Denmark is the one country within the European Union to reduce the number of Bachelor’s degrees taught in English in recent years. Since 2022, there are significantly fewer opportunities to study in Denmark in English. This was largely a political decision and you can read about the background to it here.
However, there are still some excellent degrees well worthy of your consideration.
There are eight universities, 10 university colleges and 9 Academies of Professional Higher Education in Denmark. All three types of higher education institution teach some courses in English although the range is limited.
The Danish higher education system is quite different to the British system in that it offers two distinct undergraduate qualifications.
Universities teach three-year Bachelor’s degrees in line with the European norm. Academies of Professional Higher Education and University Colleges typically teach 2-year Academy Profession (AP) programmes. Most of these can then be topped up to full bachelor status by further study. The total duration of these Bachelor’s degrees is between 3.5 and 4.5 years. These are Professional Bachelor’s degrees and they differentiate themselves from three year bachelors in that they always include work experience in order to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience.
Most Bachelor’s programmes of both kinds give access to appropriate postgraduate education.
Completion of secondary education at advanced level, equivalent to passing the exam at the end of Danish upper secondary school, is the basic requirement for entry to Danish universities and university colleges. If you have A’ Levels you should be eligible for entry to a Danish university. However, it is always worth checking directly with the university to which you wish to apply as there are exceptions. Some courses require that certain subjects have been taken to A’ level or to a level equivalent with the local requirement. This is most common for Maths and English. We have also seen one or two degrees that are taught in English but require knowledge of the Danish language.
The precise requirements listed on the Danish Department of Higher Education website but we will paraphrase them here. You will need 3 A’ levels plus at least 6 GCSEs. AS Levels can be taken into consideration, as can BTECs. It is unclear whether you can apply on the basis of resits or A’ levels taken at more than one sitting.
When looking at grade equivalencies with the Danish system, it is worth knowing that subjects can be taken in Denmark to A, B or C level. You will often have to show that your international qualification is of a similar standard to that required by Danish students. Broadly speaking, A level in Danish is the same as in the UK system, B level would be an AS level and C level a GCSE.
There is a centralised admissions process to Danish universities. You can apply to up to eight courses at the same time, including multiple courses at the same university. You will be asked to rank your choices. You will only ever receive one offer at a time and it will be for the highest-ranked course which is prepared to accept you. If you don’t receive an offer from any of your choices, you will receive a rejection notification.
EU and EAA nationals will be considered in exactly the same way as Danish students. This is not necessarily true for non-EU applicants, including British nationals without Danish residency.
The centralised admission system Optagelse.dk is open for admissions from 1st February to 15th March every year. You cannot apply later than this even if you are applying for one of the very limited number of degrees that has a Spring semester intake. You can change the order of your preferences, or delete courses you no longer want, until 5th July but you cannot add courses after the March deadline.
Applications are usually considered in two Quotas. Students with EU or EAA qualifications can be considered in both Quota 1 and Quota 2. This includes the International Baccalaureate. Students with non-EU qualifications, which includes A’ levels and Scottish Highers, can only apply in Quota 2.
If you are considered in Quota 1, the university you are applying to will convert your school diploma into an equivalent Grade Point Average in the Danish school diploma. If your GPA is high enough, you will be made an offer. If there are additional selection criteria (interview, motivation letter, entrance test etc) then only Quota 2 will be used.
Three types of applicants are considered in Quota 2:
If you need to supply additional information as part of a Quota 2 application, this needs to be done before the 15th March deadline. Interviews take place after this date, however. Please check with each individual university because it is possible that the same degree at two universities might have very different requirements.
In addition to applying centrally through Optagelse, you will need to send a “signature page” to each university for each degree programme for which you apply. This needs to be completed before 15th March as well.
You can apply before you receive your high school diploma results but these must be supplied by 5th July at 12:00 at the latest. This means that A’ level students will definitely require a gap year before applying to Danish universities. If you are taking the International Baccalaureate, you will need to permit your chosen university to access your results directly as these will be available to universities, but not to you, before the deadline.
Offers are made after all results are known, so not before the second half of July. No conditional offers are made. You will have to confirm your place according to the terms of your offer letter but this will usually be before a deadline in early August.
Higher education in Denmark is regulated by the state. Danish educational institutions enjoy a high degree of autonomy but are required to follow national regulations in terms of teacher qualifications, degree structures and examination processes.
This ensures that all students in Denmark obtain an education of high international quality and relevance that meets a minimum guaranteed standard.
All higher education institutions in Denmark have agreed to a set of ethical guidelines (Code of Conduct) for the recruitment, admission and education of international students. This is your guarantee that you will receive proper information, guidance and treatment as an international student in Denmark. The Code of Conduct applies to both exchange students and full degree students.
Danish universities do not charge tuition fees to EU and EAA nationals. There is one private university that is fee-paying for all students. Fees for international students vary for every degree programme but will typically be between €8,500 and €15,000 a year.
British nationals are international students post-Brexit. British nationals who have been registered residents of Denmark and some other Nordic countries since before December 2020 might still benefit from local tuition fees.
There are no scholarships available for international students at undergraduate level in Denmark. All international students must be fully self-funded.
As tuition fees are zero for EU nationals, there are no loans required to fund tuition costs.
EU nationals might be eligible for support towards living costs but the rules are quite complicated. More information is available on the government’s website about SU (student support) and how this might be applicable in your circumstances.
Denmark is an expensive country but even here you will find some locations cheaper than others. While Copenhagen will not be cheap by anyone’s standards, smaller cities in Denmark are certainly no more expensive than their equivalents in the United Kingdom.
If you are sensible and follow local habits – such as cycling to university and eating at home – life in Denmark shouldn’t blow your budget.
The cost of living in Denmark will vary depending on your lifestyle and habits. Many services in Denmark such as medical treatment are paid for via taxes and the Danish welfare system.
Living expenses on average per month:
Rent* | DKK 3,000-5,000 |
Food and other daily costs | DKK 2,000-2,500 |
Telephone | DKK 300 |
Transportation | DKK 300 |
Insurance | DKK 200 |
Leisure Activities | DKK 0-1,000 |
Total | DKK 7,000-9,000 (£800-£1,050 approximately) |
* Please note that in some cases you pay for heating and electricity separately; ca. 400 DKK on a monthly basis. Also, rent in Copenhagen could be significantly higher.
British nationals are now required to apply for a residence permit before arriving in Denmark. EU nationals need only register with their local authority upon arrival.
Information on visa requirements can be found on the Danish government’s website.
You will need to apply for a residence permit if you are studying in Denmark for more than three months. To obtain it, you must submit an application to the Regional State Administration immediately after your arrival (although some representatives from the RSA may be at your university at the beginning of the semester). This will be a formality for EU passport holders
After you receive your residence permit you will need to apply for a Danish CPR number. This number is used when dealing with public authorities, health authorities, libraries, banks etc. The CPR number is issued at the Borgerservice (Citizen Service). It takes approximately 1-2 weeks for your CPR number to be issued.
To help you settle in you will also be able to access free Danish lessons through your university.
Finding accommodation is likely to be a big issue for you depending on which city you choose to live in. Danish universities do not have a tradition of on-campus housing. Most students live in student halls of residences situated some distance from campus. You should start to look for accommodation months before you arrive, as it can be very difficult to find accommodation right before the semester begins. Therefore, we strongly advise you to contact your Danish host institution for information about housing as soon as you have been accepted into a study programme.
Useful Accommodation Websites:
Student & Youth Accommodation Office Copenhagen
3.4 Opening a Bank Account in Denmark
The currency in Denmark is the Danish Krone (DKK)
With a CPR number and the acceptance letter from your university, you will be able to open a bank account. When you open your account, the bank will issue you with a debit card which you can use to withdraw money at your bank, at the bank’s cash point machines/ATMs and at most shops. Your bank might charge a fee for withdrawing money from other banks’ ATMs so ask your bank before doing so.
When you open your account, if it is the only one you have in Denmark you will need to nominate it as your NemKonto (Easy Account). This is the account that you then be used for any financial interaction that you have with the Danish government such as wages, the State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU in Danish), tax rebates, pensions, etc. These will all be paid into this account (where applicable).
3.5 Working in Denmark
EU passport-holders can work without restriction in Denmark.
Non-EU nationals can work up to 20 hours a week during the academic year and full-time in June, July and August. Students who exceed these terms or do not work legally will be deported if found.
Once you start work you must contact the local tax authorities to obtain an electronic tax card which your employer will need to calculate taxes. The Danish tax rules are quite complicated so it is important that you talk to the local tax administration before taking up work. If you do not have an electronic tax card, your employer must withhold 60% of your salary.
“ I chose to study at a prestigious university with an intimate environment ”
A Star Future provides information and guidance to British students looking to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad.
Through our presentations in schools and our websites we aim to ensure that British-educated students are well informed about their choices.
+44 (0)7780 503231
+44 (0)7780 503231
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