New faculty structure at the University of Copenhagen

The University Leadership, comprising the Rectorate and the deans, will change the academic structure of the University of Copenhagen/UCPH. The new structure is to create more cohesion, a better balance and better opportunities for academic leadership.

The Faculty of Theology and the Faculty of Humanities will be merged as well as the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Sciences. Two new faculties will be established based on the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences: one focusing on the pre-clinical disciplines and one focusing on the clinical disciplines.

Likewise, two new faculties will be established based on the Faculty of Science with one for the classical natural science disciplines and the other for life sciences and geoscience. See the six new faculties below.

Changes throughout history

This is not the first time that UCPH has changed the faculty structure. UCPH was founded in 1479 with the four classical faculties of the Middle Ages: theology, law, medicine and philosophy. In 1850, the natural science disciplines were separated from the Faculty of Philosophy and formed a faculty of mathematics and natural science. Since then, the academic structure at UCPH has undergone other changes, for example the major university mergers in 2007. The current faculty structure has been in place since 2012.

"The research and educational landscape changes on an ongoing basis, both nationally and internationally. In the last 15 years, the University’s faculties have evolved very differently, both in size and complexity. When the differences become too big, it challenges our balance, management power and cohesion. And then it’s difficult to create good frameworks for development, strategic prioritisation and academic management across the University, which should ensure that we continue to be the best place for the best ideas. A balanced university requires development," says Rector David Dreyer Lassen on behalf of the University Leadership.

The balance is challenged

UCPH will continue to have six faculties, but with a new structure. In general, the academic environments and current units will remain unchanged, which means that researchers, teaching staff and students will only experience minor changes on a day-to-day basis.

"The University has a historical heritage, as well as disciplines and faculties with long traditions. At the same time, we have always been evolving: along with society, when research offers new opportunities and when teaching and education require reorganisations. The new organisation is intended to strengthen the University’s position as an internationally leading research university with high-quality education and a significant impact on society – that creates benefit for more people. Everywhere at the University, the strong academic environments must be able to develop subjects and scientific disciplines and enter into new types of collaborations, both across the University and with society," says David Dreyer Lassen.

What happens next?

For the Faculty of Humanities and Theology and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, the new organisation will come into force on 1 January 2028. For the four remaining faculties, the implementation date will be 1 January 2029. The two implementation dates have been chosen in consideration of the administrative capacity to support the process.

The University Leadership will make the final decision on the future faculty structure in January 2027. Until then, the plans will be discussed in relevant forums: collaboration committees, academic councils and faculty boards.

Most students will not experience any changes in connection with the new faculty structure as contents and structures of degree programmes remain unchanged.