To apply for admission to this master's degree programme, you must have completed a qualifying bachelor鈥檚 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.
In order to be admitted into the Master鈥檚 programme in Global Development, applicants must fulfil the following requirements:
Although knowledge of specific software is not a formal requirement for admission, prospective students should notice that the is frequently used in the first year at Global Development. We encourage students who are admitted to Global Development to familiarize themselves with the basic logic of the Stata software before semester start.
Please note that these degrees do not qualify regardless of relevant experience, letter of motivation etc. If you hold one of these degrees please do not apply as your application will not be taken into consideration.
As a rule of thumb, a degree based in the humanities does not qualify. These include History, Philosophy, Literature, Cultural studies and Area studies (African Studies, American Studies, etc.). However, applicants whose humanities based degree contains half or more of ECTS/credits within the social sciences might be taken into consideration.
All applicants must document qualifications on par with the Danish upper secondary school 鈥楨nglish level B'.
The English language requirement must be fulfilled and documented by the application deadline.
If you need to take a language test/exam, your scores must be available to the Faculty by the application deadline. To ensure that your test/exam scores are available to us on time, it is important that you sign up for a test/exam taking place well in advance before the deadline. You should expect 3-4 weeks from the test date until you can make the results available to the Faculty.
If you have already taken an IELTS or TOEFL, remember to check that your test is no older than two years on the date that you commence your studies.
Do I fulfil the English level B requirement?
Read more about it below.
Applicants to the MSc in Global Development must prove that their qualifying Bachelor's degree contains a minimum of 15 ECTS credits in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods within the Social Sciences.
Issues relating to Global Development can be studied from a number of different angles, and it is necessary to be familiar with both qualitative and quantitative ways of collecting and analyzing data when studying and working in the field. It is, thus, a requirement that applicants prove that they have qualifications within qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. This includes both research design and application of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods within the Social Sciences.
The main requirement is that they provide knowledge of the characteristics of the different methods and how to apply the methods to study a given subject area. Moreover, they must document the ability to consider any given study or data set critically on the basis of the applied method of data collection and analysis.
Typical content of courses within qualitative and/or quantitative research methods (one or more of the following):
Each applicant is required to write a short description (approximately 1-2 pages) of how the requirement of 15 ECTS of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods within the social sciences is covered in the qualifying bachelor degree.
In order to get a thorough assessment the applicant is encouraged to write specific how the applicant meet this criteria. This is done by using an official course description and at the same time explaining how much the course focused on qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
Some applicants have taken specific courses which covers this criteria. These courses often bear the title of 鈥渜ualitative/quantitative/research methods鈥�, but could also have other titles.
Other applicants have used quantitative and/or qualitative research methods as part of their studies even though they have not taken a specific methodology course. For example as part of a theme-based course or final project during their bachelor degree.
Examples of quantitative research methods within the social sciences:
Examples of qualitative research methods within the social sciences:
Examples of what is not considered as qualitative and/or quantitative research methods in social science:
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 10 June.
Application deadline for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 15 November. You will receive a reply by 1 May.
Before you apply to the master's degree programme in Global Development, please make sure to acquaint yourself with all the important information on the application procedure, application deadlines and details about how to apply.
Please be aware that during the program there will be a mandatory field trip, which involves an additional a cost of app. 15.000-18.000 DKK which is not covered by the 妹团视频. Currently we do not offer any travel scholarships for the field trip.
Select an option below to read more about your application.
As the Master鈥檚 degree programme only admits a limited number of students each year, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the programme. Allocation of student places is based on an overall assessment.
If more applicants than the maximum intake allows for fulfil the admission requirements, a selection will be made on the basis of a comprehensive evaluation, with emphasis on the following criteria:
The programme accepts a maximum of 46 students in September 2025.
Any improved grades are not considered. This is due to the fact that in Denmark it is not possible to improve grades in courses that has already been passed on the Bachelor's degree programme. Thus, if you have been awarded more than one grade in the same course, we will only consider the grade that you were awarded the first time that you passed the course when calculating your grade point average.
All applicants from non-Danish universities must, consequently, upload a complete transcript showing all examination attempts, the date of each examination attempt and the appurtenant exam result. If the applicant is unable to obtain a complete transcript from the home university, a confirmation that the applicant's transcript does not contain improved grades issued by the current home university is required instead.
Random checks of the applicant's basis for admission may also be made to the home university. In the case of admitted students, any fraudulent information in terms of grades may result in the student being deregistered from the degree programme in case of admission without entitlement.
However, any grade awarded on the basis of an appeal against the original grade will be considered. In this case, it must be clearly stated that this is an improved grade as a result of a complaint. Any such grade must be made available to the Faculty no later than the deadline for applications. Otherwise, the grade can only be considered in subsequent application rounds.
Random checks of the validity of international exam results will be carried out.
If you are in doubt about the rules or have questions about your entry qualifications read about who to contact here.
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 (the master's degree admission rule).
In exceptional cases, we may grant dispensation from the master鈥檚 degree admission rule. Read more about the master's degree admission rule and the possibility of applying for dispensation here.
| Admission statistics Global Development 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted | 48 |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 0% / 100% |
| Applicants | 370 |
| Age average | 24 |
| Legal gender distribution (cpr. - m/f) | 31% / 69% |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 25% / 75% |
| Available spots | No |
The MSc in Global Development at the 妹团视频 is a two-year programme taught in English.
The first year consists of seven compulsory courses including the mandatory field course in a low or middle-income country. All students undertake fieldwork in the same location.
The second year is a year of specialisation wherein the fourth semester is devoted to your master鈥檚 thesis.
Students enrolled in the programme September 2024 will follow the structure below:
| Part of the semester | Part 1 | Part 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Semester | Applied Research Methods (7.5 ECTS) | Global Politics (7.5 ECTS) | Global Development: Theories, Facts and Current Issues (7.5 ECTS) | Transnational Actors, People and Placemaking (7.5 ECTS) |
| 2. Semester | Interdisciplinary Field Research (15 ECTS) | Social Science Perspectives on Climate and Development (7.5 ECTS) | Global Business and Economics (7.5 ECTS) | |
| 3. Semester | Study abroad, internship and/or courses within social sciences (30 ECTS) |
|---|---|
| 4. Semester | Thesis (30 ECTS) |
Elective Courses at the 妹团视频
At their third semester many students chose to specialize within a field. In the following you find examples of courses within various thematic areas.
Climate
Urbanization
Migration
Humanitarian aid
There are of course many other courses to chose from. The following list is an indication of the possibilities; not all the courses are offered each term. You can find many more courses in the .
It is possible to study abroad as part of your MSc in Global Development. You may choose to study abroad for one semester or for a shorter period of time, for example by attending a summer school. You are allowed to study a maximum of 30 ECTS points abroad as part of your degree.
Studying abroad has many benefits both professionally and personally: You broaden your intercultural understanding, you are introduced to different study methods, and you obtain new knowledge and new insights.
As an international full degree student, you have the opportunity to study abroad using the extensive number of exchange agreements with universities worldwide. Further information about the exchange programmes and partner universities is available through.
Why Study Abroad?
One of the main objectives of studying abroad is to broaden your academic knowledge and network. It is a good idea to seek advice from lecturers and student advisors when planning your studies abroad to find out where to go and how to structure your academic programme. Your lecturers may have academic input and international contacts, and may also be able to provide you with useful references.
As an MSc in Global Development student, you have the opportunity to do an internship as part of your programme. The internship may take up 15, 22,5 or 30 ECTS of your third semester of studies. To set up an internship, you must design a protocol and plan for the internship, which must then be accepted by your supervisor as well as by the host company/organisation/institution and/or local authority.
An internship has several mandatory components:
Internships all over the world
Our students are doing internships all over the world and in all types of organizations and companies. On this map you can see the location as well as host organization for some of the current and previous internships at Global Development.
This course 鈥業nterdisciplinary Field Research鈥� builds on previous courses, especially 鈥楢dvanced Research Methods in the Social Sciences鈥�. This course takes these 鈥榤ethods鈥� into actual 鈥榯echniques鈥� in the field. The course consists of 15 ECTS.
Data are conceived, identified, gathered, structured, and analyzed in complex situations. The main objective of this module is to equip the students to navigate and collect data in real world situations. Students should gain knowledge about:
In addition to readings and lectures, students will learn through developing and undertaking a short research project in the field. In doing so, they will experience the difficulties, trade-offs and limitations of different data collection methods.
In order to get as close as possible to a realistic experience of real world data collection, the module is explicitly interdisciplinary and problem based. The course will present a theme, decided by the study leaders, within which teams of students will choose a specific research question. The centerpiece of the module is a 2 week field course, inserted between 3 weeks of preparation and a 3 weeks report writing and final evaluation.
After completing this course students should be able to:
The course will be undertaken on a full-time basis over 8 weeks. This will involve 3 weeks of preparation methods training and research preparation; 2 weeks of field work; and 3 weeks of report writing and a final evaluation. Throughout the course, students will work in groups to design, undertake and report on their own piece of field research.
During this course on the second semester, there will be a two-week field trip to a country in the Global South. All students will conduct fieldwork at the same location. This takes the 鈥榤ethods鈥� you have learned into actual 鈥榯echniques鈥� in the field. You will conceive, identify, gather, structure and analyse data in complex situations. The main objective of this trip is to equip you to navigate and collect data in real world situations.
Please be aware that the university will arrange accommodation, but you must book your own transportation. This field trip is mandatory and costs approximately 15,000-18,000 DKK, which is not covered by the 妹团视频. Currently, we do not offer any travel scholarships for this trip.
The location and theme of the fieldwork will vary on an annual basis. Locations and themes will be chosen to represent the breadth of the scope of the overall education. There will therefore be field courses in Latin American, African and Asian contexts, as well as in global policymaking hubs. Where possible, field courses will be carried out in collaboration with partner universities and external stakeholders in each location. The field course took place in Nepal for some years, but for the past two years, the field course has been held in Bolivia.
Upon completion of the master鈥檚 programme, you will obtain the title Master of Science in Global Development.
As a graduate, you will be able to:
By combining knowledge and skills, you will be able to work effectively with cross-disciplinary problems in the area of global development on an individual basis and in teams as well as being able to provide evidence-based solutions to situations which are complex and require new approaches.
Depending on your specialisation during the second year of the programme, this paves way for several types of employment. Many candidates will go on to jobs in private companies which interact with the Global South (Africa, Asia and Latin America). Other graduates will find employment in institutions and organisations engaged in development work and other international issues. There is considerable potential for production companies, service businesses and consultants in the global markets, especially in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and in the new growth countries, for example Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey and several African countries.
You can be working as a consultant, adviser, project manager or analyst in businesses, organisations and authorities involved in international and/or development activities. The programme can also lead to a research career within global development.
The structure of the programme with compulsory courses during the first year, group work and a three-week field course abroad ensures a lively study environment and close interaction with your fellow students.
For general information about student life and studying at UCPH, see .
In the following video, you'll hear from Global Development student Gus Griffin. He shares his insights into student life and living in Copenhagen.
Ways of learning at UCPH
Two Associate Professors and four international students share their definitions of and thoughts on what is characteristic of the 妹团视频. Get a general idea of: teaching methods, academic discussions, group work, planning your studies, critical thinking, research-based education and student-professor relations.
The Faculty of Social Sciences (SAMF) is part of City Campus and is located at the old Municipal Hospital (called Centre for Health and Society, CSS) in central Copenhagen.
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