NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

‘(eksamens)bevis for gennemført ...-uddannelse’
The certificate states the title awarded.
II.3.2. Final university qualifications
Degree studies
In recent years Denmark has adopted a somewhat Anglo-American structure by introducing the Bachelor’s and PhD degrees.
Thus, a university course will normally consist of a three-year Bachelor’s degree course in one or two subject fields which
may be followed by a two-year course leading to a candidatus degree (Master’s degree). The study programmes for the
Bachelor’s degree include project work corresponding to a minimum of two months’ full-time work. Certain programmes
may be extended by a six-month professionally oriented module and thus last three and a half years. The programmes for the
candidatus degree nearly always include six months to one year’s work on a thesis. Within a few disciplines (i.e. medicine,
pharmacy and veterinary medicine) there are no Bachelor’s degrees but solely the candidatus degree after five to six and a
half years of study.
The integration of teaching and research is a fundamental principle for all universities. This is meant to ensure high standards
in all programmes.
The humanities also offer a special six-year degree course (mag.art.) concentrated in one subject.
The Bachelor’s degree and the candidatus programmes offered by the universities in Aalborg and Roskilde begin with a oneor
two-year basic course in either humanities, social, technical or natural sciences. The
studies at these universities are characterised by an interdisciplinary, problem-oriented approach.
PhD studies
Three years of supervised postgraduate studies after the candidatus degree lead to a PhD degree. A PhD degree is awarded in
recognition of the fact that the recipient has successfully completed a PhD programme and by means of a dissertation has
demonstrated a capacity to carry out a scientific project involving independent application of the scientific methodology of the
field in question, thereby contributing to research at a level corresponding to the international standards of a PhD degree in
that field.
Danish PhD studies were restructured in 1993. The government lays down the overall framework of the PhD studies to ensure
a general meas- ure of quality but it is left to the Danish universities to design their own specific PhD programmes, matching
the special competences, needs and traditions of the universities.
Thus, each university has outlined its own specific PhD programmes which again may be divided into a number of PhD study
programmes that may all have their own particular requirements as to enrolment and course of study. The typical programme
now consists of three years of studies following a five-year candidatus degree or an equivalent degree.
Individual PhD programmes must include:
a scientific project (i.e. the PhD thesis) involving independent application of the scientific methodology of the relevant
field;
participation in research courses and seminars corresponding to approximately six months’ work;
mobility to ensure integration in two or more active research groups or networks. Mobility abroad is given high priority;
experience in teaching or other kinds of communication of research results;
defence in public of the PhD thesis.