The transition from pupil to university student can be filled with confusion and concerns, as one now steps into a new role that closely resembles the previous one. This module therefore contains testimonials from students about what it was like to start a higher education.

A new beginning

I was very nervous when I first started, and I remember thinking it was overwhelming because I had been away from school for quite some time. So starting at university made me really anxious, wondering if I was smart enough, good enough, and things like that. But then, on the first day of the intro period, I was met with the kindest faces. I already felt quite safe, which quickly made me forget my worries, and that was really nice.

When the courses began, I remember thinking, "Okay wow, can the world really look like this?" It was an incredible experience to start at university because it expanded my horizon of knowledge. I especially noticed this as I started making new connections, both academically and socially, where we could discuss all sorts of academic topics but also grab a cup of coffee or a beer in the RUC bar afterwards.

Astrid

kandidatstuderende på kulturmødestudier

To find a place to belong

I was very nervous about whether university was a place where I belonged. But to my surprise, after just two weeks I could feel that I had landed in the right place. I was completely hooked on the way RUC did things. I was hugely inspired by the things we learned in classes and the texts we worked with in courses and project work. It sparked my curiosity about people and gave me a new kind of confidence in myself, both as a person and as a university student.

Besides the renewed confidence, I have also gained an incredibly valuable network of people whom I now call my friends. Despite my worries about starting an academic education, I embraced this new chapter of my life with open arms and a big smile, which I am incredibly grateful for to this day. Do yourself the favor of being curious about your studies, and allow yourself to make mistakes. Then I have no doubt that everything will fall into place on its own.

Victor

3. Semester studerende på den samfundsfaglige bachelor

Anders

5. Semester studerende på den humanistiske bachelor

A new way of working

I was excited, but also a bit worried about the project-based learning approach when I started at RUC last year, because in high school I often experienced an uneven workload distribution in group work. I imagine some of you might share the same concerns. But fear not. It’s not nearly as bad as you might think. Since project work at RUC accounts for half of the education, we receive a thorough introduction on how to best utilize project work to strengthen our academic skills, both in the subject we are working on and in managing and coordinating the work process within our group.

So far, I have completed two projects, and I’m beginning to really understand why so much of our education focuses on this work form. It has significantly strengthened my skills in long-term planning, ongoing evaluation, and overall collaboration with others, skills that are incredibly valuable in all areas of life. I’m not trying to glorify group work, as it can be really tough, but if you dare to fully commit to it, then it’s truly worthwhile.

From pupil to university student