Course information

Get a clear overview of how to choose courses for your exchange stay at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).

UCPH course catalogue

Each semester, UCPH offers a wide range of courses taught in English at either bachelor (BA) or master (MA/MSc) level.

The online course catalogue lists all courses available at UCPH. The full list of courses will be available 2–3 months before the semester starts. 
Learn about course requirements and restrictions

How to search the course catalogue

1. Select the appropriate study level (e.g. bachelor, master), academic year, and semester/block.

2. Check the “Courses for exchange students” checkbox to view the courses open to exchange students.

Semester or block structure?

Most faculties run courses in either the autumn or spring semester. 

However, both the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences also use a block structure, where semesters are divided into blocks. Blocks 1 and 2 are in the autumn semester, blocks 3 and 4 are in the spring semester. 

If you choose courses with the block structure, make sure that you do not take more than 15 ECTS per block. You should also make sure courses offered in the same block are not placed in the same schedule group (i.e. taught at the same time). 

You can see which block the courses are offered in and their schedule group in the course catalogue.

Preliminary course plan

We recommend that students look at the courses offered in English this semester or the previous semester in order to make a preliminary plan for their studies in Copenhagen. 

In the online course catalogue, you can find courses from the previous academic year.

If you are a bachelor student in the last year of your bachelor degree, you can consider courses offered at master's level, since some departments are willing to accept student's in the last year of their bachelor studies.

Choosing courses

Shortly after you have been admitted, you will be invited to choose the courses you would like to take at UCPH. You choose courses in Mobility Online – UCPH’s online platform for exchange students’ applications and course selection.

After you have chosen your courses, an assessment and registration process for each course takes place. The process takes time, but before the semester starts, you should be registered for your courses.

When searching in the course catalogue, make sure to select the appropriate study level (e.g. bachelor, master), academic year, and semester/block.

Also, remember to check the "Courses for exchange students" checkbox, so that you view the courses open to exchange students.

Most faculties run courses in either autumn or spring semester. However, both the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences also use a block structure, where semesters are divided into blocks. Learn about the difference between semester and block structure

Each semester, UCPH offers a range of popular courses for all international students, regardless of their field of study. 

There are no admission requirements for these courses, but there may be limited places.

Read more about open electives and Danish culture courses

Some courses are restricted or require students to have an academic background in the subject.

See course restrictions and requirements

For the majority of subjects, you do not need to submit proof of your English proficiency. 

However, if you are choosing courses in one of the following subjects, you will be asked to upload a proof of English proficiency when selecting the course in Mobility Online:

  • English/American Language and Culture
  • Political Science

Note that Scandinavian students and students enrolled at an institution in an English-speaking country are exempt from documenting English language proficiency.

See which proofs of English proficiency we accept

UCPH students typically take courses for 30 ECTS credits per semester, and this is also the number of credits we recommend for exchange students.

However, it is possible for students to take more or less than 30 ECTS credits per semester.

Read more about minimum and maximum credit loads

Course requirements and restrictions

Some subjects require students to have an academic background within the field or are not open to exchange students. 

Below, you can see which subjects are restricted or have academic requirements.

Faculties with restricted subjects and academic requirements

All study fields at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences require a solid academic background within health sciences.

It is only possible to take master’s courses if you have completed a relevant bachelor’s degree.

The following study programmes only accept students from universities with which they have a programme specific agreement:

  • Dentistry
  • Dental Hygiene Study
  • Medicine
  • Veterinary Medicine

Courses offered by the professional master’s programmes are closed for external students.

Find the specific course requirements for international students for individual courses in the UCPH course catalogue under Sign up.

Danish-taught courses

Some Danish-taught courses are open to international students. Non-Nordic students who wish to attend courses taught in Danish can apply for a dispensation from the official language requirements. To apply for the dispensation, students must submit a letter from their home university stating that the student is able to actively attend and participate in courses as well as pass exams conducted solely in Danish.

Some courses taught in Danish require non-Nordic students to have passed Studieprøven in Danish. 

Find more information on the individual courses available to exchange students in the UCPH course catalogue. 

Please note that Nordic students do not need to apply for a dispensation from the official Danish language requirements.

English-taught courses

Find information about proof of English proficiency

To take courses at the Faculty of Law, students must have completed at least 80 ECTS of law courses at their home university.

Not open to Nordlys students.

Courses offered at the Faculty of Science are aimed at students with a solid academic background in the natural sciences.

An academic background within the natural sciences is required

As a rule of thumb, students are expected to have completed one full semester of courses within the academic discipline or the specific topic of the course for bachelor-level courses and one and a half semester for master-level courses.
Check the UCPH course catalogue for the academic requirements of the specific course.

Students without an academic background in the natural sciences are welcome to take Open Elective courses at the Faculty of Science.

Bachelor students may be able to take courses at master level

The Faculty of Science offers a limited number of bachelor-level courses taught in English. However, bachelor students who have completed 2 years of full-time university-level coursework (corresponding to 120 ECTS) can register for master-level courses if they meet the course's recommended academic qualifications listed in the course description.

Exchange students have the option to do research projects

Students planning to do their thesis or a research project at the Faculty of Science must structure their project as an Individual Study or MSc Research Project. You can find the official rules for the projects here. Please take note of the rules regarding duration/start and end date, supervisor, and number of ECTS.

  • Cognitive Data Science: Requires one course in cognitive psychology as well as statistics at introductory and intermediate level.
  • Economics: Requires an academic background corresponding to at least 30 ECTS within microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics at introductory and intermediate levels.
  • Political Science: 
    Political Science including International Relations (IR): Requires an academic background in all Political Science and IR subfields (political theory, international relations, comparative politics, public policy, and political science methodology) at introductory and intermediate level.
    Political Science, but not International Relations (IR): Requires an academic background in all Political Science subfields (political theory, comparative politics, public policy, and political science methodology) at introductory and intermediate level.
    International Relations (IR) only: Requires an academic background in IR subfields (political theory, international relations, and political science methodology) at introductory and intermediate level.
  • Psychology: Requires at least the equivalent of 30 ECTS credits in psychology. To be accepted at master’s level, you must have passed the equivalent of 90 ECTS credits in psychology.
  • Social Data Science: Open for master’s students with a BA in political science, economics, psychology, sociology, or anthropology. In addition, the students must meet the specific prerequisites listed in the course catalogue under “Recommended Academic Qualifications”.
  • Sociology: Requires one course in social science theory, one course in statistics, and one course in social science research methods.

  • African Studies: open for master's students or students who have passed more than 120 ECTS credits.
  • Interreligious Islamic Studies: only taught in Danish.
  • Religious Roots of Europe: not open for Erasmus students.

Open elective courses

Every semester, UCPH offers a range of popular courses that are open to all international students, regardless of their field of study.

Many of these courses focus on issues relating to Danish culture, history, and society, while others can be of general interest to students.

There are no admission requirements for these courses, although there can be limited places.

Please note that the open elective courses below are those we expect to offer. There can be changes in the courses offered up until the start of the semester.

Courses offered in autumn 2026

Most courses at the Faculty of Humanities are open electives and do NOT have specific academic requirements. 

More information about academic requirements will be available under the “Sign up” section for the course in the course catalogue at kurser.ku.dk.

CourseLevelECTS
Entrepreneurship and InnovationMaster7.5
Political EcologyMaster7.5

Course titleLevelECTS
Kierkegaard's Authorship: On the Loss and Recovery of Meaningbachelor or master15
Islamic Feminism in Europebachelor or master15
Muslims in Westbachelor or master15
Philosophy of Genderbachelor or master15
Philosophy of Lovebachelor or master15
Philosophy of Mental Healthbachelor or master15
Philosophy of Moneybachelor or master15
The Ethical Brain: Philosophy and Neurosciencebachelor or master15

The Good Life

The Making of the Modern Self: Existential Philosophy
The Philosophy of Religion After the Death of God

bachelor or master
bachelor or master
bachelor or master		15
15
15

Pre-semester course for exchange students

The pre-semester course Copenhagen Past & Present offers exchange students an exciting and comprehensive introduction to the history of Copenhagen and to the Danish language.

The course is a perfect introduction for students wanting to gain a solid understanding of the cultural, political, economic, and social history of the Danish capital. The course consists of a series of lectures taught at the university, supplemented with excursions out in the streets of Copenhagen.

Who can apply?

The course is open to all exchange students and requires no prior knowledge of Danish history or language. The course is taught in English.

All applicants must have completed their first year of studies (i.e. 60 ECTS) at bachelor level.

How much does it cost?

The course is free for exchange students.

Find out more about the course, Copenhagen Past & Present 

Credit load and exams

The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) defines a full study load for one year of academic studies as 60 ECTS credits.

Typically, UCPH students take courses for 30 ECTS credits per semester, and this is also the number of credits we recommend for exchange students.

What is the minimum and maximum ECTS course load?

Minimum course load

UCPH does not set a minimum course load; however, we expect students to take at least 22.5 ECTS per semester.

Important for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens!
Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland are required to study full-time in order to meet the requirements in their residence permits. To be considered as studying full-time, the minimum course load is 22.5 ECTS per semester.

Maximum course load

The maximum course load is 35 ECTS per semester (not including the pre-semester Copenhagen Past & Present course, see below).

Pre-semester course: Copenhagen Past and Present

Note that the pre-semester Copenhagen Past and Present course is not included in these limits. 

Therefore, it is possible for a student to take the pre-semester Copenhagen Past and Present course (7.5 ECTS) and the maximum course load per semester (35 ECTS) for a total of 42.5 ECTS credits.

Exams, grades, and ECTS

You will automatically be registered for the exam when you are registered for a course. 

If in doubt, please contact us by e-mail: incomingmobility@adm.ku.dk 

At UCPH, students are assessed after taking one of the following types of examinations: hand-in paper, written examination, oral examination, and/or active participation.

In addition, some courses may require the successful completion of written, oral, or practical assignments during the semester.

Information on assessment and exam form is included in all course descriptions in the course catalogue.

Visit the UCPH course catalogue

To make sure that you are able to transfer the credits earned at the University of Copenhagen, it is important that your home institution approves your intended study programme. 

Courses are assessed using either the Danish 7-point scale or as pass/fail.

Pass/fail grades cannot be converted to a numeric grade or vice versa. We therefore recommend that you check the assessment type in the course catalogue when considering a course. 

If you are in doubt, contact the international/exchange office at your home university for advice regarding your credit transfer based on pass/fail assessment.

In some special circumstances, it is possible to apply for a dispensation from the maximum course load ECTS limit.

You can apply for dispensation from the maximum course load limit if you:

  1. only require a small number of additional ECTS credits to graduate, and
  2. your exchange semester at UCPH is the final semester of your degree.

You will need to provide documentation of your special circumstance.

Please note that dispensation is NOT granted because you want to do more credits or are used to a higher course load.

To apply for dispensation, contact the International Education office at incomingmobility@adm.ku.dk.

Proof of English proficiency

Proof of English proficiency is only required if you want to take courses in the following subjects:

  • English/American Language and Culture
  • Political Science

Note that students enrolled at a Nordic university (Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Åland) or a university in an English-speaking country are exempt from documenting English language proficiency.

The following proofs of English proficiency are only required if you are applying for courses within a) English/American Language and Culture, or b) Political Science:

  • TOEFL iBT (incl. "at home" version): minimum score: 4.5 (new scale) or 83 (old scale)
  • IELTS: minimum score: 6.5
  • Cambridge English C1 Advanced: minimum score B
  • Cambridge English C2 Proficiency: minimum score C

The Department of Political Science is also willing to consider statements from the home university that the student’s English language proficiency is CEFR B2 level or higher.

For all other subjects

For all other subjects, exchange students do not need to submit proof of English language proficiency.

Course contact information

Specific information about the courses can be found in the UCPH course catalogue. 

If you have general questions about about courses and course registration, you can contact the Incoming Exchange team at incomingmobility@adm.ku.dk.