Nathja Røsvik,
third-semester student of the study of religion

“My impression is that there could be problems for students who choose the study of religion as a supplementary subject. These students have to take an introductory language course alongside the people studying religion as a basic subject, so they might run into problems because their supplementary subject will take six months longer than normal. This could mean that when they continue their studies after their supplementary subject, they won’t necessarily be able to sign up for the subjects they need until the following semester – so they won’t be able to comply with the government’s demand for 30 ECTS credits each semester. But actually I’m pretty uncertain about how the reform will affect me. I hope to learn more at the meeting.”

Lise Nielsen,
fourth-semester student of psychology, writing her Bachelor’s assignment

“I planned to complete my Master’s degree over five semesters, which is quite normal for students of psychology, so I’ve only registered for subjects amounting to 20 ECTS credits next semester. It sounds as if you won’t necessarily have to take 30 ECTS credits each semester, but I’m not sure about this and I don’t understand how this will work. It’s all happening at a really bad time because we’ve already registered for our subjects.”

Sasia Skovsted,
tenth-semester student of medicine

 “I’ve got one year left, and I risk being hit by the four-year rule (doctors must have commenced their main degree programme in a special area no more than four years after starting their basic training, ed.) After the reform I might not be able to take a research year or get a job as a locum – which is always a good chance to get some practical experience. This is a problem that will have an impact on the whole world of research – after all, doctors on a research year do a huge amount of spadework. It will also affect the hospitals, which depend on having access to a certain number of locums.” 

Peter Sinnbeck,
fifth-semester student of political science

“I’m afraid it will be impossible for me to go on an exchange programme or placement during my Master’s degree. This won’t any longer be an advantage to me as a student, because I risk falling behind the others. So what they seem to be saying to the students is: just stay where you are behind those yellow-brick walls. I’m also afraid that it’s going to be an enormous administrative burden for the university, so the reform might end up actually costing us more money.”

Troels Seerup,
ninth-semester student of medicine

“I’m starting my research year in February, so I’ll be half-way through this year by the time the reform is implemented. This means that in principle I won’t be able to start studying again because you’re not allowed to take leave of absence during your Master’s programme. I’d also like to work as a locum afterwards to get some of the skills I don’t learn as a student, but it doesn’t look as if this will be possible after the reform.”

Rasmus Erdal,
fifth-semester student of political science

“What I fear most is that it will limit my options when it comes to doing a placement or going abroad because you might not be able to get the 30 ECTS credits that the reform demands. People have told me that it’s not always easy to get 30 ECTS credits abroad – both because the courses don’t always generate 30 ECTS credits, and because you want to have the time for a good social life while you’re away. We don’t any longer have the same freedom and flexibility.”