Winter Study start

International students choose DTU for its high academic standards and flexible programmes

New exchange and master students from the US, Mexico and Ecuador share their reasons for choosing DTU and their positive experiences during intro week, where they have had the opportunity to get to know the study environment through academic and social activities.

DTU Introduction Week, a 5-day welcome event for new students, gives a jump start to student life at DTU. Photo: Bax Lindhardt.

Monday 03 February 2025

Nasrin Billie

DTU attracts students from all over the world. This spring semester, DTU welcomed over 1100 new master's and exchange students from 69 different countries. Around 700 of them, the majority being foreign students, participated in the introduction week at DTU Lyngby Campus starting on Monday 27 January, 2025. Here, they were introduced to the study environment and their fellow students through a series of academic and social activities.

In general, most exchange students come from the USA. One of them is 20-year-old Olivia Leary, who is studying a semester at DTU. She chose the university because of its strong sustainability focus. She has also heard other American exchange students speak highly of their experiences in Denmark.

“The social atmosphere has been a highlight for me during orientation week. I've had the opportunity to get to know others and experience the differences and similarities between different cultures,” says Olivia Leary, who has travelled outside her home country for the first time.

Olivia Leary (center) takes part in a social activity about Danish culture, where the new students, typically of foreign origin, are divided into small groups that solve a task together. Here, the group is building the former iconic Børsen building in Lego. Photo: DTU

A small country with a global influence

There is a slight increase in exchange students from outside the EU. One of them is 22-year-old Javier Zambrano from DTU's Mexican partner university Tec De Monterrey, who has chosen to study at DTU for a semester because he believes the university values project work and collaboration as much as his home university.

“I'm fascinated by how Danes collaborate and work effectively in a small country with a big influence in the world,” says Javier Zambrano.

He is looking forward to exploring different disciplines during his stay, including ship design and underwater robotics. About the introduction week, he says his buddy, a current DTU student from Italy, has helped him settle in as a foreigner on campus.

Mexican Javier Zambrano (right) gets an introduction to Danish culture through games such as parcel games. Photo: DTU

Europe's best technical university

In his welcome speech to the new students, President Anders Bjarklev emphasised the importance of the many international students for DTU:

“International students contribute to our diversity and help us create technology that makes life better for people,” said Anders Bjarklev.

The President also highlighted the flexibility of DTU's degree programmes:

“At DTU, you'll find sustainability, innovation and digitalisation high on the agenda. We offer opportunities to do projects with industry, participate in hackathons and innovation challenges, and be part of Green Challenge - our annual student conference on sustainability,” Anders Bjarklev told the new students.

In addition to DTU's President, Dean of Studies and Student Affairs Lars D. Christoffersen and the President of the student association Polyteknisk Forening's (PF) Thor Deibert also welcomed the new students to DTU.

Flexibility in course selection

23-year-old Mishel Guaman, originally from Ecuador but coming to DTU with a bachelor's degree from the University of Genoa, chose DTU partly for its good ranking. For the second year in a row, DTU has been named the best technical university in the EU by the European ranking EngiRank. Partly for the flexibility in course selection - there are more than 1400 courses to choose from - and the many social activities on campus that her previous university did not have.

At DTU, she will study a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering and Management.

“I have enjoyed the induction week where I feel involved in the activities,” says Mishel Guamanabout her participation in the intro week, which on the fourth day features a series of physical games and team building exercises in the sports hall with over 700 new students.

Mishel Guaman (center) appreciates the intro week's academic and social introduction to studying at DTU. Photo: DTU

Facts

Winter study start 2025 at DTU's other campuses

The intro activities for new students at DTU Ballerup Campus and in Hirtshals start on February 3, 2025.
At DTU Ballerup Campus, 21 new students will start the digital BEng in Mechanical Engineering.
In Hirtshals, 3 new students will start an MSc in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture. In addition, 3 students from BEng in Fisheries Technology will start their 4-5. semester semester in Hirtshals, having finished their 1-3. semester of the study programme in Sisimiut, Greenland.

On the fourth day of the intro week, around 700 new students participated in a workshop in the sports hall at DTU Lyngby Campus, where they made friends with their fellow students through physical teambuilding exercises. Photo: Bax Lindhardt

Contact

Lars Dyreborg Christoffersen Senior Vice President and Dean of Studies and Student Affairs Office for Study Programmes and Student Affairs Phone: +45 45251009 ladch@dtu.dk