Universities

Read about the eight Danish universities and research-based higher education at Bachelor, Master's (candidatus) and PhD level which are offered by the Danish universities

About the universities

The universities offer research-based higher education at Bachelor, Master's and PhD level. Furthermore, the universities are responsible for the majority of all public research i Denmark.

There are eight universities in Denmark:

University of Copenhagen

Aarhus University

University of Southern Denmark

Roskilde University

Aalborg University

Technical University of Denmark

Copenhagen Business School

IT University of Copenhagen

Universities are state-funded, autonomous institutions governed by boards with external majority.

The universities offer research-based, higher education, which is to say undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programmes.

Universities are responsible for the majority of all public research. As key institutions in society, universities must also participate actively in the exchange of knowledge and skills with the wider community.

The University Bachelor’s degree and the Master’s degree

Research-based Bachelor's degrees and Master's degrees are offered by the Danish universities. The degrees cover academic disciplines such as humanities, social sciences, natural science, health science, technical science and theology.

University Bachelor's degree

The Bachelor’s degree from a university is awarded after the completion of a three-year undergraduate programme (180 ECTS), normally undertaken within one or two subject areas.

The bachelor programmes are research-based and are offered in all scientific disciplines.

The bachelor programmes provide students with a broad academic foundation as well as specialist knowledge combined with theoretical, applied and analytical skills.

Students are required to submit a final project paper. The programmes qualify students for occupational functions and for postgraduate studies, e.g. for the candidatus degree.

Degree titles (Bachelor)

The titles are:

Danish: Bachelor (BA) i [field of study] or Bachelor (BSc) i [field of study]y]
English: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in [field of study] or Bachelor (BSc) of Science in [field of study] or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). In business administration, the title HA may be used.

Main characteristics - University Bachlor's degree

3 years (180 ECTS credits)
Research-based education
Predominantly theoretical
Preparation for postgraduate study

Master’s degree

The Master’s degree is normally awarded after two years of study (120 ECTS credits) following a BA/BSc degree.

A few Master's degree programmes are longer, eg. Medicine (3 years, 180 ECTS points) and Veterinary Medicine (2½ years, 150 ECTS points).

All Master's degree programmes are research-based and provide students with theoretical knowledge, analytical and scientific (and/or artistic) skills combined with the ability of practical application.

Students in a Master's degree programme are required to submit a thesis (30-60 ECTS) before graduation. The degree qualifies students for a professional career and scientific work, e.g admission to a PhD programme.

Degree titles (Master's)

The degree titles are:

Danish: Cand. + latin abbreviation of academic area i [field of study], e.g.: cand.mag. (candidatus/candidata magisterii) i [field of study]
English: Master of Arts (MA) in [field of study] or Master of Science (MSc) in [field of study]

Main characteristics - Master's Degree

2 years (120 ECTS credits)
Research-based
Career oriented

PhD programme

All Danish universities offer a PhD programme within their research areas.

The individual universities may award the PhD degree within the disciplines in which the universities conduct research and for which they have established a PhD school. A university may establish a PhD school on its own or in collaboration with one or more other universities. The PhD degree is normally awarded after three years of higher education and research (180 ECTS credits) following a Master’s degree.

In March 2017 the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science published a comprehensive analysis of the quality and effects of an increased intake of PhD students in the period 2003-2010.

The individual university is responsible for organising its PhD programme within the framework of the PhD Order.

Objective of the PhD programme:

The PhD programme trains PhD students at an international level to undertake research, development and teaching assignments in the private and public sectors, for which a broad knowledge of research is required.

Each PhD student is appointed a principal supervisor who is responsible for the student’s PhD programme. The principal supervisor must be a recognised researcher within the relevant field, be employed by the university and affiliated with the PhD school. The student may have additional supervisors appointed.

Contents of the PhD programme:

The PhD programme comprises the following elements:

Conducting an independent PhD project under supervision
Completing a PhD thesis on the basis of the PhD project
Completing PhD courses corresponding to approx. six months
Participating in active research environments, including long-term stays at other, for example foreign, research institutions
Gaining experience of teaching or other form of knowledge dissemination

The PhD student is required to publicly defend his or her PhD thesis at the university.

For more information please visit the website Study in Denmark

PhD Order (pdf)

Admission to university

General access to higher education in Denmark requires an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate or comparable qualifications. Admission to some particular programmes requires entrance examination or submission of a portfolio of artistic work.

Admission to a Master's degree programme requires the completion of a first cycle degree, typically a bachelor's degree.

Get an overview of application and admission to higher education

Numerous degree programmes in English

In Denmark, a large number of degree programmes are offered in English with all examinations being conducted in English. These programmes are open to both Danish and foreign students.

An overview of the different degrees programmes offered in English at university level can be found at UddannelsesGuiden

Degree programmes in English

Furthemore, the official website Study in Denmark provides extensive information on Danish higher education and living in Denmark.

Study in Denmark

Additional courses and degrees offered by Danish universities

Danish universities and a few additional university level institutions offer part-time degree programmes and single academic courses. More information on this, including the Master degree can be found at:

Adult/continuing higher education