Roskilde University

Roskilde University (RUC) was founded in 1972 with the objective of setting new standards in education and learning by breaking with traditional university practices and embracing student involvement and critical thinking. The university is research-driven and proud to provide a strong link between research and teaching, contributing to experimental, innovative forms of learning and knowledge creation.
Central to RUC’s mission are interdisciplinarity, problem-based approaches and student-led group work on specific projects to boost the learning experience. Studies therefore consist of 50% specialized courses and 50% project-based group work that promotes independent critical thinking, creativity and innovation among the student body.
At RUC, we view ERUA as an opportunity to experiment and innovate in teaching, learning and mobility to bring Europe and Europeans closer together to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

What does being part of ERUA mean for us?

  • Equipping staff and students with the skills and networks to flourish as Europeans in a globalized world
  • Leveraging the strengths of all ERUA partners to learn, innovate, and create
  • Pooling the forces of 5 reform universities with a tradition of challenging and reimagining teaching, learning, research and the role of higher education in modern society to critically question our own place and purpose
  • Being at the forefront of digitalization and developing a seamless education and research experience across key partnerships to increase course offerings, improve quality and deepen collaborations

Four things you should know about the Roskilde University

What are we known for?

  • offering broad undergraduate liberal arts education, with a shared core curriculum and co-teaching between different disciplines.
  • educating graduates who are popular with employers for their strong, interdisciplinary competences and their teamwork skills.
  • our focus on problem-oriented project-based learning (PPL) that teaches students to solve problems by asking the right real-life questions
  • being research-driven and providing a strong link between research and education, contributing to experimental, innovative forms of teaching and learning and knowledge creation.

Where are we located?

  • Roskilde University is a one-campus university, located in beautiful green surroundings between Denmark’s urban center, Copenhagen, and the historic city of Roskilde, which is known for its UNESCO world heritage listed cathedral, the Viking Ship Museum and the largest music festival in Northern Europe – The Roskilde Festival.
  • Being part of the Greater Copenhagen area, the center of Copenhagen is only 22 minutes away by train. Four trains per hour make it easy to get from the vibrant city life of Copenhagen to the dynamic study environment at Roskilde University.

What are our research priorities?

  • RUC is particularly well known for its interdisciplinary research and has a very strong profile in the human and social sciences and a presence in the environmental sciences.

Who are our international partners?

  • RUC is a member of the Critical Edge Alliance, a global collaborative framework for universities that focus upon student-centered learning, critical thinking, interdisciplinary teaching and research, and social engagement. The alliance promotes ideas such as democratic participation, social inclusion and social justice; human understanding and empathy; and active and mutual learning towards personal and communal development.
  • RUC is also part of northern academic collaborations such as the University of the Arctic (UArctic). The UArctic is a network of universities, colleges, research institutes, and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the North. UArctic builds and strengthens collective resources and infrastructures that enable member institutions to better serve their constituents and their regions.
  • RUC offers two joint master programs with international partners. One is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, awarding a Master’s in Erasmus Mundus Global Studies and the other is the Nordic Master awarding a degree in Nordic Urban Planning Studies.
  • RUC partners with 200 European and 31 non-European universities for student exchange.

RUC in numbers (2019)

Students

Total number of enrolled students: 8.820
Bachelor students: 4.270
Master’s students 3.530
International students: 1.020

Staff

Total full time equivalent staff: 960
Academic staff: 470
Technical and administrative staff: 370
PhD students and postdocs: 120

Other Members

Associated Partners