Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. Humanitarianism dismantled. Hybrid warfare at Europe’s borders. AI-powered disinformation reshaping elections. Climate collapse. international conflict, war.
The threats, risks, and crises facing governments and organisations today are faster, more complex, and more interconnected than ever before. The MSc in Security Risk Management trains you to understand them, anticipate them, and act – theoretically, methodologically, and empirically.
You will graduate with both the analytical sharpness to cut through complexity and the practical tools to make organisations genuinely safer, whether in a government ministry, a global corporation, or an international institution.
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.
If you hold one of the degrees listed below and hold documentary proof that you meet any and all language requirements, you are considered to meet all academic admission requirements and have direct access to apply to the master’s degree programme in Security Risk Management.
The qualifying bachelor’s degree must comprise a minimum of 90 ECTS credits in social science courses within one or more of the following subject areas:
The qualifying bachelor's degree must contain a minimum of 15 ECTS in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods within the social sciences.
English language proficiency corresponding to at least the Danish upper secondary school English level B.
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.
Applicants to the MSc in Security Risk Management 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 Security Risk Management 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.
Courses within qualitative and/or quantitative research methods most often consists of 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 “qualitative/quantitative/research methods”, 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 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 Security Risk Management 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Available study places | 53 |
| Admission statistics Security Risk Management 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted (of which have start in February) | 46 (0) |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 0% / 100% |
| Applicants | 322 |
| Age average | 24 |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 41% / 59% |
If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available places, applicants will be prioritised according to the following criteria:
Relevant courses are defined as courses that fall within the general field of security risk management, either theoretically, methodologically and/or empirically.
Before you apply to the master's degree programme in Security Risk Management, please make sure to acquaint yourself with all the important information on the application procedure, application deadlines and details about how to apply. Select an option below to read more about your application.
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 please contact Student guidance.
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’s degree admission rule. Read more about the master's degree admission rule and the possibility of applying for dispensation here.
The MSc programme in Security Risk Management is a full-time, two-year degree (120 ECTS), taught entirely in English and completed with an independent master’s thesis on a topic of your choosing. It is designed to take you from rigorous foundations to advanced specialisation.
Year one builds your analytical core through six compulsory courses and two electives. Year two is where you specialise: elective courses let you tailor the degree to your ambitions, culminating in a master’s thesis that positions you as an expert in your chosen area.
Sustained engagement with practitioners through coursework or an internship puts your skills into practice immediately. You will be taught by internationally recognised researchers who are at the forefront of security and risk studies. These are scholar-practitioners whose work shapes policy debates, informs security strategies, and is cited in boardrooms and government briefings alike.
Teaching at Security Risk Management goes far beyond the lecture hall. Alongside research-based seminars, you will stress-test your skills through crisis communication simulations, policy assessment exercises, and real-world case studies drawn from current events. The kinds of scenarios professionals face when a cyberattack hits a hospital, a geopolitical crisis disrupts supply chains, or a government scrambles to respond to hybrid threats. Practitioners from government, security agencies, and the private sector join us as guest lecturers, giving you direct insight into how risk decisions are made under pressure.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Security Studies (7.5 ECTS) | Risk and Uncertainty in a Connected World (7.5 ECTS) |
| Risk Analysis (7.5 ECTS) | Risk Regulation and Governance (7.5 ECTS) |
| Organisation and Risk (7.5 ECTS) | Elective (7.5 ECTS) |
| Knowledge and Methods (7.5 ECTS) | Elective (7.5 ECTS) |
Elective courses allow you to shape the programme around your interests and develop specialised competences within the areas of security and risk that matter most to you.
You can study abroad as part of your MSc in Security Risk Management and gain new academic, professional, and personal perspectives.
As a student on the programme, you may transfer up to 30 ECTS credits from another educational institution in Denmark or abroad. The courses must correspond to courses in the MSc programme and can only replace elective courses.
Studying abroad can help you broaden your academic knowledge, strengthen your international network, and gain insight into different study methods and perspectives. You will also develop intercultural understanding and build experience that can benefit you both professionally and personally.
When planning a study abroad period, it is a good idea to seek advice from lecturers and student advisors. They can help you explore where to go, how to structure your academic programme, and how to choose courses that fit your degree.
Your lecturers may also be able to provide academic input, international contacts, or references that can support your plans.
As part of your MSc in Security Risk Management, you can replace elective elements with an academic internship corresponding to 15 or 30 ECTS.
An internship allows you to experience security risk management in practice. You become part of a professional workplace, contribute to relevant tasks, and learn how to apply your theoretical knowledge to real security and risk challenges.
You can do your internship in a wide range of organisations, including government agencies, private companies, NGOs, and other organisations working with security-related issues.
You complete the internship with an academic paper, assessed by a supervisor from the department.
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 graduation, you will hold the title Master of Science in Social Sciences in Security Risk Management: a credential that signals both analytical depth and real-world readiness to employers across sectors.
The demand for security and risk expertise has never been greater.
The World Economic Forum has found that nearly two-thirds of organisations now identify geopolitical threats as their primary risk challenge, and 80% of senior risk decision-makers say early threat detection is a competitive advantage. Graduates of this programme are positioned to deliver exactly that.
Our graduates work in:
government ministries
intelligence agencies
international organisations
consultancies
NGOs
leading private-sector firms
or wherever else consequential decisions about security and risk are made.
They do so both within Denmark but also internationally – from New York through Paris and Addis Adaba towards Singapore.
As you progress in your studies, you will also be able to shape your own future. The MSc is designed to allow progressive specialization across your studies – through assignments, case-studies, internships, regular practitioner contact, and your final thesis.
You leave the MSc in Security Risk Managment with:
a strong command of risk methodologies,
deep knowledge of international security politics, and
the strategic judgement to advise organisations navigating an era of persistent uncertainty
The success of our recent graduates reflects this – virtually zero unemployment, and very high starting salaries.
In short, the MSc in Security Risk Management equips you with a distinctive professional profile: rigorous risk analysis methodology combined with a sharp understanding of the international political realities shaping organisations and governments today. In a world where the threats keep evolving, so will you.
The MSc in Security Risk Management is part of the Department of Political Science. The department is a world-leading academic environment and founder of the Copenhagen School of Security Studies. It has a deep legacy of converting critical academic theories of security into real-world impact.
We host thousands of students who explore the full gamut of topics of relevance to politics, international relations, and security today. Students at Security Risk Management form a core part of this vibrant academic environment and regularly participate – beyond the classroom – in the wider activities of the Department.
The Department of Political Science is situated right in the heart of Copenhagen only a few steps from the city centre. The old buildings of what used to be a hospital set the frame for a vibrant student life with student cafés, a very popular weekly Friday bar, various student associations and many other social events.
Students at Security Risk Management occupy a special place in this ecosystem. Given the highly international and interdisciplinary nature of the student body, our cohorts and alumni develop a tight identity and bond. The SRM student associations host their own social events, career fairs, and other activities, and often forge relationships that continue for years after their studies are completed.
Meet Gus, an American master's student at UCPH. In this video, he shares his thoughts on what it's like to live in Denmark's capital. About expectations and experiences, bike culture, public space and his favorite part of Copenhagen.
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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.
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