The master's programme in Cognition & Communication combines an interdisciplinary and theoretical focus with a practical principle of relevancy in the context of media and people, while attempting to answer the question: How can we understand cognitive processes associated with the widespread media consumption of individuals in modern society?
To apply for admission to the master's programme, you must be enrolled in or have completed either a qualifying bachelor's programme or another relevant Danish or foreign degree programme which is deemed relevant.
You apply for admission through the application portal.
Below you can read more about the admission requirements for the programme including which documents you must upload along with your application.
You must meet a number of admission requirements, to apply for the master’s programme. You can read about the various admission requirements below:
If you hold one of the bachelor's degrees listed below, you are considered to automatically meet the requirements regarding relevance of academic qualifications:
In order to proceed with your application please refer to the application procedure.
The faculty may admit applicants other than those mentioned above if it is assessed that the applicant has a Bachelor’s degree including a minimum of 45 ECTS in cognitive science (e.g. psychology, neuroscience, computer science, philosophy, or linguistics) or in communica-tion/media studies (e.g. modules in media sociology, media psychology, communication theory, au-diovisual theory and analysis, media reception and usage, media effects, or media organizations).
In order to proceed with your application please refer to the application procedure.
You are required to document that you fulfil the language requirement English B, unless you have a legal right of admission to the programme you are applying for.
Please note that you must have the documentation ready by the application deadline.
If you already hold a master’s degree or completed master’s level courses you must be aware of the following rules:
If you have already completed a master's degree corresponding to a Danish master’s degree please refer to the rules concerning a second degree.
If you previously completed master’s level courses, you must inform the Faculty of Humanities in your application when applying for admission to the programme.
You must include documentation for your completed courses. The Faculty of Humanities assess if your credits can be transferred after admission to the programme.
This programme had its final intake with study start in September 2026.
The programme is being closed as part of structural changes related to the implementation of the Master’s degree reform. A new version of the programme is expected to be launched, with the first intake planned for 2028.
Find information about available places on the study programme, as well as the distribution of students admitted last year.
| Admission statistics Cognition and Communication 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Available study places | 35 |
| Admission statistics Cognition and Communication 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted (of which have start in February) | 35 (1) |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 0% / 100% |
| Applicants | 486 |
| Age average | 24 |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 23% / 77% |
If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available places, applicants will be prioritised according to the following criteria:
Choose your category and read how to apply for admission. You can also find information about deadlines and documentation requirements.
Please note that you must also select according to your citizenship:
Starting in 2028, you can apply for focused 1-year master’s degrees, 2-year master’s degrees, and several new types of degrees for working professionals, combining study and relevant work.
The new master’s opportunities are relevant for you if you wish to apply for a master’s degree from 2028.
To apply for a master’s degree, you must apply before the application deadlines.
| Application deadline | Applicants | Study start |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January at 23:59 | Applicants with citizenship outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland | September |
| 1 March at 23:59 | Applicants with citizenship within EU, EEA, and Switzerland (incl. applicants with legal right of admission) | September |
| 15 October at 23:59 | Applicants with legal right of admission | February |
In addition, there are other deadlines you should be aware of. Including the deadline for accepting your study place.
If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you must pay the application deposit and tuition fee.
If you want to apply for admission to a master’s degree or to apply for re-admission, study change, transfer, or re-enrolment at the University of Copenhagen, you must apply through the application portal.
Once you have submitted your application, you can follow the application in the application portal.
See the guide to the application portal
Read more about applying for re-admission, study change, transfer, and re-enrolment
Your bachelor’s degree is the basis for assessing if you meet the admission requirements for the master’s degree.
In the curriculum you can see how many ECTS credits from other courses can be included in addition to your bachelor’s degree. These courses must be completed before you complete the bachelor’s degree. Courses completed between your bachelor’s and master’s degree cannot be included in the assessment.
Cognition is about thoughts and knowledge. The programme will provide you with an overview of different cognitive science, communication and philosophical theories about sensory perception, thinking, emotions and actions of importance for the understanding of how communication works.
You will learn about the psychological and social processes of significance for the use of communication in audiovisual media, computer media and face-to-face communication. You will, for example, learn how to analyse and understand the processes involved in interpersonal interaction or the interaction between humans and machines.
The programme will also provide you with insight into theories of fiction, games and design and will teach you how to analyse specific media products and their use.
The teaching varies between lectures, class instruction with student presentations and discussions as well as more independent, often group-based, project work. The language of instruction is English.
The Master's programme in Cognition and Communication is a research-based programme. The research behind the programme is broadly founded within the fields of media science, philosophy and psychology.
You will therefore be able to explore topics such as cognitive film theory, hands-on communication and subjectivity research. Being taught by active researchers, you will get a good impression of the current state of research in the academic field, while also having the opportunity to delve into the various fields of research associated with the field of study yourself.
The master's electives gives you room to choose to study other subjects than Cognition and Communication. You may take elective courses at another department or university – also abroad – or do an internship (Academic Internship – short electives for 15 ECTS credits or Academic Internship – Extended electives for 30 ECTS credits).
You can do a total of 30 ECTS credits as electives master’s studies, i.e. you can replace two modules.
In the curriculum (see link below), you can read a detailed description of the academic content of the individual modules. Below you can see a table showing their order.
On this page, we present both key elements from the curriculum and other content that may be relevant to your choice of study.
If you are interested in a more detailed overview of the framework of the programme in more detail – including its academic content, structure, rules, and examination requirements – you should refer to the curriculum, which serves as the legal foundation for the programme.
There is both a curriculum specific to each degree programme and a general curriculum that applies across the faculty.
Please note that curricula are often revised annually. Any new versions will be published no later than during the spring semester.
Upon completion of the master’s programme, you will obtain the title Master of Arts in Cognition and Communication.
Corporations are increasingly asking for candidates who can convert knowledge about cognition into products and services concerning interpersonal communication—both face-to-face and as mediated by technologies.
Upon completing the programme, you will be equipped for a career within communication, both theoretical and practical communication.
You will be able to analyse and interpret communicative aspects of, e.g., actions, emotions and thoughts, for example, by using these competencies to plan communication surveys, provide advice and consultancy within media production and to design and evaluate computer-mediated communication as well as to plan and implement communication strategies.
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of processes of consciousness in the broadest sense. In its classic incarnation, cognitive science has been dominated by neuroscience, psychology and computer science, but core disciplines of the humanities are increasingly taking part in the shaping and development of the field.
Graduates use their shills in various ways. Here is a list of some of the positions previous graduates hold:
The Department of Communication Library
The department library houses the collections for Film and Media Studies, Philosophy, Education and Rhetoric. It is open 24 hours (access requires a valid student ID) and has free wireless internet access.
The Royal Library on South Campus
The campus branch of the Royal Library houses an extensive collection on the humanities, has free wireless internet access, and contains 400 workspaces for students to study.
The Royal Library
The main branch of the Royal library is a popular and centrally located harbourfront place for students to study. It has free wireless internet and numerous workspaces for study, and also houses art and photo exhibitions. Visit the Royal Library website.
South Campus at University of Copenhagen offers several cosy meeting points for students.
Students at the faculty use the cafés during their breaks to meet up with fellow students or even lecturers. In the evenings the Faculty is often used for cultural events and café nights.
Mødestedet ("The Meeting Point")
This café offers coffee, hot chocolate, cold beer, light lunches and a variety of confectionery. The café stocks various games and has its own pool table.
Departmental cafés
Each department at the Faculty of Humanities has a student café, run by student volunteers from the department. The cafés offer a cosy environment where you can meet fellow students, read newspapers, play board games and buy cheap coffee and snacks. Student groups arrange study circles with representations from authors, artists and intellectuals and mutual discussions of relevant academic subjects. Furthermore the student cafés arrange Friday café nights often with different themes. There are often international student cafés during the semester where you'll get the opportunity to meet other international students and their mentors. We definitely recommend you to experience the atmosphere of the student cafés as the social life of many Danish student revolves around these cafés.
Student parties
Most of the departments at the faculty have a party committee which arrange parties and other social events. Your student identity card gives you access to all student parties at the faculty - also at other departments than the one you are enrolled at. Usually it is possible to bring a guest under the condition that you have obtained a guest ticket from the organizers of the party. Faculty parties are announced through posters on campus.
There is a wide range of associations and clubs at University of Copenhagen. The associations and clubs can be found within all levels of University of Copenhagen. Please visit byStudents' list of more than 100 different associations and
organisations.
To find more local associations on department or programme level, please refer to your department, posters on campus, social media and your fellow students.
The students' sports association is KSI (University of Copenhagen student sports association). Signing up normally takes place in August, although it is possible to join at later dates if slots are free on the teams. KSI offers a wide range of different disciplines both on the southern campus and on other locations around Copenhagen. To find information about programmes, prices and contact please visit the KSI website.
If you are looking for a place to live you can visit University of Copenhagen general information about finding housing.
What is student life like across the rest of the University of Copenhagen?
Find out where you can live, get more information about student grants (SU), student jobs, student discounts, and all the many other things that are part of student life.
Teaching takes place at South Campus, which is located at Islands Brygge on Amager.
Around 15,000 students are enrolled in one of the more than 100 degree programmes based at South Campus.
Our student guidance are ready to assist you with answers to your questions about:
You can find answers to questions most often asked by potential students in the FAQ. Read the FAQ
Check out the guide to the application porIn case of technical problems, contact IT-support:
Mail: it-service@adm.ku.dk
Tel: +45 35 32 32 32
