University of Copenhagen
The
University of Copenhagen (
Danish:
Københavns Universitet) is the oldest and largest
university and research institution in
Copenhagen,
Denmark. It has almost 33,000
students, a majority of which are
female, and more than 6,000 employees. The University has several
campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the oldest located in central Copenhagen. It is the second-oldest university in
Scandinavia. It tops the list of the three most prestigious universities in Denmark, with the
Technical University of Denmark second and the
University of Aarhus in third place [
1]. Most courses are taught in Danish, however some courses are offered in
English and
German through exchange programmes with other universities.
The University of Copenhagen currently has six faculties, although the composition and number of faculties has changed over time.
*
Faculty of Theology*
Faculty of Law*
Faculty of Social Sciences*
Faculty of Health Sciences*
Faculty of Humanities*
Faculty of ScienceThe University of Copenhagen was founded in
1479 as the first
university in Denmark. The University became a centre of
Roman Catholic theological learning, but also had faculties for the study of
law,
medicine, and
philosophy. The university was re-established in
1537 after
Martin Luther's
reformation, and was transformed into an
evangelical-
Lutheran seminary. Between
1675 and
1788, the university introduced the concept of degree examinations. An examination for
theology was added in 1675, law in
1736, and by 1788 all faculties required an examination before they would issue a degree.
The
British fleet, under the command of
Admiral Horatio Nelson bombarded Copenhagen in
1801, during the
Battle of Copenhagen destroying most of the university's buildings. However, by
1836, the new main building of the University was inaugurated amid extensive building until the end of the
century. The
University Library, the
Zoological Museum, the
Geological Museum, the
Botanical Gardens and
greenhouses, and the Technical College were also established during this period.
|
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
Faculty of Medical Science, while in
1848 the Faculty of Law was reorganised and became the
Faculty of Jurisprudence and Political Science, and in
1850 the
Faculty of Mathematics and Science was separated from the
Faculty of Philosophy.
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
H.C. Ørsted and August Krogh Institutes, the campus centre on
Amager Island and the
Panum Institute.
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. Further change in the structure of the university from
1990 to
1993 made a
Bachelor's degree programme mandatory in virtually all subjects. By
1999, the student population had grown to over 34,000, and the university appoints additional professors and other personnel.
In
1993, the law departments broke off from the
Faculty of Social Sciences to form a separate
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. And 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.
In
May 2006 the university announced plans to leave many of their old buildings in the inner city of
Copenhagen, an area that has been home to the university for more then 500 years. Insted the university wants to gather their many departmens and faculties on 3 locations in the city. This is in order to A) create a bigger, better and more modern and concentrated student envoriment and teaching facileties and B) to save money on rent and maintenance of the old buildings.
Although there exist many privately owned
dormitories (
kollegier in Danish) in
Copenhagen, there are also five which are partially administered by the University, and to which only students who have passed at least two years of studies are considered for
admission. These are normally referred to as the
old dormitories, and they consist of
Regensen,
Elers Kollegium,
Borchs Kollegium,
Hassagers Kollegium and
Valkendorfs KollegiumContrary to the tradition of most
American dormitories, Danish dormitories in general and the old dormitories in particular only offer single rooms for rent. No student have to share their room with others. This is probably one of the reasons why many Danish students live in dormitories throughout their studies.
|
The seal of 1531 (1) and the seal of 1537 (2) |
The oldest
seal only exists on a letter from
1531 and 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 in
1537 after the
Protestant Reformation, the university recieved a new seal. The seal shows the king with
crown,
sceptre and
globus cruciger sitting above a
coat of arms which contains
Danish coat of arms in the upper right part and the
Norwegian coat in the left. The text is{
Sigillum Universitatis Hafniensis A Christiano III Rege RestauravitSeal of the University of Copenhagen, reestablished by King Christian III.
