The purpose of the orientation programme is to:

• welcome new students and prepare them for the first week of teaching. 
• integrate the new students academically and socially on their degree programme, at their department and faculty through contact with their tutors, teachers and other relevant parties during the commencement of studies.
• facilitate the transition from upper secondary school to university by providing new students with the necessary support and introducing them to the competencies needed to complete a university degree at the faculty.

The orientation programme comprises activities throughout the first year of study, involving both tutors, lecturers, student counsellors, mentors etc.

The first three orientation days and the weekend trip are arranged by tutors from the various tutor associations. Tutors are volunteers undertaking a range of clearly defined tasks. To ensure that all tutors are properly prepared for their roles, guidelines have been developed for the orientation programme, both for AU in general and locally for Natural Sciences. The guidelines focus on the tutors’ responsibilities, tasks and roles, on alcohol policy, finances and the content of the orientation programme, and on the fact that the tutors as ambassadors and hosts of course always show respect, equality, openness and trust.

We make sure that all tutors at Natural Sciences are well equipped to carry out their roles and tasks, for example by conducting meetings before and evaluations after the start of the orientation programme, tutor courses and first aid courses, as well as a thorough introduction to the guidelines. Natural Sciences supports the work of the tutor associations financially and has overall responsibility for the commencement of studies. The tutors are in close dialogue with the orientation programme coordinators at Student Counselling and Study Information, who coordinate the work of the tutor associations.

During the first year of study, new students are supported in various ways, both academically and socially, to ensure that they thrive and get used to the academic requirements, forms of instruction, social communities and life as a university student.