Study in Denmark | Low fees, quality education, great opportunities!

One of the most demanding study destinations in Europe, Denmark is filled with idyllic landscapes, thriving cities, and a society that is ranked the happiest in the world. Moreover, the country is highly reputed for its quality education, which focuses on helping students use what they have learned to design innovative solutions. Its colleges are famous for courses in engineering, life sciences, social sciences, and IT. Combine that with no or low cost of education in Denmark, and you’ve got yourself a study abroad destination that will inspire you to succeed in life.

Why study in Denmark?

Internationally recognized colleges, no or less tuition fee, great quality of life, and exceptional career opportunities. Denmark sounds like the holy grail of study abroad destinations. Your life as a student in Denmark would be incredible.

Thriving environment

With idyllic villages and pristine lakes, Denmark is only 2 hours away from London and Paris. Its innovative society and green lifestyle are attracting more and more attention from people around the world.

High quality of education

Five of Denmark’s universities are counted amongst the top 500 institutions in the world. The degrees these colleges offer degrees that are highly appreciated by organizations both inside and outside of Denmark.

Low cost of education

While EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t have to pay for their higher education at all, others have to pay fees that are comparatively lesser than several other countries. What’s more, several scholarships and grants are available to help international students offset their expenses.

Safe, friendly, and innovative

Denmark is a country that offers the second-best quality of life in the world! Reported as the safest and the happiest country in the world by many, Denmark offers health benefits, high-quality facilities, and amazing health benefits to its people.

Career opportunities

As an international student in Denmark, you can work for 20 hours a week. This will help you earn close to 10-12 euros an hour and cover your education expenses. And after graduation, you could get a job search permit, find an occupation, and grow your career in Denmark!

Top universities in Denmark

Denmark is home to several higher education institutions, including Artistic Institutions, Business Academies, and Universities.

These higher institutes offer a wide range of degree courses, exchange programs, and short-term programs to students from all over the world!

Let’s take a look at the top universities in Denmark that are most popular among international students-

1. University of Copenhagen
2. Technical University of Denmark
3. Aarhus University
4. Aalborg University
5. University of Southern Denmark

If you’re interested in pursuing a business degree, you could check out-

1. International Business Academy
2. Copenhagen Business School
3. Dania Academy
4. Business Academy Southwest
5. Academy of Technologies and Business

And if you’re an art student, you might want to consider-

1. Funen Art Academy
2. Design School Kolding
3. The Royal Danish Academy of Music
4. National Film School of Denmark
5. Danish National Academy of Music

What’s unusual about these Danish institutes is that over 600 of their courses are taught in English, which is unusual for European universities and colleges.

What is the cost of studying in Denmark?

Higher education in Denmark is free for students who are from EU/EEA or Switzerland! Even exchange students do not have to pay any tuition fees while they’re studying in Denmark.

There are several other students who do not have to pay for their education given that they satisfy the following criteria while applying-

1. Have a permanent residence in Denmark
2. Have a temporary residence with the possibility of getting a permanent residence
3. Be a child of a foreign national who has a residence permit 

If, however, you do not fall into any of these categories, you would have to pay your tuition fees for higher education in Denmark. The cost of education at a Danish university can be anywhere between 6000 and 16,000 euros per annum for full-degree students.

Apart from this, you would also have to consider your cost of living, which will include accommodation, food, transport, and other miscellaneous expenses. This amounts to anywhere between 900 and 1650 euros per month, depending on your choice of accommodation and other factors.

There are several ways to offset these expenses-

Get a part-time job

If you are a Nordic, EU/EAA, or a Swiss citizen, you can work in Denmark without any restrictions. But if you’re from somewhere else, your student visa will allow you to work for 20 hours per week. This can cover a lot of your expenses, including a major chunk of your course fees.

Apply for scholarships and grants

Danish universities offer a hoard of scholarships to both EU/EAA and other international students. You can apply for-

1. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
2. Fullbright Scholarships
3. Danish Government Scholarships
4. Danish State Education Support, and more

Are there any admission requirements?

Once you’ve shortlisted the universities you want to apply to, you will have to go through their websites and find out the admission requirements. However, a few requirements are common across programs and universities.

For an undergraduate course, you will need to provide-

1. A high school diploma
2. Proof of language proficiency in English (83 in TOEFL or 6.5 in IELTS)

For students pursuing a postgraduate degree, the universities will ask for –

1. Transcripts
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. CV
5. Proof of English proficiency (83 in TOEFL or 6.5 in IELTS)
6. Standard test scores (GRE or GMAT)
7. Portfolio (for subjects like fine arts, architecture, etc.)

Start preparing these documents 6 months before you have to apply. After you submit your application, it is time to wait. If shortlisted, you will receive a letter of acceptance, which you can then use to apply for a student visa!

How can I get a Denmark student visa?

If you’re planning to study in Denmark for more than 3 months (90 days, to be precise), you will need a visa. Depending on where you’re from, you would either have to apply for a registration certificate or a residence permit.

For EU/EEA or Swiss citizens

In case you’re from EU/EEA, you will have to apply for a registration certificate. But if you’re a Swiss citizen, you will be needing a residence card. These will allow you to live and work in Denmark. For this, you will need-

1. Passport
2.  Photographs
3. Letter of admission from your university addressed to the Regional State Administration

Since it will take around 30 days to process your application, I suggest that you apply accordingly.

For non-EU/EEA citizens

A residence permit will not only allow you to live and study in Denmark but also look for a job. For this, you will need-

1. An acceptance letter from your university
2. Financial proof that you can support yourself
3. Language proficiency in English, German, Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian 
4. Passport
5. Photographs

Again, it will take time to process your application, so it’s best to apply for your residence permit 3 months in advance.

What are the possible job opportunities?

You can choose from a variety of opportunities after you graduate, like studying further, getting a job, or even starting your own business!

It’s easier if you are a Nordic, EU/EEA, or Swiss citizen. You can directly apply for a job after graduation. But if that is not the case, you would have to first get a residence permit (if you don’t already have one). It will enable you to stay back in Denmark for another 6 months, look for a job, and start working.

To do this, you could either contact your university counseling department or check out a hoard of job portals. These include Work in Denmark, Job Index, Stepstone, Graduate Land, etc.

But I do have one tip – learn Danish really well (several free classes are available for international students) before stepping into the job market. It will give you an equal standing with the local students who are applying.

Once you get a job, you can stay back longer and continue to excel in your career abroad.

Is Denmark for me?

If you want to pursue your higher education from a world-renowned university in Europe, Denmark is one of the best options you can choose. The education system is well-rounded, the fees are comparatively lower, and you don’t even have to learn a new language to be able to study!

But if you’re still not sure you want to study in Denmark and are looking at other countries, feel free to reach out. We would be very happy to solve any doubts or queries you may have. Or you could just let me know in the comments section.

Until then, ciao!