What is a legal right of admission?
As a bachelor’s student, a legal right of admission gives you the assurance that you can continue to a specific master’s degree programme within the same or a closely related academic field, if you apply within a specified period.
A bachelor with legal right of admission refers to a graduate or student enrolled in a bachelor's programme that gives you the legal right of admission to a specific master’s programme.
You only have legal right of admission at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), if you have completed your bachelor's degree at UCPH.
Master’s degree reform
A national reform of Danish master’s degree programmes is currently being prepared and will take effect from admission to master's degree programmes in 2028.
Do I have legal right of admission?
Find answers to your questions about legal right of admission.
As a bachelor with legal right of admission, you are guaranteed to be admitted to a master's degree programme at UCPH if you follow these criteria:
- You have completed a bachelor’s degree programme from the University of Copenhagen.
- The master’s degree programme is the natural continuation of your bachelor’s study field.
Therefore, you are guaranteed a seat on the master’s degree programme to which your bachelor’s degree gives you a legal right of admission.
If you are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme at UCPH, the admission guide will show you which master’s degree programme you have a legal right of admission to. This will also appear on each individual master’s degree programme
Your bachelor's degree programme gives you legal right of admission to certain master's degree programmes.
You can wait up to 3 years before using your legal right of admission. It means that you have approximately 3 years after completing your bachelor’s degree programme until you have to start the master’s degree programme to which you have a legal right of admission.
The 3 year period is calculated from the first summer admission after completing your bachelor’s degree programme. And it ends immediately after the completion of the summer admission 3 years later.
Examples:
- If you complete your bachelor’s degree in the summer of 2026,, your legal right of admission is valid until the start of the academic year 1 September 2029.
- If you complete your bachelor’s degree in winter 2026, and the master’s degree:
- offers study start in February, your legal right of admission is valid until the start of the academic year 1 February 2030
- only offers study start in September, your legal right of admission is valid until the start of the academic year 1 September 2030.
Please note that you do not lose your legal right of admission if you have accepted an offer of a seat but do not pass your exams and therefore do not complete your bachelor’s degree before the conditional deadline (betingelsesfrist).
Your legal right of admission can only be used once. You may withdraw your application until you have confirmed your offer of enrolment.
Your legal right of admission still applies if you are admitted to a master’s degree programme other than the one to which you have a legal right of admission.
Yes, you can apply for your master’s degree programme while you are completing your bachelor’s degree programme.
However, we must receive documentation that you have completed your bachelor’s degree no later than 20 September (for September intake) and no later than 20 Februar (for February intake).
Please note that you do not lose your legal right of admission if you have accepted an offer of a seat but do not complete your bachelor’s degree before the deadline.