SEMESTER/YEAR LONG PROGRAMS
Exchange Programs»Aalborg University (Aalborg), Denmark
Founded in 1974, Aalborg is Denmark's third largest university and enrolls over 11,000 students. The university emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, project-oriented studies, and the interaction of theory and practice. The coursework offered is particularly appropriate for Old Dominion students in the fields of Communications, International Studies, and European Studies, but any student with an interest in Europe and cultural studies is encouraged to apply. See the Course Selection and Transfer Credit Process.
Aalborg University's Center for International Studies is the focus of Old Dominion's exchange program. Included in the Center's offerings is the International Cultural Studies Progarm (ICS), which focuses on research and teaching in the fields of culture, communication, society, and language. A particular emphasis is placed on the English, German, French, and Spanish-speaking areas of the world. Courses are offered in all of these languages and are based around the following themes:
- Communications, Cultural, and Media Studies
- Nationalism, Globalization, and International Relations
- Economic and Political Regions
- Language and Literature
Many exchange students from U.S. universities will also engage in regional study in the form of a Scandinavian Studies course or an intensive Danish language course. Advanced undergraduate students in the field of International Studies may also be eligible to take Master's level classes in Aalborg's International Cultural Studies program.
An internship program is offered for students participating in this exchange for a full academic year. These students will take courses during the Fall semester and complete a credit-bearing internship during the Spring semester. Potential internship sites are located in Denmark and throughout Europe and include embassies, European Union and United Nations agencies, non-governmental advocacy and lobby groups, multi-national corporations, and more.
All exchange students will participate in a pre-semester orientation offered by the International Office at Aalborg, and will also be matched up with a Danish "buddy" who will help orient them to their new surroundings. Exchange students are accommodated in single, furnished rooms in student houses called kollegier. Kitchen and bath facilities are shared with other students from Denmark and around the world. Public transportation in Denmark is well-developed and easy to use. Monthly bus passes are available and many students also purchase second-hand bicycles for the duration of their exchange.
The City of Aalborg
Denmark lies at the tip of continental Europe, north of Germany and west of Sweden. It is therefore a gateway between continental Europe and the Scandinavian peninsula. Denmark is made up of the Jutland peninsula (where Aalborg is located), and over 400 islands. No one in Denmark is more than a one-hour drive from the sea.
The site of the first Viking settlement 1300 years ago, Aalborg is Denmark's fourth-largest city with 160,000 inhabitants. It is situated in the midst of wooded hills, moors, and shallow marshes, and was named Europe's Tidiest City in 1990! Jomfru Ane Gade is known as the "amusement street" and is a pedestrian thoroughfare of restaurants, pubs, discotechques, and cafes. The "Student House," located in the center of the city, is another popular destination - it is home to a café, stage, cinema, Internet laboratory, and numerous student-centered activities, debates, and concerts. Nearby attractions include over 700 Viking gravestones and a museum of Viking life. Students interested in art can also visit museums and churches which house everything from ancient frescoes to 20th century paintings, and rollercoaster fans shouldn't miss the Tivoliland!
Old Dominion's Exchange Program with Aalborg University
Although a full range of courses are taught in English, students with advanced language skills may also select courses in German, French, or Spanish. There is a strong emphasis at Aalborg on problem-oriented projects which are carried out in groups. Students should expect to spend less time in lectures than in the U.S. and more time conducting independent and group research under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
Dates
The Fall semester begins in late August. For students taking courses in Communications and Cultural Studies, exams will finish in mid-December. Students taking courses in International Studies will not finish until January. The Spring semester will run from late January through June. Full-year students participating in the internship program should begin during the Fall term if possible.
Credits
The credit earned at Aalborg will be recorded on the Old Dominion transcript as transfer credit provided that a grade equivalent to a "C" or better is earned. Advance planning with academic advisors, and completing a transfer credit evaluation prior to the start of your program, ensures that these credits are applied toward graduation and degree requirements. Students will work with faculty advisors at Old Dominion to select courses which will yield a minimum of 12 transfer credits. Aalborg uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) of weighting courses. A normal course load is 30 ECTS (this will yield 15 credits at Old Dominion) and consists of 3-4 graded courses and 1 graded project.
Cost
Students pay regular Old Dominion tuition and fees for 12 credits on this program. Housing costs are paid through Aalborg University and are estimated at $2100-$2700 per semester in 2008-2009. Students should budget approximately $1600 per semester for food. Additional fees include the $150 study abroad fee, airfare, books, passport and student visa, local transportation, and spending money. Most forms of financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships) can be applied to this program as long as an enrollment status consistent with financial aid is maintained. The study abroad advisor will provide a detailed program budget for planning purposes and for submission to the Financial Aid Office.
Next Steps
The Office of Study Abroad assists you in planning for your semester or year at Aalborg. The first step in this process is to stop by to make an appointment with the study abroad advisor. Begin planning several months in advance of deadlines to ensure that this program is an appropriate choice!
Useful Links
Eligibility Criteria
- Minimum 2.75 GPA
- Junior standing at time of exchange
- Capacity to carry out independent and group research
Priority Deadlines
- For Fall: mid-February
- For Spring: mid-October
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be submitted prior to deadlines. Late applications may be possible for programs starting in the Fall term.
