Master's Degree Programme
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September (no winter intake) |
The Master’s degree programme in Human Security is based on the UN’s Human Security approach, with a particular focus on conflict and the environment.
Global environmental change is increasingly threatening to escalate conflicts across the globe. Competition for access to scarce resources is intensifying, the supply of essential goods is declining, and the global population continues to grow.
In recent years, the concept of “human security” has become a key framework for understanding and addressing processes of human development in contexts of insecurity. This development is partly rooted in the work of the United Nations. Human security is more than the absence of physical violence. It is about freedom from fear, freedom from want, and the right to live a life in dignity.
Through the programme, you develop the ability to carry out informed and critically analytical assessments of human security. You learn to analyse and intervene in complex networks in which social, environmental, economic and political factors are deeply intertwined. At the same time, you strengthen your ability to combine scientific theory with real-world experience.
The Master’s degree programme in Human Security is the first of its kind in Europe. It is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Culture and Society, the Department of Biology, and the Department of Agroecology.
Your lecturers come from a range of academic backgrounds and departments, and they are complemented by international guest lecturers from around the world. Over the course of the two-year programme (120 ECTS), you will gain in-depth insight into global conflicts and ecosystems, while also engaging with different approaches to human security.
The programme is active on social media, where you can find more information and be inspired by both current and former students.
Take a look at our digital communities:
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the master's degree programme in Human Security. Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| Social sciences (excluding business, management, and economics), humanities, or environment-related studies | 90 |
| Scientific method or research method | 5 |
| At least one larger free written assignment (e.g. Bachelor’s project) | 10 |
| Total | 105 |
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
There is no Bachelor's degree programme that provides a legal right of admission to the Master's degree programme in Human Security.
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this Master's degree programme in Human Security:
If you hold a Bachelor’s degree from a non-Danish university, you must complete the appendix below and upload it to the application portal. The appendix helps the academic assessors with the assessment of your application.
Download appendix
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
Grade level from qualifying degree programme
Grades achieved in relevant subject fields:
Conflict studies or environment-related studies
Anthropology
Scientific methods or research methods
Other relevant experience
A Curriculum Vitae (CV), which describes your relevant education and professional experience in chronological order
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the assessment.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
As a student it is important to know the regulations for your chosen subject: what is the content, how is it structured and what does it require from you. You can find this information in the academic regulations.
In the following graphical presentation of the subject you can see the different modules and courses that, in addition, link to the course catalogue where you can read the course descriptions.
Students of Human Security can specialise by choosing a profile course, a project placement, or a period of study abroad:
Group work is an integral aspect of studying in the Human Security programme. This type of learning allows for a deep discussion and analysis of literature and case studies pertaining to the study of human security. The programme is an interdisciplinary programme, both in terms of academic content and amongst the participating students: Students who join the programme not only come from all over the world, but also come from many different academic backgrounds (humanities, social science, and natural science), which helps to enliven and enrich the learning atmosphere. Thus, in addition to the diversified lectures the programme provides, our students have the unique opportunity to learn directly from each other as well.
To support our students, we begin the supervision process already in the first semester. Each student is assigned a supervisor based on their personal research interests, and your supervisor will help guide you through the process of planning your thesis proposal and data collection. Your supervisor is in contact with you during your project placement and also supports you during the process of writing your master thesis. We value that all of our students receive equal guidance and graduate on time. Therefore, we have created a structured scheme to ensure the quality of supervision amongst students.
The Human Security Master’s programme is continuously evolving in the creation of an exciting study environment. The study environment is heavily influenced by our students, who have the opportunity to participate in the Students’ Committee. The committee’s vision is to create an inspiring learning environment outside scheduled university hours, as well as provide a social and professional network to one another. This is done through three main focus areas which students can work with on a voluntary basis: Outreach & Discussion, Social Events and Media & Communication. The Students’ Committee manifesto can be seen here.
In addition, knowledge-sharing amongst current and former students is done through various social media platforms associated with the Human Security programme. Such knowledge-sharing allows you as a current and former student the possibility to continuously develop your abilities and knowledge in the field of human security through the webwork of individuals connected to the programme, both past and present. Take a look at our Programme community site, our Facebook page and our LinkedIn group.
The Human Security programme is taught at the beautiful Moesgaard Campus, just next to Marselisborg forest, and close to the ocean. At the campus, you have access to the library, group rooms, and quiet study spaces. You also have the option to reserve a spot in the library for writing your thesis. From Aarhus city centre, you have easy access to the Moesgaard Campus by bus, car, or bike.
As a student at Moesgaard, you can also access the Moesgaard Museum for free by showing your student card and letter of enrollment.
The campus has its own Friday bar — “BarBaren” — where you can relax after a knowledge-packed week, get to know your fellow Human Security students, or meet students from other studies at the Moesgaard campus, like those studying Anthropology or Archeology.
As the second-largest city in Denmark, Aarhus is a young and dynamic place with plenty of opportunities. The 40,000 students at the university make up 17.5% of the city’s population, which leaves its mark on city life. An attractive feature of Aarhus is that there are beaches and woods only a short bike-ride away, as well as cultural events which place throughout the year, including the Aarhus Festival in September. The theatres in the city and the ARoS international art museum offer many events that allow you to more fully experience Danish culture.
Why choose Aarhus? Visit studyguide.au.dk and get all practical information about being an international student.
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Throughout the programme, you acquire competencies within the following areas:
Critical evaluation: You learn to critically evaluate complex texts addressing environmental analyses, anthropological and social science theory, as well as detailed empirical studies.
Critical analysis: You develop the ability to carry out informed and critical analytical assessments of human and environmental security.
Interdisciplinary understanding: You acquire the ability to apply interdisciplinary scientific approaches to the analysis of conflict and environmental issues, and to translate these approaches into practice.
Theory and methods: You are able to construct scientific arguments, critically engage with methodological and theoretical assumptions, and apply both qualitative and quantitative methods. At the same time, you learn to generate new knowledge about complex contexts that shape environmental and conflict analysis.
Project work: You gain the necessary tools to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and to carry out project work according to defined frameworks and guidelines.
Solution-oriented mindset: You develop a flexible and open approach to new ideas, techniques, methodologies and academic perspectives.
See the full competence profile in the official curriculum.
With a Master’s degree in Human Security, you have the opportunity to work across a wide range of sectors. Depending on your interests, you may find employment in NGOs, international organisations, public institutions, private companies, or consultancy firms working with human security-related issues.
Your interests may, for example, lead you towards:
Human rights: You may work in organisations such as the Red Cross, the Danish Refugee Council, CARE, IBIS, and many others. Major international organisations such as UNDP, UNICEF and the World Bank also seek the expertise you gain from the programme.
Sustainable development: You may find employment in organisations such as Danida, Norad or USAID. You may also work in national ministries or public authorities, focusing on international relief work or environmental projects.
Climate, natural resources and food security: You may work in organisations or companies such as Vedvarende, QualiTree or Undesert.
You may also choose an academic career path and apply for PhD programmes within the Faculty of Arts. We have a strong Human Security PhD environment at Aarhus University. This is partly due to the research programme Anthusia, which has enrolled 16 PhD students, six of whom are based at the Moesgaard Campus. You can read more about the programme here.
Hear from our alumni: On www.humansecurity.dk former students share how they apply their Human Security background in their current careers.
Arts Career offers inspiration, guidance and sparring on your career options while you study. You can find examples of career opportunities with a Master’s degree in Human Security in the Arts Career Catalogue.
