The development of a new master’s degree landscape at SDU

With the implementation basis, a decision has been made on the overall organisation, timeline and common principles that will ensure a coordinated effort across the entire University. This marks the beginning of the next phase in shaping a new master’s degree landscape at SDU.

From September 2026, SDU will offer the first new degree programmes, including a one-year MSc programme in Economics and Business Administration and a master’s degree programme for working professionals in Software Engineering. Towards 2028, we will develop more than 40 new programmes across the faculties, including both one-year master’s degree programmes and new types of master’s degree programmes for working professionals. In addition, a framework must be established for supplementary master’s degree certificates of 45 ECTS.

A large, shared development task

- This is a comprehensive development task that goes far beyond local programme development efforts in the academic environments. We must also create an administrative and organisational framework to support the new programme formats. And we must communicate clearly about the opportunities to students and partners in the business and public sectors, explains Pro-Rector Helle Waagepetersen.

The work is based on SDU’s strategy and builds on the University’s many years of experience in developing research-based programmes at a high academic level.

The strategy sets the direction

SDU’s strategy sets the direction for the development of the new master’s degree landscape in three key areas:

• For and with society: SDU will strengthen its role as a knowledge partner for the Region and for society at large. The new degree programmes will contribute to closer interaction with the labour market and give businesses and public organisations easier access to research-based knowledge.

• Talented students: SDU will have a more varied master’s degree landscape that attracts a broader range of students, from those seeking in-depth academic knowledge, to those who want a shorter and more targeted path – or those who want to combine work and studies.

• Lifelong learning: The reform will leverage new opportunities for further and continuing education so that SDU can offer research-based competences to people in employment throughout their working lives.

A joint programme across SDU

The implementation effort is gathered in a joint SDU programme with ten cross-cutting tracks. The faculties will drive the development of the new programmes, and the Central Administration will provide support, including frameworks, coordination and administrative solutions.

The joint organisation will support SDU in developing a unified and coherent master’s degree landscape with a clear profile towards 2032, when the last programmes will be ready.

Increased flexibility and relevance

- The Master’s Degree Reform gives us the opportunity to rethink how we organise education programmes and how we collaborate with the surrounding society. The task calls for close collaboration and constructive dialogue across faculties, departments and administration, says Helle Waagepetersen and continues:

- Questions and challenges will arise along the way, and we will need to discuss and solve them together as they arise. We will use the Reform as a means of increasing the flexibility and relevance of our master’s degree programmes, and we will become even stronger as a university – for our students and for the surrounding society.