Study Start Exchange and Guest Students
Congratulations on your admission and a warm welcome to RUC. You are about to embark on a memorable journey at an extraordinary university.
This webpage will guide you through the steps you need to take getting started at RUC, providing you with essential information about your study start, introduction programmes and useful tips.

Study Start
We are busily preparing to welcome you to RUC for the upcoming study start to give you and your fellow students the best possible introduction to the academic and social life you can expect as a RUC student under the circumstances.
Introduction Programmes
The official semester start is September 1st for the autumn semester and February 1st for the spring semester. However, we encourage you to participate in the Foundation Course prior to semester start. We offer two types of introduction programs to give you the best start to your stay in Denmark:
-
Roskilde University offers a Foundation Course to all international students prior to semester start. For the success of your stay, we strongly encourage you to participate in the course.
It is free of charge for exchange-, guest- and current international students studying at Roskilde University. The Foundation Course will give you an introduction to:
• The university
• The learning principles of Roskilde University
• Information about studying at Roskilde University
• Help with practical matters when moving to Denmark
• Introduction to Danish culture and much moreMany international students participate in the Foundation Course and appreciate their experience for the rest of their time at Roskilde University. We hope you can join too!
In the autumn semester, the course runs in the end of August and in the spring semester, the course runs in the end of January. Specific dates are available on the Foundation Course webpage.
-
The programme introduction at your master's or bachelor's programme contains important information about courses and workshops.
Find information about when and where in the information about your programme at study.ruc.dk.
-
You can find further relevant and up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 in Denmark in the links below.
- Entering Denmark: Read the latest regulations regarding the Danish borders on the Danish Police Corona webpage.
- COVID-19 in Denmark: You can find up-to-date information regarding the coronavirus-outbreak in Denmark on the Danish Health Authority's webpage.
Further questions
If you have any further questions regarding your study start about COVID-19, you are welcome to contact us.
Exchange students: incoming-exchange@ruc.dk or +46 4674 2244.
Guest students: gueststudent@ruc.dk or +45 4674 2010.Phones are open: Monday-Friday: 10 – 12.
About life in Denmark
Survival guide
Get the International Students Survival Guide to life in Denmark - made by students to students.
Getting started
You should read the handbook Getting Started with information for new international students. It offers practical information e.g. regarding student life at Roskilde University and your stay in Denmark including what to do before your stay in Denmark and what to do upon arrival.
Practical info for Study Start
At the web page “Study start for new exchange and guest students” on our intranet, we will gather all the information relevant concerning your study start: Introduction programmes, course registration, course dates and much more. This page will be updated when we can tell you more about this year's study start.
About life at RUC
Buddy programme
The Buddy Programme is a face-to-face introduction to Denmark, facilitated by current students at Roskilde University, giving you an informal introduction to student life at the University. The Buddy Programme will also host common social events for all international and local buddies throughout the semester.
Register before semester start and we will pair you with a local buddy in a small buddy group, so you will have a friend from day one. Somebody who will help you around campus, and also somebody to go for dinner, lunch, parties and all sort of things with. Also, many fun activities will be arranged by Roskilde University, exclusively for the Buddy Programme.
Due to COVID19 the Buddy Programme runs many of its events digitally in order to follow RUC’s regulations. Since the buddy groups are small, it may still be possible for the separate groups to meet.

International Community
'International Community' is a student run organisation which host various events to create a social platform for international and Danish students at RUC.

The Student House RUC
Student House RUC is an open and inclusive gathering place for all students at Roskilde University, where you can hold meetings, organize events, assembled on activities and meet for social and professional interaction.

Campus Roskilde University
Life at the university is more than attending classes and conducting research. On campus there are many facillities for sports and social time together, indoors and outdoors.

Directions to Roskilde University
Get a map over Roskilde University campus and directions on how to get to Roskilde University