Aarhus University has a strong focus on ensuring that we offer degree programmes with a high academic standard, and that we educate highly qualified, attractive graduates for the labour market throughout Denmark. ‘The reform of university degree programmes in Denmark’ constitutes a sweeping transformation of the educational landscape in higher education which requires a high level of strategic adaptation and academic innovation. AU has taken a systematic, inclusive approach to developing a plan that meets the reform’s policy goals without compromising the university’s disciplinary reach and depth.
This institutional plan lays out how AU intends to implement the reform at the university towards 2028. The plan covers what Master’s degree programmes AU expects to offer in 2028, including the expected number of student places across all academic domains in addition to the percentage distribution of the different types of degree programmes.
AU’s institutional plan is both ambitious and realistic. AU has carried out a thorough assessment of the degree programme landscape for each of the new types of degree programme. The plan is the result of a broad collaboration involving the faculties, disciplinary groups and students, as well as leading private and public-sector employers. AU has taken particular care to ensure that the requirements of the reform are met in such a way as to proactively match labour market demand while at the same time achieving the highest possible educational quality.
We wish to emphasise that the reform will not be fully implemented until 2032, and that the plan reflects AU’s best estimate based on current framework conditions and available knowledge.
Table 1 shows AU's expected implementation of the new Master’s degree landscape in 2028, broken down by academic domain. This distribution complies with the reform’s required ceilings on admissions to standard 120-ECTS credit Master’s degree programmes (4,145) and for ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s degree programmes (193).
Table 1 AU's expected number of places and percentage distribution by type of degree programme by academic domain (2028)
Maximum admissions to standard 120-ECTS Master’s degree programmesand ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s degree programmes | Expected admissions to other types of work-integrated Master’s programmes and 75-ECTS standard Master’s degree programmes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic domains | Standard 120 ECTS | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Other work-integrated Master’s programmes | Standard 75 ECTS | ||||
| No. | Pct. | No. | Pct. | No. | Pct. | No. | Pct. | |
| Humanities | 1.132 | 0 | 52 | 284 | ||||
| Natural sciences | 433 | 89 | 11 | 42 | ||||
| Social sciences | 1.462 | 0 | 74 | 489 | ||||
| Health sciences | 703 | 0 | 35 | 20 | ||||
| Engineering | 415 | 104 | 16 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 4.145 | 79 | 193 | 4 | 188 | 4 | 835 | 16 |
| Allocation from Ministry of Higher Education and Science | 4.145 | 193 | ||||||
Note: The percentage distribution of the different types of degree programme was calculated based on AU’s total allocated student places (5,250), as defined by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science in the institutional plan template. In other words, the total sum of the ceilings for Standard 120 ECTS and ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s degree programmes in addition to the targets for Other work-integrated Master’s degree programmes and Standard 75 ECTS. In order to meet the need for engineering and IT graduates, the institutional plan includes 111 extra work-integrated Master’s and 75-ECTS student places in addition to the total allocation of 5,250 places. For this reason, the percentages on the bottom line below do not add up to 100%. Note that the division of degree programmes by academic domain as defined by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science does not always map onto the corresponding faculty affiliation at AU. One example of this mismatch is the Sport Science Master’s degree programme, which is offered by the Faculty of Health at AU despite its ‘natural sciences’ status.
AU expects that about eight per cent of the Master’s degree programmes offered by the university in 2028 will be work-integrated Master’s degree places (four per cent as ‘1-2’ work-integrated Master’s places and an additional four percent as other types of work-integrated Master’s degree programmes), while about sixteen per cent will be 75-ECTS places.
In the decision to convert to ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s programmes, AU has followed the guidelines in the supplement to the reform agreement and has prioritised allocating these places to the MScEng programmes in the engineering academic domain and to STEM/IT degree programmes in the natural sciences academic domain. Dialogue with employers has confirmed that the ‘1+2’ work-integrated programmes are where AU has good opportunities to create volume in enrolments due to our preexisting close collaboration with the business community. Furthermore, the ‘1+2’ model is perceived as more attractive for both students and businesses because it requires a shorter ‘commitment period’. We also believe that this will be an attractive model for international students, who are guaranteed a stable affiliation with their academic studies at the university.
In alignment with the policy ambitions of the reform, AU expects that the majority of the existing 120 ECTS places that are to be converted to the new types of Master’s degree programmes will be within the social sciences and humanities domains. In these domains, employers’ interest in the work-integrated Master’s degree programme models, including the four-year work-integrated programme as well as the shorter combined models, is more limited. On the other hand, however, numerous companies have expressed interest in graduates of the standard 75-ECTS Master’s programmes, which was thus a decisive factor in AU’s decision to prioritise converting more places to this format.
Sections 2 and 3 below elaborate on the cross-disciplinary and academic domain-specific considerations taken into account in AU's institutional plan.
As a fully comprehensive university, AU offers a broad range of Master’s degree programmes within all five academic domains. The implementation of the reform reflects the policy and academic frameworks for each domain. AU’s proposed implementation of the reform is based on three overall principles:
Across the academic domains, AU has focussed on working with the following:
AU’s central goal for the development of the new 75-ECTS degree programmes is to create focused, intensive programmes with a clearly defined subject profile and the same proficiency level as our 120-ECTS programmes. The scope and depth of these programmes have been carefully calibrated to ensure that the intensive degree programme model supports academic immersion. In the design of these programmes, we have emphasised contact between students and lecturers, strong teaching competencies and an academic environment that is tailored to the constraints arising from the compressed format.
By contrast, the 120-ECTS degree programmes offer a broader perspective on a subject, more elective courses and the opportunity for a longer programme of study, in which elements such as work placements give students closer ties to the labour market.
The sections below describe the specific initiatives within each academic domain, including how AU will ensure a strategic restructuring in light of the needs of the labour market, national coordination, and internal disciplinary priorities.
In connection with a more general strategic restructuring of humanities degree programmes, the Faculty of Arts has drafted a holistic plan aimed at ensuring sustainable degree programmes, an attractive academic environment for all subjects and long-term stability.
This restructuring involves merging smaller language programmes through strategic closures and strengthening collaboration between the degree programmes to optimise disciplinary synergies and resource use. It will not be possible to continue to offer all degree programmes, and one consequence of degree programme resizing will be the closure of language and area studies programmes, at both Bachelor’s and Master’s level.
As the tables in Part 2 show, it is expected that a large number of Master’s degree programmes at AU Arts will be restructured leading up to 2028, while others will be restructured leading up to 2030.
In the decision about what Master’s degree programmes to restructure, considerations of national coordination of analogous or related degree programmes, in addition to upper secondary school-oriented degree programmes, have played a central role. To ensure a uniform approach across the university sector, a number of humanities degree programmes have been exempted from restructuring, cf. Section 3.1.
Arts has systematically explored the possibility of establishing work-integrated Master’s programmes, and has engaged in structured dialogue with business councils, career centres and businesses, particularly in fields where there is currently a labour shortage. Despite this effort, employers have generally been unenthusiastic.
However, dialogues with municipalities have revealed an interest in the work-integrated format in the area of educational psychology and didactics, particularly due to the acute labour shortage in the field of PPR (educational psychology counselling and special educational support).
In connection with the continued exploration of the potential for establishing work-integrated Master’s programmes at Arts, the faculty will test the work-integrated format on selected degree programmes at DPU on a pilot basis. If the format does not attract the expected number of applicants, the places will be reallocated to 75-ECTS degree programmes, in order to meet the targets set by the reform.
The faculty has chosen to prioritise the development of new standard 75-ECTS Master’s degree programmes based on disciplinary considerations and close dialogue with employers. The majority of Master’s degree programmes selected for conversion to 75-ECTS programmes are programmes without a corresponding Bachelor’s programme, such as European Studies, Journalism and Human Security (which is classified as a social sciences degree programme, however).
It is expected that a number of Master’s degree programmes, including Educational Anthropology and Globalisation and IT Instructional Design, will be so significantly altered that they will not qualify as conversions, and will require approval as new degree programmes.
AU Arts is thus focused on creating attractive Master’s degree programmes with high employability that meet the needs of both students and employers.
The majority of Master’s degree programmes at the Faculty of Natural Sciences will continue to be offered in a 120-ECTS format, because this is most appropriate with regard to central academic and structural considerations, including related degree programmes and small disciplinary groups (cf. Sections 3.1 and 3.4), and because a significant proportion of graduates of Master’s degree programmes continue on to PhD programmes (20-30% on many natural sciences degree programmes).
The faculty will convert 89 student places to the new ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s degree programme format. The faculty’s ambition is to offer a ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s degree programme track among the faculty’s 120-ECTS Master’s programmes, with the majority of places allocated to computer science and mathematics programmes.
Natural Sciences prefers the ‘1+2’ model, on the grounds that this structure is particularly suited to experimental natural sciences subjects, with a year of full-time coursework followed by a 60-ECTS Master’s thesis over two years that can be aligned with the needs of the host company. The ‘1+2’ conversion plan is based on feedback the faculty has received from the degree programmes’ employer panels, as well as Natural Sciences’ advisory board, which represents the central employers of AU’s natural sciences graduates.
Natural Sciences expects an increased intake of international Master’s degree students – with reference to the additional English-taught student places that are to be implemented in line with the political agreement. Admitting more international students is crucial, not least in order to meet the needs of the labour market, particularly in the field of IT. Aarhus University has a high success rate in retaining international graduates of its programmes on the Danish labour market. Initiatives such as ‘destination Aarhus’ have contributed to fostering a close collaboration with the business community around retaining graduates in Denmark, particularly for natural sciences graduates.
Natural Sciences will establish three new 75-ECTS Master’s degree programmes that build on multiple Bachelor’s subjects and address specific needs on the part of society and the labour market:
A major source of inspiration for these degree programmes is Holland, where shorter post-Bachelor’s programmes have proven effective in preparing graduates for specialised job functions.
In addition, three different types of MSc will be established on the Computer Science programme, the faculty’s largest: in 2028, the faculty will offer a 120-ECTS full-time programme, a ‘1+2’ work-integrated programme and a 75-ECTS full-time programme (see also Section 3.2).
Natural Science is interested in beginning to offer the new degree programme formats (75-ECTS and the ‘1+2’ model) as quickly as possible, preferably before 2028, if this is possible under applicable legislation.
A consequence of the reform will be a major restructuring of business and social sciences Master’s degree programmes, and the School of Business and Social Sciences has identified the degree programmes with the greatest potential for a successful conversion.
The faculty conducted a broad exploration of the possibilities initially, but after dialogue with relevant deans at the other Danish universities and with employers, it has been decided to focus on the two largest degree programmes in this academic domain: Economics and Business Administration (cand.merc) and Law. In 2028, both 120-ECTS and 75-ECTS versions of Master’s degree programmes in both of these subjects will be offered in order to meet the needs of different employers and create flexible educational opportunities (see Section 3.2).
The faculty has carried out an extensive, systematic dialogue with companies regarding the potential for work-integrated Master’s degree programmes. The parties involved in these dialogues included the degree programmes’ employer panels, the faculty’s career partners and representatives from law firms, retail, finance, selected global companies in the Aarhus area, government agencies and energy companies, as well as the region and municipalities. In connection with this exploration, seminars for company representatives were held, as well as individual meetings between faculty and company representatives.
These dialogues made it clear that a large proportion of these companies did not view work-integrated Master’s degree programmes as a good fit, and were not interested in entering into collaboration in this regard. Among the primary reasons cited were the challenges associated with matching students with companies, the long time commitment required by the work-integrated model and students’ limited opportunities to combine work and study.
On this background, the faculty will offer four-year work-integrated Master’s programmes in subjects where there is a genuine demand on the part of employers: the work-integrated Master’s programme in Auditing (62 places), which is currently a well-established model for both students and companies, will be retained, as well as the current relatively limited work-integrated programme in Law (8 places), an area in which there has historically been limited demand for this degree programme format.
On the other hand, employers have shown interest in graduates of both types of MSc programmes in Economics and Business Administration and Law – 75-ECTS as well as 120-ECTS.
The labour market for both programmes is broad and diversified, and more companies can see advantages in graduates quickly gaining work experience and then later supplementing their skillset through further and continuing education. This was confirmed at a general meeting with representatives from 20 companies as well as through individual discussions with multiple large employers. AU will adapt the contents of its degree programmes to these two tracks, and the graduates’ academic profiles will be aligned with different career profiles (see Section 3.2).
AU Health will retain its existing Master’s degree programmes, because a broad palette of disciplines is necessary to handle the complexity and social challenges characteristic of the healthcare field.
The majority of Master’s degree places are exempt from conversion due to authorisation requirements, including Medicine and Odontology, in addition to the programme in Veterinary Medicine established in 2024, which is affiliated with the Faculty of Technical Sciences.
Health is planning to establish a new English-taught 120-ECTS Master’s degree programme within the allocated number of 120-ECTS places.
Health’s strategy for realising the restructuring is to partially convert places on the degree programmes for which there is a (professional) Bachelor’s market for new work-integrated Master’s degree places. This applies to the Master’s degree programmes in Nursing and in Optometry and Visual Science, in addition to the Master’s degree programme in Health Science.
In addition, a new 75-ECTS Master's degree programme in the Public Health that offers a fall-back option to students on the three work-integrated Master’s degree programmes referred to above will be established.
The Faculty of Technical Sciences is planning to establish 105 new Civil Engineering student places on the ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s degree programme in 2028.
Earmarking these ‘1+2’ places for the engineering programmes is in line with the political intentions laid out in the supplement to the reform agreement and will support AU’s long-term strategic focus on promoting engineering programmes.
AU’s goals are to educate more engineers here in Central Denmark Region, which has the fewest engineering graduates per capita of all of the regions, and to increase the proportion of MScEng graduates (relative to BScEng).
The total portfolio of standard 120-ECTS places and ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s degree places represents an increase in the number of civil engineering graduates from AU. The intention is to introduce the ‘1+2’ model to all MScEng programmes at the faculty while at the same time making it easier for more BScEng graduates whose degrees do not automatically qualify them for admission to an MScEng programmes to take MScEng degrees.
Dialogue with employers has confirmed the viability of the conversion, thanks to the close collaboration with industry which characterises the field of engineering.
In the case of a single engineering programme, Technology Based Business Development, which is offered in Herning and affiliated with Business and Social Sciences – the 4-year work-integrated model currently in place will be retained.
This section outlines how AU has approached each of the special considerations with regard to restructuring Master’s degree programmes that were highlighted in the political agreement.
For each academic domain, the dean groups identified degree programmes within related subjects nationwide. The working definition of ‘related degree programmes’ does not include the large degree programmes (see Section 3.2) or upper secondary school subject degree programmes (Section 3.3).
In collaboration with the universities that offer degree programmes within related subjects, Aarhus University has coordinated a shared approach that contributes to simplifying the Master’s degree landscape and avoiding counterproductive competition, in line with the political ambitions for the reform.
In the dean groups, there was consensus that the related degree programmes were not to be restructured, and that their current 120-ECTS structure should be maintained.
Large degree programmes, cf. the ministry’s guidance, are defined as ‘Master’s degree programmes (or related programmes) with a total intake of over 250 students nationwide’. Such programmes can be converted to both 75-ECTS and 120-ECTS formats, if warranted by considerations of relevant academic specialisation and a particular demand from the labour market.
Generally, conversion to both 75-ECTS and 120-ECTS formats is not warranted for most large degree programmes at AU. This applies to the Master’s degree programmes in Medicine, Psychology, Economics and Political Science, for example.
Following dialogues with employers, it has been agreed that the three large degree programmes offered at AU – Computer Science, Economics and Business Administration and Law – will be offered in both formats, but in different versions from 2028. It is expected that this will be handled in the same way across the university sector.
The decision to offer both 75-ECTS and 120-ECTS versions of all three degree programmes has been coordinated with the other universities that offer comparable or related degree programmes. Aarhus University participated actively in the dean's groups and in bilateral discussions, which resulted in consensus on a common approach.
| Large degree programmes at AU | Allocation of places (120 ECTS/75 ECTS) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | 60 / 12 |
| Econ. and Business Admin. | 332 / 302 |
| Law | 153 / 145 |
AU has focused heavily on the needs of the labour market in this decision; employers of graduates of these three degree programmes have expressed strong interest in the 75-ECTS format with the option of supplementary courses.
AU offers a degree programme in Educational Psychology, while Roskilde University offers a related degree programme in Social Psychology and Learning. Taken together, these programmes have been categorised as a large degree programme that is offered at different locations in Denmark, and which prepares students for a variety of different career paths.
While Roskilde University is planning to offer a more focussed version of the Social Psychology and Learning programme, AU is planning to offer the Master’s degree programme in Educational Psychology as a work-integrated Master’s degree programme in order to address the acute labour shortage in the field of PPR (educational psychology counselling and special educational support).
As described in the ministry's guidance, universities can choose not to restructure upper secondary school-oriented programmes or to partially restructure them. A partial restructuring would involve converting the non-upper secondary school-oriented part of the programme to one of the new types of Master’s degree programme, while the upper-secondary school-oriented part remains a standard 120-ECTS Master’s degree programme.
Most of AU’s upper secondary school-oriented programmes will not be restructured, and will thus remain standard 120-ECTS Master’s degree programmes. In cases in which AU does partially restructure upper secondary school-oriented degree programmes, they will be converted to ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s degree programmes.
The decision not to restructure the upper secondary school-oriented parts of a degree programme aligns with the priorities of the upper secondary sector. However, in the long term, Aarhus University does see potential in expanding the ‘1+2’ model, particularly within the natural sciences, so that two-subject students also have the opportunity to take a work-integrated Master’s degree. AU will continue to engage the upper secondary school sector and the other universities in dialogue in this regard.
| Name of degree programme | Academic domain | Action | Type(s) of degree programme | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| History, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| History of ideas, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| Study of religion, MA 2 yr | Humanities | No change | ||
| Media Studies, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | The upper secondary school-oriented part of the degree programme is only offered as a supplementary subject. | |
| Scandinavian languages and literature, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| Rhetoric, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | The upper secondary school-oriented part of the degree programme is only offered as a supplementary subject. | |
| Dramaturgy, MA, 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| Art history, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| Musicology/music, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| English, Ma 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| French language, literature and culture, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| Global area studies, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | The degree programme is expected to be closed in 2030, cf. Table 4.1 | |
| Classical philology, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | The programme will be merged with other programmes: at BA level with classical archaeology, and at MA level integration with the history programme is under consideration. | |
| Spanish and Latin American language, literature and culture (AU), MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| German language, literature and culture, MA 2 yr. | Humanities | No change | ||
| Biology, MSc 2 yr. | Natural sciences | Partial restructuring | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | |
| Chemistry, MSc 2 yr. | Natural sciences | Partial restructuring | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | |
| Sport science/Sport science and health, MSc 2 yr. | Natural sciences | No change | Affiliated with Health. | |
| Physics, MSc 2 yr. | Natural sciences | Partial restructuring | ”1+2”-EKA | |
| Mathematics, MSc 2 yr. | Natural sciences | Partial restructuring | ”1+2”-EKA | |
| Computer science, MSc 2 yr. | Natural sciences | No change | Supplementary subjects in computer science and programming will still be offered by the Department of Computer Science and will nto be affected by the restructuring. | |
| Business administration, MSc (cand.soc.), 2 yr. | Social sciences | No change | ||
| Social sciences, MSc. 2 yr. | Social sciences | No change |
Consideration for small research programmes has been an important factor in the development of the future Master’s landscape in the humanities and to a certain extent in the natural sciences.
It has been determined that consideration for small research programmes is not relevant in relation to the restructuring of degree programmes in the social sciences, health sciences or engineering, on the grounds that all degree programmes in these academic domains are anchored in larger research programmes.
The holistic plan for the Faculty of Arts places a high priority on the preservation of key domains of knowledge while ensuring high academic standards and financial sustainability. To achieve this, smaller degree programmes will be merged and related subject areas at the faculty will collaborate more closely.
The central tenet of the holistic plan for Arts is that as far as possible, important domains of knowledge must be preserved. This applies not least to languages and area studies, but also to other humanities programmes with an aesthetic focus and in philosophy and the history of ideas.
The diverse range of humanities subjects and research areas includes a number of small research programmes at AU and UCPH which are working together to future-proof their subjects by leveraging disciplinary synergies.
The plan for AU Natural Sciences emphasises the importance of maintaining all existing research programmes – including small ones.
Specifically, a high priority is continuing to offer geoscience in western Denmark, as the programme has extensive collaboration with regional businesses and consultancies, as well as the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.
The nanoscience degree programme admits few students: AU and UCPH have agreed to continue offering it while monitoring the development of the programme closely in coming years.
AU is very attentive to the importance of contributing to regional balance, in order to ensure that high-quality programmes at different levels continue to be offered outside the major cities. In this connection, Aarhus University prioritises offering high-quality Master’s degree programmes on AU’s established campuses in Herning og Viborg as well.
Aarhus University is in dialogue with VIA about the possibility of offering Master’s degree programmes on VIA’s campus in Horsens that would build on their Bachelor of Engineering programmes. In addition, AU is focussed on ensuring a stable supply of graduates to teach in upper secondary schools in Western Denmark.
In 2028, AU is planning to expand AU Herning by adding a new Master’s degree programme and 32 student places. This will take place when AU relocates the degree programme in Experience Economy from Aarhus to Herning. This is part of the agreement ‘More and better educational opportunities throughout Denmark’, which AU remains committed to.
In the longer term, AU will also offer a minimum of 30 medical students the opportunity to take the Master’s degree programme in medicine in Herning (from 2029) rather than in Aarhus. AU is in dialogue with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science about funding for this. There are also plans to increase the number of student places on the MSc in economics and business administration at AU Herning.
AU Viborg was established in 2021 under the agreement ‘More and better educational opportunities throughout Denmark’. AU began offering three Bachelor’s degree programmes in Viborg i 2024. From 2027, AU will also offer Master’s degree programmes in the same field. This expansion of AU Viborg represents a natural extension of the degree programme relocation agreement, and will be timed to coincide with AU Viborg students’ completion of their Bachelor’s degrees.
According to the plan, in 2028 AU will offer a total of 88 Master’s degree places at AU Viborg: 43 places on the ‘veterinary campus in Foulum’ (divided between the Master’s degree programmes in Plant Science and Animal Science) and 45 places on the Veterinary Medicine programme. In 2029, the number of places on the Veterinary Medicine programme is expected to be increased to 90.
Academic domain | Name of degree programme | Change | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's level | |||||
Humanities | Educational theory and practice, MA 2 yr. (Emdrup) | To be closed (in 2027) | |||
Humanities | Educational philosophy, MA 2 yr. (Aarhus) | To be closed (in 2027) | |||
Humanities | Children’s Literature, Media, & Culture, kand. 2år | To be closed (in 2028) | |||
Humanities | Global area studies, MA 2 yr. | To be closed (in 2030) | See international studies. | ||
Humanities | Arab and Islamic studies, MA 2 yr. | To be closed (in 2030) | See international studies. | ||
Humanities | Intercultural studies in French, MA 2 yr. | To be closed (in 2030) | |||
Humanities | Intercultural studies (Latin America and Spain), Bachelor's degree, 2 yr. | To be closed (in 2030) | |||
Humanities | Intercultural studies in German, MA, 2 yr. | To be closed (in 2030) | |||
Humanities | Sustainable heritage management | To be closed (in 2030) | |||
Humanities | Journalism, MA 2 yr. | To be restructured | 75-ECTS MA | ||
Humanities | European Studies, MA 2 yr. | To be restructured | 75-ECTS MA | ||
Humanities | Educational anthropology and globalisation, MA 2 yr. | To be restructured | 75-ECTS MA | ||
Humanities | ICT-based educational design, MA 2 yr. | To be restructured | 75-ECTS MA | ||
Humanities | Information studies, MA 2 yr | To be split up and restructured | Both 75-ECTS and 120-ECTS tracks. The idea is to retain the 120-ECTS programme in Information Studies, while removing the Digital Life track and reconstituting it as an independent degree programme. See Table 4.2. | ||
Humanities | Educational psychology, MA 2 yr. (Aarhus) | To be split up | Creation of work-integrated track (120 ECTS). | ||
Humanities | Educational psychology, MA 2 yr. (Emdrup) | To be split up | Creation of work-integrated track (120 ECTS). | ||
Humanities | Educational theory and curriculum studies, Danish, MA 2 yr. | To be split up | Creation of work-integrated track (120 ECTS). | ||
Humanities | Educational theory and curriculum studies, maths, MA 2 yr. | To be split up | Creation of work-integrated track (120 ECTS). | ||
Humanities | Educational theory and curriculum studies, MA 2 yr. | To be split up | Creation of work-integrated track (120 ECTS). | ||
Humanities | Educational anthropology, MA 2 yr. (Emdrup) | To be split up | Creation of work-integrated track (120 ECTS). | ||
Humanities | Educational sociology, MA 2 yr. (Aarhus) | To be split up | Creation of work-integrated track (120 ECTS). | ||
Humanities | Subject-specific educational theory and curriculum studies (Emdrup) | To be merged | There is currently a set of framework academic regulations for the four subject-specific educational theory degree programmes at DPU – Danish, Mathematics, Material culture and Music. Music has already been merged with Material Culture under the title ‘Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies, Aesthetics’, and our intention is now to complete this movement by merging all four degree programmes into one. | ||
Social sciences | International studies, MA, 2 yr. | To be changed | In order to create a better academic environment for students from area studies programmes, the intention is to integrate them into the larger international studies degree programmes. This will involve changes in the content of these programmes. | ||
Social sciences | Education studies, MA 2 yr. | To be split up | Creation of work-integrated track (120 ECTS). | ||
Social sciences | Human security, MA 2 yr, | To be restructured | 75-ECTS MA | ||
Social sciences | Economics and business administration, MSc 2 yr. (cand. merc.) | To be split up | Both 75-ECTS and 120-ECTS tracks. | ||
Social sciences | Law, MSc, 2 yr. | To be split up | Both 75-ECTS and 120-ECTS tracks. | ||
Health sciences | Optometry and visual science, MSc 2 yr. | To be restructured | Full conversion to 120-ECTS work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Science studies, MSc 2 yr. | To be closed | |||
| Natural sciences | Computer science, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up and restructured | Both 75 and 120-ECTS tracks, with different specialisations, as well as 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | IT product development, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Data science (AU), MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Mathematics, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Statistics, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Mathematics-economics, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Physics, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Chemistry, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Medical chemistry, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Nanoscience, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Geology/Geology-geoscience, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Biology, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Molecular biology, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Molecular biomedicine/molecular medicine, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Bioinformatics, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Partial conversion to 1+2 work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Natural sciences | Agrobiology, MSc 2 yr. | To be closed | Closure in progress. No students admitted from 2027. | ||
| Health sciences | Nursing, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Both standard 120-ECTS and 120-ECTS work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Health sciences | Healthcare Master’s degree programme, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Both standard 120-ECTS and 120-ECTS work-integrated Master’s | ||
| Engineering | Biomedical technology, MSc in Engineering 2 yr. | To be split up | Work-integrated track has been approved. To be offered from summer 2026 | ||
| Engineering | Civil and architectural engineering, MScEng 2 yr. | To be split up | Work-integrated track has been approved. To be offered from summer 2026 | ||
| Engineering | Computer engineering, MScEng 2 yr. | To be split up | Work-integrated track has been approved. To be offered from summer 2026 | ||
| Engineering | Electrical engineering, MScEng 2 yr. | To be split up | Work-integrated track has been approved. To be offered from summer 2026 | ||
| Engineering | Chemistry and biotechnology, MScEng 2 yr. | To be split up | Work-integrated track has been approved. To be offered from summer 2026 | ||
| Engineering | Mechanical engineering, MScEng 2 yr. | To be split up | Work-integrated track has been approved. To be offered from summer 2026 | ||
| Engineering | Molecular nutrition and food technology, MSc 2 yr. | To be split up | Work-integrated track has been approved. To be offered from summer 2026 | ||
| Bachelor's level | |||||
| Humanities | Global studies | To be changed (new deg. prog.) | The intention is to merge some area studies programmes into a single degree programme and to allow some to continue as full degree programmes governed by a set of framework academic regulations. | ||
| Humanities | Arab and Islamic studies | To be changed (application to expand introductory course) | In connection with the reorganisation of area studies programmes, the intention is to release the Arab Studies programme from its role in regard to Islamic Studies to make it comparable to other area studies programmes. | ||
| Humanities | Russian | To be changed (application to expand introductory course) | |||
Humanities | Brazilian | To be closed (in 2027) | Admissions were closed in 2024. | ||
Humanities | India and South Asia studies | To be closed (in 2027) | Admissions were closed in 2025. | ||
Humanities | Classical studies | To be merged | Merger of classical philology and classical archaeology. | ||
Humanities | French SLK/IVK | To be merged | One programme for each of the small European language programmes. | ||
Humanities | Spanish SLK/IVK | To be merged | One programme for each of the small European language programmes. | ||
Humanities | German SLK/IVK | To be merged | One programme for each of the small European language programmes. | ||
Academic domain | Degree programme title (provisional) | Type of programme | Location | App. time | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's level | |||||
| Humanities | Digital life (working title) | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2028 | Første optag i 2030 |
| Humanities | Journalism | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2027 | |
| Humanities | European studies | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2027 | |
| Humanities | Diversity and inclusion (working title) | 75 ECTS | Copenhagen | 2027 | Erstatning for Uddannelsesantropologi og globalisering |
| Humanities | Technological literacy and education (working title) | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2027 | Erstatning for IT-didaktisk design |
| Humanities | Educational anthropology (Emdrup) | 120 ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Copenhagen | 2027 | |
| Humanities | Educational sociology (Aarhus) | 120 ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2027 | |
| Humanities | Educational psychology (Aarhus) | 120 ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2026 | |
| Humanities | Educational psychology (Emdrup) | 120 ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Copenhagen | 2026 | |
| Humanities | Educational theory and curriculum studies, Danish | 120 ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Copenhagen | 2026 | |
| Humanities | Educational theory and curriculum studies, mathematics | 120 ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Copenhagen | 2026 | |
| Humanities | Educational theory and curriculum studies, material culture | 120 ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Copenhagen | 2026 | |
| Humanities | Subject-specific educational theory | 120 ECTS (merger) | Copenhagen | 2026 | |
| Natural sciences | Computer science, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | IT product development, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Data science (AU), MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Mathematics, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Statistics, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Mathematics-Economics, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Physics, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Chemistry, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Medical chemistry, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Nanoscience, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Geology/Geology-geoscience, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Biology, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Molecular biology, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Molecular biomedicine/Molecular medicine, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Bioinformatics, MSc 2 yr.* | ‘1+2’ work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Natural sciences | Science Communication | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2026 | Replacement for science studies |
| Natural sciences | Nature and landscape managemen | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2026 | |
| Natural sciences | Applied Data Analytics | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2026 | |
| Natural sciences | Applied Computer Science | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2026 | 75-ECTS track from computer science. |
| Natural sciences | Plant science | 120-ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Viborg | 2026 | To be offered from summer 2027 |
| Natural sciences | Animal science | 120-ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Viborg | 2026 | To be offered from summer 2027 |
| Social sciences | Educational science | 120-ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Copenhagen | 2027 | |
| Social sciences | Human Security | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2027 | |
| Social sciences | New Economics and business administration (cand.merc.) - 75 ECTS. | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2027 | |
| Social sciences | New Economics and business administration (cand.merc.) - 75 ECTS. | 75 ECTS | Herning | 2027 | |
| Social sciences | New law (cand. jur.) - 75 ECTS | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2027 | |
| Health sciences | Work-integrated Master’s programme in optometry and visual science | 120-ECTS work-integrated Master’s | Aarhus | 2025 | |
| Health sciences | Master’s degree programme in the field of public health science | 75 ECTS | Aarhus | 2026 | |
| Health sciences | Master’s degree programme in the field of medicine | 120 ECTS | Aarhus | 2027 | Offered in English |
Bachelor's level | |||||
Humanities | Global studies | New degree programme | Aarhus | 2025 | Without language requirements and therefore without introductory course. |
| Humanities | Arab and Islamic studies | Change in degree programme + intro. course | Aarhus | 2025 | The intention is to convert the programme in Arab Studies to an area studies programme like the others, which requires a change in qualification profile. The programme should also include a one-year introductory course like Japanese and Chinese (and presumably also Russian,which currently has a six-month introductory course, like Arab Studies). |
| Humanities | Russian | Introductory course | Aarhus | 2025 | To ensure the best alignment between the programme and the other area studies programmes, it should be allocated a 60-ECTS introductory course, like Japanese and Chinese. |
| Humanities | French SLK/IVK | Merger | Aarhus | 2025 | Merger of the two tracks of each of the three small European foreign language programmes. |
| Humanities | Spanish SLK/IVK | Merger | Aarhus | 2025 | Merger of the two tracks of each of the three small European foreign language programmes. |
| Humanities | German SLK/IVK | Merger | Aarhus | 2025 | Merger of the two tracks of each of the three small European foreign language programmes. |
| Humanities | Classical studies | Merger | Aarhus | 2025 | Merger of classical philology and classical archaeology. |