International Handbook Comm

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Studying Communication at

Roskilde University

An international students handbook

Edited by:

International Coordinator Rikke Krogh

Date: 17.08.2009


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Welcome to RU and to Communication Studies

Being new in a foreign country is often hard and very confusing. You have to adapt to the Danish

culture and way of doing tings. At the same time you are required to be a full-time student at RU,

where we do things a bit different than other universities. Here at RU you are required to write a

group project each semester which takes up at least 50 % of the entire study programme.

To make life a bit easier for you, we have completed this international students' handbook which

holds the answer to many of your questions. The size of it enables you to bring it around campus so

you can look up your question anytime and anywhere.

If you can not find an answer to your question, you are welcome to contact the staff of your study

programme or International Coordinator Rikke Krogh. Maybe your question will be included in the

handbook in the future.

Have a nice stay at RU and in Denmark.

Rikke Krogh

International Coordinator

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1. ACADEMIC LIFE AT ROSKILDE UNIVERSITY ______________________________ 5

1.1 Practicing Roskilde University pedagogy ________________________________________________________ 5

1.2 Managing socially ___________________________________________________________________________ 6

1.3 A learning contract__________________________________________________________________________ 7

1.4 Calculating ECTS points _____________________________________________________________________ 7

1.5 Grades ____________________________________________________________________________________ 7

2. PROJECT WORK AT ROSKILDE UNIVERSITY _____________________________ 9

2.1 The group formation process_________________________________________________________________ 10

2.2 How to get a supervisor? ____________________________________________________________________ 10

2.3 Splitting up the group_______________________________________________________________________ 10

2.4 The science shop ___________________________________________________________________________ 11

2.5 Examples of project titles at Communication Studies_____________________________________________ 11

3. ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL TRACK __________________________________ 12

3.1 Structure of the International Track __________________________________________________________ 13

3.2 Bachelor Module___________________________________________________________________________ 14

3.3 Master module 1 ___________________________________________________________________________ 16

3.4 Master module 2a / 2b ______________________________________________________________________ 20

3.5 Non-Credit seminars and lectures_____________________________________________________________ 20

3.6 Requirements for admission _________________________________________________________________ 21

3.7 Quality Assurance__________________________________________________________________________ 21

4. GENERAL RULES AND INFORMATION ABOUT EXAMINATION ______________ 22

4.1 How to register for the courses and the exams?__________________________________________________ 22

4.2 Printing of the project & project requirements __________________________________________________ 22

4.3 Project formalities _________________________________________________________________________ 22

4.4 Re-exam__________________________________________________________________________________ 23

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4.5 Plagiarism ________________________________________________________________________________ 23

5. GENERAL INFORMATION _____________________________________________ 24

5.1 Foundation course and Danish courses for all international students________________________________ 24

5.2 Exchange student or guest student ____________________________________________________________ 24

5.3 Renewing the students card (only full degree students) ___________________________________________ 24

5.4 Electronic access ___________________________________________________________________________ 24

5.5 How to subscribe to the mailing list ___________________________________________________________ 25

5.6 Access to building 42 and 43 _________________________________________________________________ 25

5.7 Transcript of records _______________________________________________________________________ 26

5.8 Where can I see what books to buy and what to read? ____________________________________________ 26

5.9 Help us improve the Handbook_______________________________________________________________ 26

6. WHO TO CONTACT? _________________________________________________ 27

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1. Academic life at Roskilde University1

1.1 Practicing Roskilde University pedagogy

You may have come across the Roskilde University slogan Try something different. We are

indeed different from traditional universities in Denmark and abroad in our emphasis on

projectoriented work (see the chapter on project work below). Some other universities, particularly

in Scandinavia, have a somewhat similar pedagogical approach. But chances are that you will find

yourself in an academic environment that challenges your understanding of what university studies

are like. It is a normal reaction that initial curiosity is followed by a period of questioning the way

things work. Understanding the social and intellectual framework in which teachers, administrators

and fellow students function helps overcome this negative reaction.

As a student of Roskilde University you are expected to be an independent individual taking

responsibility for your own life. You are not a pupil, and the university is not a school. Courses,

project work and meetings with the supervisor are offers that you should accept and participate in

actively. We do not force you to do so, and the only way in which we check your progress is in the

assessment of courses and in the exam at the end of the semester. You should be disciplined enough

to plan your studies for the semester and to keep working steadily and intensively towards the goals

that you have set for yourself. Being independent also means having an open mind, having

intellectual curiosity and a critical attitude towards your chosen subject. Learning by rote or simply

reproducing information from books and lectures is not particularly valued. A reflected

understanding of your subject based on a thorough and methodical analysis is valued highly. Your

teachers, or supervisors as they often term themselves, are not omniscient. Nor do they try to appear

so. They will guide you in the right direction, they will give you references and advice and discuss

the theories and methods that you apply to your subject. But they will not provide you with final

answers, they will not do the fact-finding and literature searches for you, and they will not provideyou with a ready-made template for writing your report. On the contrary, quite often they will ask a

counter question when you ask a question that they think you need to reflect upon. In class, they

may choose to put your question to the entire class in order to stimulate a discussion. This is a

recognized pedagogical method, and it should not be misinterpreted as if your teacher ignores you

or that he or she is ignorant or lazy. Your teachers invite discussion as a constructive way of

building knowledge. You are welcome to disagree with your teacher in academic matters.

1 This entire section has been taken from the Student Handbook Fall 2008 of Communication Studies at RUC

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Disagreement is in no way punished with lower grades. On the contrary, putting forward a well-

reasoned argument is the way to earn recognition. Your teachers are busy people. They will tend to

your needs during class hours and at regular meetings. But they have no obligation to monitor

everything you do- nor are they mind-readers. You have to be the active part in the relationship,

asking questions about whatever you do not understand, making appointments for meetings and

submitting your work for regular review.

1.2 Managing socially

Danes tend to be rather informal, and Danish university life is indeed very informal. Yet there are

some unwritten norms and rules that you need to be aware of if you wish to become accepted as a

valued member of our community. Here is a short list of important dos and donts:Be punctual. Classes and meetings start precisely at the time that has been announced. Arriving late

is considered to be rude. Leaving early is equally rude, unless you have announced beforehand that

you will have to leave the class or the meeting. Also note that breaks between class sessions should

not be extended beyond what has been announced.

Keep appointments . If you have made an appointment with your group or with your supervisor you

must show up. If you fall ill, is delayed by traffic or get another urgent appointment, you should

inform your group or supervisor immediately.

Prepare for classes and meetings. In an academic culture where dialogue is all-important it is

essential that you prepare well for classes and for meetings with the supervisor. Arriving poorly

prepared is a waste of time for everyone.

Be active. Participate actively in classes and meetings. Ask questions if you need clarification,

speak your mind on matters that interest you, and contribute actively to knowledge building.

Be attentive. Do not eat, do not have private conversations, do not use your cell phone (even for

sms), and do not in any other way disturb meetings and classes.

Be constructive. Constructive and caring criticism is the way to go. Help find solutions instead of

offering blame, encourage others instead of chastising them. Offer your help and collaboration

instead of sitting back comfortably watching the shortcomings of all the others.

Do not misunderstand informality. Your teachers may be addressed by their first name, they may

sit down and talk with you in a relaxed manner; the way they dress and act often does not signal

authority. However, they are not your buddies, and they cannot be expected to do you personal

favours, to deviate from normal procedures or to drop whatever they are doing in order to tend to

your needs. Make an appointment or contact them in the classroom if you need to talk.

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1.3 A learning contract

To sum up the advice given in this chapter: Think of your stay at Roskilde University in terms of a

learning contract, where

You are required to:

- Take responsibility for your own life as a student,

- Study intensively at a steady pace,

- Be active in courses and project work,

- Be open minded, constructive and critical, and practice intellectual curiosity,

- Adapt to the rules and norms of the institution.

In return you receive

- Acceptance of your contributions and personal qualities,

- Maximum benefit of the teaching and supervision offered,

- Maximum benefit of the problem-oriented project work,

- A rewarding experience of studying successfully abroad.

1.4 Calculating ECTS points

ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) equals 60 credit points with the workload of a full-time

student in one academic year. The student workload in a full-time study programme in Europevaries from 1.500 to 1.800 hours per year. Thus one ECTS point represents some 25 to 30 hours of

work.

1.5 Grades

All exams at Roskilde University are individual. You are given an individual grade even if you

work in a group. Differentiation may occur, most often as a result of the performance at the oral

exam. You will either get grade according to the Danish grading system, the so-called 7 steps

scale, or passed/failed. The 7 steps scale is defined as follows:

12: For an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant

material, with no or only a few minor weaknesses. (ECTS scale: A)

10: For a very good performance displaying a high level of command of most aspects of the

relevant material, with only minor weaknesses. (ECTS scale: B)

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7: For a good performance displaying good command of the relevant material but also some

weaknesses. (ECTS scale: C)

4: For a fair performance displaying some command of the relevant material but also some major

weaknesses. (ECTS scale: D)

02: For a performance meeting only the minimum requirements for acceptance. (ECTS scale: E)

00: For a performance which does not meet the minimum requirements for acceptance. (ECTS

scale: Fx)

-3: For a performance which is unacceptable in all respects. (ECTS scale: F)

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2. Project work at Roskilde University2

Let us start with a general description:

Roskilde University practices problem-oriented project work at all levels of study. It is a

particular brand of problem based learning according to which the students are working in groups

in a self-directed manner. A group typically consists of 2 - 8 students, and it is formed on the basis

of common interest in a problem or a topic that may be defined rather freely within the framework

of an interdisciplinary theme. Project work deals with real life problems, and the nature and

development of the project is negotiated in a continuing dialogue and discussion within the group

under the supervision of a teacher. The idea is to encourage the students to engage in self-directed

endeavours of exploration. That involves a process of transformation, one filled with challenges

and unknown problems. It is also a dynamic, stimulating and socially challenging process where

the students, working collaboratively, have to organize work, make decisions and evaluate their

results. The didactic process proceeds from formulating a cardinal question to inquiring into

exemplary problems. The setting is that of participant control and collaboration, and the approach

is often interdisciplinary. The problem outlined in the cardinal question must constitute a genuine

problem for the participants and they have to feel a deep sense of ownership of it. Their work will

involve negotiations, dialogues and inquiries relevant to the theme of the cardinal question, and

they can also draw on lectures, courses and various resources that will be available in the course of

the semester. []. Students have a mutual obligation for designing and carrying out the project,

and normally considerable mutual engagement will be fostered. Mutual obligation applies also to

the student-supervisor relationship. Teachers supervising problem oriented project work should

contribute actively to establishing a stimulating learning environment facilitating the groups in

their self-directed work. (S. Heilesen & J. Lerche Nielsen, http://diggy.ruc.dk/handle/1800/814)

Problem oriented project work has to be learned. It requires intellectual curiosity, academic and

social skills, self-reliance, and a lot of hard work. But it is also highly rewarding and it provides you

with invaluable skills for doing collaborative work. Most students end up being enthusiastic about

it.

A common error is to underestimate the workload. Project work should start as early as possible and

progress at a steady pace throughout the semester. Regular meetings with the


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supervisor may provide milestones in the project work. But the group should also make a

plan for the project work, providing for both predictable and unexpected problems.

2.1 The group formation process3

As mentioned, the way we do project work at Roskilde University is often new and highly

unfamiliar to exchange students. Project work carried out by a group of exchange students can be

extremely successful, but if at all possible we recommend groups mixing Danish and exchange

students. Considerable synergy may result from bringing together students experienced in project

work and knowledgeable in local affairs and students with a fresh and international outlook.

Group formation most often takes place at seminars where ideas are offered and discussed inplenum and in small groups. During the seminar ideas crystallize and partnerships are formed. It is

not an easy process, and in order for it to succeed it is important for everyone to keep an open mind

and to be able to understand the general principles of the proposals being offered. Thus, what may

be your pet project idea can perhaps be combined with another proposal that is based on an identical

or similar theoretical approach and involves comparable methods. What is important is not to

prevail over others, but to develop partnerships and formulate a project that will be valuable to as

many participants as possible.

At the seminar one or two teachers will participate as process supervisors, and a number of potential

supervisors will turn up to discuss the proposals.

2.2 How to get a supervisor?

Students will automatically be assigned a supervisor during the group formation process. It is very

important that students are in close and regular contact with assigned supervisors. Supervisors help

to ensure the scientific standards of project works and they help to avoid that external examiners

evaluate the projects negatively.

2.3 Splitting up the group

Splitting up a group is considered to be the LAST resort in case a group runs into problems. Part of

the learning process during group work and project work is learning how to solve conflicts and how

to work together. As in work life you may run into people you have difficulties with both

privately and professionally. Therefore please follow these guidelines:


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- Try to solve the problem within the group first with or without your supervisor. You caninvolve the student counsellor if you like.

- If you decide to split up you must do it no later than 14 days before submission of yourproject.

- If you are moving within the groups please advice your supervisor- If you are forming new groups please get permission from the Head of Study Lisbeth

Thorlacius

- Always inform the secretary2.4 The science shop

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Videnskabsbutikken (the science shop) is an office that mediates project ideas proposed bycompanies and organizations. It is a repository of ideas for Danish student projects and internships

at the Master module 1 and 3 levels. The project shop is being developed continuously, and you are

most welcome to help us by coming up with ideas for possible organizations to contact, or by

creating the connections yourselves.

2.5 Examples of project titles at Communication Studies

This is a list of previous project titles summer 2009:

Appreciative Inquiry

Viral video campaigning on STD

Obama-mania

Does University mean business?

Copenhagen City guide

MS global change

Street art

Language policy: we speak English here!

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This entire section has been taken from the Student Handbook Fall 2008 of Communication Studies at RUC

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3. About the International Track5

The International Track in Communication Studies represents a response to the challenges of an

increasingly globalized society. Many forms of communication have a transnational nature or are

shaped by transnational processes. The International Track is designed both for Danish students

who wish to prepare themselves for an increasingly international job market and for exchange

students and CoMundus students who join our Communication Studies programme at Roskilde

University.

Globalization processes create increasing needs for graduates to be able to work in transnational

contexts. Mobility across national borders for people as well as for services, goods and capital

means that employees often reside and work in foreign countries, or work in multinational

corporations and internationally oriented organizations in their own country. Many large

organizations use English as their working language and expect their employees to be proficient.

Not only is labour becoming increasingly mobile, but it is also the case that the development of

information and communication technologies promotes knowledge sharing and networking. As a

result, we need to understand new ways of creating and understanding communication. On the

International Track, students will be introduced to, and will work with, a wide range of different

theories and methods for the production and analysis of communication via both the "conventional"

and "new" media in transnational contexts.

Graduates in International Communication will have acquired the ability to participate in

international work situations. Such work situations could be in international organizations such as

the UN (including UNICEF and UNESCO), international NGOs, in embassies and consulates, in

multinational corporations, in Danish companies focusing on foreign export, etc. Graduates who

have completed the three-semester programme will have received a broad introduction to the theory

and practice of communication, with an international specialization resulting from the combination

of courses, project themes, and internships. They will have gained insight into the working

conditions in an internationally oriented workplace, and they will know how to produce and analyze

communication in such contexts. They will have had the opportunity to use English as their

working language over an extended period of time, and they will have experienced intercultural


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group work by studying together with Danish and exchange students at the Communication Studies

department.

The International Track mirrors the Danish-language programme in terms of structure and learning

approach, but deviates from it in having a sharpened international profile with respect to the content

of project work and courses. On the international track, international dimensions of planned

communication play a central role in both projects and courses.

3.1 Structure of the International Track6

The International Track is a specialized English-language version of the Danish three-semester

programme in Communication Studies. The entire programme consists of three modules (semesters,

of 30 ECTS-points each). Figure 1 (next page) illustrates the structure of the Communication

Studies programme.

Danish students studying for a Masters degree must complete all three modules (in combination

with another area of study at the university). Danish students studying for the Bachelors Degree

combine the bachelor module with another subject. To obtain attestation of a specialization in

International Communication within Communication Studies, Danish students are required to study

only within the International Track.


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2a / MA-Dissertation (30 ECTS)

2b / Project (15 ECTS)

Course 1 (4 ECTS) Course 2 (4 ECTS) Course 3 (4 ECTS)

Mastermodule2

a/2b

Course 4: Process handling in dialogue (3 ECTS) Group formation

Project (15 ECTS)

Course 1 (4 ECTS) Course 2 (4 ECTS) Course 3 (4 ECTS)

MA-le

vel

Maste

rmodule1

Course 4: Process handling in dialogue (3 ECTS) Group formation

Project (15 ECTS)

Workshop 2: to be decided (5 ECTS)

BA-level

Bachelor

module

Course: Communication theories

and methods (5 ECTS) Workshop 1: Print media (5 ECTS)

Figure 1: structure of Communication studies structure

3.2 Bachelor Module

The bachelor module is a standard package consisting of a basic course in Communication:

Theories and Methods (5 ECTS-points),two production-oriented workshops (5 ECTS-points each),

and a period of project work (15 ECTS). To earn the full 30 ECTS-points for a semester you must

complete the course and the workshops, participate in project work, write a report and take an oral

exam on the basis of the report. The two workshops are assessed as Pass/Fail, the course and the

project exam are graded according to the Danish 7 steps scale. Normally, one or two course- and

workshop readers will be available. They consist of key texts on relevant themes, theories and

methods and function as a resource for the project work.

Workshops

One of the two workshops always deals with print media, while the theme of the other one varies.

For example, it may be net media, video or oral communication. Workshop students learn to work

with both print and e.g. net media with a focus on the communication of knowledge. Students

learn to work professionally with communication during all stages from communication planning to

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production and evaluation. Priority is given to the production dimension, and even if formats vary

from workshop to workshop, normally one week is reserved for working on an actual product that

has to be presented to an audience of peers at the end of the workshop. Hands-on experience is in

fact what distinguishes our programme from Communication Studies at other Danish universities.

On completion of International Communication The bachelor module, students will be able to carry

out campaign planning, to outline roughs, to design, construct and evaluate a product, and to write

texts with a clear focus and structure all of it in English.

Working with the planning of communication in transnational contexts, students can draw on

theories on subjects such as international communication, globalization, international relations,

media, culture, identity, knowledge sharing, or organizations from an international perspective. All

these subjects are explored in depth on Modules 2 and 3.

The communication products that the workshop groups create should be directed towards an

English-speaking audience, whether on the internet, in international publications, in Material in

English language for a Danish audience, or as educational materials for teaching in English

language. If the intended target group is not within geographical reach, students carry out the task of

evaluation by evaluating products produced by others.

Basic course in Communication

The bachelor module course in Communication: Theories and Methods is compulsory for all

module I students. It consists of a series of lectures introducing the academic foundation for the

bachelor module project. The course provides a basis for the project work, and it is assessed in

terms of how the students are able to use in their project the theories and methods taught. The

course is assessed by a short written report.

Project

The bachelor module project starts immediately after the completion of the second workshop. It

involves problem-oriented project work by students working in groups. A group size of three to five

members is strongly recommended, and we do notaccept projects by individuals not working in

groups. Normally, the supervisor for the bachelor module projects is the teacher of the second

workshop. The project report must be written in English.

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3.3 Master module 1

Master module 1 combines courses (three courses of 4 ECTS-points each, and a 3 ECTS

introductory course) and project work resulting in a report that forms the starting-point for an oral

exam (15 ECTS-points). Each semester the International Track offers a package of courses in

English. International students are automatically enrolled in the four courses. Danish students in the

International Track should apply to enroll in the courses, and they may replace one of the courses in

English with a course offered in Danish.

Project work is launched at a seminar a week or two into the semester where we discuss project

ideas, formulate research questions and form project groups. Make sure to participate in this

seminar. Following the seminar, each group has to apply for acceptance of a project theme and

allocation of a supervisor.

Danish students in International Communication are encouraged to sign up for exchange studies

abroad and to get involved in net-based cooperation across borders. If you wish to do so, Master

module 1 will be the best time to engage in such activities.

Courses

The majority of the courses in English language deal with subjects important to International

Communication, and they cover both practical and theoretical aspects of communication. The

courses will cover at least one and generally two or three of the CoMundus study areas. Subjects

change each semester, so that students staying for two or more semesters will be able to take a

broad range of courses. Normally a special CoMundus core course is offered to CoMundus students

only.

Some examples of subjects are as follows: audience analysis and methods, new media and

international communication, perspectives on globalization, identity and cultural diversity,organizational communication, net-based communication and co-operation, knowledge sharing,

intercultural communication, health communication. Practical courses may be on production (e.g.

net media, video or oral communication) or may involve methods of data collection and analysis.

Assessment is carried out by the course teacher in a format that has been defined by him/her in the

course plan, typically a short written report or a PowerPoint presentation.

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Project

Master module 1 projects involve problem-oriented project work by students working in groups. A

group size of three to five members is recommended, and we strongly discourage project work by

individuals rather than groups.

Once the theme for a project has been developed, the group applies for a supervisor. For deadlines,

see the Semester Plan. The director of studies allocates supervisors, trying to, but not guaranteeing,

that particular wishes are met.

The theme of a project is subject to the approval of the Director of Studies and will also have to be

negotiated with the supervisor. However, we do offer extensive freedom of choice as long as the

subject is relevant. In order to provide some ideas and guidelines for choice of theme, here are

three examples of topic-areas that are taught in the courses and could form the basis for project

work:

1) Intercultural communication

This topic area focuses on intercultural encounters (in a Danish or international context) from

theoretical perspectives that stress the historically and socially specific nature of categories such as

national and ethnic identity and the consequences of particular forms of categorization for power

relations. It aims to build general qualifications and analytical skills enabling students to manage

different communication situations in intercultural contexts. From a humanist perspective it is less

important to navigate according to an Etiquette Book International than to have the tools for

asking questions and to be able to qualify discussions on culture. Instead of understanding and

describing the world in terms of fixed categories, we try to create awareness about the intercultural

encounter, about the face-to-face meeting, body conventions, non-verbal communication, etc. It is

assumed that the verbalization of culture as problem reproduces the conception of culture as

dominant and problematic which in turn may cause a lack of focus on other communication

problems.

Examples of projects and masters' dissertations:

Organizational culture and interculturalism An intercultural conceptual analysis of the SOSChildrens Village Kakiri in Uganda.

Future sexual instruction material in the light of the modern, multiethnic society. The possibilities for ethnic minorities to participate in practices in a multiethnic workplace in

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Denmark - applying a social constructionist approach to intercultural communication.

Development of a communication strategy for the improvement of student mobility from USAto RUC in the light of the internationalisation of further education (on the basis of a target group

analysis).

Discourses of Islam among Danish high school students A target group analysis as the basisfor the production of teaching material for Danish schools.

2) Mediated Communication, Communication Planning and Culture

The focus in this topic-area is the analysis and production of planned communication from

theoretical perspectives that address central social and cultural developments such as changedrelations between the local and the global and the spread of mediated communication (via both the

"conventional" and "new" media). Key approaches covered operate with concepts such as target

group and communication barriers and with how to combine mediated and non-mediated

communication in communication campaigns designed to facilitate behavioral or social change.

This area overlaps with other Roskilde University programmes, such as International Development

Studies and Cultural Encounters, but differs by having mediated communication as its object of

analysis.

Examples of projects and masters' dissertations:

Discourses of masculinity in HIV communication campaign in Uganda focusing on senders'meaning-making and the interplay between global strategy and local implementation.

Is the BBC serving the nation? A study on the BBC and its digital future focusing on theconsequences of the use of digital media for the role of the BBC as national media institution.

The discourse of war: Reproduction and transformation of speeches by Bush in the newscoverage by TV2 (on the reception and subsequent production of foreign news in Danish

media).

Soul Buddyz - tomorrow is ours: A study of the South African television edutainmentprogramme as a case of planned communication for social change.

The discursive construction of the war on terrorism: Discourse analysis of press coverage ofspeeches by Bush in six different countries.

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within but also across the three topic areas, combining for example a focus on planned

communication via mediated and non-mediated communication with a focus on intercultural

communication or organization communication. In all cases, it is possible for exchange students to

bring material or cases from their own countries, to be used in comparative studies together with

Danish co-students.

3.4 Master module 2a / 2b

Module 2a is the dissertation module. Module 2a students form groups at the start of the semester

(individual dissertation work is discouraged), apply for acceptance of their project proposal and are

assigned a supervisor, and then embark on a project that equals one semester of full time work (30

ECTS-points). Dissertations have to be completed within six months. There is a choice of just

submitting the dissertation or submitting the dissertation and taking an oral exam on the basis of it.

Detailed rules apply for the dissertation. Please refer to the Semester Plan or the Communication

Studies home page.

Module 2b is only for students who are not going to write a dissertation at Communication Studies

(fx. exchange students and guest students). Module 2b should be completed in conformity with the

regulations applying to Master module 1 (see above). You are not allowed to take identical courses

at Modules 1 and 2b. The Module 2b term project also should differ significantly from your Master

module 1 project.

3.5 Non-Credit seminars and lectures

At the start of each semester a few mini-seminars and lectures will be offered to exchange students

to help them settle in. They may deal for example with collaborative communication in group work,

project design and research methods, the problems of living and working in a foreign culture,

academic writing, the basics of International Communication, and more. These events are open to

all students on the International Track, and we expect you to participate in all of them. The seminars

and lectures are announced in the Semester Plan.

During the semester we usually offer a number of guest lectures by our local faculty and their

international colleagues. All students are welcome to attend, and we encourage you to do so.

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3.6 Requirements for admission

Students are admitted to the Communication Studies programme on the basis of their academic

record and their proficiency in English. A good command of written and spoken English is essential

for being able to contribute to the academic environment and to participate actively in courses and

group work. When applying for admission, exchange students have been notified that the

Communication Studies Department reserves the right to administer a written and oral proficiency

test, should this be considered necessary. In the event of extremely poor performance a student may

not be able to continue his/her studies at Roskilde University.

Students staying for more than one academic year should remember to renew their Student Card.

This is done online at the RUC Portalino web site (https://portalino.ruc.dk) or at

http://aarskort.ruc.dk. The deadline for renewal, early June, will be announced online some time in

advance, when you log in to Roskilde Universitys online services.

3.7 Quality Assurance

All courses in International Communication are evaluated on a regular basis. We encourage you to

participate actively in these evaluations. They show us how to improve our programme.

An advisory board for International Communication provides contact with the kinds of

organizations and companies who will eventually employ our graduates. The board consists of

representatives from faculty, private business, public and NGO organizations and meets on a

regular basis to discuss the programme and to provide us with criticism, inspiration and useful

contacts for our students and graduates.

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4. General rules and information about examination

4.1 How to register for the courses and the exams?

You have to sign up for the courses and the project via Stads Online Student Service. Please observe

that when you sign up for the courses and the project you are automatically signed up for the exam. You

can find Stads Online Student Service via www.portalino.ruc.dk. You log on to Portalino using your

RUC username and password.

4.2 Printing of the project & project requirements

RUC has a Copy Center. They need at least 3 workdays to print the project, so if your submission

date is Friday, you have to get it to the Copy Center no later than Tuesday morning. Always

remember, that it is your responsibility that the project is handed in on time. So aim for Monday

and make an agreement with the Copy Center. You need a form from the student secretary

4.3 Project formalities

Copies to hand in!

You must hand in 3 copies of your project report.

2 copies to the exam office

1 copy to supervisor (if possible you must hand in your project to your supervisor yourself)

NOTE: you must also send an electronic version of you project to you supervisor

Number of pages master module 1 & 2: Recommended pages: Max:

Project incl. production 30 45

Project excl. production 45 60

Dissertation (1 student) 70 (+ 10 per student) 80 (+10 per student)

1 page equals 2400 units incl. spaces. Not included are the front page and list of literature etc.

You are required to:

Use serif font ex. times new roman or courier. (please see the course reader of problemoriented project work page 294 for more info)

1 line spacing

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Font size 12 (not headings) Left margins 2.5 cm / right margins 2-2.5 cm Submission form (from website) as front cover (you can have your own front page as the

second page)

4.4 Re-exam

If you dont pass the project exam you should as quickly as possible contact the exam office in

order to arrange re-examination.

If you dont pass a course or a workshop you should as quickly as possible contact the teacher in

order to arrange re-examination.

You are entitled to a re-exam in the same exam term or immediately after the exam term. If you do

not pass the re-exam you can be offered a new and final exam in the next exam term.

4.5 Plagiarism

Students should remember never to copy any materiel from the internet or book resources. All

citations should be clear and well-established. This is important because any case of copying in

projects means that the project cannot be accepted for examination and the students may have to

prepare new projects and papers. Please note that there are specific software to be able to identify

plagiarism, therefore it is very easy and quick to find out whether the students have copied from the

Internet.

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5. General information

5.1 Foundation course and Danish courses for all international students

The department of Culture and Identity (CUID) offers a 2 week foundation course with the purpose

of enabling international students to access the study culture at Roskilde University. We highly

recommend all international students to join this course. It will normally take place in the weeks

before the semester starts.

CUID also offer Danish courses on elementary, intermediate and advanced levels.

To learn more please visit their website: www.ruc.dk/cuid_en/LICS/

5.2 Exchange student or guest student

You can find all relevant information about application procedure, tuition fees and requirements on

RU international website: http://ruc.dk/ruc_en/

Being an exchange or guest student at the department of communication means that you have to

follow the entire course package of 30 ects. You are not allowed to mix course from two or more

course packages. You can find learning agreements on our website: www.ruc.dk/vs_en

5.3 Renewing the students card (only full degree students)

Full degree students must remember to renew their Student card. This is done online at the RUC

Portalino web site (https://portalino.ruc.dk) or at http://aarskort.ruc.dk. The deadline for renewal

will be announced online some time in advance when you log on to Roskilde Universitys online

services.

5.4 Electronic access

When you are admitted as a Roskilde University student, you are given an email account. The login

and password for this account provides access to all electronic resources at Roskilde University

the library, the student Portalino, some course materials, and various kinds of registration. You may

choose to redirect your RUC e-mail to your usual e-mail address. But it is important that you make

a note of your login and password and of course that you keep them safe and confidential.

Questions about electronic access should be addressed to the E-Mail Office, (Telephone: 4674

3826, e-mail:

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[email protected], office in building 42.1, Monday Thursday 9.00-12.30, 13.00-15.00. Friday 11 -

13).

NOTE: please remember to empty your email account once in a while. If you do not empty it you

will not be able to receive emails from the staff since it is too full.

5.5 How to subscribe to the mailing list

You must make sure to subscribe to the relevant mailing list. You can only subscribe to the

emailing list with your RUC email. All communication from the staff will be sent out to the

emailing lists. Please follow these instructions:

1. Log on to www.portalino.ruc.dk.2. Click on "mailing lists" under Campus-it. It is possible that you will be asked to log-on

again.

3. Click on "subscribe/unsubscribe".4. Find department of Communication, Business and Information Technology in the drop-

down menu and click ok.

5. Choose "subscribe" in the drop-down menu to the left.6. Select the mailing list you wish to subscribe for* and click ok.7. You will receive a confirmation email shortly after.8. To unsubscribe please select "unsubscribe" under bullet no. 5.

* [email protected]

5.6 Access to building 42 and 43

The building is open weekdays from 08:00 17:00. If you want to enter the building at other hours

you need a key and a key card. You get it by paying a deposit of DKK. 100 on Giro account 00 88

803. You can then pick up the key at the Key Office in building 37 bringing identification and your

receipt. The key office is open weekdays from 08:00 09:00 and 11:00 12:00. After normal office

hours, be sure to bring personal ID (e.g. student card) when you are in the building. Campus

security may request you to identify yourself at any time.

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5.7 Transcript of records

Upon completing one semesters studies, exchange students and guest students will receive a

certified transcript of records that lists all courses and grades. Please contact the international

coordinator about this. Full degree students are awarded a Roskilde University diploma.

5.8 Where can I see what books to buy and what to read?

You can find course descriptions incl. lists of literature on our website: www.ruc.dk/komm_en/

The literature will be available in the bookshop by the canteen.

5.9 Help us improve the Handbook

This handbook will always be work in progress requiring frequent updates. So, yoursuggestions are most welcome, both on how we can add new useful material and/or clarify

subjects already covered by the handbook. Send your comments to Ms. Rikke Krogh, email:

[email protected])

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6. Who to contact?

International Coordinator

Rikke Krogh - International Coordinator & CoMundus secretary

Located in building 44.2

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 09:00 12:00 & 12:30 14:00. Closed Friday

Phone: (+45) 46 74 39 15

E-mail: [email protected]

Fax: (+45) 46 74 30 81

The secretarys office

Kirsten Rasmussen - Secretary to the study board


Opening hours:

Phone: (+45) 46 74 37 65


Fax: (+45) 46 74 30 73

The student Counsellor


Opening hours: 09:15 13:00

Phone: 4674 37 67


Fax: (+45) 46 74 30 73

The international office:

Located in building 04.1.

Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday: 9.30-12.30 and Thursday 12.30-15.30, Friday: closed.

Phone: (+45) 46 74 20 06.

E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

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The student registration office (Matriklen)


Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday: 9.30-12.30 and Thursday 13.30-15.00, Friday: closed

Phone: (+45) 46 74 34 61


E-mail office / Helpdisk (E-posten)


Opening hours: Monday-Thursday: 9.00-12.30 and 13.00-15.00. Friday: 11.00-13.00

Phone: (+45) 46 74 38 26


The International Club (www.international-club.ruc.dk)

Located in building 01 behind the canteen in the student council area.

Opening hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 12:00 13:00

Phone: (+45) 46 74 20 55 only during opening hours

E-mail:

CBIT examinations office


Contact info: Louise Schou

Phone: (+45) 46 74 34 54. E-mail: [email protected]

All information in this handbook is subject to change.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.international-club.ruc.dk/http://www.international-club.ruc.dk/mailto:[email protected]

Documents

International Handbook Comm