Exchange Student Information
University and Location
The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) was founded as the College of Technology in 1829. Today DTU is known as an innovative leader in research and education offering over 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in many engineering fields. With a student population of roughly 6,000, DTU offers students the opportunity to study in an open-minded, research-based learning environment. Located in Lyngby, 15km north of the capital city of Copenhagen, the DTU campus consists of modern academic facilities, and exchange students may participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. Copenhagen is easily accessible by public transportation and offers a wealth of cultural, historic and recreational sites and activities in one of the most energy-efficient countries in Europe.
Language of Instruction
English and Danish. Most graduate (MSc) courses are offered in English, and while most undergraduate courses (BSc) are taught in Danish, many individual classes are offered in English. Additionally, the undergraduate program in
General Engineering is offered entirely in English.
Program Structure
The undergraduate (BSc) program is a 3-year program, while the Master's program (MSc) is an additional 2 years. Most exchange students enroll in classes at the MSc level, and find them to be roughly the equivalent of upper-level undergraduate classes at Rensselaer.
Available Fields of Study
Engineering (Biotechnology, Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical), Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics
*New: International Civil Engineering Semester
Program Dates
Fall: Late August-Mid December
Spring: Late January-Early June
Course Selection
The on-line DTU
course catalogue indicates courses taught in English each semester and is searchable by department. Before selecting your courses, please review the guidance prepared by DTU on how to do so. It is very important that the classes you select are available during the semester that you plan to spend abroad.
Once you have selected courses that interest you and have confirmed that they are offered during the correct semester, check the online
Transfer Course Guide to determine if any of them have already been evaluated and approved. Remember that course approval does not guarantee that the course will be offered during your semester abroad - you must select your courses based on their availability as indicated by the DTU course catalogue, not by their appearance in the Transfer Course Guide.
Courseload
DTU uses the European Credit Transfer System or ECTS. One ECTS credit is normally interpreted as approximately .5 of a U.S. semester credit. Exchange students may take a maximum of 35 ECTS credits per semester; this is the equivalent of between 18-21 Rensselaer credits. Students are discouraged from taking more than the equivalent of 12-15 Rensselaer credits.
Grading and Academic Evaluation
DTU uses a grading scale ranging from –3 to 12. Rensselaer students will only receive credit in courses where a grade of 02 or better is earned. All classes must be taken for a grade and not on a pass/fail basis. Students should be aware that in the Danish system it is not uncommon for the final grade to be based solely on the results of one exam, that oral exams are often the only method of assessment, and that grade inflation is not the norm.
Accommodation and Meals
Rensselaer students are guaranteed housing in a DTU residence. Students are placed in single rooms with shared or private baths and shared kitchens.
Estimated Expenses and Cost of Living
Students pay regular Rensselaer tuition while on exchange at DTU in addition to airfare, accommodation and other living expenses. Note that visa expenses for Denmark are approximately $600 and require a trip to a Danish consular office in New York or another city. Individual student expenses will vary according to lifestyle and travel. The cost of living in Denmark is high, and students should expect to spend between $900 and $1500 per month for housing, meals, local travel, living expenses and limited recreation. These estimates do not include recreational travel.
Additional cost of living information is available at the DTU website.
Questions? Please contact
Karen Dvorak, Program Manager.