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Opens 15 November for applicants from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, and 16 January for applicants from within the EU/EEA/Switzerland.
About the programme
The program gives students the ability to analyze and manage the security threats, risks and crises faced by public organizations and private companies in pursuit of socially, politically and economically sustainable solutions. Through a combination of theoretical, empirical and methodological insights, graduates will thus be able to find innovative solutions and identify opportunities for change in the complex and risky society.
Admission and application
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.
Academic admission requirements
Here you'll find the different academic requirements depending on which qualifying degree you hold.
Academic admission requirements
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.
- BSc in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen
- BSc in Social Sciences with minor subject (DK: sidefag) from the University of Copenhagen
- BSc in Sociology from the University of Copenhagen
- BSc in Anthropology from the University of Copenhagen
- BSc in Political Science from Aarhus University
- BSc in Social Sciences with subsidiary subject from Aarhus University
- BSc in Anthropology from Aarhus University
- BSc in Political Science from the University of Southern Denmark.
- BSc in Social Sciences with subsidiary subject from the University of Southern Denmark.
- BSc in Sociology and Cultural Analysis from the University of Southern Denmark
- BSc in Sociology from Aalborg University
- BSc in Public Administration from Aalborg University
- BSc in International Business and Politics from Copenhagen Business School
- BSc in International Business from Copenhagen Business School
- BSc in Social Science with International Studies and Politics and Administration from Roskilde University
- BSc in Social Science with International Studies (one-subject) from Roskilde University
- BSc in Social Science with Politics and Administration (one-subject) from Roskilde University
In order to be admitted into the Master’s programme in Security Risk Management, applicants must fulfil the following requirements:
- A bachelor degree in the field of Social Science.
- The qualifying bachelor 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. (For information on how to meet the language requirements, please click here).
Degrees that do not qualify for admission
The following degrees do not qualify for admission and will not be taken into consideration:
- Marketing (fx. Marketing Management)
- Engineering (fx. Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering, Chemical Engineering)
- Communication and Media studies
- Public Accountancy
- Language studies
- Psychology
- Geography
- Public Relations
- Tourism studies
- Art studies
- Journalism
- Social Work
- Science degrees (biology, chemistry, technology, mathematics etc.)
As a rule of thumb a degree in business studies does not qualify. However, applicants whose business degree contains an international, sociological, organizational, political or cultural perspective might be taken into consideration depending on the total amount of ECTS/credits within social sciences.
As a rule of thumb a degree in the humanities does not qualify. These include History, Philosophy, Literature and Cultural studies. However, applicants whose humanities degree contains half or more of ECTS/credits within the social sciences might be taken into consideration.
Language requirements
All applicants must document qualifications on par with the Danish upper secondary school ‘English 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.
Qualifications in research methods
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:
- An introduction to research design in political science and the social sciences in general and the related reflections on research questions, choice of research method, data collection and analysis.
- Thorough and nuanced knowledge of the possibilities and limitations in using qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
- Data gathering, pre-processing and analysis using statistical software (such as SPSS, Stata, SAS, or R).
- A thorough introduction and practical experience in conducting qualitative interviews and content coding interview material.
- Introduction to qualitative methods other than interviewing such as participant observation, ethnographic field studies or discourse analysis within the social sciences.
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:
- Descriptive statistics
- ANOVA
- Linear Regression (OLS)
- Logistic regression
Examples of qualitative research methods within the social sciences:
- Interviews
- Case studies
- Process tracing
- Ethnographic field studies
Examples of what is not considered as qualitative and/or quantitative research methods in social science:
- Qualitative methods in legal studies
- Philosophy of science
- Introductory courses to fields and disciplines
- Skills training in writing, language presentation etc.
Application deadlines
Study start in September
1 March at 23:59
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.
15 January at 23:59
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.
Application procedure
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.
How your application is assessed
Prioritisation of applicants
As the Master’s 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 fulfill the admission requirements, a selection will be made on the basis of a comprehensive evaluation, with emphasis on the following criteria:
- Grade point average from the qualifying bachelor’s degree
- The proportion of relevant courses taken as part of the BA (measured as ECTS)
- Grades for particularly relevant courses
Relevant courses are defined as courses that fall within the general field of security risk management, either theoretically, methodologically and/or empirically.
Admission Restriction
The programme accepts a maximum of 48 students in September 2024.
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’s degree admission rule. Read more about the master's degree admission rule and the possibility of applying for dispensation here.
| Admission statistics Security Risk Management 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted | 72 |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 0% / 100% |
| Applicants | 216 |
| Age average | 24 |
| Legal gender distribution (cpr. - m/f) | 33% / 67% |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 35% / 65% |
| Available spots | No |
Programme structure
The MSc programme in Security Risk Management is a full-time 2-year programme (120 ECTS), which is completed with a master's thesis. The programme is taught in English.
The first year consists of six compulsory courses and two elective courses. The second year consists of four elective courses and the master's thesis.
The MSc in Security Risk Management is an innovative combination of both research-based teaching and involvement of practitioners and real-life cases that enables graduates to operate and deal with issues of security and risk in complex and changing organizational environments. The teaching is thus comprised by a mix of classroom lectures, guest lectures by practitioners, seminars, student discussions and exercises based on real-life working situations (e.g. policy assessments, crisis communication exercises and compilations of work-life products).
Teaching staff
The teaching staff at the MSc programme in Security Risk Management comprises of a wide range of well-renowned researchers within the field of security and risk studies.
Year 1
Year 2
Elective courses provide students with the option to choose an orientation within the programme and develop more specific interest and competences.
It is possible to study abroad as part of your MSc in Security Risk Management. Students in the MSc Programme in Security Risk Management are entitled to transfer a maximum of 30 ECTS credits from another educational institution in Denmark or abroad. However, courses must correspond to the courses in the MSc programme and you are only allowed to replace optional courses.
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.
Why study abroad?
A main objective of studying abroad is to further widen 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 inputs, international contacts and may be able to provide you with references which can prove useful. If you have a successful study abroad experience academically, you are also more likely to benefit socially and culturally.
Exchange agreements
The University of Copenhagen has an extensive number of exchange agreements with universities world wide. For more information about exchange programmes and partner universities available at the University of Copenhagen, click here.
Students at the Security Risk Management programme have the opportunity to replace elective elements with an academic internship corresponding to 15 or 30 ECTS.
The purpose of the academic internship is to enable students to gain knowledge, experience and insights into ‘security risk management in practice’. The aim is that students, by their presence and active participation in performing relevant task(s) in a workplace, become able to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical context. Internship sites for Security Risk Management students are very diverse, ranging from government agencies, private companies and NGOs involved in security issues. The academic internship is concluded with an academic paper assessed by a supervisor from the department.
Master thesis
Thesis-writing involves students using the theories and methods of the programme to produce a major, written academic assignment that analyses an issue chosen by the student.
A compulsory part of writing the thesis is the thesis seminar, which provides students with general knowledge and guidance in the use of methodology, writing assignments, structuring both the written product and management of the workflow, as well as other relevant elements. An important element of the thesis seminar is the students’ own active participation, and they are required to both present their own work and oppose the work of others. In connection to the seminar, students will receive a one-week course in dissemination and analytical strategy. As an integral part of thesis-writing, students are also assigned a supervisor
Career opportunities
The MSc programme, in Security Risk Management is an innovative combination of research-based teaching and involvement of practice and practitioners. The programme thus provides students with a solid theoretical and empirical knowledge about security policy, risk analysis and organisations in a global and changeable world. Students will achieve the analytical tools to understand and analyse complex risk and security issues and developments, as well as the ability to plan and implement strategic processes in organisations and companies. The purpose of the programme is to train graduates, through critical reflection and professional insights, to identify opportunities for change in the complex and risky environments in which they operate and to put these reflections into action.
Competences
Upon graduating you will be awarded the academic title Master of Science (MSc) in Security Risk Management (in Danish: cand.soc. i sikkerheds- og risikoledelse). If you click on the buttom on the right you can read more about what you will be able to as a graduate in Security Risk Management.
Career opportunities
The MSc in Security Risk Management provides graduates with an innovative professional profile. This profile entails both a methodological knowledge of risk analysis and an understanding of the international political reality that face organisations and private companies today.
Student life
Academic environment
The MSc in Security Risk Management is part of the Department of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen. The Department of Political Science provides an active academic environment with its about 1700 students and strong and international research in a wide range of areas within political science. In terms of security and risk research the department is one of the leading in the world today having established the research centres Centre for Advanced Security Theory (CAST), Centre for Resolution of International Conflicts (CRIC) and Centre for Military Studies (CMS). Together these three centres both provide research in security theory, risk and peace as well as military solutions to world conflicts. Furthermore, they offer various lectures and workshops in which students can participate. In addition to security and risk, the department also provides strong research in organisation and management as well as researchers specialised in Asia, Europe and Africa.
Social environment
Being a student in the MSc programme in Security Risk Management is not only an academic experience. 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. Moreover, the University of Copenhagen has a sports association, KSI, which offers all students more than 80 different sporting activities. There are thus plenty of opportunities to meet and socialise with fellow students. Please click here for more information about student life and studying at UCPH
City Campus
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.
Contact student guidance
Questions about admissions
Please write admissions-guidance@samf.ku.dk if you have questions about:
- Admissions requirements
- Language requirements
- Application procedure
- Accepted documentation of qualifications
- Tuition fees and/or scholarships
Please write admissions@samf.ku.dk if you have questions or require guidance in relation to:
- A pending application (en ansøgning du har sendt af sted)
- Technical guidance in relation to the Application Portal
- Visa and Danish residence permit
Questions about the programme
For information on academic content, assessment of education, study, or career opportunities.
Contact the Student Advisory ServiceLocation
- Faculty of Social Sciences, City Campus, Øster Farimagsgade 5, DK-1357 København.
