Study in Denmark

Danish higher education has several types of institutions: • Research universities (8): bachelor’s in 3 years (180 ECTS), master’s in 2 years (120 ECTS), PhD usually in 3 years. • University colleges: professional bachelor’s degrees of 3–4.5 years in fields such as engineering, nursing, teaching and business, with work placements. • Business academies: 2-year Academy Profession (AP) degrees and practical top-up bachelor’s programmes. • Institutions for the arts, architecture and maritime education. Studies use the ECTS system, with an emphasis on group projects and critical thinking. The main language of instruction is Danish, with a large number of English-taught programmes. The academic year starts on 1 September, and some master’s programmes start on 1 February. Your programme must be state-approved for you to get work rights and a job-seeking permit after graduation.

1) Bachelor’s: most bachelor’s and professional bachelor’s programmes use the national portal Optagelse.dk, where you can rank up to 8 programmes. The deadline for applicants with non-Danish or international upper-secondary qualifications (including the IB) and for quota 2 applicants is 15 March 2027 at 12 noon Danish time, and answers come on 28 July 2027. 2) Quotas: in oversubscribed programmes, quota 1 places go by grade point average converted to the Danish scale, and quota 2 places by criteria each institution sets, such as tests, interviews or experience. 3) Master’s: apply directly to the university. For fee-paying applicants from outside the EU/EEA, the deadline is 15 January 2027 at the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus, DTU, Aalborg, CBS and Roskilde, and 1 March 2027 at the IT University of Copenhagen. Portals open between 5 November and mid-December 2026. 4) Application fee: about €150 for non-EU/EEA applicants at most universities (€100 at DTU), and it is non-refundable. Requirements: an upper-secondary certificate comparable to the Danish one for a bachelor’s, a relevant bachelor’s for a master’s, and proof of English (equivalent to Danish B level, often IELTS 6.5–7). Most universities do not require the GRE or GMAT.

Tuition: study is free for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Everyone else typically pays €6,000–16,000 a year (DKK 45,000–120,000), and some programmes cost more. Examples: DTU about €15,000, CBS about €16,000, the University of Southern Denmark €10,800–17,300 and Roskilde €10,000–16,000 a year. Under new government rules, several universities (such as Aarhus and SDU) now require the full first year’s tuition to be paid before studies start. Scholarships: Danish Government Scholarships are funded by the state and allocated by the universities themselves to excellent students from outside Europe. They can be a full or partial tuition waiver, sometimes with a monthly stipend (for example DKK 8,000 at CBS and DKK 11,225 at Aalborg), and you are usually considered automatically with your admission application. The Cultural Agreements scholarships have not been available since 2021. Living costs: Study in Denmark estimates about DKK 8,500–13,700 a month (roughly US$1,300–2,100), including rent of DKK 3,000–6,500 and food of DKK 2,000–3,500. The immigration authority requires proof of DKK 7,426 a month (2026 level). Non-EU/EEA students cannot receive the Danish state SU grant.

Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a student residence permit from the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI): 1) After you accept your offer and pay tuition, your university issues the ST1 application form. You create a case order ID, pay the DKK 3,060 processing fee, complete your part and give biometrics at an embassy or visa centre. 2) Normal processing time is 2 months, up to 3 months if more information is needed. 3) Funds: DKK 7,426 a month (2026 level), up to DKK 89,112 for 12 months, shown by a bank statement in your own name no more than 30 days old, or a scholarship or loan granted to you. Having paid the first semester’s tuition is accepted as proof of sufficient funds. 4) You must be admitted full-time to a state-approved programme and be able to follow teaching in its language. The permit covers the standard length of your programme and can be extended by up to one year if you are delayed. Do not stay outside Denmark for more than 6 consecutive months, or the permit lapses. 1 October 2026 change: if you apply for a residence permit for a bachelor’s or master’s programme on or after that date, your spouse, partner or children can no longer join you as accompanying family members (PhD students are not affected).

A student permit for a state-approved programme automatically includes a limited work permit: up to 90 hours a month from September to May and full-time in June, July and August, counted per calendar month. This rule has applied since 1 July 2024, replacing the old 20-hours-a-week limit. You may work full-time during a mandatory internship, and unpaid voluntary work for a non-profit does not count. Students who applied on or after 2 May 2025 for a programme that is not state-approved get no right to work. Working more than allowed is illegal work and can cost you your permit. After graduation: bachelor’s and master’s graduates get a job-seeking permit together with their student permit — 6 months or 3 years if the student permit application was submitted before 1 October 2026, and 6 months or 1 year if submitted on or after that date; PhD graduates get 3 years. During this period you can apply for an unrestricted work permit, or switch to a work permit once you have a job offer. The former Establishment Card has been closed to new applicants since 2023. Language: Danish lessons are free through your municipality (a refundable deposit applies) and greatly improve your job chances.