Aarhus University Seal

Dictionary for new students 

From upper secondary education to university

You won’t only have to learn about a new and exciting study programme when you start university. You’ll also have to learn and understand a whole new vocabulary. We’ve created a dictionary to help you understand the new vocabulary that you’ll soon be using without a second thought. 

   

Academic

A student or graduate.

A person who studies at or has graduated from a university or other institution of higher education. 

[Translate to English:]

Academic quarter of an hour

Staggered start time

Although teaching may be timetabled to start at 10.00 am, it may be a custom on the programme for your teacher to start at 10.15. Note the customs on your programme. 

Alum

Alum

A former student who has studied and completed a degree at the university (also alumnus (male) and alumna (female)). 

Campus

University areas and buildings

The campus is the physical areas for teaching and students. If you need to access buildings during closing hours, you can use your student ID card as a key card. However, first it has to be activated.

Activate your student ID card here. 

Faculty

Faculty

Description

Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe's largest faculties within research and education in cultural and social conditions. There are programmes in: 

  • Archaeology
  • Philosophy
  • History
  • Information Studies
  • Comparative literature
  • Media studies
  • Languages

Aarhus BSS

The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences is one of Europe's largest business schools and Denmark's largest university body within business and social science disciplines. There are programmes in:  

  • Business development and technology
  • Law 
  • Marketing 
  • Psychology 
  • Political Science 
  • Management 
  • Finance and economics 

Health

The Faculty of Health Sciences is a research-intensive faculty offering degree programmes within the entire field of health sciences, including:  

  • Public health science 
  • Sports science 
  • Medicine 
  • Odontology (dentistry) 

NAT

The Faculty of Natural Sciences has programmes in: 

  • Biology 
  • Computer science 
  • Physics 
  • Geoscience 
  • IT product development 
  • Chemistry 
  • Mathematics 
  • Nanoscience 

TECH

The Faculty of Technical Sciences  has programmes in: 

  • Agrobiology 
  • Food 
  • Animal science 
  • Engineering 
  • Environmental science 

Field of study

Aarhus University has five overall fields of study known as faculties. Each faculty is managed by a dean and is subdivided into departments that offer different degree programmes within the overall field of study. 

Preparation

Homework

At university, you are responsible for your own preparation for lessons, and no one will check whether you have done your homework. 

Lectures

Presentations by a teacher

A form of university teaching that largely consists of academic presentations from lecturers and plenary discussions. 

Groups

Classes

You are no longer in a class, but in a group. If you are on a large programme, there may be several groups in a single year group. 

Course

Subject

Courses will typically be the term for what you previously called a subject in upper secondary education. On some programmes, we also call them subjects, modules, or seminars. The terms will sometimes overlap, so be aware of the language used on your programme. For example, you will find the term "course" in the course catalogue, which is an overview of all the "subjects" offered at AU. 

Semester 

Half a school year

The year is divided into two semesters. The autumn semester runs from September to January and the spring semester runs from February to June. On some programmes, the semester will be divided into modules. 

Timetable

Digital timetable

You can’t be sure that you will have the same timetable throughout the semester, nor that you will be in the same room. The time and place of classes may change continuously, so remember to keep updated. 

Student association

Aarhus University has a rich association and club life. Whether you are into sports, theatre or music, there will always be a club or association for you. See the List of associations for something that suits you.  

Study groups

Permanent working groups

Study groups can take many forms, e.g. reading groups, writing groups, project groups, etc., where you go through texts, make calculations for assignments, or do group assignments and projects together. 

Students

Pupils

You’re no longer a pupil: you’re a student. This means that you are responsible for your own learning. 

Lecturer

Teacher

At school you have a teacher. At university, we call them lecturers. 


Get off to a good start

  • Read The Student Handbook, which is an introduction to AU, the city of Aarhus and life outside your studies
  • The Styrkditstudieliv.au.dk website describes all the services available to improve your wellbeing or your student life generally. 
  • Study@AU is a voluntary, online course for new students and it deals with general study skills. It is available to all new students via Brightspace. During the course, you will learn about good study habits, useful study strategies, and how to improve your student wellbeing. 

Brightspace

Brightspace is a teaching portal for all students at AU, with important information from lecturers. Log in to Brightspace here

How can I use Studypedia?

Consider Studypedia as a toolbox that you can rummage around in to find exactly the tools you need to build a good framework for your learning and the academic side of your student life. 

The landing page on Studypedia has nine different topics that touch on different aspects of the academic side of student life. The structure is designed so that you can quickly navigate the site according to your needs.  

Find a community

Student association 

Join one of the many student associations and clubs at AU and become part of a community with other students.

Find a student association here

Genlyd

Become part of a community in Aarhus via genlydaarhus.dk, where you can find other young people who want to meet and go to the cinema, exercise, play board games, be creative and much more. Find or create an invitation on genlydaarhus.dk