Dual degree

As a dual degree master student—one year at DTU and one year at KAIST, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology—you get a Danish and an international degree which gives you personal and academic skills and experiences. 

KAIST is among the world's leading research-oriented universities in science and engineering with campus in Daedoek Innopolis, in the city of Daejeon, the heart of Korea’s innovation. Established as a research-oriented university in 1971, KAIST is closely linked to the strong economic development of Korea, aiming to be a top-10 university in 2011.

Study abroad

Studying abroad gives you personal growth, new perspectives on World Affairs, an opportunity to create your own international network, a chance to explore other ways to apply technology, and to experience a different way of teaching.

Dual degree

In collaboration with KAIST, we offer a dual degree two-year MSc programme in computer science taught in English. The programme provides students with profound and wide knowledge in computer science, both of a practical and theorethical nature.

Description of the programme

The KAIST-DTU Dual Degree Master's programme is a full-time Master of Science programme with a duration of 2 years or 4 semesters, open to MSc Eng in Computer Science and Engineering students at DTU and MSc in Computer Science students at KAIST.

The programme consists of three semesters of course work followed by the master's thesis written during the fourth semester. For DTU students, a period of two consecutive semesters is taken at KAIST, either the second and the third semester (the master's thesis is written at DTU), or the third and fourth semester (the master's thesis is written at KAIST). The students study together with domestic and international students, and teaching is in English.

DTU students will be assigned a supervisor at DTU (home university) as well as at KAIST (host university). While at KAIST, DTU students will be part of the lab of their KAIST advisor, and participate in the lab activities, research seminars etc.

Curricular conditions

KAIST uses a credit transfer system similar to the European Credit Transfer System (ects) used at DTU, with 3 KAIST credits equal to 10 ects. Over the four semesters, students must gather 18 KAIST credits and 60 ects, in accordance with the requirements below.

In general, credits for the programme requirements can be mixed from DTU or KAIST. The student must choose courses at the host university with a minimum of academic overlap to courses at the home university.

Upon approval by both host and home supervisors, a maximum of 3 KAIST credits can substituted by 10 ects courses at DTU, and vice versa, in cases of course failure.

Programme structure and requirements

The programme consists of four components:

• General competences corresponding to 30 ects (or 9 KAIST credits)
• Specialization courses corresponding to 30 ects (or 9 KAIST credits)
• Electives corresponding to at most 30 ects (or 9 KAIST credits)
• A master's thesis corresponding to at least 30 ects (or 9 KAIST credits)

General competencies

In the following course lists, courses at KAIST commence with 'C'.

Mandatory course:  CC020 Ethics and Safety

One of the following courses:

• 42490 Technology, Economics, Management and Organization (10 ects)
• CC512 Introduction to Materials and Engineering (3 credits)
• CC513 Engineering Economy and Cost Analysis (3 credits)
• CC530 Entrepreneurship and Business Strategies (3 credits)

Remaining credits must be chosen from the list of general competence courses specialization courses

Specialization courses

30 etcs or 9 credits must be chosen from the list of specialization courses.

List of electives

Any BSc/MSc advanced level course from the DTU Study Handbook or any graduate-level course offered at KAIST (400-level or higher) can count as an elective course.

Master's thesis

A master's thesis of 30 ects / 9 credits written in English under the supervision of both home and host supervisors. The supervisor at the institution, where the thesis work is performed, will act as the primary supervisor. Upon approval of both supervisors, the thesis work may be extended to 50 ects / 15 credits.

The subject of the master's thesis as well as the project description must be accepted by host and home supervisors prior to the start of the master's thesis work. The thesis must be assessed by both supervisors, and the work is concluded by an oral defense. The subject of the master's thesis must be approved by the DTU director of studies.

KAIST theses are not graded. At DTU, the thesis is graded, with the grade appearing on the diploma. The grade is determined by the DTU supervisor according to the Danish rules and regulations on examination.

Breath requirement

Sufficient breadth over the entire field of Computer Science must be established by obtaining at least 7,5 ects / 2,25 credits in each of the three areas Theory, Software and Computer Systems chosen from the breadth requirements list.

Degrees obtained

Upon graduation, the student will be awarded the Master's degrees of each university with a special designation of the dual degree programme, i.e. the degrees awarded are

• MSc in Computer Science of KAIST
• MSc Eng in Computer Science and Engineering of DTU

If applicable, and upon approval of the DTU director of studies, the student may receive an additional diploma certifying the fulfillment for the study lines under the DTU Computer Science and Engineering curriculum.

Admission procedure for DTU students

The programme is open to MSc Eng in Computer Science and Engineering students at DTU upon application. Applications are evaluated by DTU and then reviewed and approved by KAIST.

The programme is open to MSc in Computer Science students at DTU upon application. Applications are evaluated by DTU and then reviewed and approved by KAIST. Students should apply no later than during their first semester on the MSc programme. 

Deadlines for receiving applications at the partner institution are October 15th to start the program in the spring semester and April 1st to start in the fall semester.

Further information

Co-ordinator at DTU Informatics: Flemming Stassen.