Degree
Sport and health to become new signature degree programme at SDU
The bachelor’s degree programme in Sport and Health at the University of Southern Denmark will, from 2026, become part of SDU’s specially selected signature degree programmes. This marks an important step in the effort to develop degree programmes of high academic quality, with strong study environments and a close link to research and society.
As a signature degree programme, the bachelor’s degree programme in Sport and Health will reduce its intake to 45 students. This will make it possible to create a study environment with smaller classes, closer contact between lecturers and students, more feedback, a clear academic profile and a strong link to the labour market. Additional resources will be allocated to support these initiatives.
The Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics is among the world’s leading environments within sports research. The signature degree programme will build on this internationally leading research environment to make the bachelor’s degree programme an attractive elite programme as well.
– This gives us the opportunity to rethink university education and create a personal, ambitious programme that is closely linked to both research and practice, and that integrates students even more strongly into our research environments. The ambition is to develop a programme that sets a new standard within the field of sports in Denmark, says Jens Troelsen, Head of Department at the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics.
The development of the programme will take place in stages. The first initiatives will be launched as early as summer 2026, while a more comprehensive development of the programme’s content and structure will follow in the coming years.
Part of the strategy
For the Faculty of Health Sciences, the designation is part of a broader strategic initiative in which selected degree programmes are developed to admit a reduced number of highly talented students, while being organised with more teaching hours, more supervision and feedback, and an increased focus on research integration.
What is a signature degree programme?
- A specially selected programme with high academic ambition and a close link to strong research environments.
- Fewer students and greater proximity, feedback and involvement in teaching.
- A focused study environment with an emphasis on quality, engagement and a clear direction towards the labour market.
– With the signature degree programmes at SDU, we are investing in creating smaller but academically ambitious, research-based programmes that equip graduates with strong competences for the future labour market. Sport and Health has a unique starting point as an internationally leading research environment. This is an exciting process, where we can work closely with both academic environments and employers to create an even stronger programme, says Merete Munk, Head of Secretariat and Education at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The designation also includes additional resources to support the development and delivery of the programme. The aim is to create a study environment where academic immersion, engagement and close contact with research go hand in hand – and where graduates are well prepared and in demand on the labour market.
– Now the real work begins. We need to quickly translate our ambitions into concrete initiatives, so that we are ready to welcome new students after the summer break with an even stronger programme, says Jens Troelsen.
Q&A
What is a signature programme?
A lower number of students will be admitted to selected bachelor’s programmes, and the programmes will be structured to offer an ambitious academic standard, more teaching hours, more feedback and supervision, tutorials, guest lecturers, and the integration of research into the teaching.
What signature programmes will SDU offer?
History at HUM, Sports and Health at SUND, Economics at SAMF, Market and Management Anthropology at SBS and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at NAT.
How were the programmes selected?
The Rectorate has emphasised, among other things, that the programmes are clearly research-based and anchored in a strong academic environment and that there is a commitment and dedication on the part of the management to introducing new, resource-intensive formats into the programme.
What is the aim of having signature programmes?
The aim is to improve the quality of education at SDU by experimenting with teaching and learning formats that are relatively resource-heavy, which will be targeted at a smaller number of academically strong students. This provides an opportunity to generate innovation in the development of SDU’s education activities.
What is the financial situation of the signature programmes?
Funds have been allocated to the signature programmes via the research reserve for the period 2026–2029, which is expected to be extended. For the first group of signature programmes, DKK 5 million has been allocated for 2026 and DKK 10 million annually from 2027 onwards. The resources saved due to the lower number of students will be channelled directly into improving the academic quality of the programmes.
You can read more about all of SDU’s new signature degree programmes via this link.