# Copenhagen Business School

Copenhagen Business School (Danish: Handelshøjskolen i København) often abbreviated and referred to as CBS (also in Danish), is a public university situated in Copenhagen, Denmark and is considered one of the most prestigious business schools in Western Europe and the world.
CBS was established in 1917 by the Danish Society for the Advancement of Business Education and Research (FUHU); however, it was not until 1920 that accounting became the first full study programme at CBS. Today CBS has approximately 20,000 students and 2,000 employees, and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes within business, typically with an interdisciplinary and international focus. CBS is accredited by EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System), AMBA (Association of MBAs), as well as AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), thus making it one of the few schools worldwide to hold the "triple-crown" accreditation, and along with Aarhus BSS, the only two in Denmark.
The CBS campus is located in Frederiksberg, close to the center of Copenhagen, and centers on the school's main campus of Solbjerg Plads, completed in 2000. Since the Danish Universities Act of 2003, CBS has had a board of directors with an external majority. The Board of Directors appoints the President of CBS, who is currently Peter Møllgaard. Most of the programs are taught in English, and more than half of the faculty is recruited from abroad, making CBS an international academic environment.

## History

CBS was established in 1917 by the Danish Society for the Advancement of Business Education (now known as FUHU), which is a private educational institution. In 1965 the business school became integrated into the Danish educational system as an institution of higher education. Today, it is regulated by the Danish Universities Act of 2003.

## Presidents

| President | Years |
| Peter Møllgaard | 2024-present |
| Nikolaj Malchow-Møller | 2019–2024 |
| Per Holten-Andersen | 2012–2019 |
| Alan Irwin | 2011 |
| Johan Roos | 2009-2011 |
| Finn Junge-Jensen | 1987-2009 |
| Frode Slipsager | 1979-1987 |
| Lauge Stetting | 1978-1979 |
| Carl E. Sørensen | 1975-1978 |
| Jan Kobbernagel | 1963-1975 |
| Poul Winding | 1957-1963 |
| Christen Møller, Director | 1938-1957 |
| Marius Vibæk, Director | 1917-1938 |

## Programme structure

CBS offers a comprehensive range of university degrees in economics and business administration. Other programmes combine business studies with social sciences and the humanities, offering education in the fields of IT, philosophy, politics, language, sociology, communication and others.
The selection of full-time programmes complies with the three levels:
* 3-year bachelor's degree
* 2-year master's degree
* 3-year PhD
CBS also offers part-time and full-time programmes in continuing education:
* Executive Master Programmes
* Full-time MBA
* Diploma programmes and short courses

## Exchange programmes

CBS is the Danish member of CEMS - Global Alliance in Management Education and a member of Partnership in International Management (PIM), and focuses on double degree agreements with other top business schools. CBS has exchange and cooperation agreements with 390 universities and business schools around the world, half of which are European. 43% of CBS programmes are taught in English and CBS offers approximately 200 separate courses taught in English.

## Rankings

Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking)
In 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities, also known as Shanghai Ranking, CBS ranks #8 in Europe and #30 in the world in the category 'Management'. The ranking is research-focused as it is solely based on refereed research publications and research awards.
QS World University Ranking
In the 2024 QS ranking of the world's top universities for business and management, Copenhagen Business School ranks #18 in the world. This ranking aims to assess institutions’ overall performance and reputation in the business and management field (at both undergraduate and graduate levels) and is headed by Harvard Business School, followed by INSEAD and London Business School.
Eduniversal
The French ratings agency Eduniversal ranked Copenhagen Business School the #1 business school in the world in 2014, ahead of London Business School and Harvard Business School. This ranking is based on the recommendations of deans and presidents of leading business schools from more than 150 countries. In 2023, Eduniversal ranked CBS as #4 business school in the world, behind of MIT Sloan School of Management, Harvard Business School, and London Business School.
Corporate Knights
In the 2015 Better World MBA Ranking, which is published by Corporate Knights, the Copenhagen Business School MBA program ranks #3 globally.
QS Global MBA
The QS Global 200 Business School Report 2014/15 ranked the Copenhagen Business School MBA program #12 in Europe. The same report ranked the Copenhagen Business School MBA program in the top cluster of MBA programs globally. The top cluster, of four clusters total, comprises 20 North American MBA programs, 14 European MBA programs, and 4 Asia Pacific MBA programs.
Bloomberg Businessweek
The Copenhagen Business School MBA program has been ranked #28 by Bloomberg Businessweek in its International Full-time MBA Ranking 2015. This ranking does not include the Business schools in the US.
Financial Times
The Financial Times ranked Copenhagen Business School #50 worldwide in its Masters in Management 2020 ranking. The Financial Times also ranked the CBS Executive MBA program #62 in the world and #31 in Europe in 2015. The Copenhagen Business School MBA program has been ranked in the Financial Times's list of Top 100 MBAs in 2021.
The Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute's "Beyond Grey Pinstripes" bi-annual report ranked the Copenhagen Business School MBA program #43 globally (#7 in Europe) in its 2011-2012 report and #63 globally (#9 in Europe) in its 2009-2010 report.
Triple Crown of Accreditation
Copenhagen Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Association of MBAs, and the European Quality Improvement System. Copenhagen Business School and Aarhus University are the only two business schools in Denmark, and two of 57 business schools globally to earn Triple accreditation. Copenhagen Business School earned the AACSB accreditation in 2011, the AMBA accreditation in 2007 and the EQUIS accreditation in 2000. In 2015 CBS received the EQUIS seal of approval and thereby remains among the best 1% of business schools worldwide in terms of triple-crown accreditation.

## Partnerships

Copenhagen Business School is an active member of the University of the Arctic. UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.

## Notable alumni and faculty

The university's notable alumni include:
* Søren Skou, CEO of A.P Moller-Maersk
* Jonas Deichmann, German adventurer and extreme athlete.
* Lise Kingo, executive director of the United Nations Global Compact
* Fritz Henrik Schur Junior, Chairman of Ørsted
* David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Ruby on Rails
* Kasper Rørsted, CEO of Adidas
* Hannibal Muammar Gaddafi, son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
* Jacob Schram, CEO of Norwegian Air
* Lars Dalgaard, founder of SuccessFactors
* Jens-Otto Paludan, former CEO of Universal Music in Denmark
Prominent alumni also include Thor Haraldsson, Tarja Cronberg, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, Sharmi Albrechtsen, Carl Frederik Waage Beck, Lene Børglum, Michael Brockenhuus-Schack, Soulaima Gourami, as well as several other entrepreneurs and Danish politicians. The school has also prominent faculty members such as Danish organization theorist Nicolai Foss.

## Facilities
### CBS Campus

CBS is an urban university primarily located in four modern buildings in Frederiksberg, close to the center of Copenhagen. The main complex, Solbjerg Plads, was opened in 2000 and includes 34,000 m$^2$ of student and office space surrounded by gardens and outdoor living space. Designed by Vilhelm Lauritzer Architects, the complex consists of interconnected concrete, glass and tile-sided buildings of varying heights that house student auditoriums, faculty office space, a cafeteria, the main library, a student bar and the campus bookstore.
Dalgas Have, opened in 1989 and designed by Henning Larsen Architects, is the oldest building currently in use. Owned by the Danish Pension Fund for Engineers and leased by CBS, the building includes 20,000 m$^2$ of student classrooms, study space and offices distributed around a three-story 175 m long arcade. At the midpoint of the arcade a two-story semi-circular cafeteria sits below a semi-circular library.
Kilen (The Wedge) was opened in 2006 and includes 10,000 m$^2$ of student classrooms, study spaces, and offices for research and administration. Designed by Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects, the four-story wedge-shaped building features a large oval-shaped atrium that extends the height of the building. The exterior is covered with full-story screens made of wood, matte glass or copper, which rotate in response to the Sun and weather. Kilen has been the recipient of numerous architecture and design awards such as a RIBA European Award in 2006.
Porcelænshaven, the fourth main building that comprises the CBS campus, is leased by CBS from the Danish Society for the Advancement of Business Education. Formerly the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Factory, the factory has been converted into 20,000 m$^2$ of student classrooms, study spaces, offices, and a student residence. A central feature of the building, a 1,000 m$^2$ main hall used for large events, stands in the old location of the factory kiln hall. As part of the factory conversion, Henning Larsen Architects transformed the old raw material storage building into 3,800 m$^2$ of modern study space.
CBS campus buildings reflect characteristic Scandinavian style and have been recognized by Frederiksberg Municipality earning an Award for Good and Beautiful Building in 2006 and 2009. The four main buildings are within walking distance and located along three consecutive stations on the Copenhagen Metro from Lindevang Station (Dalgas Have) to Frederiksberg Station (Solbjerg Plads).

## Student life
### MarketingLab

Founded in 2012, MarketingLab is an organization driven by students who all share a common interest for creative marketing. The mission of the organization is to create a bridge between students and the industry. The team consists of the most ambitious students working on a weekly basis with events, courses and consulting.

### CBS Sport

CBS Sport is an independent sports organization belonging to CBS. Established in 2006, CBS Sport currently has 12 sports:
* Badminton
* Basketball (men and women)
* Cricket
* Floorball (men and women)
* Football (men and women)
* Handball (men and women)
* Horseback Riding
* Rugby (men and women)
* Running
* Skiing
* Tennis
* Volleyball (Mixed)