Master in Strategic Design and Entrepreneurship (MSSc SDE)

Master in Strategic Design and Entrepreneurship (MSSc SDE) is one of 8 English-taught Entrepreneurship programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 7 institutions. 7 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 5,000 to EUR 9,000; this programme lists EUR 8,000 a year. 3 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

Strategic Design and Entrepreneurship is a two year master programme run jointly by Copenhagen Business School and the Royal Danish Academy. You study on both campuses, in Frederiksberg and at Holmen in Copenhagen, and you work with business students, designers and architects in the same cohort. The programme is taught in English and carries 120 ECTS.

What you study

The first year is built around set courses. In the autumn you take Entrepreneurship Theory and Finance (7.5 ECTS) and Research Methods (7.5 ECTS). In the spring you take Strategic Design, Law and Ethics (7.5 ECTS) and Management Accounting for Design and Innovation (7.5 ECTS), plus Strategic Design and Consulting (15 ECTS). Collaborative Design Processes (15 ECTS) is taught by the Royal Danish Academy on Holmen.

The mix is deliberate: entrepreneurial finance, accounting, legal strategy, design management and research methods on one side, teamwork, problem solving and cross disciplinary communication on the other. The programme describes its content as roughly 45 per cent organisation and management and 55 per cent innovation and entrepreneurship.

How the programme is organised

Hands on learning starts from day one. You solve real challenges set by industry partners in sectors such as construction, healthcare, finance and manufacturing, through innovation sprints, design competitions and entrepreneurial projects. The Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship gives you networking and support if you want to build your own venture.

The third semester is yours to shape: electives at CBS or other Danish universities, a minor package of typically three courses, an exchange at one of CBS' more than 300 partner universities, or an academic internship in Denmark or abroad finished with a project report. The fourth semester is the 30 ECTS master's thesis, usually written with a fellow student.

The two institutions teach differently. CBS expects independent work and flexible time management; the Royal Academy works hands on with close dialogue and feedback from teachers and supervisors. Classes are spread across the week, so the schedule is full.

Who it suits

The cohort is small, about 20 students, and international, with 76 per cent foreign students. You should want to work across disciplines and respect teaching cultures different from your own. The programme suits someone who enjoys both analytical problem solving and creative, people oriented teamwork, and who is willing to show up: attendance and participation matter in this community.

Admission, language and next steps

Everything is taught in English. If your bachelor's degree was not taught in English, CBS recommends reading its guidance for English taught programmes before you apply. Applications for master's programmes go directly to the institution. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee that the institution sets. CBS runs Open Days where you can meet students and staff, and all CBS students can use the career services.

Master’s applications go straight to Copenhagen Business School, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.