• Teachers are responsible — homework is given, texts are reviewed, and teachers check to see whether pupils are attentive.
• There is coordination, to a certain degree, across subjects. Teachers talk to each other and try to avoid heavy workloads colliding, e.g., written assignments in several subjects in the same week.
• The entire curriculum is important and you often expect yourself to know all of it — not least to show your teachers that you are capable, and to achieve as high a grade as possible.

• As a student, you have the responsibility for what you learn. Your lecturers will often focus more on academics than on pedagogy.
• You will most likely not be tested on the reading or get your attendance checked, as the common belief is that students should be independent, inquiring, and responsible for their own education.
• Only specific parts of the curriculum will be covered. You should therefore learn to prioritise your course material and where to best spend your time.
• You must learn to approach texts critically and to immerse yourself in the subjects, so that you can relate to “why” rather than “how”.
• You will need to plan your time independently. There will be times with heavy workloads (for example in regards to project writing) and there is no guarantee that your fellow students work in the same way as you.

The role as a student is thus very different from the role as a pupil. Therefore, it will naturally take some time to adapt from one to the other.

PBL is one of AAU’s trademarks. PBL, which is short for Problem Based Learning, is a learning model that includes project work based on authentic problems, self-governed group work and collaboration. The learning model provides you and your fellow AAU students with tools for advancing in your academic field, and the ability to apply theory and research-based knowledge to real life. Additionally, it assists students in developing communication and cooperation competences that could come in handy at a future job.

Group work also encourages constructive discussions of viewpoints, which ultimately broaden the students’ horizon. Group work will vary depending on the type of people you are working with, and it is up to you as a group to find the right balance. However, Danes are very punctual, so make sure to reach your scheduled appointments on time. Should you happen to be late, Danes appreciate to be made aware of your delay.

Watch our videos regarding PBL for futher information and tips and tricks.