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A new edu­ca­tion­al land­scape at CBS

From 2027, CBS will offer 1-year master programmes and more part-time master programmes. This entails new programmes, some restructured programmes and few programmes that will be closed. We do all this to modernise and future-proof our programmes, support lifelong learning and create stronger alignment between education and the labour market.

Education Learning Politics

About the master programme reform

In the summer 2023, a broad political agreement adopted the so-called master programme reform, which is a reform of university programmes in Denmark.

The aim of the reform is to modernise and future-proof higher education programmes, support lifelong learning and create stronger links between education and the labour market.

Students should have more pathways through the education system, and it should be easier to return to university later in life to update knowledge and competences.

What does the reform mean for CBS?

For CBS, the reform means that around 40 % of study places on the two-year master programmes must be converted into the new formats. 

We expect that the approx. 3,000 study places in CBS' master programmes will be distributed as follows in 2032:

  • A maximum of 1,800 study places in 2-year master programmes
  • Approx. 1,200 study places across in 1-year master programmes and part-time master programmes (erhvervskandidat)

The implementation will take place gradually in three phases, in 2028, 2030 and 2032 respectively, after which the reform will be fully implemented.

New programmes at CBS

For CBS, the reform is an opportunity to rethink the overall programme portfolio and enhance collaboration with the business community and society. CBS does not only aim to meet the requirements of the reform but is actively working to shape future programmes so they match the needs and opportunities emerging in a rapidly changing world.

Lifelong learning – flexible education

CBS also aims to place a stronger focus on lifelong learning, which is about creating more flexible programmes that enable current and prospective students to pursue education and further competence development throughout their lives, rather than necessarily completing their education with a master programme.

The background is a broad recognition that Denmark’s future welfare, competitiveness and workforce depend on an education system that increasingly offers continuous learning throughout life.

Examples of new flexible education include:

  • 1-year master programmes
  • part-time master programmes
  • modular learning pathways
  • hybrid teaching formats

A new programme portfolio

To make room for study places on new programmes, it is necessary to reduce the number of study places in other programmes. This means that a small number of existing master programmes will have to be discontinued, as CBS may only offer a limited number of study places at master level. CBS is therefore adjusting its overall portfolio of master programmes.

What happens now?

CBS is working to develop, rearrange and close programmes. We will gradually implement the changes towards 2032.

A new educational landscape at CBS

The changes include:

1. Closure of programmes

To make room for new study places on new programmes, it is necessary to reduce the number of study places on other programmes.

CBS has therefore decided to discontinue the following programmes:

  • MSc in Economics and Business Administration in People and Business Development – last intake in 2025
  • MSc in Economics and Business Administration in Sales Management – last intake in 2028
  • Cand.merc.(kom.) – erhvervsøkonomi og virksomhedskommunikation – last intake in 2028
  • the concentration Diversity Change Management på  MSc in Business, Language and Culture virksomhedskommunikation – last intake in 2025. Please note that the programme MSc in Business, Language and Culture will continue.

2. Changes to natural progression and legal claim

As a consequence of CBS closing some programmes and developing new programmes, the natural progression will change for the following bachelor programmes:

New legal claims for 3 bachelor programmes from 2029:

  • BSc in International Shipping & Trade – new legal claim: MSc EBA in Supply Chain Management (75 ECTS)
  • HA i markeds- og kulturanalyse – new legal claim: Cand.merc. i Advanced Strategic Marketing (75 ECTS)
  • HA(kom.) – erhvervsøkonomi og virksomhedskommunikation – new legal claim: MSc in Business Administration and Digital Business (120 ECTS)

New legal claims for 5 bachelor programmes from 2030:

  • BSc in Business Administration and Service Management – new legal claim: MSc in Economics and Business Administration in Accounting Strategy and Control (75 ECTS)
  • BSc in International Business – new legal claim: MSc in Applied Economics and Finance (75 ECTS) 
  • HA i erhvervsøkonomi – new legal claim: MSc in Economics and Business Administration in General Management and Analytics (75 ECTS)
  • HA i projektledelse – new legal claim: MSc in Economics and Business Administration in Accounting Strategy and Control (75 ECTS)
  • HA(fil.) – erhvervsøkonomi og filosofi – new legal claim: MSc in Economics and Business Administration in Strategy, Organisation and Leadership (120 ECTS)

You can read more and find all natural progressions for CBS' bachelor programmes on Natural progressions

3. Conversion of programmes

CBS must reduce the number of places on 2-year master programmes and increase the number of places on 1-year master programmes and part-time master programmes.

To ensure that CBS continues to offer strong and in-demand academic fields that are attractive to both students and employers, we have decided to retain existing master programmes and reorganising them into 1-year programmes of 75 ECTS.

The following programmes will be restructured into 1-year full-time programmes of 75 ECTS:

  • MSc in Economics and Finance – Applied Economics – expected first intake in 2027
  • MSSc in Organisational Innovation and Entrepreneurship – expected first intake in 2028
  • MSc in Economics and Business Administration in Supply Chain Management – expected first intake in 2028
  • MSc in Economics and Business Administration in General Management and Analytics – expected first intake in 2030
  • MSc in Economics and Business Administration in Accounting Strategy and Control – expected first intake in 2030

We are also working on reorganising additional master programmes into part-time master programmes. These are still under development, which means that we do not yet know which programmes will be included or when they will be offered. 

Why will these programmes be converted?

CBS has prioritised to reorganise programmes that attract a high number of applicants and have strong relevance for the labour market, and that focus on academic fields where we believe a new format will be successful both academically and in the labour market.

4. Development of new programmes

CBS is continuously working to develop future programmes so they match the needs and opportunities emerging in the labour market in a rapidly changing world. The new programme formats consist of three different types of programmes:

Part-time master programmes:

The new part-time master programmes are developed in close collaboration with the companies and sectors that will employ the graduates. 

One of the new part-time master programmes currently under development is:

  • Part-time master in Strategic Financial Management – expected first intake in 2027

We are working on developing more part-time master programmes. These are still under development, which means that we do not yet know which programmes will be included or when they will be offered. 

Read more about Part-time master programmes at CBS

1-year programmes:

The new 1-year master programmes are research-based and at the same academic level as other master programmes but are designed as more intensive studies. The programmes are completed with a final project that is less extensive than a traditional master thesis, while still being research-based. They all amount to 75 ECTS.

Some of the new 1-year master programmes under development include:

  • MSc in AI for Business – expected first intake in 2027
  • MSc in Geopolitics and Global Business – expected first intake in 2028
  • MSc in Management – expected first intake in 2028
  • MSc in Business Administration and Economics in Advanced Strategic Marketing – expected first intake in 2029

The 1-year master programmes are intended as flexible and modular building blocks within lifelong learning. They allow you to start with a shorter, professionally oriented master programme and later build on it with courses, modules or specially designed pathways that can be combined with work and family life. In this way, they enable you to continue your education throughout your life, ensuring that your competences match the labour market and the world around you.