Fall – 21 weeks (early August to late December)
Spring – 26 weeks (early February to late June)

Spring Semester 2010 closed

Sponsored by the Department of English in the College of Arts & Letters

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

For the eighth year, Michigan State University will exchange students with the University of Aarhus for an experience in international education.  This program, sponsored by the MSU Department of English, is open to students from all colleges and is of special interest to English majors.  

During spring semester, students will have the opportunity to participate in Danish culture, as well as study at the highest-ranking English department in Denmark.  They will experience first-hand a modern Danish city and gain a unique perspective on European and American literature.

Where does it take place?

Denmark occupies the Jutland Peninsula that adjoins the Continent at the German border. The rest of the country is made up of over 400 islands, giving a total coastline of more than 7,000 kilometers.  No one in Denmark is more than 52 kilometers from the sea!  It has been a member of the European Community (now European Union) since 1973 and is considered to have one of the strongest economies in the Union. The “Kingdom of Denmark” includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands.  The Danish people tend to be relaxed and casual, striving to make you feel welcome and at home.

The city of Aarhus has a history that dates back thousands of years to when it was a Viking settlement at the mouth of a river.  Today, Aarhus is one of the largest cities in Denmark and has a population of approximately 265,000.  It offers both the attractions of an urban environment and beautiful natural surroundings.  The city is metropolitan, yet small enough that American students may gain the full experience of a modern Danish city.  It has several active theatres, museums, galleries, gardens, and shopping areas.  It is a safe, secure, manageable city with an excellent transportation system.  Most of the buildings are half-timbered 17th and 18th century houses, but there's also a watermill, a windmill and a few buildings from the turn of the century.   On the outskirts of the city is Marselisborg Palace where the Danish Royal family spends many of its holidays.

The University of Aarhus, founded in 1928, is the largest institution of higher education in the city.  It is the second largest university in Denmark with roughly 18,000 students.  It is a comprehensive state university of high distinction.  It has a strong interest in transatlantic and cross-cultural approaches to English and American literature and culture.  The Queen and Crown Prince both studied at the University of Aarhus.

Students wishing to travel on the weekends will find the program’s location convenient.  The capital city of Copenhagen is a 25-minute non-stop flight from Aarhus (or 4-½ hour train ride) and the major cities of Scandinavia and northern Germany are only a few hours away.

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll in a minimum of twelve (12), maximum of sixteen (16), semester credits.  Aarhus English Department courses are taught exclusively in English.  Students will have full access to all courses provided by the department, including English and American literature, English Studies, American Studies, Canadian Studies and Anglo-Irish Literature and Culture.  Students may enroll in any of the University of Aarhus' courses, subject to the approval of their MSU department for the transfer of credit upon return to the United States.

Typical course offerings may include:

• Sense of Place in Australian Literature
• Gothic Extravaganzas – from Horace Walpole to Angela Carter
• Daughters of the Enlightenment: Wollstonecraft, Austen, Shelley and the Brontës
• Second Language Acquisition
• Film, Gender, Sexualities
• Major Modern Authors
• Victorianism
• Emily Dickinson and her Twentieth Century “Daughters”
• Redefining the Nation: Irish Literature and Society, 1959-1998

LANGUAGE:  The University of Aarhus also has excellent language instruction facilities and for those students who wish to study Danish, it offers a great opportunity.  All students will be required to participate in an introductory Danish language and culture program, offered in cooperation with the Aarhus International Student Centre, three weeks before the spring semester officially begins.

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details see co-sponsored programs.

To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit Transfer MSU and Office of the Registrar - Co-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

This program is open to MSU students only who are of at least sophomore status and in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.50 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Additionally, students must also submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

Enrollment is limited with English majors given priority.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

University administrators at Aarhus will assist students with housing arrangements.  University dormitories or apartments will be available.  Students will have access to full kitchen facilities and university dining halls.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Stephen Arch
Department of English
201 Morrill Hall
Phone:  (517) 355-7570

Bethany Judge
College of Arts & Letters
200 Linton Hall
Phone: (517) 355-6519

Be sure to read the testimony from an Aarhus exchange student in The Tattler (MSU English Department newsletter) on page four.

You can also visit the University of Aarhus' Web site for more information.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

Funds paid directly by the student include:

• transportation to Denmark
• accommodations
• meals
• books and supplies
• MSU tuition and fees*
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding MSU tuition and fees, an estimated total for these costs is $8,093 (SS '10) per semester.

A program fee of $255 (SS '10) is required and includes pre-departure orientation and requisite accident and sickness insurance.

Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are March 1st for fall semester programs and October 15th for spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 1st for spring semester participation and by March 1st for fall participation.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines and visa processing can take up to eight weeks.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.