Regulations
The University of Copenhagen enables you to train as a researcher and gain a PhD in accordance with the provisions of Ministry of Higher Education and Science Order No. 1124 of 19 September 2025 on PhD qualifications.
- The PhD order No. 1124 of 19 September 2025 (in Danish)
UCPH's common PhD regulations and guidelines
The University of Copenhagen has adopted a set of common regulations and guidelines for PhD students admitted to UCPH.
- UCPH's common PhD regulations and guidelines (pdf)
- UCPH's common guidelines for competency development for PhD supervisors (pdf)
- UCPH guidelines for PhD defenses (pdf)
- Procedure relating to overlap with pre-existing text in PhD theses (pdf)
- UCPH's guidelines on AI-assisted technologies in PhD theses
UCPH’s common regulations and guidelines set out the common minimum standards for PhD studies at the University.
Faculties each set additional provisions. UCPH’s common regulations and guidelines can therefore not 'stand alone' but should be read in conjunction with the additional provisions of the relevant graduate school.
Complaint guidance for PhD-students
According to the Danish PhD Order, you can file a complaint with the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science about legal issues relating to a decision by your PhD School.
The deadline for filing a complaint is two weeks from the day you received the decision.
In accordance with section 30 (1) of the Order, complaints filed with the Agency are limited to legal issues, which means that you can complain if you find that the rules that are applicable to the case processing and the decision made have not been complied with. You cannot complain about the academic assessments that have provided the grounds for the PhD School’s decision.
You must submit your complaint by email to the relevant graduate school.
The PhD School then gives a statement in the case, which you will receive for commenting. The deadline for submitting comments to the statement will be at least one week, but you will be informed about the exact date when you receive the statement. The University then forwards the complaint and the University's statement to the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science along with your comments and any other relevant documents in the case."