The programme focuses on the study of the basic biological processes affecting human beings in health and disease. It is a well-established and well-funded programme with an extensive curriculum requiring ambitious students willing to walk the extra mile to achieve their goals. It is a research-based and disease-oriented education taught by highly renowned professors. Graduates will be able to conduct independent research, in basic- and clinical fields, and resolve complex problems relating to human health.
To apply for admission to this master's degree programme, you must have completed a qualifying bachelor’s degree or a similar Danish or international degree programme which is assessed to be relevant. Apply for admission via the application portal.
Below, you can read more about admission requirements and which documents to upload in the application portal.
Here you'll find the different academic requirements depending on which qualifying degree you hold.
There are no bachelor’s degrees that give legal right of admission to the MSc in Human Biology.
If you hold one of the degrees listed below from a Danish University or abroad, you are considered to meet all academic admission requirements and have direct access to apply to the master’s degree programme in Human Biology.
If you have a bachelor’s degree, professional bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a Danish or international university you are qualified for admission if your programme is within the following areas:
Furthermore, you must have obtained at least 5 ECTS within biology, biochemistry or pharmacology.
Note, that having a bachelor’s degree that automatically fulfil the admission requirements does not guarantee you admission to the programme.
You must have earned your bachelor’s degree within a maximum of 5 years prior to the start of the first semester of the master’s programme, e.g. for the intake in the autumn of 2026, you must have graduated by September 2021 or thereafter. In exceptional circumstances the Admissions Committee may waive the graduation year requirement.
If your bachelor’s degree is too old, you can apply for an exemption from the graduation year requirement. If you choose to apply for an exemption, you must submit the following documents along with your application for admission:
If you already have a master's degree from Denmark or another country, you can, in principle, only be admitted to a new degree programme if there are places available on the programme for which you are applying for admission.
When we assess whether you meet the admission requirements for the master's degree program, Danish legislation only allows us to assess your bachelor's degree. Consequently, you cannot study supplementary courses between bachelor's and master's degree programs in order to meet the admission requirements.
If you have passed courses/projects before you complete the qualifying bachelor's degree, these can be included in the assessment, even though they are not part of the bachelor's degree program.
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.
Application deadline for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 16 January. You will receive a reply by 15 May.
Application deadline for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 15 November. You will receive a reply by 13 March.
Find information about available places on the study programme, as well as the distribution of students admitted last year.
| Admission statistics Human Biology 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Available study places | 28* |
| Admission statistics Human Biology 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted (of which have start in February) | 37 (0) |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 0% / 100% |
| Applicants | 290 |
| Age average | 24 |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 30% / 70% |
* The student intake for the programme is capped. The number of available places applies to the academic year 2026/27.
Read about capping of study programmes in relation to available study places (in Danish)
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 you apply for admission. You can also find information about deadlines and documentation requirements.
Please note that you must also select according to your citizenship:
The MSc in Human Biology is a 2-year programme taught in English. The programme is well-established and well-funded, there are many courses and lectures, and the workload is substantial.
There are approximately 40 students in a year, and the programme consists of approximately:
During the first year, you take several courses which provide a comprehensive basic introduction to key areas of study. The classes include scientific theory, problem-solving exercises, laboratory work, and patient demonstrations. In the second year, you will join research groups and specialise in your area of interest while taking elective courses and finalise by writing an extensive thesis.
The teaching consists of lectures, project work, and laboratory exercises, including a course granting experimental handling of research animals (mandatory).
| 1st semester | 2nd semester |
|---|---|
| Elective courses and/or Master Thesis Project | Elective courses and/or Master Thesis Project |
You have 10 ECTS, which can be used for elective courses. These can be found domestically or abroad, including summer schools.
The courses offered in house include:
We also offer a 10 ECTS Internship of your choice.
You will write an extensive thesis founded on your experimental work. The thesis is almost a full-time study year (50 ECTS), enabling you to start research early on.
The thesis can be carried out at the university or combined with a research placement at pre-clinical or clinical laboratories, at private or public institutions, such as hospitals, clinical departments, large pharmaceutical companies, or leading biotech firms in Denmark and internationally. The master's project gives the student substantial experience in individual experimental work.
Some students write their thesis in research departments abroad. The research placement is planned by the student in cooperation with their chosen host institution and their main supervisor at the University of Copenhagen.
If you are more interested in the academic content, regulations, and examination requirements, you should consult 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 Science in Human Biology.
Graduates will be able to conduct independent research, as well as to evaluate and consult on complex problems relating to human health.
The close connection between the programme and research groups at the university, the hospitals and in the industry gives you a great network and springboard in the transition from student to graduate.
With a degree in Human Biology, you are prepared for a wide range of careers within research, development, and consulting. Additionally, it is an excellent foundation for further PhD research as more than 50% graduates continue as PhD students.
It is an ambitious study programme that provides advanced theoretical and experimental training within the fields of molecular biology and the natural sciences. The aim is to provide students with the necessary skills and qualifications to start an independent research career.
As a student, you will develop skills in research methodology and laboratory techniques. As part of your thesis, you have the opportunity to spend the 2nd year of your degree conducting independent research in hospitals, clinical departments, large pharmaceutical companies, or leading biotech firms in Denmark and internationally.
The degree is an excellent basis for entering a PhD within biomedical research.
During the programme, students are exposed to several disciplines and can connect and integrate different areas of study and scientific approaches.
Students come from a variety of academic backgrounds which enhances the interdisciplinary element of the programme.
The programme is taught entirely in English and is an international research-oriented masters degree. The student body is very internationally diverse.
You have the opportunity to influence course content and help shape your degree so that topics you find relevant are represented.
Students also benefit from the opportunity to work in small focused teams.
The programme focuses on the study of the biological processes affecting human beings in health and disease. The broad study of human biology combined with substantial research and experimentation work gives students a unique set of biomedical and research skills.
As a graduate you will be able to conduct independent research, as well as to evaluate and consult on complex problems relating to human health.
After completing the course Laboratory Animal Science, you obtain a legal license to perform independent research which includes handling of research animals.
Graduates are employed in both the public and private sector, for instance, in:
• the biomedical industry
• research institutions in the environment sector or other sectors
• biotech companies
• food technology firms
• research centers
• hospitals
• academic institutions
There is close to no unemployment for graduates. More than half of graduates continue with a Ph.D. and pursue a career in research.
Meet Agnete Kirkeby, who is a graduate in Human Biology. Today, she works as an associate professor, researcher and team lead at the University of Copenhagen and Lund University.
As a university researcher I can pursue my ideas, my drive. You can think of it as academic entrepreneurship, where creative freedom goes hand in hand with stable conditions of employment and financial security.
Meet Fabian Nico Pfersdorf who is a graduate in Human Biology. Today, he is a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen, Department of Biomedical Sciences.
Learning about what we don’t yet understand or aren’t really sure about can pique your curiosity and make you want to dig deeper.
Many students are engaged in various extracurricular activities, for example, sports, social events and the university’s yearly music festival. You have your own quarter for organizing social activities.
You will primarily be studying at the University of Copenhagen’s North Campus, joining students from many other disciplines within the field of health and medical sciences.
The North Campus includes state of the art facilities for research and education and a view of the city form the top of a 15- floor tower, which below houses a light dining hall, auditoriums, classrooms and laboratories.
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 North Campus, located close to Fælledparken. The Niels Bohr Institute, Panum, and the Maersk Tower are all part of the campus.
North Campus is home to both natural sciences and health sciences degree programmes.
Find out what it costs to live here, where students stay, and why so many internationals choose Copenhagen.
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