10 - Denmark - Branches of study, specialisation

Since 2003 the two-cycle system of a Bachelor- and a Master level has been fully implemented in the Danish long-cycle higher university education system.

A university programme normally consists of a 3-year Bachelor degree programme corresponding to 180 ECTS, followed by a 2-year programme leading to the Candidatus-degree (Master’s level) corresponding to 120 ECTS. In branches such as medicine the 2-year programme is extended to 3 years.

Doctoral studies are fully implemented as third cycle leading to the PhD degree. All doctoral programmes are structured programmes whish include both taught courses and independent research. The programmes are planned as 3-years programmes (180 ECTS). An alternative to the division between the Master level and the doctoral studies is to combine the two programmes after one year of Master studies. Whereas the first route to the doctoral degree is named the 3+2+3 model, the second is the so-called 4+4 model.

Students choose their main branches of study when they commence their Bachelor studies. The Bachelor studies must lead to specific competencies within the field of studies suitable for employment and further specialised studies at Master level. All graduated Bachelor students are guaranteed admission to Master studies within their field of specialisation.

If the student combines two different specialisations such as History and Danish or Mathematics and Physics with the aim of obtaining qualifications to teach in the Danish Gymnasium, the studies will be prolonged with 30 ECTS.

The Master level are generally finalised with a Master’s thesis of 30 ECTS. The thesis may, if it has an experimental character, be extended up to 60 ECTS.

At the universities, the above mentioned degree programmes can be taken in a wide variety of different branches e.g.: the humanities (eskimology, applied linguistics, phonetics, languages, comparative literature, rhetoric etc.), natural sciences (statistics, actuarial science, astronomy, geophysics, meteorology etc.), social science (economics, political science, business economics, anthropology and sociology etc.), law, theology, health sciences (medicine, dentistry, human biology), technical studies (engineering etc.).

Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe

Date: 2009
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