Academic matters - Guest students

Medical Museion, a combined museum and research unit at the University of Copenhagen. Medical Museion has one of the biggest and richest historical collections of medical artefacts in Europe. Photo: Simon Skipper

Find information about academic matters and important information about studying at the University of Copenhagen.  

 

 

 

 

 

The academic year is divided into two semesters: autumn semester (September to January) and spring semester (February to June).

All faculties use the semester structure except for the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Master’s programme in Global Health. Here, the courses are organised in a block structure, dividing the academic year (60 ECTS) into four nine-week blocks.

The dates below give an overall view of the academic calendar (autumn and spring semester) at UCPH. Please contact the individual departments to confirm their specific teaching schedules.

Autumn semester: 1 September – 31 January
 (classes typically end in December)

Spring semester: 1 February – 30 June 
(classes typically end in May/early June)

  • Academic calendar of the Faculty of Science.
  • Academic calendar of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Master’s programme in Global Health: Please write to exchange@sund.ku.dk.
General holidays and breaks

Spring semester 2024

28 March to 1 April: Easter Holidays

9 May: Ascension Day

20 May: Whit Monday

5 June: Constitution Day

Autumn semester 2024

14–20 October: Autumn holiday

24 December – 1 January: Christmas and New Year

 

Download detailed information about the structure of the academic year.

 

 

 

 

 

To welcome you and help you settle into life as a University of Copenhagen student, you are invited to attend an orientation programme or session at the beginning of your stay. Attending orientation is an important step of starting university, so attendance is considered essential.

You will be invited to take part in the orientation programme at the faculty for the department you selected as a first priority in your online application. This department will be the first one mentioned in your letter of admission. If you have any questions or wish to attend another orientation meeting, please see the list below on who to contact or where to find more information:

If you need general guidance as a new student to the University of Copenhagen, you are also welcome to visit us at the UCPH Student Centre.

 

 

 

To help you get a good start, the University of Copenhagen has a well-organised mentor/buddy network.

What is a Mentor/Buddy Programme?

The University of Copenhagen offers mentor/buddy programmes across five faculties (however, currently not at the Faculty of Humanities). The purpose of the mentor/buddy programme is to create a social network for international students and UCPH students through different types of activities during the semester. You will also be matched with a UCPH student or a group of UCPH students and other mentees. The UCPH student(s) will help you settle in during your stay in Denmark and give you an introduction to student life in Copenhagen. The programmes are run by volunteers and we expect you to participate actively in your programme.

Close to your study start you will be invited to join one or more mentor/buddy programmes.

Please note that we cannot guarantee that a mentor/buddy will be assigned to you as there are a limited number of spots. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a student at UCPH, you will need a student ID card. You can read about how to get your student ID card on the webpage for UCPH IT for students.

Use of the ID card 

The card identifies you as a student at the University and you must remember to bring it when you sign up for and sit your exams. You also use the card as a key to access University facilities outside regular opening hours, to benefit from student discounts in bookshops, museums, theatres, etc., and as a library card.

If you lose your ID card

You can block your Student ID card at KUnet. The function in KUnet is in Danish. In order to block your card, log on to KUnet, choose Student Self-Service --> ID kort --> spær ID kort --> tick the box and click "spær valgte". A new student ID card will automatically generated within a few working days. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plagiarism and cheating 

The term plagiarism refers to the unacknowledged use of someone else's ideas; in other words, you plagiarise when you present someone else's thoughts or ideas as your own or copy text that you have not written yourself. You should at all times present your own work for the exams and should give correct references for all quotations, ideas, and arguments from other sources.

Solemn declaration

When you submit a paper, you have to make a solemn declaration along with the paper. You make the solemn declaration directly in Digital Exam. With the solemn declaration, you declare that you have written your paper in accordance with the regulations concerning academic integrity established in "Disciplinary measures towards students at the University of Copenhagen" and elaborated in the "General Instructions for Examinations" written by the Department of Sociology.

Exam appeals

If you are dissatisfied with an exam result or the way an exam has been conducted, you are entitled to appeal. This appeal should be in writing (with reasons given) and sent together with the form “Examination appeal” (find the form in KUnet). These must be sent no later than two weeks after the exam result has been published to the faculty/department in charge of the course.

You can find more information on KUnet and in the Danish Ministerial Order on University Examinations and Grading (the Examination Order).