The tide has turned: More AU students are heading abroad again
More AU students are once again opting to study abroad, according to new figures from Aarhus University. This is a really positive development, says International Director Rikke Nielsen.
After several years of declining interest in studying abroad among AU students, the latest figures from Aarhus University suggest that the trend is beginning to reverse.
In 2025, 1,556 AU students took part in exchange programmes, compared with 1,387 in 2024, representing an increase of 12 per cent. The figures come from a new report (In Danish, ed.) by the Educational Development and Analysis secretariat within AU Student Administration and Services.
"It's really positive that more students are choosing to travel abroad," says Rikke Nielsen, International Director at AU Student Administration and Services, and emphasises that this has been one of AU's objectives.
“We would very much like to see more students go abroad and spend time overseas as part of their studies,” she says.
This objective has been actively promoted since the beginning of 2025, with Pro-Rector Berit Eika among its supporters.
However, although the figures are moving in the right direction, Rikke Nielsen still views them with a degree of caution.
"It is not possible to talk about a trend based on these figures alone, but our forecasts also point to an increase from 2025 to 2026,” she says, adding:
"If you look at the numbers over the years, there is a pretty significant shift around the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope that we are working our way up again," she points out.
Aarhus BSS and Arts are driving the increase
It is students from Aarhus BSS and Arts in particular who are dusting off their passports and heading abroad in increasing numbers. At Aarhus BSS, the number of students going on exchange programmes increased by 23 per cent, equivalent to 134 additional students, while Arts recorded a six per cent increase, corresponding to 29 more students compared with 2024.
Rikke Nielsen believes the increase is largely due to the so-called “ambassadors”, whose numbers have begun to recover since the Covid-19 pandemic. Ambassadors are AU students who have returned from an exchange programme and can offer advice to those considering studying abroad.
AU Study Abroad Fair 2026
The fair will take place on 7 October from 14.00-17.30 in the City Auditorium, University City 41.
Visitors to the fair will have the opportunity to meet international coordinators from all faculties and speak informally with someone from their own faculty about their options.
More generally, the fair offers students the chance to learn when they can go on exchange during their studies, where they can go, what is required to take part, and when they need to apply.
Information on grants and other funding opportunities for studying abroad will also be available. The Education Grant and Loan Scheme in Denmark (SU) will also be present and provide information on how to go abroad with your SU.
Source: AU
The fair is a "good place to start"
To raise awareness of the exchange programmes and as part of its goal of encouraging more AU students to study abroad, Aarhus University is hosting the “Study Abroad Fair”.
The fair allows students to learn about every aspect of an exchange programme abroad.
"We believe that the fair is important. We held it for the first time since Covid-19 in 2024, and we are now seeing an increase in the numbers. I don't think it's solely due to the Study Abroad Fair, but it has certainly helped raise awareness that this opportunity exists," says Rikke Nielsen.
According to the International Director, students do not need to have given much thought to going on exchange before attending the fair.
"You can come to the Study Abroad Fair without having made up your mind about anything at all. The fair is a chance to show up with an open mind and explore the opportunities available,” says Rikke Nielsen, adding:
"Students are often weighing up several different options. That was also one of the findings of our barrier analysis,” says Rikke Nielsen, referring to the extensive qualitative report published before the summer holidays, which found that exchange programmes are in direct competition with alternatives such as internships, student jobs and courses at AU when students decide how to structure their studies.
“It is important that students explore the opportunities available to them, and the Study Abroad Fair can be a good place to start,” Rikke Nielsen concludes.
Time, money and FOMO are preventing AU students from going on exchange
Applications for exchange programmes in autumn 2027 and spring 2028 must be submitted by 1 December 2026.
This text is machine translated and post-edited by Mie Skov Jeppesen.