Hire a work-integrated master’s student

Bring in talent that grows with the role – and puts research-based knowledge to work in your organisation.

By hiring a student enrolled in a master's degree for working professionals (a work-integrated master's student) at UCPH, you can attract and develop talent, bring new research-based knowledge closer to your day-to-day work and strengthen your recruitment.

Here, you can get an overview of the concept, what it requires from you as an employer, and which programmes you can recruit students from.

What is a work-integrated master’s?

A work-integrated master's degree is a research-based master’s programme that allows students to combine their studies with relevant employment.

For your organisation, this means gaining an employee who develops their academic expertise at university and can apply new knowledge directly in the workplace.

The programme is at the same academic level as a two-year master’s degree, but is structured so that study and work are closely connected.

Depending on the programme, it takes two, three or four years to complete.

How work and study life fit together

During the part-time phase of the programme, the employee studies part time while working for you.

You agree together how working hours should be organised so they fit around the programme. In the run-up to exams, the employee may need to work fewer hours and can work correspondingly more during periods when the programme is less demanding.

Teaching and exam schedules are typically available one semester in advance, allowing you to plan ahead.

Three formats – different amounts of time in the workplace

Work-integrated master's take two, three or four years. How long the employee works for you during the programme depends on how the individual programme is structured.

Two-year programme

The programme takes two years. The employee studies full time during the first semester and then combines part-time study with work for the remaining 18 months.

Three-year programme

The programme takes three years. The employee studies full time during the first year and then combines part-time study with work for the remaining two years.

Four-year programme

The programme takes four years. The employee combines part-time study with work throughout the entire programme.

The format depends on the individual degree programme.

The employee must have relevant employment when the part-time phase of the programme begins. When you find each other and enter into an employment agreement may vary depending on the programme and how you recruit.

Find your next academic talent

What’s in it for your organisation?

Access new talent

Hire ambitious master’s students who bring research-based knowledge and fresh perspectives into your organisation.

Strengthen your recruitment

Attract new employees – and retain existing employees who want to grow without leaving the workplace.

Bring new insight closer to your day-to-day work

The employee continuously develops new skills and can apply them directly to your tasks and challenges.

Contribute through partnership

Help build stronger links between university and working life and give future graduates valuable experience in a real workplace.

What do you need to provide?

You must offer paid employment with tasks that are academically relevant to the master’s programme the employee is enrolled in.

UCPH assesses whether the job meets the programme requirements. This means that you have to describe the employee’s tasks and the terms of employment.

You and the employee agree on working hours so they can be combined with the programme. The required number of working hours depends on the individual programme.

You are responsible for recruitment, employment and the working conditions. UCPH is responsible for the degree programme, teaching and examinations.

Who can you hire?

You can hire either a new employee who wants to enrol in a work-integrated master's or explore the option with someone who already works for you.

The employee must meet the admission requirements for the programme, and the job must meet the programme’s academic requirements.

Find a programme that matches your needs

See which master’s degrees for working professionals are offered by UCPH and find the academic profiles that match your organisation.

Frequently asked questions

Here, you can find answers to some of the questions employers typically have when considering hiring a student – for example about working hours, salary, tasks and what happens if the employment ends.

It depends on the individual master’s programme. The required working hours are typically between 17 and 33 hours per week on average.

You and the employee agree on how to organise the working hours so they fit to the programme.

The required number of working hours must be stated in the employment agreement.

You and the employee agree on the salary. It should reflect the employee’s level of education, skills and working hours.

Yes. The job must be relevant to the employee’s programme, either academically or in terms of the skills they use.

The employee is part of your organisation on the same terms as other employees.

The university does.

As part of the assessment, we look at factors such as the employee’s job tasks and working hours. You do not need to determine yourself whether the job meets the requirements, but you must be able to describe the role, the tasks and the terms of employment.

A work-integrated master’s role is more than just a student job alongside a degree.

The job is a requirement of the programme format and must be relevant to the degree. The employee is hired on standard employment terms and takes on tasks and responsibilities as part of your organisation.

If the employee’s job with you comes to an end, it does not necessarily mean they have to leave the programme.

We will advise the student on what happens next. You must inform us if the employment ends.

Yes. A master’s student can be dismissed on the same terms as other employees and in accordance with the Danish Salaried Employees Act.

The employee must have relevant employment in place when the part-time phase of the programme begins.

Some programmes start with a period of full-time study before work and study are combined. This means that when you recruit the student and enter into an agreement can vary depending on the programme and your needs.

You can advertise a position on the UCPH job portal, where students can find and apply for it.

You can also get in touch if you would like advice on how best to reach relevant students.

Get advice from UCPH

We can advise you on your options for recruitment, advertising vacancies and getting in touch with students.