The academic culture is built around a quite informal student-teacher relationship, where you are encouraged to ask questions, express your opinion, and take part in the academic discussion. Meaning that students are expected to be able to analyse and discuss material, both in class, in group work, and within the final examination.
You can expect lectures, group work as well as discussion-based teaching. Exams are either written or oral exams.
Academic System
For more information about our examination rules, types of exams and other exam related information, please check out the study programme site at MySDU.
ECTS is short for the European Credit Transfer System. This system is widely used across Europe to make it easier to compare the workload of courses across national borders. It is also used as the credit system at the University of Southern Denmark.
A full semester workload equals 30 ECTS credits. Two semesters equal 60 ECTS credits.
Exchange and guest students are expected to take a full workload during their stay at the University, including exams.
Full degree students
As a full degree student you receive a digital diploma when you graduate. You can find more information here.
Exchange and guest students
As soon as your transcript is ready, you will receive an email in your SDU e-mail account with information on how to access your personal Digital Diploma Mailbox, where you can access your transcript.
Transcripts are issued March for the exams completed in December and January and in August/September for the exams completed in May and June.
Share with your home university
To get credit recognition for the courses taken at SDU, you will need to share your transcript with your home university – according to your home university’s procedures for credit transfer.
Read more
The Danish grading system is in form of a 7-point grading scale. It is compatible with the ECTS grading scale.
| Grade | Description | ECTS |
| 12 | For an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material, with no or only a few minor weaknesses. |
A |
| 10 | For a very good performance displaying a high level of command of most aspects of the relevant material, with only minor weaknesses. |
B |
| 7 | For a good performance displaying good command of the relevant material but also some weaknesses. |
C |
| 4 | For a fair performance displaying some command of the relevant material but also some major weaknesses. |
D |
| 2 | For a performance meeting only the minimum requirements for acceptance. |
E |
| 00 | For a performance which does not meet the minimum requirements for acceptance. |
F |
| -3 | For a performance which is unacceptable in all respects. | Fx |
You can also read more about the Danish grading system on the Ministry of Higher Education and Science's website.
Academic calendar in general
- Orientation and introduction days: At the end of August until a few days before the semester starts.
- Classes: Take place from 1 September until the end of December.
- Exams: Take place in December and January. Exams can be scheduled as late as 31 January.
- Reexams: Take place from 1 February to 28 February.
- Orientation and introduction days: At the end of January until a few days before the semester starts.
- Classes: Take place from 1 February until the end of May.
- Exams: Take place in May and June. Exams can be scheduled as late as 30 June.
- Reexams: Take place from 1 August to 31 August.
At our Faculty of Health Sciences, the semester is divided into quarters:
- Courses are either located on the first quarter (September-November and February-April) or the second quarter (November-January and April-June).
- A quarter consist of 7 teaching weeks and 2 examination weeks.
Vacation:
- No classes or exams take place in July.
- Autumn break in week 42.
- No classes or exams take place from Christmas Eve (24 December) to New Year’s Day (1 January).
The last day of exams in December is the last working day before Christmas Eve.
The first day of exams in January is the first working day after New Year’s Day.
Public holidays
Click on Holiday for dates.
| Holiday | Comments |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | |
| Maundy Thursday | The Thursday before Easter Sunday |
| Good Friday | Friday before Easter Sunday |
| Easter Monday | Monday after Easter Sunday |
| General Prayer Day | The 4th Friday after Easter |
| Ascension Day | 39 days after Easter Sunday |
| Whitmonday | 7th Monday after Easter. Also Known as Pentecost Monday |
| Christmas Eve Day | |
| Christmas Day | |
| Second Day of Christmas | Celebrated on 26th December |