University of Copenhagen
Courses at First Year at University of Copenhagen
During the first year at University of Copenhagen, all students get a thorough introduction to sustainability in forest and nature management. You will learn core elements of sustainability in its ecological, economic and social dimension. You will also learn about interdisciplinarity and wider perspectives on sustainability within philosophy and governance. Lastly, you will develop your generic skills and prepare for your second-year specialisation during the first year of your studies.
The first year at University of Copenhagen includes compulsory courses with a focus on providing understanding of sustainability within forest and nature management and interdisciplinarity. There is also included restricted elective courses, where you can decide to make your own programme, or choose a recommended study track. Within the restricted elective courses, you can also choose to join the joint SUFONAMA Summer School.
Programme Overview
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 | |
| Year 1 | Thematic Course: Ecology and Management of Forest and Semi-natural Terrestrial Systems (15) | Applied Forest and Natural Resource Economics (7.5) | Restricted elective course (7.5) |
Restricted elective course (7.5) |
| Conflict Management (7.5) | Restricted elective course (7.5) |
Restricted elective course (7.5) |
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 | |
| Year 1 | Thematic Course: Ecology and Management of Forest and Semi-natural Terrestrial Systems (15) | Applied Forest and Natural Resource Economics (7.5) | Restricted elective course (7.5) |
Restricted elective course (7.5) |
| Conflict Management (7.5) | Restricted elective course (7.5) |
Restricted elective course (7.5) |
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.
Study Tracks
You have the chance to study a subject area in depth. By selecting different restricted elective courses, you can either compose a programme of your own or choose one of two available study tracks:
- The Natural Science Track
- The Social Science Track
| Course Title | Block | ECTS |
| International Nature Conservation | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Integrated Water Resources Modelling | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Applied Ecosystem Ecology | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Tropical Botany | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Natural Resource Sampling and Modelling | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Economic Valuation Methods and Cost-Benefit Analysis | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Incentives and Regulation | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| People, Nature and Recreation | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Project Management | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Global Environmental Governance | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Location Specific Knowledge and Fieldwork in Temporary Forest and Nature Management* | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Forest and Nature Management Planning | Block 4 | 15 ECTS |
| Environmental Impact Assessment | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Gender, Environment and Sustainable Development | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Ecological Modelling | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Applied Environmental and Natural Resource Economics | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Project in Practice | Block 1-5 | 15 ECTS |
| Sustainable Forest and Nature Management* | Block 5 | 7.5 ECTS |
You must choose 30 ECTS restricted elective courses from the following list if you want to follow the recommended The Natural Science Track.
Click on each course for a detailed description.
| Course Title | Block | ECTS |
| International Nature Conservation | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Integrated Water Resources Modelling | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Applied Ecosystem Ecology | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Tropical Botany | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Natural Resource Sampling and Modelling | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Location Specific Knowledge and Fieldwork in Temporary Forest and Nature Management* | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Environmental Impact Assessment | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Ecological Modelling | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Project in Practice | Block 1-5 | 15 ECTS |
| Sustainable Forest and Nature Management* | Block 5 | 7.5 ECTS |
You must choose 30 ECTS restricted elective courses from the following list if you want to follow the recommended The Social Science Track.
Click on each course for a detailed description.
| Course Title | Block | ECTS |
| Economic Valuation Methods and Cost-Benefit Analysis | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Incentives and Regulation | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| People, Nature and Recreation | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Project Management | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Global Environmental Governance | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Location Specific Knowledge and Fieldwork in Temporary Forest and Nature Management* | Block 3 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Forest and Nature Management Planning | Block 4 | 15 ECTS |
| Environmental Impact Assessment | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Gender, Environment and Sustainable Development | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Applied Environmental and Natural Resource Economics | Block 4 | 7.5 ECTS |
| Project in Practice | Block 1-5 | 15 ECTS |
| Sustainable Forest and Nature Management* | Block 5 | 7.5 ECTS |
The course Sustainable Forest and Nature Management – better known as the SUFONAMA Summer School, is a block 5 course offered in August.
The course is a 14-days field course taking place in Denmark, Italy, Germany, The United Kingdom or Sweden. It varies from year to year in which of these five countries the course is offered.
To participate in the course Sustainable Forest and Nature Management in block 5, you must have taken the Location Specific Knowledge and Fieldwork in Temporary Forest and Nature Management in block 3.
The course Sustainable Forest and Nature Management is a restricted elective course (it cannot be compulsory for legal reasons), but it is strongly recommended to take the course. All students receiving the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship must pass this course and the course Location Specific Knowledge and Fieldwork in Temporary Forest and Nature Management.