Aarhus University

The second largest university in Denmark is Arhus University established in the late 1920’s, with more than 35,000 students enrolled to date, both from Denmark and from outside the country. Famous alumni and alumnae from Arhus University include members of the Danish royal family, as well as notable scientists and politicians. Because of the large student population, the average age of Arhus’ inhabitants is among the lowest in Europe.
Aarhus University belongs to the international elite. In two prestigious ranking lists of the worlds best universities, Aarhus University is placed in the top 100. As no. 63 in the THE QS rankings,  where Aarhus University is the third-youngest European university in the top 100, and as no. 97 in the Shanghai list.
The University of Aarhus
Aarhus University wishes to combine research in new ways, with new subject areas and across traditional subject borders, in greater depth and in new and unknown fields. Aarhus University offers all types of research from basic, applied and strategic research to research-based advice to the authorities and knowledge transfer.

The main campus is located in Aarhus and, over the years, close and productive collaboration has been developed between the city and its educational institutions, a collaboration that is supported by the entire region. The Municipality of Aarhus ranks as one of Europes best cities in which to study, and emphasises the importance of its educational institutions for the city, especially the university. The city has created an inspiring environment that makes it attractive to both Danish and foreign students
The university is internationally oriented and in a strong state of development, with an extensive academic scope that covers all aspects of the social sectors.
In 2007, the University of Aarhus merged with the Danish National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences (DIAS), the Aarhus School of Business (ASB) and the Danish University of Education (DPU). As a result of the merger, the University of Aarhus has considerably increased in size, and is the second-largest university in Denmark. The university has approximately 35,000 students and a staff of about 9,000 (full-time equivalent).
The University of Aarhus is one of Europe’s leading research institutions and, among Danish universities, its research competence covers the broadest range of research fields.

The university takes an active part in international student and research collaboration and has a considerable number of strategic alliances with universities and research institutions all over the world. Researchers and research talent at the university take part in top international teams, and the university’s institutes, centers and departments have state-of-the-art equipment, databases and libraries. In a number of cases, they also host international research activities.

Faculties

  • Humanities
  • Health Sciences
  • Social sciences
  • Theology
  • Science
  • Agricultural sciences
  • Environmental rest. inst.
  • School of business
  • School of education

The most significant event in the research world at Aarhus University took place on 15 October 1997. That was the day it was announced that Professor Emeritus Jens Christian Skou, DrMedSc, from the Faculty of Health Sciences, had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for being the first person ever to describe an ion pump.
An ion pump is an enzyme that transport ions across a cell membrane. In 1957, Skou described the sodium potassium pump that regulates the concentration of salts inside and outside the cell by pumping sodium ions out of the cell.
Since Skou’s discovery of the sodium potassium pump, a considerable number of enzymes with similar properties have been discovered.