid of this support system junior researchers have achieved international recognition and have gone on to attractive positions at international universities and companies.
Focused Talent Development
Talent development is one of the four core activities of AU, alongside education, research and knowledge exchange. To attract and retain talented young researchers, AU offers the best possible research facilities, collaboration with leading researchers in related fields, and attractive working conditions.
Attractive working conditions
PhD students at AU are not senior students but junior faculty members. Young researchers earn a salary and a pension and enjoy parental leave benefits, besides having a voice in department meetings.
As a young researcher at AU you will enjoy state-of-the-art facilities and labs, a research-based approach to all activities, a dynamic study environment, and a strong tradition of multidisciplinary research – for instance in one of our 30 major research centres.
Our PhD students cite the high quality of research, the friendly atmosphere and the attractive working conditions as what they value most highly at AU.
See more at talent.au.dk/phd
