Denmark
Research, design and applied learning in a Nordic setting
Study overview
Danish higher education combines research universities with professional and artistic institutions. English-taught master’s degrees are well established; undergraduate availability depends on the institution and field. Group projects and independent study feature prominently in many programmes.
Non-Eu Tuition Guide / Year
National study-portal guide, printed October 2025, for fee-paying full-degree students. Published in euros; invoices may use Danish kroner. Specialist programmes can cost more.
Planning Budget / Month
Rounded total of the national portal’s sample monthly categories: housing, food, insurance, books, transport and personal expenses. Initial deposits are additional.
Typical degree length: University bachelor’s: usually 3 years.
Professional bachelor’s: commonly 3–4½ years.
Master’s duration depends on the programme and intake.
Fields: Engineering, energy, life sciences, design, architecture, business and computing.
Study and admission
Education, entry and student life
The structure of study, the application route and the practical decisions behind it.
Research and professional degrees
Universities combine disciplinary study with research; university colleges focus on professional practice. Business academies and arts institutions offer other specialised routes. The award title, qualification level and opportunities to progress into a master’s matter when comparing these sectors. Similar subject names can lead to different degrees and learning experiences.
Official references
Finding a programme in English
English-taught provision is particularly strong in postgraduate study. A university can have many English master’s degrees while teaching most of its bachelor’s degrees in Danish. Clinical, school-based or other professional placements may require local-language competence even where some academic modules are in English.
Official references
Entry requirements and applications
Bachelor’s applicants need an accepted upper-secondary qualification and the required subject levels. Programme requirements can specify mathematics and science preparation, as well as English or Danish. Some courses use additional selection criteria. Master’s applications are assessed by the institution against the academic content and credits of the previous degree; an unrelated bachelor’s does not automatically qualify.
Official references
Study duration is changing
Three-year university bachelor’s degrees remain a common structure. Denmark is reforming parts of its master’s provision, including shorter and work-integrated formats alongside two-year programmes. The published curriculum for the intended intake establishes the duration, workload and structure. A professional bachelor’s may also have a different progression route from an academic bachelor’s.
Official references
How the classroom works
Project work can combine group assignments, presentations and substantial independent reading. At Aalborg University, problem-based learning is a central teaching model. Students need to manage shared deadlines and explain their own contribution. A placement or company project is a learning component with its own assessment; it is not an employment guarantee.
Official references
Housing and first-month cash
Rent is only part of the initial outlay. A deposit, prepaid rent, transport and household essentials can make arrival much more expensive than a routine month. The national portal’s sample budget includes personal expenditure as well as essentials. Copenhagen housing can be particularly competitive; residence offers and private contracts have different payment terms.
Funding and doctoral study
Government scholarships for eligible non-EU applicants are administered by universities and may cover tuition, living expenses or both. Awards are limited. Doctoral opportunities often follow a vacancy-based recruitment process. Danish student support, called SU, has nationality or equal-status conditions and is not an automatic entitlement for an overseas student.
Official references
Entrance and language assessments
Assessment requirements are described in the study and admission sections above and in the institution’s programme terms.
Scholarships and funding routes
Danish government scholarships
Support: Universities may award full or partial tuition waivers and/or living grants.
Eligibility: Highly qualified eligible non-EU/EEA applicants; residence and programme conditions apply.
Application: Each university administers its own selection and award process.
Conditions: Places are limited. The tuition and living components may differ between awards.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
Support: Selected joint master’s programmes offer competitive scholarships towards participation and living costs.
Eligibility: Applicants normally hold a bachelor’s degree or are completing one before the programme begins.
Application: Applications go to the individual consortium, which publishes its own selection process.
Conditions: An award applies to a named joint programme and its mobility plan, not to every master’s course in the country.
University doctoral vacancies
Support: Funded appointments advertised by universities may combine research training with a salary.
Eligibility: Academic qualifications and research experience must match the project and faculty requirements.
Application: Candidates apply to a specific advertised vacancy.
Conditions: Salary, duration, duties and admission conditions follow the appointment, not a general national scholarship.
Selected university profiles
Selected institutions; official programme terms determine entry and fees.
University of Copenhagen
A research university spanning health, science, humanities, law, theology and social sciences. Most bachelor’s study is taught in Danish.
- Subjects
- Sciences; Health; Humanities; Social sciences
- Address
- Nørregade 10, 1165 Copenhagen K, Denmark
- Website
- https://www.ku.dk/
Official references
Aarhus University
A research university offering programmes across humanities, business, health, natural sciences and technical sciences.
- Subjects
- Business; Sciences; Arts; Engineering
- Address
- Nordre Ringgade 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Website
- https://www.au.dk/
Official references
Technical University of Denmark
A technical university with engineering education and research. Programme requirements specify mathematics, science and language preparation.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Biotechnology; Computing; Energy
- Address
- Anker Engelunds Vej 1, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Website
- https://www.dtu.dk/
Official references
University of Southern Denmark
A multi-campus university with research and teaching across engineering, business, health, humanities and science.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Business; Health; Sciences
- Address
- Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
- Website
- https://www.sdu.dk/
Official references
Aalborg University
A university known for problem-based project work alongside disciplinary teaching, with programmes on several Danish campuses.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Computing; Social sciences; Health
- Address
- Fredrik Bajers Vej 7K, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark
- Website
- https://www.aau.dk/
Official references
Copenhagen Business School
A specialist business university combining management and economics with related social sciences.
- Subjects
- Business; Economics; Management; Social sciences
- Address
- Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Website
- https://www.cbs.dk/
Official references
Further institutions
| Institution | Location and type | Official website | Book page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roskilde University | Roskilde / University | https://www.ruc.dk/ | 230 |
| IT University of Copenhagen | Copenhagen / University | https://www.itu.dk/ | 230 |
| VIA University College | Aarhus / multiple campuses / University college | https://www.via.dk/ | 230 |
| University College of Northern Denmark | Aalborg / University college | https://www.ucn.dk/ | 230 |
| UCL University College | Odense / Vejle / University college | https://www.ucl.dk/ | 230 |
| University College South Denmark | Haderslev / multiple campuses / University college | https://www.ucsyd.dk/ | 230 |
| Royal Danish Academy | Copenhagen / Arts and design academy | https://www.royaldanishacademy.com/ | 230 |
| Aarhus School of Architecture | Aarhus / Architecture school | https://www.aarch.dk/ | 230 |