IDA.DK IDA Forsikring IDA Studerende
Join IDA Join IDA
Join IDA
Visit IDAs other websites
IDA.DK IDA Forsikring IDA Studerende

Front page / New student / Study Start / What is the difference between high school and higher education?

Study Start

What is the difference between high school and higher education?

nærbillede af krydsede hænder, der holder en bog. Personen er i en flannelskjortejakke og har dueblå neglelak på.
There are significant differences between daily life in high school and in higher education. One of the most notable and well-known differences is that you have much more control over the direction and input throughout the semester. Here is an overview to help you prepare for your new daily routine.
Table of contents
  • From pupil to student
  • you will be assessed on different criteria
  • seven differences according to the advisor
  • the social aspect
The introvert’s guide to starting university.
The transition phase

From pupil to student

When the student cap has been aired and late summer arrives, for many it is time for a whole new step on the path to the job market. And here the student cap must truly live up to its name, because the big difference between high school and higher education is essentially that you go from being a pupil to being a student. That difference is indeed greater than you might initially think.

It’s not always the case that the lecturers actually know who you are. You go from being someone the teachers know to perhaps just being a student number on a list.
Heidi Berggren Brøndal Pedersen, Team Leader in the Student Guidance Office at DTU.

In high school, you sit in a class with a teacher who knows you well and notices whether you attend lessons or not. At university, it is significantly different, where you have much greater responsibility for your learning. Mikkel Berrig Rasmussen, who studies electrical engineering at DTU, can certainly recognize this difference. He also points out another significant difference.

The big difference for me was that at university, you are exclusively with people who have actively chosen to study the specific field they have entered.
Mikkel Berrig Rasmussen, Electrical Engineering Student
The teaching

You are assessed on different parameters.

The teaching method stands out significantly in higher education compared to high school. In an auditorium at DTU, you might be sitting with 200 others in a large lecture hall, where the lecturer has no way to question or keep track of how well you are performing throughout the semester. There are no yearly grades, so you are solely assessed on the quality of the assignments you submit. This, of course, also demands self-discipline.

The best way to prepare for an exam
You have to structure everything yourself, and on top of that, many activities at university are actually not mandatory. So, you could stay at home, sleep in, and miss out on a lot without even knowing what you missed.
Heidi Berggren Brøndal Pedersen, Teamleder i studievejledningen på DTU.

Seven differences according to the advisor

There is greater independence. Teaching can take the form of lectures, where a lecturer or professor imparts knowledge to many students, as well as seminars and exercise sessions, where smaller groups discuss and work with the material.

Students are expected to be more self-directed. You are responsible for keeping up with your studies, reading the curriculum, and attending the necessary activities. This means more flexibility, but also greater demands on self-discipline and personal organization.

You now specialize in a specific subject area. The curriculum delves deeply into concrete topics, with a greater focus on critical thinking, analysis, and the application of theories.

Evaluation can vary greatly depending on the subject and institution. It can include semester assignments, projects, written and oral exams, or a combination. There is often a focus on final exams and major assignments, and there are no yearly grades.

The social life is more varied than in high school. You have the opportunity to engage in student organizations, professional networks, and social clubs. There are many more people at a university, so communities are often divided into smaller groups based on interests.

With specialization comes opportunities to participate in research projects, internships, and collaborations with industry. There is often a greater focus on preparing you for your future career through practical experiences and networking.

There is often great freedom to choose specializations, electives, and research areas. You can shape your education and academic direction to a greater extent based on what you want to work with in the future.

A life outside of studies

The social aspect

Mikkel Berrig Rasmussen took two gap years before starting his life as a university student, during which he spent much of his time alone with a bow and arrow. He practiced archery at a high level and therefore spent countless hours by himself.

How to find the right career path for you
I went from spending up to 50 hours a week on a grassy field, where you don’t talk to many people, to suddenly being on campus with an incredible number of strangers.
Mikkel Berrig Rasmussen, Electrical Engineering Student

The academic aspect needed a bit of polishing, but for him, the most significant difference was actually the social element.

The hardest part for me was figuring out how to join a group of people you don’t know beforehand.

And when half of the teaching involves group work, there are also many social codes to navigate even in academic settings.

This is precisely why the start of your studies is so crucial, according to Mikkel Berrig Rasmussen, whose close relationships were formed in the early part of his university life.

If you end up in a group that you don’t work well with, it becomes really difficult.
Mikkel Berrig Rasmussen, Electrical Engineering Student

Fortunately, Mikkel ended up in a good group. This group has since served as a support system for him during both academic and social challenges. Being part of smaller social circles was a great way to break up the large group of new students. Mikkel joined the student council in his first year.

Although it was anxiety-inducing at first to get involved in student politics, it was a great way to get to know the campus.
Mikkel Berrig Rasmussen, Electrical Engineering Student

Related

If you found this article insightful about starting university, you might find more inspiration in other content like the following:
IDA Campus - Stay calm during exams
The course is tailored to help you understand and work with your nervous system’s responses through a series of practical exercises and strategies. Course is in Danish with English subtitles.
Course overview
Develop good reading habits from the start
Use IDA’s simple planning tips and get practical help on how to structure your tasks to get more out of your studies.
Effective personal planning while studying
Take the right notes
Taking notes is not a simple task that everyone can master from the start; it’s a skill that needs to be learned. Here are some tips on how to take the best notes:
How to get a handle on note-taking technique
Seven tips for effective group Work
It can be a huge bonus to have others to solve tasks with, but it can also be a source of great frustration when you haven’t chosen your partners yourself. Here is a guide on how to ensure effective group work.
how to suceed at group work
IDA helps you

Are you ready to get started?

As a student member of IDA, you receive personal counselling, current courses, workshops, and webinars that help you maintain balance in your student life.
Events Personal Career Advice