Aarhus Campus Guide: Grab a beer for just 5 kroner, experience the Regatta and take advantage of the many student associations.
Where do you find the best coffee, the cheapest beers and the coolest study spaces? Here are three seasoned students' tips for navigating student life at Aarhus University's campus in Aarhus. The Regatta is an event you simply can’t miss. Also, make sure to embrace the community both within your own degree programme and across different degree programmes – join a student association or visit a Friday bar outside your own.
Disclaimer: This text was translated using machine translation / AI and post-edited by Maria Nielsen Pedersen
The guide was first published in 2023.
Simone Broni Kallehauge is a fifth-semester history student (in the Nobel Park); Thea Bonnemann is a fifth-semester geoscience student (at the bottom of Vennelystparken) and is also a member of the Student Council and represents the students on Omnibus' editorial committee; and Mathilde Ørsted Toft is a ninth-semester IT Product Development student (at Katrinebjerg).
Describe student life on campus
Thea: "When you start at geoscience, it can feel like you’re a bit cut off from the rest of the university. It can feel a bit isolated, since our department is so far away from the others and has just 125 students in both the bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. But this also means we have a really tight-knit community. Everyone knows everyone across classes and degree programmes. Whenever you come to the department, you will find someone to talk to. Everyone gets a warm welcome since we know how important it is to have someone there to guide you."
Mathilde: "I think we as IT students are lucky since we have so many rooms available where we can concentrate and do group work. Our Friday bar, Fredagscaféen, is really cosy and laid-back, where you can play board games and chat."
Where to find cheap coffee or lunch
Simone: "I study in the Nobel Park and can't be bothered to go far for my coffee. So sometimes I just buy it at the Nobel Park’s canteen. However, it costs 14 kroner, so I often bring my own Nescafé and make my coffee with one of the kettles on campus. In terms of food, I cannot recommend the Nobel Park’s canteen, because it’s so overpriced – especially their buffet. Instead, I recommend that you visit the Royal Danish Library's canteen."
Thea: "MatKant (Matematisk Kantine), definitely. It's a slightly longer trip than going to Rema, but I go anyway. The coffee is cheap and good quality for the price, and it’s also nice to see other students we wouldn’t normally run into during the day. I also think the Royal Danish Library's canteen has a really great brunch. If you don't have any lectures before 10 a.m., it’s definitely a good place to stop by."
Mathilde: "In the Stibitz building, where the IT department is located, there’s a kitchenette where you can make your own coffee. In addition, you can get free filter coffee at Regnecentralen. Since we’re located right next to Storcenter Nord, we often buy lunch at the falafel shop. The guy who runs it is really nice and recognises us, and he makes an excellent wrap."
Where to find cheap beer
Simone: "In the Friday bars in the Nobel Park. The philosophical Friday bar serves beer from Vestfyens at just 5 kroner a pop, so if you like them, you can get really cheap beer. Downtown, I recommend going to Under Masken, which has a really cosy atmosphere. Just be aware that smoking is allowed indoors. Alternatively, you can enjoy a six-pack by the river in Mølleparken."
Thea: "In our own Friday bar Chaos! There’s something for everyone: board games in the early hours, cheap beer, and a dance floor in the evening. It has a bit of everything but is quite small. I’d describe the atmosphere as intimate."
Mathilde: "We usually go to the Friday bars, both our own and the ones in the Nobel Park. I don’t drink beer myself, but I’d recommend trying the Spejlæg drink at Katrines Kælder; it’s really good and a specialty at Katrinebjerg. Otherwise, we go to Storcenter Nord, where you can buy cheap beer, booze and mixers."
Where can I find out about events on campus?
Simone: "We communicate a lot within the degree programme through various Facebook and Instagram pages. I also follow Aarhus University on Facebook and read Omnibus. Sometimes there are also news below the schedule on MitStudie.dk. I don’t think many people are aware of that."
Thea: "I mostly keep up with updates through Omnibus and the Student Council for news on student politics and research. For social events, I use various Facebook pages like Studenterhuset. Additionally, you can join various Friday bar Facebook groups, get involved with different degree programme communities, and connect with other students."
Mathilde: "For academic events, AU Datalogi on Facebook and Instagram is great if you're in IT. Otherwise, I’ve been involved with TÅGEKAMMERET (The Science and Technology Association), where I met a lot of people from other degree programmes and got updates on what’s going on across campus."
The best place to read and write
Simone: "I try to study away from home as much as possible, but I don’t really use the reading rooms because the silence there can feel almost noisy. I usually book rooms in the Nobel Park with some people from my class so we can study and work together. You can book them through Timetable, and it’s pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it. Otherwise, I recommend studying at Café Mellemfolk downtown. Their coffee costs 20-25 kroner, and it’s a really cosy café, especially great for working in the morning and early afternoon."
Thea: "I spend a lot of time at my own department because we’re lucky enough to have spaces where we can work. For instance, the room that hosts the Friday bar is also a great place for group work during the week. I also think the Royal Danish Library has some great spots, but they’re in high demand, so they can be a bit hard to get. I also enjoy Løve’s Bog- og Vincafé for its cosy atmosphere. Additionally, I go to Erlings Jazz- og Ølbar if I need to get some final work done, but it’s a bit livelier there."
Mathilde: "We're fortunate in my degree programme since we get a designated spot in a room on campus from the start. It’s really useful for us since we do a lot of practical work and need the extra space. Having a designated spot is great because you get to know people from your degree programme and other classes. In addition, the Nygaard Library is really cosy and a great place to study or write."
Don’t miss these events
Simone: "The Regatta. It’s definitely number one. The events at the start of the semester vary by degree programme, but I’d definitely suggest going to the first two Friday bars after orientation week. At that point, people still haven't gotten to know each other that well, and the Friday bars are a great chance to talk to someone you didn't get to talk much to during orientation week."
Thea: "The obvious one is definitely the Regatta – it’s a must! I also think ‘Denmark's biggest Friday bar and sports day’ is a really cool event to attend. Those two events are definitely worth going to. The Student Council organises breakfast gatherings from time to time where everyone is welcome to join. It’s great to meet other students and see that Aarhus University is a big organisation with a lot going on."
Mathilde: "The SOFA association organises a lot of events for IT students, both academic and social. I definitely recommend attending them. ‘Denmark's biggest Friday bar and sports day’ is also a great way to get to know your fellow students. I definitely recommend putting together a sports team to join in at the start of the day. You also can't ignore that the Regatta is an awesome event."
Your life as a student would not be complete without...
Simone: "Good social relations within your degree programme. It would be really tough to be a student without a solid group of friends, and it can be challenging to form new friend groups once you start taking elective courses. When you’re preparing for an exam, it’s great to have someone to bounce ideas off. Last semester, I had a friend read through my paper before I submitted it. It was a huge help because you can get so fixated on your own work as the deadline approaches."
Thea: "I wouldn’t want to be without my connection to the Student Council. Having a place to go outside of my studies, where I feel just as connected as I do with the Student Council, is priceless. I definitely wouldn’t want to miss out on that."
Mathilde: "My student life isn’t complete without a sense of community, which is strengthened by working together in the same rooms with students from all classes. Being able to greet everyone and have a connection with all your peers is truly indispensable. The academic community also means we gather in our study spaces for social events. The sense of community is definitely one of the things I love most about my degree programme."
AU – much more than Aarhus!
AU's degree programmes are spread across several campuses in Herning, Emdrup near Copenhagen and Aarhus. In Aarhus, students are located at AU's yellow campus around the University Park, in the Nobel Park, at Katrinebjerg, at NAVITAS, on Fuglesangs Allé, and at AU's new campus, University City. Just outside Aarhus, you’ll find Moesgaard, where anthropology and archaeology are based. This year AU opened a new campus in Viborg.
One final piece of good advice
Simone: "Step out of your comfort zone, especially during your first semester. I did this during orientation week, even though I'm usually pretty reserved. Get involved and don’t hold back – it’s a lot of fun. If you have the chance to join something, just go for it. I regret not joining a club in my first semester because it’s much easier to become part of something when you’re involved from the start."
Thea: "The Facebook page ‘Storskrald i Aarhus’ and ‘REUSE’ are really brilliant for finding new furniture when moving to Aarhus. There are also many free services available through Studenterhuset, such as legal aid and other practical help that can be really useful. I’d recommend checking out Studenterhuset to see what they offer."
Mathilde: "Make the most of the facilities on campus! It’s great to feel a sense of ownership over the place where you study, and my degree programme encourages that. Using the facilities also helps build a sense of community, so I think it's important to take advantage of them."
ABOUT CAMPUS AARHUS: WORLD-FAMOUS YELLOW BRICKS
Aarhus University was founded in 1928, when it was known as “University Teaching in Jutland”. It was based in various premises - including a building on Nørre Allé. In 1933, the first university building was inaugurated. The building is now numbered 1340 and houses the Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences. The distinctive yellow-brick campus buildings surrounding the University Park were designed by C.F. Møllers Tegnestue.
On 31 October 1941, the RAF bombed residence halls 4 and 5 and part of the main building in the University Park. The resistance movement in Jutland had asked the RAF to do this because the buildings were being used by the Gestapo as their headquarters in Jutland.
In 2007 Aarhus Campus was expanded following the merger with the Aarhus School of Business on Fuglesangs Allé. Aarhus Campus also includes buildings in the Nobel Park, Katrinebjerg, Dalgas Avenue and Moesgård.