Aarhus Universitet, Denmark

I. Description of instructional schedule
CoMundus students are formally enrolled at Aarhus University into the CoMundus Master’s Programme, not the Media Studies Programme. The courses at the Comundus Master’s Programme have two directions:
a) for students who have chosen Aarhus University as home university
b) for students who have chosen Aarhus University as host university

a) Aarhus: Home University, 1st semester
The courses in the first semester consists of one obligatory course:
- either “Visual Media Production in Theory and Practice” (10 ECTS)  or
- “Scandinavian media and Cultural Studies” (10/20 ECTS)

and

            Elective Course 1 (10/20 ECTS)
            Elective Course 2 (10/20 ECTS)

The alternative obligatory course (2) and the elective courses can be assessed to either 10 or 20 ECTS, depending on curricula and examination requirements.
In the second semester the student will go to the host university, and follow courses for in total 30 ECTS

            Home University , 3^rd semester

The student will prepare for and write the Master’s thesis on basis of tutorials/supervision.  (30 ECTS)

b)      Aarhus: Host University, 2nd semester
The courses in the second semester consists of one obligatory course
- either “Visual Media Production in Theory and Practice” (10 ECTS)  or
- “Scandinavian media and Cultural Studies” (10/20 ECTS)

and

            Elective Course 1 (10/20 ECTS)
            Elective Course 2 (10/20 ECTS)

The alternative obligatory course (2) and the elective courses can be assessed to either 10 or 20 ECTS, depending on curricula and examination requirements.

Each semester 4-6 courses are offered at the department, and furthermore a similar number of courses are offered at The Faculty of Arts within the four study areas.

Example 1. :
• Scandinavian Media and Cultural Studies (10 ECTS)
• The Internet and Society – Politics, Sociality and Identity (10 ECTS)
• The Radio Documentary (10 ECTS)

Example 2.:
• Visual Media Production in Theory and Practice  (10 ECTS)
• New Media and Medium Theory (20 ECTS)

II. Assessment rules

The CoMundus Master’s degree from Aarhus University comprises a total of  90 ECTS ( 60 ECTS  from Aarhus University as home university, and 30 ECTS obtained from one of the other partner universities in the CoMundus network). At Aarhus University student achievement is assessed through a) - a combination of oral and written exams. Student project work is assessed through an oral exam where the students defend their project report in front of an internal and an external examiner (appointed by the Ministry of Science). b) – Written exam (/student project work report), assessed by an internal and an external examiner (appointed by the Ministry of Science). - c) Written exam (/student project work report), assessed by two internal examiners.

III. Teaching and administrative staff
Teaching Staff
The teaching staff designated for the European Master Programme comprises a core group of teachers and researchers with established reputations internationally across the range of scholarly fields that make up the CoMundus Master’s Programme. They are all high-ranking colleagues in the department, they have published widely internationally, and they have an impressive record as outstanding teachers.

Administrative Staff
The administrative assistance for the CoMundus Master’s Programme at Aarhus University relies on the services of one secretary in the Department of Information and Media Studies, and three of the employees in the University's International Secretariat (click here for link to the International Secretariat: http://www.au.dk/en/is)

IV. Term dates

1 September through December
1 February through June

We offer an introduction course, with cultural and linguistic acclimatization, 4 weeks before the semester begins. (click here for link to the International Secretariat: http://www.au.dk/en/is)

V. Examination period

 - at the moment no information available.

VI. Requirements and procedure for application
Requirements for admission are the successful completion of a BA level award. A competent working knowledge - sufficient for academic study and writing – of English is a prerequisite.  Please include a copy of your language examination.
For application requirements and procedures, please see the CoMundus website www.comundus.net.

Language requirements
An English language requirement is standard for all applicants and may be met in one of the following ways:
- IELTS (6)or Paper TOEFL (550) or Computer TOEFL (225)
- 0-level/GCSE in English language
- General Studies
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency
- Cambridge Advanced Certificate
- JMB Test in English for overseas Students
- Certificate of Extended Education (CEE)
- USA Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
- The Certificate of Attainment in English

VII. Application Deadline
Please go to the CoMundus website www.comundus.net.

VIII. Support for international students
The department’s International Coordinator and the Students Counselor hold regular meetings with visiting students so that they can assist with potential practical and/or academic problems as they occur.

IX. Institutional frame
Aarhus University was established in 1928 as the second university in Denmark. It has now 23.000 students and 2.500 faculty members and staff at five faculties (Arts, Science, Medicine, Social Science (inc. Law) and Theology.). (Link to: http://www.au.dk/en/history)
The Department of Information and Media Studies was established in 1986. At present it has 1000 students and 35 faculty members.  (Link to: http://www.imv.au.dk/eng)

X. Research activities
The research and teaching of the Department falls broadly within the scope of Information and Media Studies.
The departmental research in Information Studies includes historical, sociological, communicative, and design-oriented approaches to the study of the development and application of information technology on the level of individuals, organisations and society.
The departmental research in Media Studies includes projects concerning production aesthetics, textual analysis and reception within the print media, radio, TV, film and the Internet as well as topics concerning the theory, policy, history and institution of the media.
In between these two fields, where information and media studies increasingly meet, research is carried out in such areas as IT and Learning, the Internet and in Multi Media.

XI. Quality assurance and evaluation
The quality of Danish university programmes is evaluated in two complementary ways: Through a formal international review process, and through regular reports by the corps of external examiners.

1. Danish university degree programmes are evaluated by an international evaluation committee at app. ten-year intervals, under the auspices of the government's Centre for Quality Assurance and Evaluation of Higher Education. The last evaluation of the Media Studies programmes (comparative with related programmes at other universities) took place in 1996 and was published in a paper version only. The report has a 15 page English summary, which can be obtained from the department office.  The report does not use numerical ratings and does not have a short, reproducible conclusion, but its detailed description and discussion of Aarhus Universitys Media Studies Programmes has few critical comments, but since the evaluation took place almost 10 years ago, the Media Studies programmes have developed substantially.

2. All student activities, as they materialize in reports offered for examination at the end of the semester, are monitored by a corps of external examiners, which is shared by and serves all media and communication programmes in the country. Media Studies grade average turns out continually to be among the top of the half a dozen programmes rated by the external examiners.