Denmark

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Study

Study in Denmark

Planning on studying abroad in a place where everyone feels happy all the time? Well, Denmark should be your primary choice. Everyone knows that Denmark is the happiest country in the world and no doubt, the feeling of happiness is contagious.

In addition to being happy, in Denmark, you also have the chance to pursue a quality education in a friendly, safe and innovation-driven environment.

If you study abroad in Denmark, you’ll have a fun and enriching experience that will also help you gain an excellent foundation for your future career.

Why study in Denmark?

As a student enrolled in a university in Denmark, you will experience some innovative teaching methods, allowing you to acquire the skills to become an independent learner.

In the Danish education system, students play the central role and are encouraged to express their opinions freely.

Danish universities provide a diverse range of study subjects, and place a great focus on research. Here, you will get hands-on experience in your chosen field of study.

What to study in Denmark

Whichever subject you choose to study in Denmark, you can expect outstanding quality and academic standards recognised worldwide. You can choose from a wide range of programmes taught in English, from Natural Sciences and Engineering to Architecture and Design.

Major cities in Denmark

Denmark has only a few student cities, but they all offer a vibrant and lively environment. Outside classes, you can enjoy great leisure time, whether you’ll be biking in the city and the surroundings or attending a concert or other social event.

Universities and colleges to attend in Denmark

The higher education system in Denmark is divided into several types of universities, depending on your specialisation and focus on research or practical skills.

Traditional universities – you can apply to Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in almost any field you can imagine, from Psychology to Computer Science.
University colleges – these schools offer professional Bachelor's programmes in areas such as Teacher Training, Engineering, Business, Nursing, or Social Work. The study programmes include various workshops and work placements, including abroad.
Artistic higher education institutions – specialised schools where you can pursue a degree in Arts, Music, Architecture or Design

Schools of maritime education and training – schools highly focusing on research and practical skills, dedicated to students who are interested in Maritime and Technical Engineering.

Practical Information

How to apply to universities in Denmark

Regardless of your chosen university, Denmark provides international students a special website for applications, where you can apply for up to eight programmes. Carefully check all the required application documents and make sure they are all translated into English. For instance, an internationally recognised Bachelor's degree or equivalent is the main requirement when enrolling for a Master’s degree at a university in Denmark.

Make sure to know what the language requirements are, and whether you need to prove skills in English before enrolling in a degree programme. Show how you performed as a student, and be sure to know what your Grade Point Average (GPA) was during your studies.

To help your chances of going to Denmark, be sure to apply to more than one university!

Make sure you qualify for a Danish university

Take Preparation Courses: These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes. Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course: If you’re attending a degree programme in Denmark, you will sometimes need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

There are over 350 English-taught programmes in Denmark.

Universities in Denmark will want to see proof that you have good English-language skills, so that you can easily succeed in their courses. Almost all Danish universities accept these official English exams:

IELTS
TOEFL
C1 Advanced

Living

Living in Denmark

What is it like to study in Denmark

Danish higher education combines traditional academic excellence with innovative teaching that will empower you to think, experiment and collaborate your way to new ideas and greater knowledge.

Universities, colleges and academies in Denmark are state-of-the-art. The learning environment is friendly and relaxed with students and teachers debating openly during class and lectures.

Tuition fees in Denmark

EU and EEA students enjoy the tuition-free status for all Bachelor’s and Master’s degree available in Danish universities. You also do not pay for tuition if you have either a permanent or a temporary residence permit or if one of your parents is from a non-EU/EEA country who is already working in Denmark.

Non-EU/EEA students will have to pay tuition fees, which are usually variable, depending on the university and the field of study. The cheapest study degrees have tuition fees of around 6,000 EUR/year, while highly specialised courses can be over 30,000 EUR/year.

Accommodation costs

The average price for student housing in Denmark ranges between 450 and 550 EUR/month and it usually gets higher in Copenhagen. However, if you start looking for an accommodation option early on, you can find places with 200 EUR/month outside the city centre.

Student residences offer accommodation in a communal environment. This kind of living may be particularly suitable for international students who have just arrived and don’t know anyone yet. Besides, the rent for a room is generally cheaper than that of a private room.

The number of places available in student halls of residence (kollegier) is usually limited, but if you manage to arrange a room, the rent would be around 250 EUR/month.

Health care

Except for dental care and physiotherapy, all foreign students in Denmark have equal and free access to health care services in case of accidents, acute illness or serious evolution of a chronic disease. For other health care services, you will have to pay based on your health care insurance.

If you come from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and plan to stay in Denmark less than 3 months, you can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for any healthcare service.

Food costs

Your average food bills in Denmark will reach to around 200 – 270 EUR/month, depending on your spending habits. If you choose to do your weekly shopping at discount supermarkets, you can save some money.

Having lunch or dinner out in a restaurant will cost you around 16 EUR/person, while a beer or a soft drink at a bar is around 6 EUR.

About

About Denmark

When you arrive in Denmark you will probably notice the relaxed atmosphere and the fact that things generally run pretty smoothly. A blend of stately old buildings and modern sustainable architecture speaks of cities that treasure the old but love experimenting with the new.

In terms of the weather, let’s face it! The cool Danish climate doesn’t offer ideal T-shirt weather. The short Danish summers are mild with near-midnight sunsets. But winters in Denmark also have their share of warmth – with candle-lit homes, warm, cosy gatherings and plenty of hot chocolate. Danes often refer to this snug and convivial wintery feeling as 'hygge'.

Denmark is a society driven by world-leading research and innovation within knowledge industries such as Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Science, Telecommunications and IT. Danish is the official language but you won’t have to worry about that, because everyone speaks very good English.

Therefore, if you have the talent, and you study and work hard, Denmark is a place with excellent opportunities to fulfil your potential.

Iconic places to visit

Most popular and famous place to visit in Denmark are inside Copenhagen. Some of the most popular and entertaining attractions are:

Tivoli Gardens – Denmark’s Disney theme parks
Christiansborg – home to the Parliament
The Blue Planet – Northern Europe's largest aquarium
Rosenborg Castle – Danish royal art treasures
The Round Tower - the oldest functioning observatory in Europe.
Outside Copenhagen, you can check out:
Legoland Bilund Resort
Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense
Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde
Anholt Island

Fun facts

Denmark is home to Kronborg Castle in Helsingør – the fictitious location of the famous Shakespeare play “Hamlet”.
The name Lego is an abbreviation of two Danish words, leg godt, meaning “play well.”
The Danish monarchy is the oldest continuing monarchy in the world and has existed for over 1,000 years.
Danes drink an average of four cups of coffee a day.
Denmark has 14 Nobel laureates, most of them awarded for great accomplishments in literature and medicine.

Institutes

Student VISA

Student visa for Denmark

A visa is issued for the purpose of a short stay of no more than 90 days in Denmark. The 90 days must be spent in within a 180 day period in either Denmark or another Schengen country. However, if you apply for a visa to Denmark, the main purpose and time spent must be in Denmark.

See which nationals need a visa to enter Denmark

Foreign nationals who are required a visa to enter Denmark and who intend to stay in Denmark for more than 3 months must apply for a residence permit prior to arriving in Denmark. Please note that if you apply for a residence permit and visa at the same time, your visa application will be turned down.

If you have been granted certain types of residence or re-entry permits in another Schengen country, you do not need a visa to enter Denmark. These types of residence permits are not valid for entry into the Faroe Islands or Greenland.

Where to file your application

You may apply for a visa at any authorised Danish mission in a country where you are staying legally on a permanent or temporary basis. This includes all Danish Embassies and certain consulates abroad. To find out where to apply for visa visit The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Check if you really need a student visa. Usually, if you are an EU-national and want to study in another EU country, you won't need a visa. Some other non-EU countries may also be exempt from an entry visa, at least for an initial duration;
Start accessing the websites of the embassy and consulate, in order to get a general picture of the whole "visa-application" thing;
Check the deadlines and figure out how much time you'll have to wait for your visa. You wouldn't want miss studying abroad from this silly mistake of bad planning;
Go on a scavenger hunt and collect all the documents you will need. Remember, you can find the list on the embassy's website;
Start saving up money, as some applications might require you to have proof of minimum funds;
Brush up on your English skills. Even if this is not always a visa requirement, it will help you a lot to succeed during your university studies.

For further information about the Danish Immigration rules, visit the website of the Danish Immigration Service. You can also contact the nearest Danish embassy or consulate.

Work permit

Working in Denmark

Work while studying in Denmark

You do not need an official document to work part-time as a student in Denmark.

Many students in Denmark hold a part-time job. As an international student in Denmark you too will have the right to work while you live here. You will also have the opportunity to seek full-time employment when you have completed your studies

If you are under 18 years of age, you are only eligible for a work permit if you have a written offer or contract for a specific position. The employer must also confirm to the Danish Immigration Service that he or she upholds workplace environment legislation.

Some international students find employment in bars or restaurants. Others distribute newspapers, work in telemarketing or get jobs where specific foreign language skills are required. Some students are lucky enough to find employment relevant to their studies.

You should not, however, count on obtaining a part-time job nor plan your finances accordingly. It is not always easy to find a student job in Denmark if you don’t speak Danish.

Where to search for student jobs

Some academic institutions have online job banks or career centres that can assist you in finding a student job. Please enquire at your host institution.

How can I apply?
You do not need an official document to work part-time as a student in Denmark.
Application requirements
You can apply for the work permit if you have:
- a valid student visa.

Duration of work permit

2 YEARS

Your work permit will be valid for as long as you have a valid student visa.
Max. hours of work per week

20 HOURS/WEEK

You will be allowed to work 20 hours per week. During your studies the total worked hours should be maximum 80 hours/month. You can work full-time during the months of June, July and August.