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Studying in Denmark

Tuition, living costs, visas and how to apply, from the European Commission's official profile — with student numbers from Eurostat and the Erasmus Mundus master's you can take here.

🇩🇰 Browse Denmark’s universities on CollegeMatcher — or find your matches

At a glance

Tuition · EU/EEA students

No tuition for full-degree students (EU/EEA and Switzerland)

Tuition · non-EU/EEA students

Typically €6,000 – €16,000 a year for bachelor's and master's

Living costs

€1,000 – €1,700 a month

Erasmus Mundus master's

11 joint programmes with a university here

Students in Denmark

Tertiary students · 2024

290,902

From abroad · 2024

28,7519.9% of all students

Of whom from the EU · 2024

16,62657.8% of students from abroad

Largest countries of origin: Germany (3,299), Norway (2,796), China (1,704), Sweden (1,513), Spain (1,468).

“From abroad” means degree-mobile students — enrolled for a whole degree, having gained their previous qualification in another country. Exchange students on Erasmus aren't counted.

Tertiary students by year
201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
291,147301,399313,756314,822312,379310,903308,567307,632308,152309,576298,347290,902

Tuition fees and living costs

Tuition fees

EU/EEA & Switzerland: no tuition fees for full-degree students.

Non-EU/EEA students: tuition fees apply and vary by institution and programme. The typical range for Bachelor's and Master's is €6,000-€16,000 per year.

Living costs

Students typically spend €1,000-€1,700 per month, depending on the location and lifestyle. This includes housing, food, transport, and personal expenses.

More details on living costs in Denmark

Visa requirements

EU/EEA & Switzerland

You do not need a visa.

Non-EU/EEA students

You must apply for a residence permit before arrival.

Requirements include:

  • proof of admission
  • financial means
  • health insurance
  • valid passport

Find out if you need a visa

Higher education system

Degree structure

Denmark follows the Bologna system and uses the ECTS credit system:

  • Bachelor’s degree: 180 ECTS (3 years)
  • Master’s degree: 120 ECTS (2 years)
  • PhD: 3 years

Types of institutions

  • Universities (research-based)
  • University colleges (professional bachelor programmes)
  • Business Academies (short-cycle and applied programmes)

List of higher education institutions in Denmark

Application process

Key steps to apply for a study programme in Denmark include:

  1. Choose your programme (over 500 are taught in English)
  2. Check admission requirements (language tests, previous qualifications)
  3. Check admission requirements and gather necessary documents
  4. Apply for programmes via the national admission website

More detailed information on how to apply

Scholarships for studying in Denmark

Denmark offers several scholarship opportunities for international students. The main options are:

Nordplus

If you are enrolled at a Nordic or Baltic higher education institution, Nordplus may offer the possibility to study in another Nordic or Baltic country as part of your degree. For more information, contact your home university or the national education agency.

Fulbright Denmark

For students from the United States, visit the Fulbright Denmark website.

Institution-specific scholarships

Check the institution you are interested in.

More details on scholarship options

Danish student life

Student life in Denmark combines high-quality education with a friendly, international atmosphere. As a student in Denmark, you can enjoy

  • vibrant cities with cafés, cultural events, and music venues
  • easy access to peaceful nature and beaches
  • student innovation hubs and social spaces in major university cities

Frequently asked questions

Are programmes taught in English?

Yes, Danish higher education institutions offer a wide range of English-taught study programmes at bachelor's, master's, and PhD level.

Browse available English-taught programmes

Can I work while studying in Denmark?

Yes. Many students in Denmark have part-time jobs, including jobs related to their studies. Work regulations depend on your citizenship: Non-EU/EEA students can work up to 90 hours/month and full-time in June, July, and August. EU/EEA students can work up to 37 hours/week during studies.

Learn about working as an international student

Is health insurance required?

Yes, you must have health insurance during your stay in Denmark. Your Danish public health insurance becomes valid after you receive your CPR (social security) number. Because this may take several weeks, you need private health insurance to cover the period before your CPR is issued. EU/EEA students can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Learn what insurance you will need

How can I find housing in Denmark?

Often, Danish higher education institutions do not have on-campus housing. Most students live in student halls of residence (kollegier) or in private apartments. However Denmark has efficient public transport, making commuting easy between home, campus, and city centre.

Learn about types of accommodation, or consult your host institution's website.

Source: Study in Denmark – higher education institutions, costs and application, last updated 22 May 2026.

Erasmus Mundus master's with a university in Denmark

Joint master's taught by several universities in different countries, open to students from anywhere, with EU-funded scholarships on many of them.

Country guidance adapted from the European Commission’s Study in Europe country profiles, © European Union, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Condensed, restructured and combined with other data by CollegeMatcher.

Student numbers: Eurostat, tables educ_uoe_enrt01 (tertiary enrolment) and educ_uoe_mobs02 (degree-mobile students from abroad).

Programmes: the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA); partner institutions from the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform. © European Union, CC BY 4.0.

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