Study Start

President to DTU’s new students: “Here you can make friends for life”

DTU's Study Start combines academic and social activities, including a huge party, and is mainly run by volunteers.

The Study Start at DTU mixes academic and social activities including games. Photo: Bax Lindhardt.

Thursday 28 August 2025

Linnea Lundberg

When President Anders Bjarklev welcomed the new Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSc Eng) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) students at this year's three-day Study Start, the enormous staircase at the Mathematics Square on DTU Lyngby Campus was completely packed with people.

His message to them was clear. DTU is the university where they will be trained to become some of the best engineers in Europe.

“This year, we are welcoming 2,109 new students, who are either starting a Bachelor of Science in Engineering programme or a Bachelor of Engineering programme at one of our beautiful campuses here at DTU, which is also currently ranked as Europe’s best technical university. So, remember that you are students at Europe’s best technical university and that we expect you to become Europe’s best engineers. We will do everything we can to make that happen,” he said in his speech.

Dean of Studies and Student Affairs Lars D. Christoffersen and President of the student association at DTU Polyteknisk Forening (PF) Thor Deibert also welcomed the new students with speeches on the first day of the Study Start.

During the three days of Study Start, students are introduced to their respective campuses, their fields of study, and their fellow students through a variety of academic and social activities and on Saturday, PF is hosting Polyteknisk Sommerhygge, an intro event for all the new students.

Among the 2,109 new students are Sara Bevilacqua (left) and Line Søllingwråe Platpire. Photo: Bax Lindhardt.

On the lookout for new friendships

Among the 2,109 new students are Sara Bevilacqua and Line Søllingwråe Platpire. They will be starting the BEng programme in Architectural Engineering and the BSc Eng programme in Architectural Engineering, respectively.

Sara Bevilacqua is hoping to make new friends at the start of her studies.

“I have been looking forward to meeting the other students and finding out if there are any I could become friends with, and so far, they have been really nice,” she says.
Line Søllingwråe Platpire has also been eager to meet her fellow students, and she is impressed with the scale of the Study Start.

“The Study Start at DTU seems extremely professional compared to when I started high school. It feels like stepping into a whole new world, and I have been really looking forward to trying it out,” she says and continues:

“I'm also looking forward to being responsible for my own learning and gaining more knowledge to what I've already learned. And getting to know new people, even though it's a little intimidating because I don't know anyone at DTU yet.”

And it is precisely these expectations of meeting new people and forming friendships that are important at the beginning of one’s studies and enjoying student life at DTU. President Anders Bjarklev also addressed this in his speech, referring to his own time as a student:

“Remember that the friendships you form here at the beginning of your studies are long-lasting and some of the most valuable things you will ever find in life.”

The weather was good apart from a single rain shower during the last speech. Photo: Bax Lindhardt.
President Anders Bjarklev gave speeches at both the Lyngby and Ballerup campuses. Photo: Mikal Schlosser.
The vectors (DTU's name for tutors) were ready to guide and help the new students get off to a good start. They could be recognised by their identical T-shirts and signs, among other things. Photo: Bax Lindhardt.
Vectors are volunteers and they're an essential part of the Study Start. Photo: Mikal Schlosser.

Shared academic interests

The positive atmosphere and high expectations could also be found at DTU’s campus in Ballerup. Max Stilling McNulty and Victor Joseph Kløvborg-Laustsen, who are both about to embark on a BEng programme in Global Business Engineering, are excited to start a new chapter.

“It’s great to get started. Both with my studies and with meeting new people who share my interests, unlike in high school. Here, people have chosen the field of study they want to pursue from a wide range of options,” says Max Stilling McNulty.

Victor Joseph Kløvborg-Laustsen is eager to study again following a gap year, and he already feels ready for life as a student.

“It's exciting to get an insight into what everyday life as a student will be like and to be well prepared for it. I've learned a lot of new things today, and I'm really looking forward to starting my everyday life as a student,” explains Victor Joseph Kløvborg-Laustsen.

All new BSc Eng and BEng students are invited when DTU and PF transform the Sports Hall, Demant Hall, and S-Huset at Lyngby Campus into a huge party on Friday evening with live performances by Sivas and Danser med Piger, among others.

The party also marks the end of three intense days. Although classes begin on Monday, there will continue to be academic and social activities during this Autumn in order to send students off on a high note at the beginning of their studies at DTU.

Max Stilling McNulty (right) and Victor Joseph Kløvborg-Laustsen are excited to embark on a new chapter as students at DTU. Photo: Mikal Schlosser.

Contact

Lars Dyreborg Christoffersen

Lars Dyreborg Christoffersen Senior Vice President and Dean of Studies and Student Affairs Office for Study Programmes and Student Affairs Phone: +45 45251009