Student advisers have once again donned the colourful T-shirts that usually adorn campus at the end of August. And they are wearing them so the expectant and nervous new students can easily spot them as they step onto Aarhus University’s campus for the first time.

Over the next three days, campus and University Park will be buzzing with life as the new students begin their orientation days. This year, approx. 750 students will begin study programmes at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

A new chapter

"When I was deciding what to study, I was wavering between becoming an astrophysicist or a gardener."

So said Kristian Pedersen, dean at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, as he welcomed the new natural science students along with Vice-dean for Education, Kristine Kilså.

Even though the students are divided into three groups to hear the dean and the vice-dean's welcome speech at the Lakeside Lecture Theatres, the Per Kirkeby auditorium is filled to the rafters by the first group alone.

“You are about to begin a new chapter in your lives. It may sound scary, but it isn’t,” he says and continues:

"You will be part of something bigger. Natural science plays an important role in solving many of the important issues facing society at the moment, issues that require solutions now and in the future. We have to ask and try to answer the really important questions."

"Here at Aarhus University, we train world-class researchers," adds Kristine Kilså, mentioning high-profile names such as Jens Christian Schou, Dorthe Ravnsbæk, Lene Vestergaard and Bjarne Stroustrup.

Studying natural science can take you down many different paths, and nobody expects new students to know exactly what they want to do once they graduate from Aarhus University, assures Kristine Kilså:

"Being a student here may mean that you are following in the footsteps of some of the best researchers, but the most important thing to do is find your own way."

Heartfelt thanks to student advisers

Before sending the students off on the next leg of their programme, Kristian Pedersen and Kristine Kilså thanked the student advisers for their work ensuring that the new students had a great start to their studies.

The next three days will be full of introductions, lectures and guided tours, as well as get-to-know-you tours, games in University Park and Friday bars.

Student advisers volunteer their time and efforts to plan the orientation days and to make sure that the new students feel welcome, receive the right information and get to know each other.

"The advisors are all volunteers and have put a great deal of effort into planning these three days. And they’ve put a lot effort into making sure these are a fun few days, and we are very grateful,” says Kristine Kilså to the student advisers in attendance.

“And finally, we wish you the best of luck with your studies,” she says and hands the new students over to the student advisers who are waiting for them with signs, costumes and the recognisable, colourful t-shirts.