Study and find schools in Denmark

Studying in Denmark

Denmark is a small Nordic country of just over 6 million people (6,032,304 in August 2026, according to Statistics Denmark). Danish is the national language, but most Danes speak English well, and the official portal Study in Denmark lists more than 500 programmes taught entirely in English. According to the portal, teaching combines lectures with industry collaboration and puts weight on critical thinking, working with others and creativity.

Higher education is free for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland and for exchange students. Students from other countries pay tuition fees, but the system is open to them through English-taught programmes at universities and, in smaller numbers, at university colleges and business academies.

The education system

Higher education is offered by five types of institution: universities, university colleges, business academies, institutions of architecture and art, and maritime institutions. The main degrees, with their usual length according to Study in Denmark, are:

• Academy Profession (AP) degree: a two-year, practice-oriented programme of about 120 ECTS credits at a business academy, with a work placement; graduates can often add a 90-ECTS top-up to reach a professional bachelor's degree
• Professional bachelor's degree: usually 210 ECTS credits (three to four and a half years) in fields such as business, education, nursing and engineering, mainly at university colleges, with at least 30 ECTS of work placement
• Bachelor's degree: a three-year research-based university programme of 180 ECTS credits
• Master's degree (candidatus): two years and 120 ECTS credits, including a thesis
• PhD: three years (180 ECTS credits) of research, with teaching duties

Folk high schools are a separate, typically Danish tradition: residential schools for adults with no fixed curriculum, exams or grades. International People's College in Helsingør, in our directory, runs courses in global studies lasting four to six months, taught in English, plus short courses of one to three weeks.

Note that political agreements in recent years have reduced the number of full-degree programmes taught in English, especially at business academies and university colleges, so check that a programme is still offered before you plan around it.

Admission and recognition

Your school-leaving certificate must be on a level with the Danish upper secondary certificate; for some AP and professional bachelor's programmes a relevant vocational qualification may be enough. Each programme also sets specific requirements (subjects, levels and grades) and language requirements, either Danish or English. The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science assesses foreign qualifications.

Applications for bachelor-level programmes are not sent to the institution but to the national portal optagelse.dk, where you can apply for up to eight programmes. Applicants with non-Danish qualifications must apply by 15 March at 12 noon (CET); answers are sent on 28 July. The national portal handles undergraduate applications; for a master's programme, follow the application procedure and deadlines on the university's own website.

Residence permit

Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not need a residence permit; they apply for an EU residence document after arrival. Everyone else needs a residence permit as a student from the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), as published on the official portal New to Denmark (checked October 2026):

• You must be admitted to a full-time programme at a publicly accredited or state-approved institution; part-time study does not qualify
• You must show that you can support yourself: DKK 7,426 per month (2026 level), up to a maximum of DKK 89,112 for a year
• You must speak the language of instruction well enough to take part in the courses
• The processing fee is DKK 3,060, and normal processing time is two months

Students on a residence permit may not receive public benefits such as the Danish state education grant (SU). New rules apply to some students from outside the EU/EEA from 1 October 2026: for permits applied for from that date, graduates of a state-approved programme are generally granted a job-seeking permit of six months or one year (three years after a Danish PhD).

Costs

Students who pay fees can expect annual tuition of about 6,000 to 16,000 euros (DKK 45,000 to 120,000) for a full degree, according to Study in Denmark; the exact fee is set by each institution. Denmark is an expensive country, and the portal's sample monthly budget for a student includes:

• Rent: DKK 3,000 to 6,500, usually including utilities
• Food: DKK 2,000 to 3,500
• Transport: about DKK 300

Danish universities have no tradition of on-campus housing, so most students live in halls of residence some distance from campus, which is one reason to look for accommodation early.

Where to study

Our directory lists schools in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Horsens, Helsingør and Ulfborg:

• Copenhagen: the University of Copenhagen, founded in 1479; Copenhagen Business School; and DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad, which runs semester programmes for visiting students
• Aarhus: Aarhus University and its business and social sciences faculty, Aarhus BSS
• Odense: the University of Southern Denmark (Syddansk Universitet), which also teaches in other cities in southern Denmark
• Horsens and Central Denmark: VIA University College, with English-taught professional bachelor's and AP programmes
• Helsingør and Ulfborg: International People's College and DNS, a teacher training college in western Jutland

Practical life

CPR number: after registering your address you receive a Danish personal identification (CPR) number, which you need to open a bank account and use public services.

Working while studying: students from the Nordic countries, the EU/EEA and Switzerland have no student-specific limit on working hours. Students from outside the EU/EEA on a state-approved programme receive a limited work permit for 90 hours per month from September to May and full-time work in June, July and August. Students on non-state-approved programmes who applied on or after 2 May 2025 may not work. Working more than allowed is illegal and can cost you your permit. Workindenmark, the public employment service for international jobseekers, lists jobs in English.

Learning Danish: with a residence permit you are entitled to Danish lessons through your municipality, although students must pay a deposit first. Some Danish is useful for student jobs and daily life, even if most people speak English.

Frequently asked questions

Is studying in Denmark free?

Yes for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland and for exchange students. Other full-degree students pay tuition fees of about 6,000 to 16,000 euros a year, depending on the institution and programme.

Can I study in Denmark in English?

Yes. Danish institutions offer more than 500 programmes taught entirely in English, although the number of English programmes at business academies and university colleges has been reduced.

How much money do I need for a Danish student residence permit?

You must show DKK 7,426 per month (2026 level), up to DKK 89,112 if you study for more than a year. The processing fee is DKK 3,060.

Can international students work in Denmark?

Students from outside the EU/EEA on a state-approved programme may work 90 hours per month from September to May and full-time in June, July and August. EU/EEA and Swiss students have no student-specific limit.

When is the application deadline for bachelor's programmes?

Applicants with non-Danish qualifications apply through optagelse.dk by 15 March at 12 noon (CET). For master's programmes, check the university's own deadlines.