The first students were admitted to Roskilde University in 1972. It is thus a relatively young university and studying here is radically different from studies at the older, perhaps more traditional universities. It covers three areas of teaching and research: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and the degree programmes involve BA, Master, and PhD studies.

In many areas Roskilde University has broken with traditional principles of university teaching; this applies both to the ways the studies are organised and to the forms of study. Since its foundation, the core of the pedagogical principles applied at the university has consisted of student influence, co-responsibility for the students' own studies, the development of the students' ability to co-operate, a high level of qualification in the individual subjects as well as interdisciplinarity. When organising the studies, Roskilde University has emphasised the following:

- Establishment of basic studies programmes - A living, secure study environment - Problem oriented project work in groups.

The university offers its 8000 students and 500 members of the academic staff a modern working environment at the large campus area at the city of Roskilde, approx. 40 km. from central Copenhagen and trains leave all day between the capital and the campus.

The main areas of research are Environmental Science and Environmental Administration, Globalisation, Society and Culture, and Communication and Education. The strong research profile of the university is based on the professional environments which stand out internationally and which can participate in professional constellations across subjects in constant consideration of the development in research and new academic problems.

Roskilde University has from its very beginning given high priority to the international element in both research and teaching. Teaching is done in Danish and in English. Due to its efforts in the international field, today Roskilde University is the university in Denmark with most international educational activities in relation to its size. Thus the university has established itself as a special university with a firm regional foundation and an international orientation - which in fact summarises its ambition and aims.