Copenhagen University

According to the review about educational institutions of  ”Times” magazine, the University of Copenhagen is on the  66th  place in the world and 20th in Europe. It is also noticed in the review that the Humanitarian faculty is on 18th place in the world, and the faculty of social studies is included into 50 best faculties in the area. At University there are approximately 100 various institutes, faculties, laboratories, the educational centers and museums.

University of Copenhagen having a history of more than 525 years is one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe and the biggest study research establishment in Denmark. For all years of its existence there were sets of changes at university. The university of Copenhagen was officially opened on June, 1st, 1479 after king Christian had got the approval from Pope Siksta IV.

Generated by the example of German universities, the university consisted of four faculties: faculty of divinity, faculty of law, and also medical and philosophical faculties. As it happened to all other medieval universities, the University of Copenhagen was a part of universal Catholic Church.

Reforms of 1536 meant a sweeping change in position and the University role in the Danish society. But from the organizational point of view, the university should remain educational institution on the sample of medieval model which planned university activity far for the future. And only in 1771 the University lost its own jurisdiction. And in the second half of 20th centuries, at last, the so-called “professorial power” definitively disappeared.

From 1479 to  2004 university headed the Rector and the Consistory. In 2004/2005 years there were considerable changes in principles of management of University, and the Consistory has been replaced by Board of governors.

The charter being accepted in 1788 established the realm of furher steps for university, thus promoting gradual transformation of University from a classical European one to a modern research establishment.

In 1788 the University the teaching stuff included approximately 20 constant teachers and 1 000 students. By 1900 the number of teachers and students at the University was, accordingly, already 60 and 4 000. In the beginning of 21st century, the University totals 35 000 students and more than 7 000 teachers and employees, and is the most considerable in Denmark.

Six faculties of University offer students training under 200 programs including the humanities, the jurisprudence, natural sciences, public health services and theology.

The university of Copenhagen offers training for scientific degree reception in the diversified areas. The process of getting  degrees is divided into 3 levels. After 3th years of training at a base university course the student receives degree of the bachelor, and in 2 additional years of training he gets a master’s degree. Process of getting a scientific degree differs from this model only in the field of theology, medicine and dental surgery business. All degrees of the master received at University of Copenhagen, give a chance to the pupils to continue studying at University 3 years more to get the degree of a doctor.

For foreign students the University also offers many various courses which are conducted in English.

Faculties and the educational centers

• Theology Faculty
• Faculty of law
• Faculty of social studies
• Faculty of sciences about health of the person
• Humanitarian faculty
• Faculty of natural sciences

In particular, the faculty of natural sciences includes the following branches and educational centers:

Branches:

• the Arctic station
• chemistry Branch
• Branch of the theory of computers and systems
• geology Institute
• biology Institute
• physical culture Institute
• geography Institute
• Institute of mathematical sciences
• Institute of molecular biology and physiology
• the Museum of natural history of Denmark

- A botanical garden

- A botanical museum

- A geological museum

- A zoological museum

• Pine forest Institute Nilsa (Institute of theoretical astronomy, physics and geophysics)

The centers:

• the biocomputer science Center
• the Center of planetary sciences
• the Center of philosophy of the nature and scientific researches (CPNSS)
• the Center of scientific formation
• the Center of public evolution and symbiosis
• the Center of nanosciences

The university has chosen four priority areas of research for 2003-2007:

Researches in sphere of biotechnologies, ethics, culture and public behavior in the field of biotechnology and biomedicine workings out.

This area of researches includes studying the interrelation  between functions of a brain and conscious cerebration.

Researches how the religion influences a society and separate people now are conducted in this area.

In this area studies of political, economic, legislative and cultural changes in Europe are made.