Tuition

Tuition fees are set individually by each university and vary by field of study. Examples for non-EU/EEA students: Aalborg University charges DKK 27,800–57,850 per semester (DKK 55,600–115,700 per year) depending on the field; Copenhagen Business School charges DKK 60,000 per semester (DKK 120,000 per year) for full-time master's programmes; the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) charges EUR 7,500 per semester for master's programmes. EU/EEA citizens, Swiss nationals, and holders of permanent residence in Denmark or the Nordic countries pay no tuition fees. Exception: British nationals have generally had to pay tuition fees since 1 January 2021, unless they already held permanent EU-based residence rights before that date. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Visa

Residence permit for higher educational programmes, issued by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI); applicants must show admission to an approved programme and sufficient funds for self-support. — 90 hours per month (September–May); full-time work is permitted in June, July and August. [6]

Applications

Bachelor's programmes use the centralised Optagelse.dk system, with deadlines on 15 March, 12 noon CET (quota 2, covering international applicants and those with a non-Danish qualification) and 5 July, 12 noon CET (quota 1, mainly applicants with Danish qualifications); admission decisions are typically sent on 28 July. Master's programmes are not centrally coordinated: applicants apply directly to the individual university. At Aarhus University, for example, non-EU/EEA applicants must apply by 15 January for an August/September start or by 15 September for a January/February start; deadlines and intake dates vary by institution and programme. [7] [8]

Application portals

Language

Danish. Danish is the language of instruction in most bachelor's programmes. At master's level, the range of English-taught programmes is very large: according to Study in Denmark, Danish institutions offer more than 600 fully English-taught study programmes nationwide, including around 390 master's and around 70 bachelor's programmes. [9]

Health insurance

Anyone staying in Denmark for more than three months must register with the local municipality, which provides a CPR number and, on that basis, the yellow health insurance card (sundhedskort). This gives access to the Danish public healthcare system on the same terms as residents, including a general practitioner and hospital treatment, but excludes dental care and physiotherapy, which are not part of the free scheme. EU/EEA and Swiss students should also bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their home country. For stays under three months, Danish public health insurance does not apply automatically, so private travel or health insurance is recommended. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice; the rules of the competent Danish authorities are binding. [10] [11] [12]

Universities

Scholarships

  • Danish Government Scholarships — Non-EU/EEA students admitted to a master's programme at a Danish university are automatically considered for a government scholarship — no separate application is required. Depending on the university, it can include a full or partial tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend toward living costs; selection and exact amounts are determined by each university individually. [14] [1] [2]
  • DTU Tuition Fee Waivers for International Students — The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) awards a very limited number of tuition fee waivers to new non-EU/EEA master's students with an excellent academic record; the waiver covers tuition fees for the full two-year programme. The application deadline is 15 January, for the autumn intake only, and requires a separate personal statement specifically addressing the fee waiver. [15]
  • Aalborg University Government Scholarship (Tuition Waiver + Stipend) — Under the Danish government scholarship scheme, Aalborg University (AAU) waives tuition fees for selected non-EU/EEA master's students and additionally pays a monthly stipend of DKK 11,225 (2026 rate) toward living costs over the four semesters of the master's programme. The university explicitly notes that this amount may not cover all living expenses in Denmark. [1]

Sources

  1. Higher educational programmes — New to Denmark (SIRI) · accessed on ↩
  2. Self-support on specific SIRI schemes — New to Denmark (SIRI) · accessed on ↩
  3. How to apply for a higher education programme in Denmark — Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science · accessed on ↩
  4. Deadlines and important dates — Aarhus University · accessed on ↩
  5. Tuition fees and application fee — Aarhus University · accessed on ↩
  6. Fees and funding — Technical University of Denmark (DTU) · accessed on ↩
  7. Tuition fee waivers for International non-EU/EEA MSc students — DTU · accessed on ↩
  8. Finance and fees — Aalborg University · accessed on ↩
  9. Application and admission for Non-EU/EEA citizens — Copenhagen Business School · accessed on ↩
  10. Tuition fees — University of Copenhagen · accessed on ↩
  11. Scholarships — University of Copenhagen · accessed on ↩
  12. Health and safety in Denmark — University of Copenhagen · accessed on ↩
  13. Yellow health card — City of Copenhagen / International House Copenhagen · accessed on ↩
  14. The yellow Danish health insurance card (sundhedskort) — City of Aarhus · accessed on ↩
  15. Study in English — Study in Denmark (Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science) · accessed on ↩