FAQ about COVID-19 and admission

The coronavirus is still here and the number of infected are increasing. 

read more about the outbreak in Denmark

As of 8 January 2021 it is not possible for students resident in countries outside Denmark to enter Denmark. Persons resident outside of Denmark can only enter Denmark if they have a worthy purpose. Being a student or admitted to a Danish educational institution is currently not considered a worthy purpose. 

To see the worthy purposes of entry into Denmark please visit the website of the Danish Police. 

If you have a worthy purpose for entering Denmark and are travelling to Denmark by air, please note that all passengers onboard the airplane must have been tested negative for COVID-19 within 24 hours of boarding the plane. You can read more here. 

These increased entry restrictions currently apply until 15 April 2021. Please stay updated on this website or the website of the Danish Police. 

Please also note that foreigners with clear symptoms such as dry cough and fever cannot enter Denmark regardless of the intended purpose.

Mandatory testing and 10-day isolation for persons entering Denmark

All persons entering Denmark will be required to be tested and subsequently isolate for 10 days. You can read more here. 

If you have a Danish residence permit

Persons resident in Denmark or persons holding a valid residence permit to Denmark can enter denmark no matter the purpose and are not required to present a negative COVID-19 test during the border control in Denmark. However, all passengers, including the above mentioned persons, are required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 24 hours before boarding the plane abroad. You can read more here. 

Unfortunately, it is not possible to defer the admission. You need to apply again, when the Application Portal opens in December for the September intake and June for the February intake. However, if you are offered admission and have paid the application fee it is possible to re-use this year application fee receipt for next year’s intake.

Due to the current restriction as for the coronation virus in Denmark Aalborg University is partially locked down. In order to enable both staff and students to plan further into the future, the Executive Management at Aalborg University has decided that the current level of lockdown will be extended until 12 April 2021.

This means, up to and including 12 April, that:

• Teaching and exams in February will be conducted digitally. However, there may be special cases, such as laboratory, clinical or workshop instruction where it is not possible to switch to digital; the teaching may thus be done in person – but only by agreement with the dean. Students are notified of specific changes directly by their programmes.
• For digital group exams, students in the group must not sit in the same room since this does not allow the distance requirement to be met.
• For your information, staff members must work from home, and physical presence on campus is only allowed with the permission of the head of the main area.

The assembly ban of maximum five persons does not apply to the university's activities. It is therefore permitted for groups of six students and above to participate in exams in-person on campus (where the dean has granted a waiver for in-person exams) as long as the distance requirement can be met. 

If you have questions regarding your study start, please do not hesitate to contact your programme secretary. 

After 12 April 

Monday 22 March 2021, a broad majority of the parties in the Parliament adopted a plan for reopening Danish society. The plan also includes allowing students partial access to the universities again after Easter in accordance with the following guidelines:

• Twenty percent of university students may be on campus in person. Everyone must be able to present a negative corona test that is no more than 72 hours old.
• An additional 10 percent of university students may access reading rooms, group rooms and libraries. Everyone must be able to present a negative corona test that is no more than 72 hours old.
• Students in their final year of programmes with many practical elements may return with 50 percent attendance. Everyone must be able to present a negative corona test that is no more than 72 hours old.

Unfortunately, as it is still not possible to fully open for all students at present, and in consideration of planning teaching and exams, the AAU Executive Management has decided the following:

• Starting April 12, a number of students (see above) will have access to campus for teaching activities, project work and writing of thesis with access to laboratories. Students will be notified directly by their programme.
• In cases where exams require physical attendance, this will be allowed taking into account distance and hygiene requirements and provided that everyone can present a negative corona test that is no more than 72 hours old.
• Teaching and exams for the remainder of the spring semester 2021 will otherwise be conducted digitally.
• All supervision will be done digitally for the rest of the spring semester.

With 20,000 students spread over more than 200 programmes as well as a requirement to set up test facilities and to oversee coronavirus testing, AAU is currently faced with a very large and complicated task. Thus an overview of how this will be resolved will take shape over the coming days and weeks. Students allowed access to campus therefore cannot expect to be notified until the week after Easter.

Please look into the possibility of taking one of the special home tests from IELTS or TOEFL, which we accept for this intake.
Read more about the language tests

The semester start is on 1 September 2021 as scheduled. Please visit newstudents.aau.dk for more information for your specific programme.

Due to the current restriction as for the coronation virus in Denmark Aalborg University is partially locked down. In order to enable both staff and students to plan further into the future, the Executive Management at Aalborg University has decided that the current level of lockdown will be extended until 12 April 2021.

This means, up to and including 12 April, that:

• Teaching and exams in February will be conducted digitally. However, there may be special cases, such as laboratory, clinical or workshop instruction where it is not possible to switch to digital; the teaching may thus be done in person – but only by agreement with the dean. Students are notified of specific changes directly by their programmes.
• For digital group exams, students in the group must not sit in the same room since this does not allow the distance requirement to be met.
• For your information, staff members must work from home, and physical presence on campus is only allowed with the permission of the head of the main area.

The assembly ban of maximum five persons does not apply to the university's activities. It is therefore permitted for groups of six students and above to participate in exams in-person on campus (where the dean has granted a waiver for in-person exams) as long as the distance requirement can be met. 

If you have questions regarding your study start, please do not hesitate to contact your programme secretary. 

AFTER 12 APRIL 

Monday 22 March 2021, a broad majority of the parties in the Parliament adopted a plan for reopening Danish society. The plan also includes allowing students partial access to the universities again after Easter in accordance with the following guidelines:

• Twenty percent of university students may be on campus in person. Everyone must be able to present a negative corona test that is no more than 72 hours old.
• An additional 10 percent of university students may access reading rooms, group rooms and libraries. Everyone must be able to present a negative corona test that is no more than 72 hours old.
• Students in their final year of programmes with many practical elements may return with 50 percent attendance. Everyone must be able to present a negative corona test that is no more than 72 hours old.

Unfortunately, as it is still not possible to fully open for all students at present, and in consideration of planning teaching and exams, the AAU Executive Management has decided the following:

• Starting April 12, a number of students (see above) will have access to campus for teaching activities, project work and writing of thesis with access to laboratories. Students will be notified directly by their programme.
• In cases where exams require physical attendance, this will be allowed taking into account distance and hygiene requirements and provided that everyone can present a negative corona test that is no more than 72 hours old.
• Teaching and exams for the remainder of the spring semester 2021 will otherwise be conducted digitally.
• All supervision will be done digitally for the rest of the spring semester.

With 20,000 students spread over more than 200 programmes as well as a requirement to set up test facilities and to oversee coronavirus testing, AAU is currently faced with a very large and complicated task. Thus an overview of how this will be resolved will take shape over the coming days and weeks. Students allowed access to campus therefore cannot expect to be notified until the week after Easter.

All relevant documents regarding your arrival to Denmark will be available at our website www.newstudents.aau.dk. Here you find the OD1 form, the arrival form, nice-to-know information etc. 

If you are infected in Denmark you must follow the Danish guidelines which can be found in the link below. You should stay home (in Denmark) until your symptoms are gone.

THE DANISH HEALTH AUTHORITY

If you are from a visa-free country (NON-EU) the requirements are the same as usual - you can enter Denmark, sign up for biometric features and apply for residence permit here. Please note that there are certain restrictions and regulations regarding submitting online application and entering to Denmark visa-free. Contact SIRI for more information on this matter.

read more about visa-free countries

All persons entering Denmark will be required to be tested and subsequently isolate for 10 days. You can read more here.

We advise all students to stay updated on the current rules and requirements for entry intro Denmark. 

Self-isolation means that you stay at home as far as possible and do not go anywhere where you may infect others.

The self-isolation can be canceled by proving a negative COVID-19 test result on your 4th day in Denmark as the earliest. 

See the section “Can I take a test upon arrival?” for more information.

Please keep a minimum of 2 meters distance from everyone to the extent that it is possible.

You need to stay in your room or apartment as much as possible. If you live in a dormitory room with shared kitchen and/or bathroom, please clean surface areas (tap, sink, toilet, toilet seat, etc.) after each use.

Make sure that you follow the Danish Health Authority's guidelines to prevent the spread of the corona virus. See the section “What do the Danish Health Authority’s recommend to prevent the spread of corona virus?” below.

We recommend that you bring as much as possible of what you will need (bed linen, towels etc.) for the first two weeks from home.

International students can take a test upon arrival even though they do not yet have a Danish CPR-number. 

Adults over the age of 18 do not need to be reffered to the test center by a doctor or book an appointment. If you are over the age of 18, you can just show up at the testlocations in their opening hours. The nearest test center in Aalborg is Håndværkervej 24c, 9000 Aalborg. 

Here you find the test centers and opening hours.

To protect yourself and others, it is important that you follow the official guidelines in Denmark:

• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve 
• Avoid handshakes, kisses on the cheek and hugs - limit physical contact
• Clean thoroughly at home and in the workplace
• Keep your distance (at least 1 meter) and ask others to be considerate

Please consult the Danish Health Authority FAQ for more detailed information on the guidelines

It is important that you as a student are aware of the precautions if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been infected with COVID-19. You find the precautions at AAU’s website.

If you cannot join your semesterstart, for example because of a delayed residence permit application or self-isolation, you should contact your study secretary.

You find contact information to your study secretary at https://www.newstudents.aau.dk/

It is from 29 October a requirement to wear a mask when visiting indoor places with public access. You can read more about the guidelines from The Danish Police regarding wearing a mask here. 

As of 29 October the Danish government has introduced a partial requirement for face masks at higher education institutions. The requirement applies to both staff, students and visitors and means that everybody must wear face masks when moving around indoors in hallways and common areas at AAU.

The following exceptions apply to the face mask requirement:

• Students are not required to wear face masks when participating in teaching and programme activities in seminar rooms, laboratories, workshops and other rooms used for classes. However, face masks must be worn when entering and exiting the rooms. In teaching situations with mixed clusters where the distance requirement of at least 1 metre is not maintained, face masks must continue to be worn.
• Teachers do not need to wear face masks once the teaching has begun. This applies regardless of whether they teach standing or sitting. However, teachers must maintain a 2-metre distance from the students nearest to them. Teachers must wear face masks when entering and exiting the classroom.
• Face masks do not need be worn when sitting down in canteens, dining rooms, study areas, libraries and group rooms. However, face masks must be worn when entering and exiting these rooms/areas and for all other movement while in these room/areas.
• Some AAU buildings or premises are defined as “mask-free zones.” This applies mainly to administrative buildings or office areas where general traffic and/or congestion do not occur. Mask-free buildings or areas are clearly marked with signage. Face masks do not need to be worn in mask-free buildings or areas.
• Persons who are medically exempt from wearing face masks do not need to wear face masks.

There may also arise other teaching situations, where you will be required to wear a face mask, because it is difficult or impossible to observe the requirement of one meter distance. This could be during supervision meetings where the distance requirements can’t be met. In this case, your supervisor may demand, that you wear a face mask, since the supervisor is not part of your cluster.

You must make sure to procure your own face masks for use at the university. However, AAU will provide you with a face mask for use during stand-up teaching group activities in laboratories, when the fixed clusters have been mixed. Or if the university sends you on a study trip or excursion that involves transportation by car or bus in the company of others.