Master of Arts (MA) in African Studies

Admission to a Master’s degree programme African Studies requires at minimum successful completion of a qualifying and recognised university degree equivalent in level and content to a Danish Bachelor’s degree.

If you have completed a Bachelor’s degree or are enrolled in the final semester of a Bachelor’s programme you are eligible to apply for the Master’s degree programme in African Studies.

You are required to document proficiency in English either by

1. Proof of English language proficiency level B (Danish secondary school) with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0
2. Proof that English is your native language
3. Proof that English was the language of instruction in your prior education at bachelor level.
4. Acceptable TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Advanced English test scores no more than two years old

Please see the full language requirements.

Bachelor's degrees that automatically fulfill the academic requirements

If you hold one of the degrees listed below, you are considered to meet all academic admission requirements and have direct access to apply to the Master’s degree programme in African studies.

• BSc in Political Science, Geography. Antropology, Public Health from a Danish University.
• BA in History, Religion, International Studies, Cultural Studies from a Danish University.

Check which master’s programmes at UCPH your bachelor programme is pre-approved for admission to. Please note that the admission tool is only available in Danish.

Other bachelor's degrees and professional degrees

To be admitted to the programme, you must hold a recent and relevant Bachelor’s degree and meet the language requirements.

Academic requirement

Students with a bachelor’s degree in other fields related to African Studies may be considered qualified for admission. Admission will only be granted if applicants, after a thorough assessment by the Assessment Committee, are deemed to possess educational qualifications equivalent to those required to qualify for admission. The applicant must have passed at least 30 ECTS within the fields of political science, anthropology, geography, history, religion, international studies, cultural studies or public health.

Limitation on second degrees

If you have already completed a Danish Master's degree, please check out the rules concerning a second degree. If your non-Danish master's degree corresponds to a Danish master's degree, you are subject to the master's degree admission rule.

To gain admission to a Master's programme at University of Copenhagen,  applicants must document qualifications on par with the Danish secondary school 'English level B' with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0.

We accept the following four ways of documenting this:

1) English level B with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0
 

Proof* of English language proficiency level B (Danish secondary school) with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0 or English level A (Danish secondary school) with a weighted grade point average of at least 3,0 

2) English is your native language

The Centre of African Studies accepts the University of Purdue view that if you are a citizen from the following countries, you do not need to present an English Language Proficiency exam:

• Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Grand Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Irish Republic, Jamaica, Montserrat, New Zealand, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, & Wales and United States of America.

3) You have studied in English

Studies completed in the English language and/or in an English speaking country. For example, if you have studied your Bachelor’s degree in Australia, you are not required to complete an English language proficiency exam.

4) English is your second language (English proficiency test)

Applicants with English as their second language (except Scandinavians) must pass an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge English test before being admitted. We accept the following tests and scores:

• IELTS-test (British Council) with a minimum score of 6.5
• Computer-based TOEFL-test with a minimum score of 213 points
• Paper-based TOEFL-test with a minimum score of 560 points
• Internet-based TOEFL-test with a min score of 83 points
• Passed Cambridge English Certificate: minimum level C1, e.g. the CPE or CAE

IELTS and TOEFL Language tests older than 2 years are not accepted (from the application deadline). There is no limitation for validity for the Cambridge tests.

* An official certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been certified as a true and correct copy by a person who is authorised to witness a statutory declaration. Official certified copies are usually a photocopy of the original document stamped, signed and verified by an official in your country. Each country varies in whom is qualified to certify documents, however generally speaking your university, lawyers and embassies can certify documents for you, so that we can verify that what we have is a true replica of the original (and therefore determine if you are eligible for the MA with us).

The programme accepts a maximum of 42 students. One third of the seats are reserved for students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Selection criteria

If more applicants than the maximum intake fulfill the admission requirements, a selection will be made on the basis of a comprehensive evaluation, with emphasis on the following criteria:

• Relevant courses* (measured in ECTS) included in your Bachelor's degree.
• General proficiency/grades in the qualifying degree programme.
• Relevant academic experience with Africa.
• Academic qualifications which relate to the disciplines that makes up the applied programme.
• Statement of how your academic profile fits the programme and outline of your academic knowledge of Africa.

* Relevant courses include courses with topics in political science, anthropology, geography, history, religion, international studies, cultural encounters studies or public health.

Please note that the top criterion allows us to prioritise applicants according to the amount of relevant subjects. I.e. an applicant with a BA in Anthropology could be prioritised higher than a BA in Healthcare with 30 ECTS in subjects related to sociology.

For Danish, EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, find the category below that fits you and read more about the application procedure:

• Bachelor's degree from Denmark
• International Bachelor's degree
• Other educational background

Bachelor's degree from Denmark

As a citizen in EU (including Denmark), EEA or Switzerland, you can apply for admission based on:

1. A relevant Danish Bachelor’s degree or another relevant degree at the same educational level
2. Proof that you meet the language requirements for English B or equivalent skill level (see below)

Some Bachelor’s degrees have already been assessed to meet the admission requirements. See: Do you meet the admission requirements?

If your degree does not fulfill the admission requirements automatically, the study board will evaluate your application and assess if your degree can meet the admission requirements based on its academic content.

If you are unsure whether your degree meets the admission requirements:

You can only get an answer to whether or not your degree meets the admission requirement by applying for admission at the MSc Programme. Solely the admission committee can evaluate whether you are qualified or not. They do this once they have received your application.

Application fee
The admission process is free of charge for citizens of the EU (including Denmark), EEA or Switzerland.

Tuition fees
As a citizens of the EU (including Denmark), EEA or Switzerland, you do not have to pay tuition fees.

When to apply

• The application portal opens: 16. January
• Application deadline: 1. March

Late application based on availability
If the maximum student intake is not met after 1. March applications are processed late application is available.

• The application portal opens: 10. June
• Application deadline: 20. June

International Bachelor’s degree

As a citizen in the EU (including Denmark), EEA or Switzerland, you can apply for admission based on:

1. A relevant Danish Bachelor’s degree or another relevant degree at the same educational level
2. Proof that you meet the language requirements for English B or equivalent skill level (see below)

The study board will evaluate your application and assess if your degree can meet the admission requirements based on its academic content.

You can only get an answer to whether or not your degree meets the admission requirement by applying for admission at the MSc Programme. Solely the admission committee can evaluate whether you are qualified or not. They do this once they have received your application.

Application fee
The admission process is free of charge for citizens of the EU (including Denmark), EEA or Switzerland.

Tuition fees
As a citizens of the EU (including Denmark), EEA or Switzerland, you do not have to pay tuition fees. If you have a permanent residence permit your do not have to pay tuition fee.

When to apply

• The application portal opens: 16. January
• Application deadline: 1. March

Late application based on availability
If the maximum student intake is not met after 1. March applications are processed late application is available.

• The application portal opens: 10. June
• Application deadline: 20. June

Other educational background

Application fee
Citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland must pay an application fee of DKK 750 (app. EUR 100).

Tuition fees
As a citizen from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you need to pay tuition fees. At African Studies, the fee is DKK 53,500 per year.

If you hold a permanent residence permit or hold a temporary residence permit “with a view to” or “with the possibility of” permanent residency in Denmark or a permit with a status similar to permanent residency, you will neither have to pay application nor tuition fee.

If you hold these types of residence permits, you can apply after the applications deadline, rules and procedures for EU citizens. Of you hold any other type of residence permit please inquire about application status and tuition fee by contacting admission@teol.ku.dk

When to apply

• The application portal opens: 15 November
• Application deadline: 15 January.

For Non-EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, find the category below that fits you and read more about the application procedure:

• Bachelor's degree from Denmark
• International Bachelor's degree
• Other educational background

Bachelor's degree from Denmark

As a citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you can apply for admission at African Studies if you:

1. Hold a relevant Danish Bachelor’s degree or another relevant degree at the same educational level.
2. Have proof that you meet the language requirements for English B or equivalent skill level (see below).

Some Bachelor’s degrees have already been assessed to meet the admission requirements. This means that they automatically fulfill the admission requirements. See: Do you meet the admission requirements?

If your degree does not fulfill the admission requirements automatically, the study board will evaluate your application and assess if your degree can meet the admission requirements based on its academic content.

You can only get an answer to whether or not your degree meets the admission requirement by applying for admission at the MSc Programme. Solely the admission committee can evaluate whether you are qualified or not. They do this once they have received your application.

Application fee
Citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland must pay an application fee of 750 DKK (app. 100 EUR).

Tuition fees
As a citizen from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you need to pay tuition fees. At African Studies the fee is DKK 53,500 per year.

If you hold a permanent residence permit or hold a temporary residence permit “with a view to” or “with the possibility of” permanent residency in Denmark or a permit with a status similar to permanent residency, you will neither have to pay application nor tuition fee.

If you hold these types of residence permits, you can apply after the applications deadline, rules and procedures for EU citizens. Of you hold any other type of residence permit please inquire about application status and tuition fee by contacting admission@teol.ku.dk

When to apply

• The application portal opens: 15 November
• Application deadline: 15 January

International Bachelor’s degree

As a citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you can apply for admission at African Studies if you:

1) Hold a relevant Danish Bachelor’s degree or another relevant degree at the same educational level.

2) Have proof that you meet the language requirements for English B or equivalent skill level (see below).

The study board will evaluate your application and assess if your degree can meet the admission requirements based on its academic content.

You can only get an answer to whether or not your degree meets the admission requirement by applying for admission at the MSc Programme. Solely the admission committee can evaluate whether you are qualified or not. They do this once they have received your application.

Application fee
Citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland must pay an application fee of DKK 750 (approx. EUR 100).

Tuition fees
As a citizen from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you need to pay tuition fees. At African Studies, the fee is DKK 53,500 per year.

If you hold a permanent residence permit hold a temporary residence permit “with a view to” or “with the possibility of” permanent residency in Denmark or a permit with a status similar to permanent residency, you do will not have to pay tuition fee.

If you hold these types of residence permits, you can apply after the applications deadline, rules and procedures for EU citizens. Of you hold any other type of residence permit please inquire about application status and tuition fee by contacting admission@teol.ku.dk

When to apply

• The application portal opens: 15 November
• Application deadline: 15 January.

Other educational background

Application fee
Citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland must pay an application fee of DKK 750 (app. EUR 100).

Tuition fees
As a citizen from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you need to pay tuition fees. At African Studies, the fee is DKK 53,500 per year.

If you hold a permanent residence permit or hold a temporary residence permit “with a view to” or “with the possibility of” permanent residency in Denmark or a permit with a status similar to permanent residency, you will neither have to pay application nor tuition fee.

If you hold these types of residence permits, you can apply after the applications deadline, rules and procedures for EU citizens. Of you hold any other type of residence permit please inquire about application status and tuition fee by contacting admission@teol.ku.dk

When to apply

• The application portal opens: 15 November
• Application deadline: 15 January.

Know the admission and language requirements

It is your bachelor’s degree and its academic contents, which determine whether you meet the admission requirements. Please note that the MSc programme is in English. Therefore, there is specific language requirement for the study programme.

Documentation requirements

When you apply for admission, you need to create an application at the application portal and upload relevant documentation. This is the only way you can apply for admission.  In order to make sure we have all the information needed to evaluate your past achievements and future potential, you are required to submit the following items together with the application form:

• An original or certified copy* of your academic transcript from your Bachelor degree. If the transcript is in a language other than English or a Scandinavian language, please include an official English translation.
• A certified copy* of your Bachelor diploma. If you are yet to receive your diploma, please provide a letter from your university stating the expected graduation day and the expected date when the diploma will be issued.
• A photocopy of your passport if you are non-Danish citizen.
• Documentation for relevant academic experience in Africa - if you have experience.
• Documentation for academic qualifications which relate to the disciplines that makes up the applied programme.
• Statement of how your academic profile fits the programme and an outline of your academic knowledge of Africa.

* An official certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been certified as a true and correct copy by a person who is authorised to witness a statutory declaration. Official certified copies are usually a photocopy of the original document stamped, signed and verified by an official in your country. Each country varies in whom is qualified to certify documents, however generally speaking your university, lawyers and embassies can certify documents for you, so that we can verify that what we have is a true replica of the original.

Get your documentation via data exchange

If you are a student at UCPH, AU, AAU, SDU, ITU or CBS, we recommend that you import the documentation of your Bachelor’s degree automatically using the data exchange function. You simply ask the system to import your educational data from your university.

Apply for admission in the application portal

• The application portal opens: 16. January
• Application deadline: 1. March

You can submit 3 applications for UCPH
Please note that you may submit a maximum of 3 applications to UCPH study programs with the same study start.

Follow your application
Once you have applied for admission, you will find application updates and received messages from the University. When you receive a message at the application portal, you will receive an email at the mail address you have registered with your application.

Tips for the application portal

• Use Firefox or Goggle Chrome as your browser when creating and submitting you application.
• Check the user guide for the application portal when you fill out your application.
• Read the FAQ where you can find answers to the most common questions concerning the application portal.
• Contact the student counsellor if you cannot find the answers, you are looking for in the FAQ.
• Contact Service desk if you have technical problems.

Check your application result

You will receive your application result via the application portal no later than 10 June.

Accept your offer of admission
If you have received an offer of admission, you need to accept the offer. If you do not accept the offer before the deadline (which will appear in your admission letter), you will lose your spot in the MSc programme. Therefore, it is important to check the status of your application regularly at the  application portal.

Check your email regularly
When you receive a message at the application portal, you will receive an email at the mail address you have registered with your application. Please be aware that emails from the application portal may end up in your spam filter.

Citizens from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland must pay an application fee of 750 DKK (app. 100 EUR). Click here for exemptions and further information. 

As a citizen from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you need to pay tuition fees. At African Studies the fee is DKK 53,500 per year.

If you hold a permanent residence permit or hold a temporary residence permit “with a view to” or “with the possibility of” permanent residency in Denmark or a permit with a status similar to permanent residency, you will neither have to pay application nor tuition fee.

If you hold these types of residence permits, you can apply after the applications deadline, rules and procedures for EU citizens. Of you hold any other type of residence permit please inquire about application status and tuition fee by contacting admission@teol.ku.dk

Scholarships and loans

The Faculty of Theology only has a very limited number of Danish Government Scholarships available – generally less than four per year. The Scholarship is only granted as partial tuition fee waivers, and not as an amount that covers basic living costs.

General information about scholarships and loans at UCPH

Faculty specific information about Danish Government Scholarship

We look forward to meeting you and to welcoming you to the MSc programme.

Welcome days

The welcome programme at your MSc programme will take place late August. The program will be available in May.

Check for messages in the application portal

We will send you all information concerning your first days at UCPH through the application portal. Therefore, please check the email you have registered in your application.

Upload documentation

Please remember that there might be documentation you need to upload before your study start. Documentation requirements under how to apply? 

Get help with course registration and tips for housing

The student counsellor is ready to help you with your course registration.

Do you have a functional impairment?

If you have special needs due to a functional impairment (for example dyslexia or a physical or mental diagnose) then it is possible for you to get help and support during your study programme because of your condition. Among others, you can apply for special aids, IT equipment and support classes.

Please contact the AC counsellor, Anja Mee Foldberg, amf@teol.ku.dk right after admission if you want to know more about your options and how to apply for what you need.

Learn more about the programme in the Curriculum for MA in African Studies

See the course catalog for the current semester.

Chipo Marisa Petersen did an internship at an NGO in Uganda and gained good insight into climate adaption strategies, general NGO-work and the large agricultural sector in Uganda.

At my third semester I had the opportunity to undertake an internship position at the Ugandan based NGO, Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Association (DENIVA). I was mainly engaged with the NGO’s project regarding climate change adaptation in agriculture under the supervision of the Project Officer.

My job included undertaking administrative tasks, participating in monitoring and evaluations, contributing to reports as well as participating in meetings and workshops in relation to the project. Furthermore, I conducted a field study on one of the project sites managed by Mayuge District Farmers Association in eastern Uganda.

Here I investigated the mechanisms of one of the most central climate adaption strategies - the climate resistant seed technology, that was part of the project - from the perspective of small-scale farmers. The internship has been a unique opportunity to get an insight into one of Uganda’s largest sectors, agriculture, and to bridge the gap between theory and practice of climate change adaptation.

- Chipo Marisa Petersen

Pernille Bærendtsen is a journalist and enrolled in the MA programme in African Studies. She did her third semester as fieldwork in Tanzania. Here she tells her story.

I’ve worked in East Africa since 2005, the latter five years as an independent journalist. I decided to do the MA in African Studies to boost my experience with an academic foundation. The feet-on-the-ground part is, however, important to me, and during 2016 I chose to do my third semester as fieldwork in Tanzania.

I went to Kigoma at Lake Tanganyika to look into how opposition is perceived by people who see themselves as opposition. As Tanzania recently has experienced some noticeable shifts in politics I found it necessary to collect primary data. But I’m also interested in how politics feels and functions for people in their everyday lives. This, I’d never get hold of by going through election data or public opinion surveys from a desk in Copenhagen!

Let me share an example from Kigoma: One day I’d arranged an interview in a ward office with a councillor. As preparation for the interview he’d brought a heap of photos which he placed on the table. His own, personal history of politics started in 1993 – just one year after Tanzania established multipartyism. Via his photos we talked through the history of opposition politics in Kigoma. We talked numbers of shifts of seats and votes, but also emotions of grievance and victory.

Knowledge that cannot be googled

I'm interested in what’s in between the election data, the number of votes and the people. I’m interested in this kind of backroom machinery of politics, of what drives people, be it stomachs, hearts or minds. People argue with 'development' (tarmac, schools, health service), but issues of identity, pride, jealousy and belonging weave it together.

It is complex stuff. We may think the Internet can provide some sort of instant closeness and understanding. I’m more curious about all the stuff which cannot be googled or – yet – found in libraries. It is a gift to have the time and space to ask the questions you cannot ask when you are far away. Field work provides such opportunities.

- Pernille Bærendtsen

See her Visual Field Work Diary.

Tord Halvorsen had a trainee position at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Uganda as a part of his project-based module in the third semester. This lead to a job offer at the Embassy where he is currently working. 

Why did you choose African Studies?
I chose African Studies because it struck me as the perfect combination of interdisciplinary courses, hands-on opportunities integrated in the programme, as well as an exciting learning environment. I had previously completed a Bachelor’s Programme in African Studies in Norway, so I considered this as a natural next step to further develop my interests and knowledge of Africa – in particular African politics and development.

What did you like best about it?
Perhaps my favourite aspect of the programme is the highly varied backgrounds of the other students undertaking the MA. The only thing we have in common is an interest in Africa – whether we are political scientists, anthropologists, economists, historians, or anything else. When everyone brings their specific competence to the classrooms, we have fruitful discussions and bring new viewpoints.

Did you have any worries about choosing African Studies?
I did not really have any specific worries – as I had completed my BA in African Studies only the semester previously, I felt confident that I knew what to expect.

What is your current job?
I am currently working as a trainee at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kampala, Uganda, as part of my project-based module in the third semester of the programme. However, I have been offered a new position come the end of my traineeship, so I will be postponing the thesis with six months while working as a Programme Officer here at the Embassy.

What do you do in your job?
As a trainee, you are involved in many of the running tasks of an Embassy – often you yourself control the amount of work you undertake. Typically, you attend meetings, write reports, conduct research, keep dialogue with various partners, etc. However, other days you are simply helping to organise an evening event, accompanying a colleague to a reception, or taking pictures for the Embassy’s Facebook page. ¨

What do you like about your job?
I like the liberty it provides me to pursue my aspiration to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by being involved in the Embassy’s work here in Uganda. It truly provides great insight and I feel very included.

How did you land your current job?
I landed the job through applying for a vacancy online.

How do you use the knowledge and skills from your education in your current job?
I use the knowledge from my education by constantly reviewing facts and information critically – and understanding ‘the bigger picture’ is incredibly important, especially in the African context.

For CAS Masters students, the opportunity to do an internship abroad is something that lets students tailor their semester to their own passions and interests. For CAS student Daryl Aubry, the experience working for a national newspaper in Dakar in Senegal was particularly enriching.

 As part of his Masters in African Studies, Daryl Aubry did an internship at the national newspaper Le Soleil in Dakar in Senegal between August 2020 and March 2021. During his internship, Daryl did journalistic research and wrote multiple articles on a wide array of subjects.

He says:

“Although having absolutely no experience in this field I was asked, from day one, to produce news articles for the newspaper on a regular basis. During my very first week I also started to dig for article ideas and investigate all by myself. I was mainly working for the economic section of the paper, but I was allowed to write about whatever subject I wanted. I was also sometimes sent to cover different events for the newspaper.” 

Foreign Affairs minister summit. Photo: Daryl Aubry

During Daryls time at the newspaper, he was also able to explore Senegal and travel around the country.

“I went to the Cap-Vert peninsula and to Casamance in southern Senegal, where I researched and wrote on different topics like economy, society, nature. Almost all of the articles I wrote for the newspaper were published in the physical daily version and some of them were put on the newspaper website.”

 “Although it was not always easy, this experience was definitely valuable, and I recommend that anyone who wants to do an internship to just go for it. It is one of the particularities of our Master in African Studies and it is priceless!” he finishes.

Having gained the knowledge, skills and competences noted above, graduates in African Studies may pursue careers in a fairly wide range of professional fields. The analytical and multidisciplinary profile combined with the area specific knowledge is useful in both the public and the private sector both nationally and internationally. You may, like other graduates from African Studies, be hired by:

• International development and/or humanitarian organisations.
• Various kinds of national government agencies such as those concerned with foreign affairs, the environment, migration and refugees, security, social development and so on.
• Different arenas within the private sector such as business investment, consultancy, entrepreneurship or corporate social responsibility.
• The media or other spheres of information and communication.
• Universities and other higher learning institutions sontinuing in academia as a researcher and/or teacher.

The current employers of our graduates include:   UNHCR, Global Nyt (journalist), International Media Support (journalist), Danish Refugee Council, Oxfam IBIS (Education Advocacy Advisor), FOA (trade union), Danish Immigration Service, Danish Maritime Authority, Crossing Borders (NGO), aPureBase (global pharma data provider), National Union of Students in Denmark, Tella Consultant, Chancellor University, Malawi (Lecturer in English), Consultancy firm in Lithuania working with IT and business development in East Africa, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Sex & Samfund, LGBTI Denmark (Programme Officer), Sony Denmark.

The Masters in African Studies is an area studies programme, based fundamentally on an interdisciplinary approach. This necessarily combines concepts, theories, methods, literature and empirically-grounded research from a range of disciplines within both the social sciences and humanities. Such an approach both draws upon and expands knowledge and skills acquired during the student’s Bachelor studies.

The Masters education is structured so as to provide a combination of core compulsory courses, elective courses on selected topics, the option of internship and/or fieldwork study, and finally a research-based thesis. The core courses cover: an introduction to African Studies; nature, population and society; economic development; religion, culture and society; politics, development and change, and advanced research methods. The electives vary over time and may include such topics as: conflict and violence, critical development planning and policy, human rights, migration and displacement, religious movements, natural resources governance, non-governmental organisations, and urban Africa. Kiswahili is offered consistently as an additional elective.

Some of the most pressing current and future challenges on the African continent concern the climate crisis, sustainability and environmental governance. These issues are integrated as part of the compulsory courses in the MA study program alongside a range of other diverse dimensions of African realities. You can also chose to specialise further in this field by choosing elective courses with a sustainability focus. There are also good opportunities to choose an internship or a fieldwork project centred on sustainability, climate change adaptation or environmental governance issues. 

All teaching is closely connected to research at Centre of African Studies. You can read more about the sustainability aspects of this research at the Centre’s Research Platform ‘Environment, Climate and Sustainability’. You are also welcome to contact Platform Leader Stig Jensen if you have questions regarding the content of these aspects of the Master’s Programme.   

Teaching methods vary. Depending on the specific course, they may combine: lectures, seminar-style classes, practice-oriented workshops, group discussions, opponent sessions, films and panel discussions. Active student participation is encouraged.

All teaching is strongly research-based, provided by staff who are very well established in their respective fields. CAS also frequently hosts internationally renowned scholars as guest speakers.

Why did you choose to study African Studies?

My interest in Africa and African Studies grew during my job assignment in Ghana some years ago. I spent around 1 1/2 years in Accra working as Head of Sales for one of the largest real-estate developers in West Africa. My clients were not only Ghanaian nationals, but members of the diaspora in the U.S., UK, Europe, among other nationalities, e.g., Nigerians, etc. I witnessed the presidential elections in 2016 in Ghana and learned a lot in practice about the impact’s politics had on economic and financial markets and vice versa. Through my Ghanaian colleagues I also learned how religion played into the workplace and the diversity of ethnic and tribal cultures. However, as this was all practical experience, I wanted to deepen my theoretical knowledge of the continent, to understand the social, historical, cultural dynamics and global interconnections. Back in Copenhagen, and after a few years in a full-time job, I applied to this Master programme, as it felt just right and matched my expectations of an interdisciplinary approach to African Studies.

Did the degree live up to your expectations?

Yes, the degree very much lived up to my expectations. I decided to go ahead with the full-time Master and never regretted it. The interdisciplinary approach of the programme was exactly what I was looking for: I got a solid understanding of economic development, political dynamics and how that often is intertwined with historical and religious patterns and can have impacts on, amongst others, nature conservation or education systems. But most importantly, what I have learned most is critical thinking about how to approach working, learning, thinking about Africa and its diverse cultures and contexts and to always consider local circumstances without slipping into a Eurocentric mindset.

In what ways have you used your degree?

With more than 13 years of professional experience on my back - mostly in communications, marketing and sales - it was difficult for me to see how and where a Master degree in humanities could fit in with my career. However, after one semester I applied to The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) for a part-time communications position in their Diaspora Programme Unit. I could use the knowledge and literature on Africa's diaspora during my interview as well as my own experience from Ghana and beyond, which was definitely one reason why I got the job. Once part of DRC, not only could I see how professional INGOs work with and in Africa and its diaspora, but could use my critical thinking from the Master programme to challenge entrenched mindsets of working in an international humanitarian organization.

What challenges have you experienced?

One challenge I had was the academic writing style. Studying for the first time at a Danish University, it was difficult to adopt the specific writing style and adjust to the rules and regulations. I did a lot of extra work outside the studies to improve my writing style and to ensure that I adhere to all the rules.

What do you think of the study environment?

I think the biggest challenge for me was the lack of classroom teaching, because our cohort started during the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020. 3/4 of our studies were held online via zoom, only the first semester was hybrid teaching - where we could choose between classroom and online participation. However, all professors and lecturers were super accommodating and tried their best to make the classes and sessions as participatory and interactive as possible. Overall, I still felt the community spirit at CAS, where all professors and lecturers had an "open door" policy and were always available for discussing questions, queries or comments.

Current employer: Danish Refugee Council, HQ Copenhagen, as Communications Advisor in the Programme, Policy and External Relations Department.

Why did you choose to study African Studies?

I have always been very interested in the developmental- and political conditions on the African continent, and I also travelled there a lot. I was excited to engage with what was going on, on the continent.

Did the degree live up to your expectations?

Yes, definitely. I was surprised to find that the degree basically is not only about Africa but is more a way of critically approaching our world and society, with Africa being the starting point. You can use the tools you get at CAS to understand other geographical contexts.

In what ways have you used your degree?

I have developed a critical approach to much of my work. And learned to question the way things are done, and critically reflect on for example procedures.

What challenges have you experienced?

I was surprised at the extensiveness of the study. I was challenged in relation to my own interest, which are more politically inclined. The degree also incorporates religion and anthropology, which I knew less about, but I was positively surprised.

What do you think of the study environment?

The study environment was really great. The first year we spent a lot of time together, since we had classes together, while most of us went on exchange or field work the next semester. Because it is a small class, you create a really good and close study environment, where you share the same interest – namely Africa.

Why did you want to study African Studies?

I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and I have therefore always had an interest, especially in East Africa. Additionally, I was excited about the structure of the degree, not least because you have the option to go on an exchange or to do fieldwork and dive into a specific subject, during the 3^rd semester. And then CAS gave me the space to examine my interest in the postcolonial approach.

Did the degree live up to your expectations?

Overall, I have been quite satisfied with the teaching and the structure of the degree. I thrive with getting the opportunity to dive down into a specific subject of your own choice, and you can do that at CAS. It feels a bit like you get to tailor your own education, which is one of the reasons why I applied.

How have you used your degree?

My current job is not Africa-related at all, but what CAS has given me is the ability to approach virtually any societal- or cultural question. This is something you can use in many work contexts, especially generalist officers. CAS was also a great combination of professional profiles and different theoretical approaches and courses. There was also a lot of diversity amongst the students. I think all this contributes to the possibility to access many positions, not necessarily only Africa-related ones.

What is the best part about African Studies, and it what ways has it been challenging?

The best part is the option to tailor your own education and to do, for example, field work. In some ways you create your own master’s degree, and you are able to specialise within the area you choose.

A challenge is probably that the title of the degree can be misleading, because you are not only studying that big a continent, with that much diversity. And if I for example tell a person in Denmark that I have a master in African Studies, I often experience that they think I know everything about Africa. Which of course I don’t.

What’s the social environment like?

The social environment at CAS is really great, because everyone is interested in spending time together and get to know each other. Many of the students are international and therefore they don’t have a large network in Denmark. It was very important to me to have a space without any competition amongst the students. I am comfortable being in an environment with fellow students, not competitors. And that’s what it was like at CAS.

27-year old Rutger Kremers puts his skills gained as an African Studies graduate to good use when he trades healthcare equipment and pharmaceuticals as a Procurement Officer in a Copenhagen-based trading company. It’s a challenging job that requires cultural sensitivity, good communication skills and regional knowledge

Rutger Kremers finds time to talk about his work life experiences as a graduate from the Centre of African Studies at University of Copenhagen even though he is preparing for a business trip to Dubai a few hours later. His is aA story about transforming the academic endeavors of university studies into a busy career in a private trading company with a global reach.  27-year-old Rutger is originally from The Netherland but is  lives in Copenhagen where he works for Missionpharma A/S as a Procurement Officer.

As one of only a few employees in the succesful company with a background in African Studies, Rutger differs from the majority of his colleagues who typically hold degrees in business studies focusing primarily on trade. But Rutger finds that his alternative background is mostly an advantage. 

- I’m pretty sure I was interesting for the company in the first place because my educational background with specialization in Sub-Sarahan Africa set me apart from the other candidates. It's interesting for them when somebody different comes up. I also had sales experience from a sales job as a student, and I think it was the mix that made me stand out and made them invite me for a job interview.

Avoiding the pitfalls of culture gaps
Rutger has worked for the company for one and a half years now and is involved in several aspects of the wholesale trading house. He purchases health care products mainly in Asia and sells these to African buyers. Currently he is responsible for sales in Lesotho and he finds that his background in African Studies has given him a cultural sensitivity and regional knowledge that eases the communication with the customers.     

- I think I avoid many of the typical pitfalls that many of the colleagues run into during their first year. They often express frustration when the customers from African countries behave very differently from the Danish customers they are used to. Often their thoughts then run along the lines of: 'They should just do things the Danish way which is more efficient and logical'. With my degree in African Studies I am perhaps better able to understand the cultural and contextual reasons behind these differences, and not get frustrated with our clients, he says.

But it isn't only the area-related knowledge Rutger finds useful. The MA in African Studies involves general methodological and communicative skills that he uses in many aspects of his job.   

- We sell most of our pharmaceuticals to the public sector in African countries, which is a quite complex process starting with a call for tenders from the authorities. This means that e.g. the Ethiopian Ministry of Health issues a big list of their demands with specifications and price limits and then the different sellers compete for the bid. I'm dealing with a lot of business letters and legal documents and the training in written communication that you get from the MA is useful here as well as the general ability to analyse complex stuff, he says.         

From Netherlands to Copenhagen and Africa by chance
It wasn't Rutger’s plan from the beginning to move to Copenhagen and study African Studies. Originally from the Netherlands, he had a BA and an almost-completed MA in economic history from the University of Utrecht before his attention was drawn to the attraction and possibilities of a specialisation in the vast continent. This arose when he had his final internship in The Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Sub Saharan Africa Department.

- Before I had not taken that much interest in subjects related to Africa. But I got more interested because I saw that we are challenged by a lot of stereotypes in business, development aid and basically all dealings with Africa. So I decided to write my master's thesis on South African history and afterwards I sought to specialise further. I also wanted to study abroad and luckily I was admitted to African Studies in Copenhagen.

Today he is glad that he made the choice to specialise in Africa at the University of Copenhagen. 

- It has lead me to an interesting and most importantly challenging and meaningful job today.