Master in Mathematics

Master in Mathematics is one of 5 English-taught Mathematics programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 3 institutions. 5 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 4,545 to EUR 17,300; this programme lists EUR 8,700 a year. 5 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students. The same programme title is offered at 3 institutions, so compare the content, campus and requirements before you choose.

The MSc in Mathematics at the University of Copenhagen gives you a command of mathematics as a scientific language, the language used to understand structures and solve problems across society. The programme is taught in English and is built around a large amount of academic freedom.

What you study

You choose from a long list of restricted elective and elective courses. The list covers algebra, analysis, geometry and topology, and it also reaches into application-oriented areas such as mathematical physics, probability theory and optimisation. Cultural disciplines are there too: the history of mathematics and the didactics of mathematics.

Named courses on the programme page include Algebra 3, Algebraic Topology, Commutative Algebra, Functional Analysis, Geometry 2, Brownian Motion, Partial Differential Equations, Riemannian Geometry, Introduction to Quantum Computing, Quantum Information Theory, Elliptic Curves, K-Theory and Operator Algebras. The list is long, and you can shape a course of study that matches the career track you want.

You can also study mathematics with a minor subject. That option is only for applicants with a Danish bachelor's degree in mathematics that includes the required courses from the minor subject. The minor subject courses are taught in Danish.

How the programme is organised

The two-year degree is made up of 60 ECTS in restricted elective courses, 30 ECTS in elective courses and a 30 ECTS thesis. Each semester has two blocks, and one block equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

In the standard structure, the first year is filled with restricted electives. The second year starts with 30 ECTS of electives and ends with the thesis. If you take a minor subject, the balance shifts: 45 ECTS in restricted electives, 45 ECTS in the minor subject and a 30 ECTS thesis. The page shows example course tables for a September start and a February start with a minor subject inside the field of science.

Who it suits

This programme suits someone who wants to go deep into mathematics and does not want a fixed set of modules. You should be comfortable choosing your own courses and building a coherent profile. If you are aiming at upper secondary teaching or work at a university college, the minor subject route is the one that gives you two subjects to teach. If you want research, the thesis and the range of advanced courses give you a base for a PhD.

Admission, language and next steps

You apply through the application portal. A bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Copenhagen gives you a legal right of admission, which means a guaranteed place if you apply by the deadline. You can use that right up to three years after finishing your bachelor's degree. Certain other degrees automatically meet the academic requirements, including Mathematics with the BSc elective subject course package from Aarhus University and Mathematics (etfagsuddannelse) from Aalborg University.

Other Danish or international degrees are assessed individually. The programme must include at least 30 ECTS in mathematical analysis, at least 22.5 ECTS in linear algebra and algebra, and at least 15 ECTS in geometry and topology. You must document English at the English B level unless you have a legal right of admission. The university does not offer pre-assessment of your background.

Applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland have a deadline of 15 January for a September start. Applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland have a deadline of 1 March. Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland study free of charge. Other students pay a fee set by the institution. If there are more qualified applicants than places after legal right applicants are placed, applicants are ranked by their total ECTS credits in mathematics.

Master’s applications go straight to University of Copenhagen, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. The register shows 15 January 2027 as the next deadline for this programme. Intake, as the register states it: Starts 1 September 2027 (apply by 15 January 2027). 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.