The University of Southern Denmark was established in 1998 through a merger of Odense University, the Southern Denmark School of Business and Engineering, and the South Jutland University Centre.
On 1 January 2006, Odense University College of Engineering was incorporated into the University of Southern Denmark, leading to the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering. In 2015, the faculty moved into its purpose-built facilities on Campusvej in Odense. These modern buildings were designed to integrate research, teaching, and innovation under one roof.
On 1 January 2007, the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and the Business School Centre in Slagelse were also incorporated into the University of Southern Denmark. The NIPH retained its status as a national public health institute, located in Copenhagen. The Business School Centre became a department within the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences and now constitutes SDU’s campus in Slagelse.
In late 2024, SDU announced the establishment of a new campus in Vejle. This campus will serve as a centre of excellence in computer science and software engineering, with the aim of educating highly skilled and employable graduates. The first students will be welcomed in 2026, and the long-term goal is to employ 90 academic staff and enrol more than 1,200 students by 2032.
Anniversaries
In 2006, the university celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking the founding of Odense University in 1966. To commemorate the occasion, a special issue of the university magazine Ny Viden was published, offering insights into the origins of the university (available only in Danish).
In 2016, the university celebrated its 50th anniversary with a dedicated website, featuring weekly stories from its first half-century.