Professional Master’s degree programmes are a new type of higher education programme at master’s level. The first programmes will be offered with study start in summer 2026.
A Professional Master’s degree programme is a practice-oriented top-up programme that builds on a relevant professional bachelor’s degree within the welfare professions. The programme is targeted at persons who wish to further develop their professional competences for work in the citizen-facing welfare sector.
Professional Master’s degree programmes combine practice-oriented theory, methodology, research and development-based knowledge. The programmes are based on the tasks, professional practice and development needs of the profession. They are intended to strengthen the student’s ability to analyse, assess and handle complex tasks within the welfare professions.
Professional Master’s degree programmes are placed at level 7 of the Danish Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning. The programmes correspond to 75 ECTS credits and are, as a general rule, organised as full-time programmes that can be completed in 12 months.
The programmes include, among other elements, compulsory national subject elements, a practice-oriented element and a final Professional Master’s project.
Professional Master’s degree programmes will be established gradually from 2026.
The first Professional Master’s degree programme to be offered from 2026 is the Professional Master’s degree programme in educational-psychological counselling.
A total of four to six Professional Master’s degree programmes are expected to be established towards 2028.
Professional Master’s degree programmes are offered by university colleges.
Information about specific Professional Master’s degree programmes, institutions, admission requirements and application deadlines is available on the Danish national education portal, UddannelsesGuiden, and on the websites of the individual educational institutions.
Read more about Professional Master’s degree programmes on UddannelsesGuiden
Applications for admission to a Professional Master’s degree programme are submitted via NemStudie.
Admission to a Professional Master’s degree programme generally requires a relevant professional bachelor’s degree or another relevant Danish or foreign qualification at the same level.
The specific admission requirements depend on the individual Professional Master’s degree programme. The individual educational institution assesses whether the applicant meets the admission requirements for the specific programme.
Application deadlines, admission procedures, documentation requirements and response dates may vary between programmes and institutions. This information is available from the university college offering the programme.
Professional Master’s degree programmes are being established as part of the reform of professional bachelor’s and academy profession programmes.
In March 2025, a political agreement was concluded on the reform of professional bachelor’s and academy profession programmes in Denmark.
The main purpose of the reform is to strengthen the quality and academic level of professional bachelor’s and academy profession programmes.
The reform is intended to contribute to a higher education landscape with a better balance between different types of higher education programmes, attractive programmes across Denmark and more opportunities for education and professional development throughout working life.
Read more about the reform of professional bachelor’s and academy profession programmes
