Editing University of Copenhagen

{{short description|Public university in Copenhagen, Denmark}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox university
| name = University of Copenhagen
| native_name = {{Lang|da|Københavns Universitet}}
| latin_name = Universitas Hauniensis<ref>{{Cite book |title=Record of the Jubilee Celebrations of the University of Sydney |date=1903 |publisher=William Brooks and Co. |isbn=9781112213304 |publication-place=[[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] |language=en-AU }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Records of The Tercentenary Festival of Dublin University |date=1894 |publisher=[[Hodges Figgis|Hodges, Figgis & Co.]] |isbn=9781355361602 |publication-place=[[Dublin]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Ireland]] |language=en-IE }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Peter John |author-link=Peter John Anderson |title=Record of the Celebration of the Quatercentenary of the University of Aberdeen: From 25th to 28th September, 1906 |date=1907 |publisher=Aberdeen University Press ([[University of Aberdeen]]) |isbn=9781363625079 |publication-place=[[Aberdeen]], [[United Kingdom]] |language=en-GB }}</ref> or Hafniensis<ref>{{Cite book |title=Record of the Jubilee Celebrations of the University of Sydney |date=1903 |publisher=William Brooks and Co. |isbn=9781112213304 |publication-place=[[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]] |language=en-AU }}</ref>
| image_name = Ku-ucph-logo-svg.svg
| image_upright = 0.75
| motto = Latin: {{Lang|la|Coelestem adspicit lucem}}
| mottoeng = It (the eagle) beholds the celestial light
| established = {{start date and age|1479|6|1|df=y}}
| type = [[Public university|Public]] [[research university]]<ref name=publicuni>{{cite web|url=https://ufm.dk/en/education/higher-education/danish-universities/the-universities-in-denmark|title=About the universities|access-date=13 January 2020|publisher=Ministry of Higher Education and Science|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113173640/https://ufm.dk/en/education/higher-education/danish-universities/the-universities-in-denmark|url-status=live}}</ref>
| budget = [[Danish krone|DKK]] 8.908 bn<br />($1.338 bn) (2018)<ref name=Okonomi2018>{{cite web|url=https://om.ku.dk/tal-og-fakta/oekonomi/|title=Økonomi|date=23 August 2016|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=18 November 2019|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420095437/https://om.ku.dk/tal-og-fakta/oekonomi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| academic_staff = 5,286 (2019)<ref name="academics-and-staff">{{cite web|url=https://about.ku.dk/facts-figures/employees/|title=Employees|date=23 August 2016|publisher=University of Copenhagen|language=en|access-date=24 July 2020|archive-date=15 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815100002/https://about.ku.dk/facts-figures/employees/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| administrative_staff = 4,119 (2017)<ref name="academics-and-staff" />
| rector = Henrik C. Wegener<ref name=Rector>{{cite web|url=https://about.ku.dk/management/rector/henrik-wegener/?pure=en/persons/132206|title=Rector|date=28 February 2017|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=25 July 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725005939/https://about.ku.dk/management/rector/henrik-wegener/?pure=en/persons/132206|url-status=live}}</ref>
| students = 37,493 (2019)<ref name=FactsandFiguresStudents>{{cite web|url=https://about.ku.dk/facts-figures/students|title=Students|date=23 August 2016|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=25 July 2020|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225044846/https://about.ku.dk/facts-figures/students|url-status=live}}</ref>
| undergrad = 21,394 (2019)<ref name=FactsandFiguresStudents/>
| postgrad = 16,079 (2019)<ref name=FactsandFiguresStudents/>
| doctoral = 3,106 (2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tal.ku.dk/forskning/|title=Forskning og formidling|language=da|trans-title=Research and circulation|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=16 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726010923/http://tal.ku.dk/forskning/|archive-date=26 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| city = [[Copenhagen]]
| state = 
| country = [[Denmark]]
| campus = [[Urban area|Urban]]<br />94.2 ha (total)
| colors = {{color box|#901A1E}}&nbsp;{{color box|#666666}}<br /> [[Maroon]] and [[gray]]<ref name=UCPHColor>{{cite web|url=https://designguide.ku.dk/om_design/logo_og_farve/farver/|title=University of Copenhagen Design Guide|date=4 December 2008|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=24 August 2020|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806104105/https://designguide.ku.dk/om_design/logo_og_farve/farver/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| academic_affiliation = [[International Alliance of Research Universities|IARU]]<br />[[League of European Research Universities|LERU]]<br />[[European University Association|EUA]]<br />[[Europaeum]]<br />Universities Denmark<ref name=UniversitiesDenmark>{{cite web|url=https://dkuni.dk/|title=Universities Denmark|publisher=Universities Denmark|access-date=26 July 2020|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809184046/https://dkuni.dk/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| free_label = Student newspaper
| free = ''[https://uniavisen.dk/en/ Uniavisen]''
| logo = University of Copenhagen Wordmark.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| website = {{URL|1=http://www.ku.dk/english|2=www.ku.dk}}
| coor = {{Coord|55|40|47|N|12|34|21|E|region:DK_type:edu|display=title}}
}}
{{multiple image | direction = vertical | image1 = University Main Building.jpg | image2 = KU frue plads.jpg | width1 = 220 | width2 = 220 | footer = University Main Building at [[Frue Plads]] }}

The '''University of Copenhagen''' ({{langx|da|Københavns Universitet}}, {{small|abbr.}} '''KU''') is a [[public university|public]] [[research university]] in [[Copenhagen|Copenhagen, Denmark]]. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in [[Scandinavia]], after [[Uppsala University]].

The University of Copenhagen consists of six different [[Faculty (division)|faculties]], with teaching taking place in its four distinct campuses, all situated in Copenhagen.<ref name=UCPHFaculties>{{cite web|url=https://about.ku.dk/organisation/faculties/|title=Faculties of the University of Copenhagen|date=16 September 2008|publisher=University of Copenhagen|language=en|access-date=25 July 2020|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803201828/https://about.ku.dk/organisation/faculties/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=UCPHDepartments>{{cite web|url=https://about.ku.dk/organisation/departments/|title=Departments at the University of Copenhagen|date=16 September 2008|publisher=University of Copenhagen|language=en|access-date=25 July 2020|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803204129/https://about.ku.dk/organisation/departments|url-status=live}}</ref> The university operates 36 different departments and 122 separate [[research centre]]s in Copenhagen, as well as a number of museums and [[botanical garden]]s in and outside the Danish capital.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://about.ku.dk/visit/museums/ |title=Museums |website=about.ku.dk |date=16 September 2008 |access-date=24 July 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803203835/https://about.ku.dk/visit/museums/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The University of Copenhagen also owns and operates multiple [[research station]]s around Denmark, with two additional ones located in [[Greenland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://research.ku.dk/areas/ |title=Areas of research |website=research.ku.dk |date=28 May 2019 |access-date=24 July 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812211806/https://research.ku.dk/areas/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>https://www.science.ku.dk/fakultetet/organisation/feltstationer/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812042018/https://www.science.ku.dk/fakultetet/organisation/feltstationer/ |date=12 August 2020 }} (in Danish). Retrieved 24 July 2020.</ref> Additionally, [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences|The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences]] and the public hospitals of the [[Capital Region of Denmark|Capital]] and [[Region Zealand|Zealand Region]] of Denmark constitute the conglomerate [[Copenhagen University Hospital]].<ref>Larsen, Jørgen Falck; Engelbrecht, Nils: Københavns Universitetshospital in 'Den Store Danske' at https://denstoredanske.lex.dk/K%C3%B8benhavns_Universitetshospital {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724230114/https://denstoredanske.lex.dk/K%C3%B8benhavns_Universitetshospital |date=24 July 2020 }} (in Danish). Retrieved 25 July 2020.</ref>

As of October 2022, 10 Nobel laureates<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kommunikation|date=5 October 2022|title=Nobelpristagere|url=https://universitetshistorie.ku.dk/personer_og_priser/nobelpristagere/|access-date=6 October 2022|website=universitetshistorie.ku.dk|language=da|archive-date=16 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016041650/https://universitetshistorie.ku.dk/personer_og_priser/nobelpristagere/|url-status=live}}</ref> and 1 Turing Award laureate have been affiliated with the University of Copenhagen as students, alumni or faculty.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/naur_1024454.cfm | title=Peter Naur - A.M. Turing Award Winner | access-date=27 October 2016 | archive-date=3 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703194450/http://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/naur_1024454.cfm | url-status=live }}</ref> Alumni include one [[Mogens Lykketoft|president of the United Nations General Assembly]] and at least 24 [[List of Danish Prime Ministers|prime ministers of Denmark]].

==History==
[[File:Copenhagen - Rundetårn - 2013.jpg|thumb|left|[[Rundetaarn|The Round Tower]] (''Rundetårn''), used as an observatory by astronomer [[Ole Rømer]]]]
The University of Copenhagen was founded on 1 June 1479 and is the oldest [[university]] in Denmark. In 1475, [[Christian I of Denmark]] received a papal bull from [[Pope Sixtus IV]] with permission to establish a university in Denmark.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pinborg|first=Jan|title=Universitas Studii Haffnensis. Stiftelsesdokumenter og Statutter 1479. English Translation by Brian Patrick McGuire|publisher=University of Copenhagen|year=1979|isbn=87-87848-00-7|pages=84–87}}</ref> The bull was issued on 19 June 1475 as a result of the visit to Rome by Christian I's wife, [[Dorothea of Brandenburg]], [[Queen of Denmark]].<ref name=UCPHHistory1479>{{cite web|url=https://universitetshistorie.ku.dk/overblik/1479-1788/grundlaeggelsen/|title=History of the University of Copenhagen about 1479|date=23 September 2010|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=25 August 2020|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401061506/https://universitetshistorie.ku.dk/overblik/1479-1788/grundlaeggelsen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 4 October 1478 Christian I of Denmark issued a [[royal decree]] by which he officially established the University of Copenhagen. In this decree, Christian I set down the rules and laws governing the university. The royal decree elected [[Magister degree|magistar]] Peder Albertsen as [[vice chancellor]] of the university, and the task was his to employ various learned [[scholar]]s at the new university and thereby establish its first four [[Faculty (division)|faculties]]: [[theology]], [[Legal education|law]], [[Medical education|medicine]] and [[philosophy]]. The royal decree made the University of Copenhagen enjoy [[patronage|royal patronage]] from its very beginning. Furthermore, the university was explicitly established as an [[Autonomy|autonomous]] institution, giving it a great degree of juridical freedom. As such, the University of Copenhagen was to be administered without royal interference, and it was not subject to the usual laws governing the [[Danish people]].<ref name=UCPHHistory1479/>

The University of Copenhagen was dissolved in about 1531 as a result of the spread of Protestantism. It was re-established in 1537 by [[Christian III of Denmark|King Christian III]] after the [[Reformation in Denmark|Lutheran Reformation]]. The king charged [[Johannes Bugenhagen]], who came from Wittenberg to Copenhagen to take up a chair of theology, with the drawing up of a new University Charter. The resulting Charter was issued in 1539.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fink-Jensen|first=Morten|title=The Foundation and Regulations of the University of Copenhagen 1539. Edited with Introduction and Notes. English Translation by Peter Fisher|publisher=Gads Forlag|year=2020|isbn=978-87-93229-90-7|location=Copenhagen}}</ref> Between 1675 and 1788, the university introduced the concept of degree examinations. An examination for [[theology]] was added in 1675, followed by law in 1736. By 1788, all faculties required an examination before they would issue a degree.

In 1807, most of the university's buildings were heavily damaged during the [[Battle of Copenhagen (1807)|British bombardment of Copenhagen]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/newinternational05gilm|page=[https://archive.org/details/newinternational05gilm/page/386 386]|title=The new international encyclopaedia|last1=Gilman|first1=Daniel Coit|last2=Peck|first2=Harry Thurston|last3=Colby|first3=Frank Moore|date=1905|publisher=Dodd, Mead|language=en}}</ref> By 1836, however, the new main building of the university was inaugurated amid extensive building that continued until the end of the century. The [[Copenhagen University Library|University Library]] (now a part of the [[Royal Library, Denmark|Royal Library]]), the [[University of Copenhagen Zoological Museum|Zoological Museum]], the [[Geologisk Museum|Geological Museum]], the [[University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden|Botanic Garden]] with [[greenhouse]]s, and the Technical College were also established during this period.

[[File:Københavnsuniversitetsbibliotekfiolstræde.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the old university library at ''Fiolstræde'' around 1920]]
Between 1842 and 1850, the faculties at the university were restructured. Starting in 1842, the University Faculty of Medicine and the Academy of Surgeons merged to form the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences|Faculty of Medical Science]], while in 1848 the Faculty of Law was reorganised and became the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law|Faculty of Jurisprudence and Political Science]]. In 1850, the [[Mathematics|Faculty of Mathematics and Science]] was separated from the [[Philosophy|Faculty of Philosophy]]. In 1845 and 1862 Copenhagen co-hosted [[Nordic student meeting]]s with [[Lund University]].

The first female student was enrolled at the university in 1877. The university underwent explosive growth between 1960 and 1980. The number of students rose from around 6,000 in 1960 to about 26,000 in 1980, with a correspondingly large growth in the number of employees. Buildings built during this time period include the new Zoological Museum, the [[Hans Christian Ørsted Institute|Hans Christian Ørsted]] and August Krogh Institutes, the campus centre on [[Amager|Amager Island]], and the [[Panum Institute]].

[[File:Geologisk Museum 2.jpg|thumb|The Geological Museum, now part of the [[Natural History Museum of Denmark]]]]
The new university statute instituted in 1970 involved [[democratisation]] of the management of the university. It was modified in 1973 and subsequently applied to all [[higher education]] institutions in Denmark. The democratisation was later reversed with the 2003 university reforms. Further change in the structure of the university from 1990 to 1993 made a [[Bachelor's degree]] programme mandatory in virtually all subjects.

Also in 1993, the law departments broke off from the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Social Sciences|Faculty of Social Sciences]] to form a separate [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law|Faculty of Law]]. In 1994, the University of Copenhagen designated [[environmental studies]], north–south relations, and [[biotechnology]] as areas of special priority according to its new long-term plan. Starting in 1996 and continuing to the present, the university planned new buildings, including for the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Humanities]] at [[Amager]] (Ørestaden), along with a Biotechnology Centre. By 1999, the student population had grown to exceed 35,000, resulting in the university appointing additional professors and other personnel.
[[File:Nyekua.jpg|thumb|left|South Campus]]

In 2003, the revised Danish university law removed faculty, staff and students from the university decision process, creating a top-down control structure that has been described as absolute monarchy, since leaders are granted extensive powers while being appointed exclusively by higher levels in the organization.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.information.dk/201197 | title= Absolut monarki på universiteterne | date= 23 August 2009 | access-date= 20 November 2009 | archive-date= 8 December 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091208163534/http://www.information.dk/201197 | url-status= live }}</ref>

In 2005, the Center for Health and Society (Center for Sundhed og Samfund – CSS) opened in central Copenhagen, housing the Faculty of Social Sciences and Institute of Public Health, which until then had been located in various places throughout the city. In May 2006, the university announced further plans to leave many of its old buildings in the inner city of [[Copenhagen]], an area that has been home to the university for more than 500 years. The purpose of this has been to gather the university's many departments and faculties on three larger campuses in order to create a bigger, more concentrated and modern student environment with better teaching facilities, as well as to save money on rent and maintenance of the old buildings. The concentration of facilities on larger campuses also allows for more inter-disciplinary cooperation; for example, the Departments of Political Science and Sociology are now located in the same facilities at CSS and can pool resources more easily.

In January 2007, the University of Copenhagen merged with the [[Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University]] and the Danish University of Pharmaceutical Science. The two universities were converted into faculties under the University of Copenhagen, and were renamed as the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. In January 2012, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the veterinary third of the Faculty of Life Sciences merged with the Faculty of Health Sciences forming the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences – and the other two thirds of the Faculty of Life Sciences were merged into the Faculty of Science.

==Campuses==
The university has four main campus areas that are located in the [[Capital Region of Denmark|Capital Region]] (three in Copenhagen and one in [[Frederiksberg]]):<ref name="map">{{cite web|url=http://cas.ku.dk/english/map/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606164123/http://cas.ku.dk/english/map/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2014|title=Map and campus areas|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=28 January 2016}}</ref>
*[[North Campus (University of Copenhagen)|North Campus]] – home to most of the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Science|Faculty of Science]] and the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences|Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences]].
*[[City Campus (University of Copenhagen)|City Campus]] – home to the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Social Sciences|Faculty of Social Sciences]] and Central Administration as well as parts of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Science.
*[[South Campus (University of Copenhagen)|South Campus]] – houses the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Humanities|Faculty of Humanities]], the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law|Faculty of Law]], the [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Theology|Faculty of Theology]], and a small proportion of the Faculty of Science.
*[[Frederiksberg Campus (University of Copenhagen)|Frederiksberg Campus]] – home to sections of the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Science also use the [[Taastrup Campus (University of Copenhagen)|Taastrup Campus]], which is located in [[Taastrup]] on the western outskirts of Copenhagen.<ref name="map" /> The Faculty of Science also has facilities in [[Helsingør]], [[Hørsholm]] and [[Nødebo]].<ref name="map" />

==Organisation and administration==
The university is governed by a board consisting of 11 members: 6 members recruited outside the university form the majority of the board, 2 members are appointed by the scientific staff, 1 member is appointed by the administrative staff, and 2 members are appointed by the university students. The rector, the prorector and the director of the university are appointed by the university board. The rector in turn appoints directors of the different parts of the central administration and deans of the different faculties. The deans appoint heads of 50 departments. There is no faculty senate and faculty is not involved in the appointment of rector, deans, or department heads. Hence the university has no faculty governance, although there are elected Academic Boards at faculty level who advise the deans.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://bestyrelse.ku.dk/vedtaegt/ | title= Vedtægt for Københavns Universitet | date= 16 June 2008 | access-date= 8 November 2009 | archive-date= 28 February 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100228164136/http://bestyrelse.ku.dk/vedtaegt | url-status= live }}</ref> {{As of|2018}}, the governing body manages an annual budget of about [[Danish krone|DKK]] 8.9 billion.<ref name=Okonomi2018/>

The university is organized into six faculties and about 100 departments and research centres. The university employs about 5,600 academic staff and 4,400 technical and administrative staff. The six faculties are:
* [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences|Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences]]
* [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Humanities|Faculty of Humanities]]
* [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law|Faculty of Law]]
* [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Science|Faculty of Science]]
* [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Social Sciences|Faculty of Social Sciences]]
* [[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Theology|Faculty of Theology]]

The total number of enrolled students is about 36,500, including about 21,000 undergraduate students and 15,500 graduate students as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Copenhagen |first=University of |date=2016-08-23 |title=Students – facts and figures |url=https://about.ku.dk/facts-figures/students/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=about.ku.dk |language=en}}</ref> The university has an international graduate talent programme which provides grants for international Ph.D., students and a tenure track carrier system. It operates about fifty master's programmes taught in English, and has arranged about 150 exchange agreements with other institutions and 800 Erasmus agreements. Each year there are about 1,700 incoming exchange students, 2,000 outbound exchange students and 4,000 international degree-seeking students. About 3,000 PhD students study there each year.

==University housing==
[[File:Tietgenkollegiet.jpg|thumb|[[Tietgenkollegiet]]]]
Most university students stay in privately owned [[dormitories]] (''kollegier'' in Danish) or apartments in [[Copenhagen]]. There are five dormitories that are partially administered by the university; however, only students who have passed at least two years of studies are considered for [[University and college admissions|admission]]. These are normally referred to as the ''old dormitories'', and they consist of: [[Regensen]], [[Elers' Kollegium]], [[Borchs Kollegium]], [[Hassagers Kollegium]], and [[Valkendorfs Kollegium]]. The University of Copenhagen also offers Carlsberg Foundation researcher apartments for a duration of 6 months to 3 years for visiting research and academic research staff who affiliated with research projects funded by the Carlsberg Foundation.

The Housing Foundation Copenhagen is a separate commercial entity to the University of Copenhagen<ref>{{Cite news|title=Search CVR|newspaper=Data|url=https://datacvr.virk.dk/data/visenhed?enhedstype=virksomhed&id=32139876&soeg=K%C3%B8benhavns+Universitets+Boligfond&type=Alle&language=en-gb|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-date=10 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110235852/https://datacvr.virk.dk/data/visenhed?enhedstype=virksomhed&id=32139876&soeg=K%C3%B8benhavns+Universitets+Boligfond&type=Alle&language=en-gb|url-status=live}}</ref> run by Chairman Erik Bisgaard Madsen<ref>{{Cite web|last=Webmaster|date=11 February 2014|title=Medarbejdere i Fakultetssekretariatet|url=https://science.ku.dk/kontakt/fakultetssekretariat/alle/?pure=da/persons/erik-bisgaard-madsen(197df65c-e5fc-4f1c-94f3-23b6761164cc).html|access-date=24 October 2021|website=science.ku.dk|language=da}}</ref> and a board of directors.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Katrin|date=9 May 2020|title=About HF - Housing Foundation|url=https://housingfoundation.dk/about-hf/|access-date=24 October 2021|website=housingfoundation.dk|language=en-US|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019115804/https://housingfoundation.dk/about-hf/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Housing Foundation Copenhagen provides short-term housing exclusively for university international students ( sometimes Danish students), university staff and guest researchers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://housingfoundation.ku.dk/|title=The University of Copenhagen Housing Foundation|date=13 November 2013|website=housingfoundation.ku.dk|language=en|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-date=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112185058/http://housingfoundation.ku.dk/|url-status=live}}</ref> Their central office is based at  South Campus. The Housing Foundation Copenhagen has received considerable criticism for the exploitation of  international students for business profits and poor living conditions,<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 March 2017|title=Copenhagen Housing Foundation admits it illegally collected thousands from international students|url=http://uniavisen.dk/en/copenhagen-housing-foundation-admits-illegally-collected-thousands-from-international-students/|access-date=24 October 2021|website=University Post|language=da|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127141122/https://uniavisen.dk/en/copenhagen-housing-foundation-admits-illegally-collected-thousands-from-international-students/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=18 May 2017|title=International researcher feels cheated by UCPH's Housing Foundation|url=https://uniavisen.dk/en/international-researcher-feels-cheated-by-ucphs-housing-foundation/|access-date=24 October 2021|website=University Post|language=da|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127142103/https://uniavisen.dk/en/international-researcher-feels-cheated-by-ucphs-housing-foundation/|url-status=live}}</ref> and most recently the refusal of shortening contracts for many international students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 May 2020|title=The Copenhagen Post|url=https://cphpost.dk/www.cphpost.dk|access-date=24 October 2021|website=cphpost.dk|language=da|archive-date=28 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228053356/https://cphpost.dk/www.cphpost.dk|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Seal==
The university's oldest known [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] dates from a 1531 letter, it depicts [[Saint Peter]] with a key and a book. In a circle around him is the text

{|
|
:''Sigillum universitatis studii haffnensis''.
|
|}

When the university was re-established by [[Christian III of Denmark|Christian III]] in 1537 after the [[Reformation in Denmark|Protestant Reformation]], it received a new seal, showing king Christian III with [[Crown (headgear)|crown]], [[sceptre]], and [[globus cruciger]] above a crowned [[coat of arms]] vertically divided between halved versions of the [[coat of arms of Denmark]] (to the viewer's left, ''[[Dexter and sinister|dexter]]'') and the [[coat of arms of Norway]] (to the viever's right, ''[[Dexter and sinister|sinister]]''). The text is
{|
|
:''Sigillum Universitatis Hafniensis A Christiano III Rege Restauravit''
|
:(i.e. Seal of the University of Copenhagen, reestablished by King Christian III).
|}

The 1537 seal is very similar to the current seal, which was made in 2000 and is shown at the top of this page. The text is different and the crowned shield shows the coat of arms of Denmark (as has been the case since 1820, when the [[heraldry|heraldic]] reference to Norway was removed). The text is
{|
|
:''Sigillum Universitatis Hafniensis''
:''Fundatæ 1479''
:''Reformatæ 1537''
|
:''Seal of the University of Copenhagen''
:''Founded 1479''
:''Reformed 1537''
|}

In addition to the university seal, each of the university's six faculties carry seals of their own.
[[File:Old seals of Uni Cph.jpg|left|301px|thumb|The seal of 1531 (left) and the seal of 1537 (right)]]

==International reputation==
{{Infobox university rankings
| ARWU_W = 32 | ARWU_W_year =2024 | ARWU_W_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2024 |title=ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024 |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>
| THE_W = 97 | THE_W_year =2025 | THE_W_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2025/world-ranking |title=World University Rankings 2025 - Times Higher Education (THE) |date=4 October 2024 |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>
| QS_W = 100 | QS_W_year =2025 | QS_W_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2025 |title=QS World University Rankings 2025 |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>
| USNWR_W = 44 <small> (tie) </small> | USNWR_W_year =2024-2025 | USNWR_W_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings|title=2024-2025 Best Universities in the World - US News |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>
| CWUR_W = 38 | CWUR_W_year =2024 | CWUR_W_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cwur.org/2024.php |title=CWUR World University Rankings 2024 |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>
|CWTS_W=35|CWTS_W_ref=<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2024/list |title=CWTS Leiden Ranking - Ranking 2024 |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>|CWTS_W_year=2024}}

The 2021 [[CWTS Leiden Ranking]] ranked the University of Copenhagen as the best university in Denmark and best in [[Continental Europe]], fourth in Europe (after [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], [[University College London|UCL]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]]) and 27th in the world.<ref name=CWTS21>{{cite web|url=https://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2021/|website=leidenranking.com|title=CWTS Leiden Ranking|access-date=12 July 2021|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713103416/https://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2021/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2021 [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]] published by [[Shanghai Jiao Tong University]] ranked the University of Copenhagen as the best university in Denmark and Scandinavia, 7th in Europe and 30th in the world.<ref name=ARWU21>{{cite web|url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2021|website=Shanghairanking.com|title=Academic Ranking of World Universities|access-date=4 September 2021|archive-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130122339/http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/Autonomous-University-of-Barcelona.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]] for 2021, the University of Copenhagen was ranked first in Denmark and 84th in the world.<ref name=Times2021>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2021/world-ranking|work=Times Higher Education|title=World University Rankings|date=25 August 2020|access-date=4 September 2020|archive-date=2 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902154147/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2021/world-ranking|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2021 [[QS World University Rankings]] list, the University of Copenhagen was ranked first in Denmark and 76th in the world.<ref name=QS1617>{{cite web|url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2016|publisher=QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd.|title=QS World University Rankings|access-date=23 September 2016|archive-date=16 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116004633/https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2021 [[U.S. News & World Report]]'s Best Global Universities Rankings list, the University of Copenhagen was ranked first in Denmark and 34th in the world.<ref name=USNWR>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/university-of-copenhagen-503710|title=Best Global Universities Rankings|work=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=24 October 2020|archive-date=9 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309191351/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/university-of-copenhagen-503710|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Cooperative agreements with other universities==
The university cooperates with universities around the world. In January 2006, the University of Copenhagen entered into a partnership of ten top universities, along with the: [[Australian National University]], [[ETH Zürich]], [[National University of Singapore]], [[Peking University]], [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California]], [[University of Cambridge]], [[University of Oxford]], [[University of Tokyo]] and [[Yale University]]. The partnership is referred to as the [[International Alliance of Research Universities]] (IARU).

The Department of Scandinavian Studies and Linguistics at University of Copenhagen signed a cooperation agreement with the Danish [[Royal School of Library and Information Science]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iva.dk/english/aboutus/networksandcooperations/|title=Det Informationsvidenskabelige Akademi – Københavns Universitet|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=16 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727020224/http://www.iva.dk/english/aboutus/networksandcooperations/|archive-date=27 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iva.dk/omiva/samarbejdemedkoebenhavnsuniversitet/|title=Det Informationsvidenskabelige Akademi – Københavns Universitet|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=16 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017221944/http://www.iva.dk/omiva/samarbejdemedkoebenhavnsuniversitet/|archive-date=17 October 2011}}</ref>

The university hosts the annual [[Aging Research and Drug Discovery|Aging Research and Drug Discovery conference]] in cooperation with [[Columbia University]].

The University of Copenhagen is an active member of the [[University of the Arctic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Members |url=https://www.uarctic.org/members/member-profiles/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=UArctic |language=en-US}}</ref> UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.uarctic.org/about-us/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=UArctic - University of the Arctic |language=en-US}}</ref>

==List of rectors==
{{Main|List of Rectors of the University of Copenhagen}}

:Henrik Caspar Wegener (2017–present). He is the 259th rector.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://introduction.ku.dk/organisation/management/rector/|title=Rector – University of Copenhagen|publisher=University of Copenhagen|access-date=18 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103222342/http://introduction.ku.dk/organisation/management/rector/|archive-date=3 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==List of directors of the Royal Academy Schools==
[[File:Københavns universitet lektionskatalog 1537.jpg|thumb|The oldest surviving lecture plan from the university is from 1537.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From || To || Director
|-
| 1823 || 1824 || [[Matthias Hastrup Bornemann]]
|-
| 1824 || 1825 || [[:da:Oluf Lundt Bang (læge)|Oluf Lundt Bang]]
|-
| 1825 || 1826 || [[Hans Christian Ørsted]]
|-
| 1826 || 1827 || [[Knud Lyne Rahbek]]
|-
| 1827 || 1828 || [[Peter Erasmus Müller]]
|-
| 1828 || 1829 || [[Johan Frederik Vilhelm Schlegel]]
|-
| 1829 || 1830 || [[Johan Sylvester Saxtorph]]
|-
| 1830 || 1831 || [[Jens Wilken Hornemann]]
|-
| 1831 || 1832 || [[Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger]]
|-
| 1832 || 1833 || [[Jens Møller]]
|-
| 1833 || 1834 || [[Janus Lauritz Andreas Kolderup Rosenvinge]]
|-
| 1834 || 1835 || [[Johan Daniel Herholdt (physician)|Johan Daniel Herholdt]]
|-
| 1835 || 1836 || [[Christian Thorning Engelstoft]]
|-
| 1836 || 1837 || [[Erich Christian Werlauff]]
|-
| 1837 || 1838 || [[Henrik Nicolai Clausen]]
|-
| 1838 || 1839 || [[Johannes Ephraim Larsen]]
|-
| 1839 || 1840 || [[Ole Bang|Oluf Lundt Bang]]
|-
| 1840 || 1841 || [[Hans Christian Ørsted]]
|-
| 1841 || 1842 || [[Peter Oluf Brøndsted]]
|-
| 1842 || 1843 || [[Carl Emil Scharling]]
|}

==Notable alumni==
{{see also|List of Nobel laureates affiliated with the University of Copenhagen}}Over the course of its history, a sizeable number of University of Copenhagen alumni have become notable in their fields, both academic, and in the wider world.<ref>For a summary description of all of the set of scholars and literati who intervened in teaching at the University of Copenhagen since its inception to the eve of the Industrial Revolution (1800), see [[David de la Croix]], (2021), [https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/RETE/article/view/60523/56643 Scholars and Literati at the University of Copenhagen (1475–1800), Repertorium Eruditorum Totius Europae/RETE, 2: 21-29.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109154219/https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/RETE/article/view/60523/56643 |date=9 January 2023 }}</ref>[[File:Tycho Brahe.JPG|thumb|[[Tycho Brahe]] ]]
[[File:Ole Rømer (Coning painting).jpg|thumb|[[Ole Rømer]]]]
[[File:Kierkegaard.jpg|thumb|[[Søren Kierkegaard]] ]]
[[File:Niels Bohr.jpg|right|thumb|[[Niels Bohr]] ]]
[[File:Piet Hein and H.C. Andersen (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Piet Hein (scientist)|Piet Hein]] ]]
* [[Tycho Brahe]] (1546–1601), Danish astronomer, first scientific documentation of [[supernova]]s, mentor of [[Johannes Kepler]]
* [[Thomas Fincke]] (1561–1656), Danish mathematician and physicist
* [[Caspar Bartholin the Elder|Caspar Bartholin]] (1585–1629), professor in medicine and theology. Author of textbooks on anatomy and the discoverer of the workings of the [[olfactory nerve]].
* [[Ole Worm|Olaus Wormius]] (1588–1655), Danish physician and antiquarian
* [[Thomas Bartholin]] (1616–1680), discoverer of the [[lymphatic system]]
* [[Rasmus Bartholin]] (1625–1698), professor in geometry and medicine. He discovered [[birefringence]], but was unable to give a scientific explanation.
* [[Thomas Hansen Kingo]] (1634–1703), Danish bishop and poet
* [[Nicholas Steno]] (1638–1696), a pioneer in anatomy and geology
* [[Ole Rømer]] (1644–1710), Danish astronomer. He made the first quantitative measurements of the [[speed of light]].
* [[Peder Horrebow]] (1679–1764), Danish astronomer and member of [[Académie des Sciences]]
* [[Ludvig Holberg]] (1684–1754), Danish-Norwegian writer and playwright
* [[Christian Jacob Protten]] (1715–1769), Euro-African Moravian missionary pioneer, linguist, translator and educationalist-administrator
* [[Morten Thrane Brunnich]] (1737–1827), Danish zoologist
* [[Caspar Wessel]] (1745–1818), mathematician
* [[Martin Vahl (botanist)|Martin Vahl]] (1749–1804), Danish-Norwegian botanist and zoologist
* [[Hans Christian Ørsted]] (1777–1851), Danish physicist and chemist. He discovered [[electromagnetism]].
* [[Anders Sandøe Ørsted]] (1778–1860), Danish lawyer and [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister of Denmark]] (1853–1854)
* [[Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger]] (1779–1850), poet, author of lyrics of the Danish national anthem ''[[Der er et yndigt land]]''
* [[N. F. S. Grundtvig]] (1783–1872), Danish writer, poet, philosopher and priest
* [[Christopher Hansteen]] (1784–1873), Norwegian astronomer and physicist
* [[Johan Ludvig Heiberg (poet)|Johan Ludvig Heiberg]] (1791–1860), Danish poet and critic
* [[Magnús Eiríksson]] (1806–1881), Icelandic theologian
* [[Søren Kierkegaard]] (1813–1855), Danish theologian and philosopher, the father of [[existentialism]]
* [[Anders Sandøe Ørsted (botanist)|Anders Sandøe Ørsted]] (1816–1872), professor of botany (1851–1862)
* [[Hinrich Johannes Rink]] (1819–1893), Danish geologist, and founder of the first [[Greenlandic language]] newspaper
* [[Peter Ludvig Panum]] (1820–1885), Danish physiologist and pathologist; the [[Panum Building]] in Copenhagen is named in his honor.
* [[Hans Schjellerup]] (1827–1887), Danish astronomer
* [[Carl Lange (physician)|Carl Lange]] (1834–1900), Danish physician
* [[Thorvald N. Thiele]] (1838–1910), Danish astronomer, actuary and mathematician
* [[Julius Petersen]] (1839–1910), Danish mathematician
* [[Eugenius Warming]] (1841–1924), Danish botanist and founding figure of ecology
* [[Georg Brandes]] (1842–1927), Danish writer and critic
* [[Vilhelm Thomsen]] (1842–1927), Danish linguist
* [[Harald Høffding]] (1843–1931), Danish philosopher, theologian and psychologist
* [[Herman Trier]] (1845–1925), Danish educator and politician
* [[Hans Christian Gram]] (1853–1938), Danish bacteriologist, inventor of [[Gram staining]]
* [[Christian Bohr]] (1855–1911), Danish physician, who described [[Bohr effect]]
* [[Wilhelm Johannsen]] (1857–1927), Danish botanist. He first coined the word ''[[gene]]'' in its modern usage.
* [[Niels Ryberg Finsen]] (1860–1904), [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Nobel laureate in medicine]] (1903)
* [[Otto Jespersen]] (1860–1943), Danish linguist, co-founder of the [[International Phonetic Association]]
* [[Kirstine Meyer]] (1861–1941), Danish physicist
* [[Hannes Hafstein]] (1861–1922), Icelandic politician and poet
* [[Johannes Andreas Grib Fibiger]] (1867–1928), [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Nobel laureate in medicine]] (1926)
* [[Holger Pedersen (linguist)|Holger Pedersen]] (1867–1953), Danish linguist
* [[Agner Krarup Erlang]] (1878-1929), creator of the field of [[PSTN|telephone networks]] analysis
* [[S. P. L. Sørensen]] (1868–1939), Danish chemist, who introduced the concept of [[pH]]
* [[Martin Knudsen]] (1871–1949), Danish physicist
* [[August Krogh]] (1874–1949), [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Nobel laureate in medicine]] (1920)
* [[Holger Scheuermann]] (1877–1960), Danish surgeon after whom [[Scheuermann's disease]] is named
* [[Kirstine Smith]] (1878–1939), Danish statistician credited with creation of [[optimal design]] of experiments
* [[Benjamin Christensen]] (1879–1959), Danish film director, screenwriter and actor
* [[File:Ingeborg Hammer-Jensen 1908.jpg|thumb|[[Ingeborg Hammer-Jensen]]]] [[Ingeborg Hammer-Jensen]] (1880–1955), classical scholar and philologist
* [[Niels Bohr]] (1885–1962). He contributed to development of the [[atom|atomic model]] and [[Quantum Mechanics|quantum mechanics]]. Director at the university's [[Niels Bohr Institute|Institute of Theoretical Physics]]. [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel laureate in physics]] (1922).
* [[Øjvind Winge]] (1886–1964), Danish biologist
* [[Harald Bohr]] (1887–1951), Danish Olympic silver medalist football player and mathematician; brother of [[Niels Bohr]]
* [[Inge Lehmann]] (1888–1993), Danish seismologist discovering the [[Earth's inner core]]
* [[Jakob Nielsen (mathematician)|Jakob Nielsen]] (1890–1959), Danish mathematician
* [[Julie Vinter Hansen]] (1890–1960), Danish astronomer
* [[Carl Værnet|Carl Vaernet]] (1893–1965), Danish medical doctor
* [[Oskar Klein]] (1894–1977), Swedish theoretical physicist
* [[Henrik Dam]] (1895–1976), [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Nobel laureate in medicine]] (1943)
* [[Ove Arup|Sir Ove Arup]] (1896–1988), Anglo-Danish structural engineer
* [[Alf Ross]] (1899–1979), Danish legal philosopher
* [[Louis Hjelmslev]] (1899–1965), Danish linguist, founder of [[Copenhagen School (linguistics)|Copenhagen School]]
* [[Anton Frederik Bruun]] (1901–1961), Danish [[Oceanography|oceanographer]]
* [[Georg Rasch]] (1901–1980), Danish mathematician, statistician and [[psychometrics|psychometrician]]
* [[Knud Ejler Løgstrup]] (1905–1981), Danish philosopher and theologian. Pastor at Sandager-Holevad 1936–1943. Professor at University of Aarhus 1943–1975.
* [[Piet Hein (Denmark)|Piet Hein]] (1905–1996), Danish mathematician, inventor and poet
* [[Bengt Strömgren]] (1908–1987), Danish astronomer and astrophysicist
* [[Hilde Levi]] (1909–2003), German-Danish physicist
* [[Niels Kaj Jerne]] (1911–1994), [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Nobel laureate in medicine]] (1984)
* [[Preben von Magnus]] (1912–1973), Danish virologist, who gave name to the [[Von Magnus phenomenon]]
* [[Jens Otto Krag]] (1914–1978), [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister of Denmark]] (1962–1968, 1971–1972)
* [[Poul Hartling]] (1914–2000), [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister of Denmark]] (1973–1975) and [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] (1978–1985), [[Nobel Peace Prize|Nobel Peace Prize laureate]] on behalf of [[UNHCR]] (1981)
* [[Bjørn Aage Ibsen]] (1915–2007), [[Anesthetist]] and founder of [[intensive-care medicine]]
* [[Poul Bjørndahl Astrup]] (1915–2000), Danish clinical chemist, inventor of blood gas analyzer
* [[Jens Christian Skou]] (born 1918), [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Nobel laureate in chemistry]] (1997) for his discovery of [[Na+,K+-ATPase]]
* [[Hans Ørberg|Hans H. Ørberg]] (1920–2010), linguist and scholar
* [[Aage Bohr]] (1922–2009), professor in [[nuclear physics]] and director of the [[Niels Bohr Institute]] at the university. [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel laureate in physics]] (1975).
* [[Halfdan T. Mahler]] (1923–2016), Director-General of [[World Health Organization]] (1973–1988)
* [[Ólafía Einarsdóttir]] (1924–2017), first person from Iceland to earn a degree in archaeology
* [[Ben Roy Mottelson]] (1926–2022), American-born Danish nuclear physicist, [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel laureate in physics]] (1975)
* [[Peter Naur]] (1928–2016), computer scientist, [[Turing Award]] in 2005
* [[Poul Schlüter]] (1929–2021), [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister of Denmark]] (1982–1993)
* [[Vigdís Finnbogadóttir]] (born 1930), the 4th [[President of Iceland]] (1980–1996)
* [[Ozer Schild]] (1930–2006), Danish-born Israeli academic, president of the [[University of Haifa]] and president of the [[College of Judea and Samaria]] ("Ariel College")
* [[Jørgen Rischel]] (1934–2007), Danish linguist, who analyzed [[Greenlandic language|Greenlandic]] and [[Mon-Khmer]] languages
* [[Per Kirkeby]] (born 1938), Danish painter and sculptor
* [[Per Pinstrup-Andersen]] (born 1939), Danish economist, 2001 [[World Food Prize]] laureate
* [[Søren Johansen]] (born 1939), Danish econometrician
* [[Lasse Hessel]] (born 1940), inventor of [[female condom]]
* [[Anders Boserup]] (1940–1990), co-founder of the Danish Institute for Peace and Conflict Research and the Nordic Peace Foundation
* [[Aage B. Sørensen]] (1941–2001), Danish sociologist
* [[Holger Bech Nielsen]] (born 1941), Danish physicist, one of three creators of [[string theory]]
* [[Jørgen Haugan]] (born 1941), Doctorate in Philosophy (1977); Norwegian author and lecturer
* [[Poul Nyrup Rasmussen]] (born 1943), [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister of Denmark]] (1993–2001)
* [[Claus Bjørn]] (1944–2005), author, historian and broadcaster
* [[Niels Peter Lemche]] (born 1945), biblical scholar, founder of [[Copenhagen School (theology)|Copenhagen School]]
* [[Mogens Lykketoft]] (born 1946), Danish politician, the 70th [[President of the United Nations General Assembly]] (2015–2016)
* [[Halldór Ásgrímsson]] (born 1947), [[Prime Minister of Iceland|prime minister of Iceland]] (2004–2006)
* [[Ole Humlum]] (born 1949), Danish geologist and professor emeritus at the [[University of Oslo]]
* [[Uffe Haagerup]] (1949–2015), Danish mathematician
* [[Jesper Nygart]] (born 1956), Danish physician
* [[Peter Høeg]] (born 1957), Danish fiction writer. He won international acclaim with ''[[Smilla's Sense of Snow]]''.
* [[Morten Frost]] (born 1958), Danish world-class badminton player and coach
* [[Mads Tofte]] (born 1959), computer scientist, vice chancellor of [[IT University of Copenhagen]]
* [[Ole Wæver]] (born 1960), scholar of International Relations, one of exponents of [[Copenhagen School (international relations)|Copenhagen School]]
* [[Steve Scully]] (born 1960), American host, senior producer, and political editor of the [[C-SPAN]] network's ''[[Washington Journal]]''. He studied at the University of Copenhagen as part of his master's program at [[Northwestern University]] in [[Evanston, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c-span.org/uploadedFiles/Content/spring11syllabus.pdf|title=Congress and the Presidency in the TV and Digital Age|publisher=C-SPAN|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928192956/http://www.c-span.org/uploadedFiles/Content/spring11syllabus.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Corinna Cortes]] (born 1961), computer scientist
* [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]] (born 1964), [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister of Denmark]] (2009–2011, 2015–2019)
* [[Lars Mikkelsen]] (born 1964), Danish actor
* [[Bjørn Lomborg]] (born 1965), Danish economist, author of ''[[The Skeptical Environmentalist]]''
* [[Helle Thorning-Schmidt]] (born 1966), [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister of Denmark]] (2011–2015)
*[[Marie-Louise Nosch]] (born 1970), archaeologist; Professor in the university's Saxo Institute
* [[Eskild Ebbesen]] (born 1972), Danish world-class lightweight rower
* [[Morten Meldal]] (born 1954), [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Nobel laureate in chemistry]] (2022) for his invention of [[Click chemistry]]
* [[Arne Astrup]] (born 1955), nutritionist and professor
* [[Jennifer Kewley Draskau]] (died 2024), Manx historian, linguist, teacher and political candidate

== See also ==

* [[Copenhagen School (disambiguation)|Copenhagen School]]
* [[Copenhagen (play)]]
* [[The University of Copenhagen Symphony Orchestra]]
* [[List of Nobel laureates associated with the University of Copenhagen]]
* [[List of universities and colleges in Denmark]]
* [[List of medieval universities]]
* [[Open access in Denmark]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons|University of Copenhagen}}

* [https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/RETE/article/view/60523/56643 Scholars and Literati at the University of Copenhagen (1475–1800)], [https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/RETE/index Repertorium Eruditorum Totius Europae – RETE]
* {{Official website|http://ku.dk/}} {{in lang|da}} 
* {{Official website|http://ku.dk/english}} 
* {{Cite web |url=http://ku.dk/sa/studiestat/bestand/Bestand2007.htm |title=Student body size as of October 1 2007 |access-date=26 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724134812/http://ku.dk/sa/studiestat/bestand/Bestand2007.htm |archive-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead  |language=da}}

{{University of Copenhagen|state=expanded|academics}}{{UNICA}}{{4EU+ Alliance}}{{International Alliance of Research Universities}}
{{Universities in Denmark}}
{{Europaeum}}
{{Copenhagen}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:University Of Copenhagen}}
[[Category:University of Copenhagen| ]]
[[Category:Education in Copenhagen]]
[[Category:Universities in Denmark|Copenhagen, University of]]
[[Category:1479 establishments in Europe|Copenhagen, University of]]
[[Category:1470s in Denmark]]
[[Category:15th-century establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in the 15th century|Copenhagen, University of]]