The master's degree rule

The rule applies if you have completed a master's degree equivalent to a Danish master's degree programme, as long as the level of the programme corresponds to a Danish master's degree programme. 

Check if you master's degree is equivalent to a Danish master's degree at the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science. 

The master’s degree rule is an admission restriction that applies if you have already completed a master’s degree programme or will complete one before study start. The rule only applies if your master's degree is recognised as equivalent to a Danish master's degree.

The rule means that you can only be accepted for admission to a bachelor's programme if there are more available student places than applicants for the programme you are applying for.

As all bachelor’s programmes at SDU have a limited number of student places and the number of students vary from year to year, it is not possible to know in advance which programmes have vacant places or will have vacant student places in the coming year.

You can still apply for admission even though you have a master's degree, but your chances of admission may be limited.

You can still apply for admission even if you are subject to the master’s degree rule. You apply for admission through the regular admission process via optagelse.dk no later than 15 March at 12 noon (CET). 

You must meet all admission requirements for the programme to be accepted for admission.

You will receive a reply to your application on 28 July via SDU's self-service system sdu.dk/admission.

If a programme has vacant student places, but fewer places than applicants who are subject to the master's degree rule, SDU will have to prioritise between applicants.  

If you have participated in the admission test (uniTEST), the test result determines how your application is prioritised.

If you have not participated in the admission test (uniTEST), your application will be prioritised based on your GPA (Grade Point Average) from your qualifying education.

Applicants who participated in the uniTEST are prioritised over applicants with GPA only. Therefore you are strongly recommended to participate in uniTEST.

You may apply for exemption from the master's degree rule if you can document that you are no longer able to use your master’s degree professionally due to exceptional circumstances.

Examples of exceptional circumstances may include:

• loss of working capacity
• medically documented physical or mental limitations. 

You cannot be granted an exemption based on:

• a wish to change career or field of study
• lack of job opportunities
• personal interest or preference
• unemployment or general labour market conditions.

How to apply for exemption

To apply for an exemption from the master’s degree rule, you must:

• apply for admission through the regular admission process via optagelse.dk (open from 1 February - 15 March) 
• fill in and submit SDU's exemption form (available 1 February - 15 March) 

SDU attaches the exemption form to your application.

Deadline for application is 15 March at 12 noon (CET).

Documentation

Remember to upload documentation to optagelse.dk when you apply for admission: 

• your master’s degree certificate
• professional documentation (e.g. medical certificates or specialist statements) explaining why you can no longer use the degree professionally

Documentation must be relevant, clear and issued by a qualified professional.

Assessment of your application

When assessing your application, SDU considers if: 

• the circumstances are exceptional.
• the circumstances permanently prevent you from using your master’s degree professionally.
• the documentation clearly supports your application for exemption.

If an exemption is granted, your application for admission will be assessed on the same basis as other applicants. An exemption does not guarantee admission.

You will receive a reply via SDU’s self-service system sdu.dk/admission.