Study Start Master's Programmes

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.

Covid-19 update

We are closely following the Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Danish authorities, and we will keep updating this page with relevant information regarding this year’s study start. You can find all relevant and up-to-date information regarding Covid-19 in the links below.

• Entering Denmark: Read the latest regulations regarding the Danish borders on the Danish Police Corona webpage.
• Residence Permit: You can find up-to-date information regarding the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) case processing as well as your application for a residence permit and biometrics during the coronavirus outbreak on the webpage Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information for SIRI's users
• Covid-19 in Denmark: You can find up-to-date information regarding the coronavirus-outbreak in Denmark on the Danish Health Authority's webpage.
• Travel guidance: You can find detailed travel guidance on the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
• Covid-19 at RUC: You can read more about how RUC handles the Corona situation.

If you have any further questions regarding your study start during Covid-19, you are welcome to contact the International Admissions Office at fulldegree@ruc.dk or +45 4674 2010 (phones are open: Monday-Friday: 10 – 12).

Study Start February 2021

We are busily preparing to welcome you to RUC for study start in February 2021. This year will be a different study start because of the Covid-19 situation, but we will do our very best to continue 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.

Due to the serious COVID-19 situation, the following has now been decided:

Teaching

All course teaching in the spring semester 2021 will be conducted online, unless the teaching format requires physical attendance (e.g. laboratory teaching). If the Danish authorities allow it, project teaching will be facilitated on-campus.
 
Below you can see what we expect from the spring semester 2021:

• January (ONLINE): Foundation Course
• February (ONLINE): Course Teaching & Project Group Formation
• March (ONLINE): Course Teaching / (Project Work)
• April (HYBRID)*/**: Course Teaching / Project Work
• May (ON-CAMPUS): Project Work

* In this period, courses will be taught online and projects will be facilitated on campus, where this is possible following Danish government guidelines.
**It will be possible to conduct your project online, if you have not been able to enter Denmark.

Exams

We expect all exams for courses in the spring semester to be conducted online, unless this is practically or physically impossible. We expect all campus exams for projects in the spring semester to be conducted on-campus exams, unless this is practically or physically impossible.
 
This means that you can start your first semester from outside of Denmark.

Please observe RUC's guidelines for on-campus presence

Your introduction to RUC

At RUC, the autumn and spring semesters officially start on 1 September and 1 February, respectively. If possible, you should aim to arrive two weeks before the official start of the semester.

Familiarise yourself with the introduction programmes for international students, the specific introduction sessions at you master’s programme and the other support available to you. They are essential opportunities designed to give you all the tips and tricks you need to get your study life at RUC off to a great start.
 

Webinars about your study start

You are invited to join one of our webinars focused on getting ready for study start at your Master’s programme or your semester with pre-requisite studies. The webinars are hosted by the Study and Career Guidance and will start out with a short presentation. Afterwards there will be plenty of time for questions you might have regarding your study start or your Master’s Programme.  You need to register for the webinars.

You can register for the webinars via the events here
 

Foundation Course

Aimed specifically at helping you as a new international student to a good start at RUC, it is essential that you participate in the Foundation Course. The Foundation Course is a fantastic way to help make your studies at RUC as successful as possible.

The course will take place from 18th to 27th January 2021. Please note that this year’s Foundation Course will differ from previous years due to Covid-19. Therefore, the program will mainly be carried out online. 

It is free of charge and available for all full degree-, guest- and current international students studying at Roskilde University. 

In the Foundation Course you will be introduced to:

•    The history and philosophy of Roskilde University
•    The learning principles and approaches to studying and research, and
•    Last but not least, practical information about daily life as a RUC student

During the Foundation Course we will assist you with practical matters with regard to moving to Denmark as well as starting as a new international student at RUC.

You will get a chance to meet fellow new international students (online and as far as permitted in small social groups) and build a social network already before your studies start.

Earlier participants have told us they thought the course had a profound positive impact on their study experience and was of great value to their studies at RUC.

Course description and sign up >

Introduction session at your Master's programme

In addition to the Foundation Course, you will be able to get a hands-on introduction to your studies at your master’s programme. You can find the dates for your study start in the information about your programme at study.ruc.dk. If you study a two-subject Master, your study start will be in your Subject 1. Details about locations and programmes will be updated as soon as possible – we are still busy preparing the final details.
 

Info café about Special Needs and Support

In one of the first weeks of your studies, we will hold an Info Café about Special Needs and Support for students with for example dyslexia, a mental and/or physical disability. You do not need to sign up for the info café.
 

Accommodation

Global network: Housing Anywhere

As you will soon prepare for your studies at Roskilde University, we encourage you to find a room before your arrival. Roskilde University supports the global network Housing Anywhere, which is a peer-to-peer platform where people can rent out rooms to international students.

Receive a Roskilde University VIP profile on HousingAnywhere.com by signing up:
For students: Sign-up
For landlords: Sign-up

As a student, intern, PhD candidate, researcher, or visiting professor of Roskilde University you are entitled to priority access to all accommodation available on HousingAnywhere.com. The platform allows you to choose from rooms listed by local students or verified landlords and securely book prior to your arrival.

For more information, check the local guide on living in Roskilde 

Keep in mind: The housing market in Roskilde is very seasonal. So if you don’t find a room listed right away check back regularly.

Do you need more information or have a specific question? Send an email to vip@housinganywhere.com.
 

Links to tips and tricks on how to find accommodation

Check out our brochure Getting Started for tips and tricks on how to find accommodation.

You can find a lot of useful information in the International Students' Survival Guide to life in Denmark – also on how to find accommodation.
 

Handbook for New International Students

Read the handbook Getting Started with information for new international students. It offers a lot of hands-on information regarding student life at RUC and your stay in Denmark, for example, what to do before your stay in Denmark and what to do upon arrival and much more. 
 

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.

Read more and sign up for the Buddy Programme >