Academic experience

What you experience at Copenhagen Business School will be new territory to you if you have never studied in Denmark before arriving at CBS, which is why we would like to provide an introduction to the academic aspects of studying here.

 

CBS Exchange

The Danish Grading Scale
Understanding marks given according to the Danish grading scale

 
The Danish grading scale is compatible with the ECTS-grading scale, which is a credit transfer and accumulation system co-ordinated by the European Commission.
 
In order to help our partner schools understand the marks that their students have received while on exchange at CBS, we have compiled the distribution of grades given during the academic year 2015-16. Please see link below.
 
If you are applying to CBS as an international full-degree student, please visit the CBS Admission Office website for Bachelor or Master students to read more about the conversion of grades from your home country. 
 
Important links:
Exam formats

As a student at CBS, you can expect to have any of the following exam types:

  Written exam Combination written and oral exam Oral exam
Home Written project/ assignment/ case    
Home & on-campus  

1) Oral exam based on written assignment

2) Oral exam based on written assignment and curriculum

  
On-campus exam

Written exam

1) With aids

2) Without aids

  

1) Based or not based on written synopsis

2) With or without preparation

3) With or without aids


Oral exams

An oral exam on the basis of a written project is made up of two parts; both are taken into account when your grade is determined:

  • A written project you have turned in before the exam. This could be a synopsis, a case project or a paper, and it can be written individually or in a group.
  • ​An oral exam that can be a defence of the written product, a broader examination in the curriculum or a combination of both. The oral exam can be held either individually or as a group exam.
 
An oral exam is an examination in the curriculum:
 
  • Can start out with you giving a presentation you have prepared in advance.
  • Takes the form of a dialogue between you and the examiners.
  • All of your curriculum can be included in the discussions.
 
Typically your oral presentation will have the most weight in the assessment.
You should always read up on the exam form in the course description. If you are unsure, you could also speak with your lecturer about it.
 
You are welcome to see our short video about oral exams.
 
 
Group work
 
Group work is a very important part of the Danish way of teaching. It increases social skills and prepares for jobs in the real world. Most programs at CBS include considerable amounts of project work, even some exams are presented as a group. 
 
When working in groups you are expected to:
 
  • Listen and build on other students' perspectives.
  • Show flexibility, adaptability and ability to cooperate.
  • Learn how to work with different personalities and match expectations.
  • Discuss and agree.
 
You are welcome to see a short video about group work from Copenhagen University.
 
Exam aids
 
Depending on the exam form, students will have access to various exam aids during the exam. For more information, please see this FAQ about exam aids
 
For a written sit-in exam which according to the course description is an open book exam: all written and electronic aids, including internet access this applies

For a written sit-in exam which according to the course description is an exam with limited aids this applies

Student academic counseling

During the course of studies at Copenhagen Business School, you may encounter several sorts of new circumstances and CBS is happy to provide you help.


Exchange students

You are always welcome to come to the international programme coordinators at the International Office for advice. Questions should be addressed to undergrad@cbs.dk or grad@cbs.dk, for the respective level of studies. 

  • Anette Hove Cox and Lotte Vesterlund Hansen, undergraduate exchange students advisors
  • Catherine Layolle and Charlotte Inouye, graduate exchange students advisors

We will be able to guide you in most situations but as we are not professional counselors we advice you to contact the Student Counselling Service if you need help with issues such as exam anxiety, study techniques, depression, etc. 
 

International degree-seeking students

The Study Board of each program at CBS hires an older student to guide students through different problems that might arise throughout the study. The Academic Counselor participates in Study Board meetings and, therefore, has knowledge about how the Study Board handles different situations that may be useful for you to know about. Since the Academic Counselor is a student himself, s/he will often be able to advise you, as s/he may know how other students have solved similar problems. The Academic Counselor is subject to professional discretion.

If you need further help with exam anxiety, study techniques, depression, etc., please contact the Student Counselling Service.

Re-exams
You will automatically be registered for all exam attempts in the courses you are registered for. If you do not pass an exam, you will automatically be registered for the next exam attempt, regardless of whether you fail to pass, you do not show up, or you withdraw due to illness. This means you no longer need to participate (or submit a blank) at the exam to have access to the next exam attempt.
 
You have 3 exam attempts in total to pass each course. If you do not pass your 3rd attempt you can apply for an exemption for a 4th attempt.
 
For exchange students
The first exam attempt takes place within the exchange period, while the rest take place later on. Therefore, if you need to make your re-take exam abroad, the International Office is willing to bridge the communication between your home university and the study program at CBS. Please contact us at receipt.intoff@cbs.dk is such is your case.
 
For full degree students
If you need to take an exam abroad, please contact your study secretariat.

 

The page was last edited by: The International Office // 06/20/2018