Why choose Denmark and Aarhus University to study?
Being surrounded by many cultures was high on Priyanka’s list when considering her future endeavours. She says, “I came to Denmark to experience different cultures. I visited Europe with my father, who worked in Sweden for a while, and I fell in love with the Nordic culture.” Priyanka smiles, reminiscing. “The safety of Denmark also made my father feel at ease in terms of me moving to a different country,” she says.
“I am currently pursuing a master’s in computer science.” Her top reasons for attending Aarhus University are clear: Priyanka chose Aarhus University “due to its top QS rankings and good reviews from other alumni online.” Due to her previous education, Priyanka found her first semester courses easier than others. “The courses I wanted to take were easy, and it was possible to combine different subjects. I had also already learned the basics of programming and machine learning from my bachelor’s.”
Priyanka also mentions some positive, albeit surprising, factors to life in Denmark. “The most unexpected aspect of living in Denmark is how trusting and friendly the people are. They are also very interested in learning about different cultures and have been a pleasure to interact with. There is also little to no formality between students and lecturers/people holding higher positions.”
How are you experiencing your time at the university?
“Of the three courses I’ve taken this semester, my favourite is Data Visualisation. Our lecturer gave us an interesting project to work on in groups and always offered constructive criticism. The subjects I look forward to the most in the upcoming semesters are Augmented Reality and Algorithms and Algorithms, Incentives and Data.”
She turns her focus to studying at Aarhus University, pointing out a more autonomous study culture than she’s used to. “The teaching styles are quite different from India since you’re the master of your schedule here.” She continues, “There is a heavy emphasis on self-study, and the lecturers are always there to help clear your doubts during office hours or break times.”
How is Aarhus as a city treating you?
Regarding her thoughts on the city of smiles, Priyanka is positively enchanted. “I find Aarhus breathtaking! It is a cultural hotpot where I meet people from different cultures and interact with them,” she says emphatically. “It is also very cycle-friendly and easy to travel through the city on a bike. My favourite spot on campus is Studenterhus Aarhus since I go there often to meet friends or even get free cake sometimes during Danish classes. I love going to Aarhus Street Food in the citysince I love trying different cuisines. I have also learned that I am very extroverted and love socialising and meeting new people in my downtime.”
What has your experience with student jobs been like?
Student jobs are always an interesting topic for students, and Priyanka’s experience gives hope to others. “I work part-time as a Junior Quantitative Analyst at Danske Commodities. I found the job through the University and their NatTech career newsletter. At the end of the month, several companies are looking to fill vacancies in student jobs. I work three days a week and find it quite manageable during the first few weeks of the semester. My knowledge of data mining, machine learning, and Python is used a lot in my current job as a student.”
She reflects upon how her studies can translate to life outside the classroom. “My current study programme also gives me great insight into the different methodologies and techniques of tackling real-world problems. It has also been encouraged to think outside the box and elaborate on the importance of teamwork and aligning ambitions.” When thinking about her work environment, Priyanka explains, ‘What surprised me the most about working in Denmark was how freely you can talk to seniors/bosses at the company. I had heard about the flat hierarchy before, but it was very strange to experience it firsthand.”
Future
“I would describe my experience as challenging but exciting.” So what does the future hold for Priyanka? “After graduation, I hope to get a job in Aarhus or Denmark and use what I’ve learned in university and my student job to widen my horizons.”
Some final pieces of advice? “To the students who hope to move here in the future: do learn to bike uphill. Be prepared for a shift in teaching styles and the fact that you can call your professors by their first name.”
Priyanka is from India. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence and data science from India.
She is currently in the first year of her master’s programme in computer science and working part-time as a Junior Quantitative Analyst at Danske Commodities.
She is passionate about data visualisation, balancing her studies with a part-time job, and enjoying her life in Aarhus, the City of Smiles.
