An exchange student is a student from one of Aalborg University's partner universities (Erasmus, Nordic or overseas) who wishes to study at Aalborg University for one or two semesters and who has been nominated for exchange at Aalborg University by the partner university.

For more information on the nomination process, please contact the international office at your home university.

Freemovers are paying guest students from a university, who does not have an exchange agreement with Aalborg University (or if the agreement they have doesn't cover the academic area you are interested in),  who wishes to study abroad at Aalborg University for one or two semesters.

Freemovers/paying guest students must pay a fee if they wish to study abroad at AAU.

September intake
Deadline: 1 April?

February intake?
Deadline: 1 October

IMPORTANT: We have implemented a new exchange application system (Mobility Online), therefore we'll not send a nomination spreadsheet as usual. Instead we have sent you an email with the link for online nomination. Furthermore you can find the link here:

For partner universities only:? Link for nomination.

What is nomination for exchange?

• Universities that hold an exchange agreement with Aalborg University select the students that they would like to go abroad during the upcoming semester(s). For more information on this process, please contact the international office at your home university.
• The universities then let Aalborg University know which students they would like to send to Aalborg University.

Semester dates

Spring semester = 1 February - 30 June (Even semester = 2,4,6,8)

Autumn semester = 1 September - 31 January (Odd semester = 1,3,5,7,9)

Welcome week

The week before the semester start we host a welcome week for new international AAU students with events to introduce you to your new surroundings and help you to get a good start at AAU and in Denmark.?

How is studying at AAU like?

Studying at Aalborg University (AAU) may be somewhat different from being a student at other Danish universities. This is due to the PBL method. To make sure everyone is on the same page, please read the short explanation of AAU's PBL method below.

What is PBL and why is it important?

Each semester has a certain theme and there is a planned learning outcome. To achieve the learning outcome there are certain mandatory theory modules. Typically, there are three theory modules (5 ECTS points each) which all are prerequisites for the semester project/project module (15 ECTS points). There is no set number of lectures for a given module. It follows our PBL setup (Problem Based Learning) where the project module is a synthesis of the theory modules used on a real-life problem. The learning outcome for the project is also found in the curriculum.

"The group work at AAU is an amazing aspect. An opportunity of having other voices impact your work provides a great experience moving forward in your working life and a big plus for your resume".

Mie Nymann Jensen, former AAU student?

The project module has a threefold (or more) purpose:

1. Project group work strengthens the students¡¯ cooperation capabilities
2. It requires students to reflect on their learning ¨C it must be argued how and why they used the taught theory in the project or why not if they didn¡¯t and why they chose to use a different theory, and
3. It helps students in transferring their knowledge into ¡°how do I use this in the real world¡± as most often the group project will be undertaken in cooperation with a company, where the company presents a case/the problem to be solved/or is the data.

This means that students at AAU build their academic profile via the semester project. The project is a free-topic subject (however it must fall under the theme of the semester) where the students, in groups, do research about a subject that interests them and write a joint group report on it. It is through the semester projects each semester that the students can create their unique academic profiles, as they choose what to research. The project groups only last for the semester project. The next semester the students form new groups based on interest and thus the group one is in could be entirely, or only somewhat different the next semester.

As a consequence, there is no course selection as such. The semesters are pre-planned and stated in the curriculum. In the ¡°Chose your exchange course at AAU¡± section below you¡¯ll find more information on how to find the different exchange courses.

?

"Being able to collaborate with people you don't necessarily love or have a personal chemistry with is a really important experience and a skill to take with you in your working life. In the workplace, we typically don't choose our colleagues,"?

Sune Qvortrup Jensen, Professor AAU

?

How time is spent throughout a typical semester at AAU

Most time at the beginning of the semester is used on courses/lectures but gradually that decreases and the project work increases. The project exam is an oral group exam where the project report is defended.?

• Information about the PBL method at Aalborg University

So the project report is like a very long essay, and it is not necessarily fun all the time ¨C most likely it will be quite frustrating as there not only will be academic troubles in learning new theories and learning how to apply them but also the aspect of finding out how to work together in a group may prove to be frustrating. Afterward, hopefully, you will discover that is when you perhaps learned the most.

Further information on the PBL method.

Choosing your exchange course at AAU

Our exchange courses are part of existing study programmes. The exchange courses consist of:

• 3-5 predetermined modules,?including a project module (free-topic)
• For some of the exchange courses there is also a small selection of elective modules
• The selected modules must correspond to 30 ECTS

Semesters are pre-planned and as stated in the curriculum. Thus, mixing and matching different courses and programmes is impossible.

You can find detailed information on all guest and exchange courses with specific semesters taught in English here:

• Find your exchange courses at AAU

IMPORTANT: If you cannot attend Aalborg University from semester start (Fall: 1 September / Spring 1 February) e.g. due to semester overlap with your home university, please let us know in order for us to help you selecting modules that does not conflict with semester overlap.

Project module - free topic

The semester project is a ¡°free-topic¡± research project. The free topic must fall under the thematic framework of the semester to be approved, but in this way, you to a large extent have the choice to research and write about what interests you.

Applied Grading Scale - be aware

For most of the examinations at AAU, the applied grading scale is the 7-point grading scale. But for some examinations, the applied grading scale is ¡°Passed/Not passed¡±. AAU can't convert from pass/no-pass to numerical grades.

Pay attention to the applied grading scale

We urge you to familiarise yourself with the curriculum ¡ì18 about whether the exam is assessed according to the 7-point scale or passed/not passed and what consequences it may have for you about conversion at the home university.

We urge our partner universities to convert a "passed" into a middle grade, e.g. 4 on the 7-point scale.

Requirement for master level courses

You must have obtained a bachelor's degree at the startdate of the exchange stay to be accepted at a master's level exchange course. It may exceptionally happen that we accept 180 ECTS in cases where a bachelor's degree is 4 years.

Further information about the modules

You can find the specific modules for exchange courses and programmes in the curriculum of the programme in question.

• AAU Curricula

Writing your master thesis as part of the exchange

It is an individual decision made by the relevant study board, whether you can write your master's thesis during your exchange stay. It is a requirement that you are examined in the project and/or modules corresponding to 30 ECTS at AAU.?

If you consider writing your master's thesis in collaboration with AAU and you do not want to get enrolled in modules corresponding to 30 ECTS and examined at AAU, you will, as per default, need to write the master's thesis as part of an internship/project-oriented stay. Thus, you need to contact the study board within your field of interest.?

Study Boards at Aalborg University - Aalborg University (aau.dk)

Students nominated within Erasmus+ (mobility for studies only) will need to fill in and sign a Learning Agreement/Digital Learning Agreement.?

To find out how to start your Learning Agreement, please contact (the International Office at) your home university.

The Learning Agreement is not part of the application process with Aalborg University (AAU) and you can only have it signed by your host department at AAU if you are fully accepted (depends on individual academic evaluation and on you providing all required documentation).

Responsible person at Aalborg University

Information on the "host institution responsible person" for the Learning Agreement will be disclosed in the Letter of Enrollment for exchange. Please be aware to choose the correct Res. Person in the Digital Learning Agreement.

The Learning Agreement is an academic matter and is to be handled between the student and the host department. The International Office is not involved in the signature of Learning Agreements.

The modules must correspond to 30 ECTS

When you write the names of the modules you wish to join at AAU in your Learning Agreement you must state modules corresponding to 30 ECTS, exactly.

The entire set of documentation must be uploaded to your application in the Application Portal.?

Please note: Aalborg University does not accept documents sent by post or email.

I am not sure about the documentation I have

Don't worry! As long as you submit your application by the deadline you will get a second chance. If the documents you have uploaded are not sufficient, we will reopen the relevant sections of your application so you can submit further documentation. We will give you a detailed explanation of the extra documentation we need and give you a deadline for uploading it to us.

Required documentation

• Certificates and academic transcripts in English including curricula with course descriptions
• Documentation that you have successfully completed at least one year of studies (2 semestres) at your home university (e.g. academic transcripts in English)
• Documentation for English language level. Please read the section below on language requirements carefully to find out how you need to document your English skills
• Copy of the section in your passport or National ID where your name, picture, and nationality are seen
• List of the course and the modules you expect to follow at AAU

Language requirements - English

We do our utmost to make your stay at AAU the best possible. To ensure that you get the most out of the teaching as well as from the group work, which is an important part of the PBL teaching method, we have some requirements for your English skills.

Your English level must correspond to a Danish B-level in English.

What to upload with the application

When applying as an exchange student (including Erasmus) or paying guest you must upload?one?of the following:

• a passed test or other valid documentation for your English language skills as described below

or

• a receipt from the test centers confirming, you have signed up for a test. If you upload a receipt for signing up for a test please note that the deadline for submitting the test result will be as follows:
  • Fall semester: 30 June
  • Spring semester: 15 December

How can I meet the language requirement?

Please be sure to read the entire section before contacting AAU about how to document your English language skills.?

If your documentation is not described below, it is not considered valid English language documentation for exchange at AAU.

Types of documentation

You can prove your language proficiency by uploading one of the following:

• IELTS* (academic test and IELTS Online): 6.5 overall band score with a minimum score of 6.0 in each section
• TOEFL* (internet-based + Home Edition): 85 with a minimum score of 20 in each section
• C2 Proficiency (CPE): 180/ level C1
• C1 Advanced (CAE): 180/ grade C
• ECPE: Passed test including certificate
• Duolingo: 120 with a minimum score of 115 in each section

Please note that Aalborg University will verify all tests at the specific test center.

*We do not accept IELTS and TOEFL tests that are more than 2 and a half years old at the time of the application deadline.?

We do not accept the ¡°TOEFL MyBest Scores¡±.

You are exempt from uploading an English test if:

• You hold a diploma from a 100% English-taught Bachelor?s programme from an AAU partner university
• You are currently enrolled in a 100% English-taught Bachelor¡¯s program or Master¡¯s programme at an AAU partner university

Please be aware that you must upload documentation from your home university stating that the