Roskilde University (Roskilde Universitet, RUC) was established in 1972 as one of the most politically and philosophically ambitious educational projects in modern Danish history. It was born out of a period of social upheaval and progressive thinking in the late 1960s, when students and intellectuals across Europe were questioning traditional hierarchies, including those embedded in universities. In Denmark, this translated into a direct challenge to the rigid, professor-centered teaching models of the country’s older universities.
The founding of Roskilde University was driven by a desire to democratize higher education, both in its structure and content. It was conceived not merely as a new institution, but as an alternative to the elite and often impersonal systems of academic learning found in Copenhagen and Aarhus. Political movements on the left -especially influenced by Marxist and socialist ideals- played a key role in shaping the university’s early structure. The Danish Parliament (Folketinget) approved the establishment of RUC with a mandate to experiment with new forms of teaching and governance.
The political climate in which RUC emerged emphasized equality, participation, and collaboration. This was reflected in the university’s early governance model, which gave significant power to students in decision-making bodies. Faculty and administrative hierarchies were flattened, and an emphasis was placed on co-determination—the idea that students should have a meaningful voice in shaping their education.
The university's founding ethos challenged the traditional "professor lectures–student listens" model. Instead, it promoted collaborative learning, interdisciplinary approaches, and problem-solving over rote memorization. The aim was not just to train workers or specialists but to educate citizens capable of critical thinking, social engagement, and democratic participation.
From the beginning, Roskilde University rejected the compartmentalization of knowledge into narrow academic disciplines. Its interdisciplinary philosophy is one of its core characteristics. Instead of separating students by strict subject boundaries, RUC organizes education around broad themes such as humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, encouraging students to draw from multiple disciplines to address real-world problems.
A distinctive hallmark of the RUC approach is problem-oriented project work. Students form groups to research complex societal or scientific challenges, which they explore in depth over a semester. This model is designed to mirror real-life academic or workplace collaborations, encouraging skills like teamwork, critical analysis, and independent inquiry.
The philosophy behind this model is deeply influenced by progressive educational thinkers like Paulo Freire, who emphasized education as a tool for liberation and empowerment. The idea is that learning should not just be about absorbing knowledge, but actively constructing it - together.
Today, Roskilde University is organized into four main departments, reflecting its interdisciplinary ethos: Communication and Arts, People and Technology, Science and Environment, and Social Sciences and Business. These departments collaborate across traditional academic boundaries, supporting both teaching and research that address complex societal challenges. Undergraduate programs are structured as three-year bachelor degrees that move from general to more specialized fields followed by two-year master’s degrees, allowing students to shape their education flexibly.
The university emphasizes project-based learning at all levels, with each semester including significant group or individual research projects. Governance remains relatively democratic compared to other institutions, with elected student and staff representatives participating in key decision-making bodies. Roskilde University also has a growing international profile, offering a range of master’s programs in English and attracting students and researchers from around the world.
For more information please see: https://ruc.dk/en