Malthe's story

Give a short introduction of yourself

My name is Malthe, and I was born and raised in Aalborg. Before I started at AAU, I attended STX at Aalborg Katedralskole. I graduated in 2021 and then took three gap years, during which I worked in both warehouse and office jobs. I also spent some time at Testrup Højskole.

Which considerations did you have regarding attending university?

Like most people, I had a lot of thoughts and worries before starting my studies. I never had a clear idea of what I wanted to do and considered many different degree programs – everything from Business Economics to Psychology. However, I always had a fairly strong sense that I wanted to go to university. It wasn’t until my time at Testrup that I realized my true interest lay in literature and communication. That’s why I chose to study Danish at AAU, as the program opens up a wide range of opportunities.

Even though choosing a degree was difficult, I was never really in doubt about studying in Aalborg. I’ve lived here my whole life and know the surroundings very well, which gave me a sense of calm—especially during the start of my studies. Having the practical things sorted before starting a new program is important, as it can make an otherwise hectic period a bit less overwhelming. Here in Aalborg, it’s easy to find affordable student housing close to the university and cultural offerings. When you’re able to quickly establish your own “base,” you have more energy for all the social activities during the start of the semester, which is super important!

How did you experience your first day at AAU?

The first day was, as I expected, incredibly overwhelming. We started at Honnørkajen along with a huge group of other new students. I was really nervous and excited all morning—nervous because I didn’t know anyone, and excited about all the new experiences ahead. But once the conversations started flowing, it turned out to be a really great experience, and the tutors were amazing at creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We ended the day with a barbecue at one of the tutors’ garden, which was super cozy.

Which challenging experiences did you have during the study start?

The hardest part was definitely trying to get an overview of all the new information you receive at the beginning. We had a ton of lectures already in the first week, so it was really difficult to balance keeping up with the reading while also enjoying all the social events. It definitely took some adjustment to transition from high school to university—especially after taking three gap years. I had to get used to doing “homework” again, and at university, the academic level is just completely different. You can really feel that things go much deeper here. A single lecture can contain as much material as several weeks of high school classes!

Which good experiences did you have during your study start?

The intro trip was definitely the highlight. Our tutors had put in a huge amount of effort to make the start of the semester fun and full of social activities. It was a great support during a very overwhelming time and made it easy to form strong bonds with others in the program. If I had to give one piece of advice to a new student, it would definitely be to focus on the social side of the start. That way, you have the chance to build friendships that could last throughout your entire time at university—and that’s truly invaluable!

It was also amazing to meet others who shared some of the same interests. At university, you study a single subject in depth, and it was really great to feel that sense of academic community forming so quickly.

What do you wish someone had told you about student life?

I wish someone had told me that you can’t do everything, no matter how hard you try. It’s okay not to read the entire syllabus. It’s okay not to have the energy for every social event. You have to remember to take care of yourself and take things one step at a time. If you do that, you’ll get through it all. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to have everything figured out from day one, but that throughout your studies, you’ll constantly learn what works best for you.