Higher education in Copenhagen 2026

Studying in Denmark under university programs corresponds to the European system of earning educational credits. There are 3 types of Bachelor's degree:

• Academic program. Duration of the course is 3 years. An academic bachelor's degree is considered a step towards admission to a master's degree, but not always.
• Professional type with the duration of 4-4.5 years. The professional bachelor's degree differs from the academic one in a more practical orientation. Graduation work here is not considered a thesis study, but a project related to the future profession. A professional bachelor's degree is associated with certain specialties:
  • IT direction;
  • Medical care;
  • Preparation of educational staff.
• Bachelor of Arts is a 3 years educational course.

It will not be possible to enter bachelor's degree programs after graduating from a domestic school, since the duration of secondary education in Denmark is 12 years. Foreign schoolchildren need to apply for a bachelor's degree after the 1st or 2nd year of a domestic university, if we are speaking not about European schools, or after passing 2 specialized final exams of a Danish school. In exceptional cases, foreign applicants can enter on the basis of a domestic certificate, subject to a high average score and high indicators of a language certificate.

Studying in Copenhagen for foreign students (not citizens of the European Union) is paid, on average 10.000-15.000€ per year, which is considered a fairly low cost for Europe. At the same time, the quality of education is not inferior to that in the leading countries.

The Master's degree takes 2-3 years (depending on the chosen specialization). For admission, you need a bachelor's degree, a document from a domestic university is suitable.

Postgraduate studies last 2-3 years. Many postgraduate programs in Denmark are free for both Danes and foreign citizens.

• University of Copenhagen;
• Aarhus University;
• University of Southern Denmark;
• Aalborg University;
• Technical University of Denmark.

Priority directions of study are the following:

• Medicine and healthcare;
• Sociology;
• Engineering technologies;
• IT;
• Economics;
• Basics of Business;
• Modern culture;
• Foreign languages.

Kevin McDonnell

Specialist in International Students of the University of Sussex

What advice would you give to potential students before applying to a university?

Be proactive and start your application early, ideally almost a year in advance. Seek recommendations from your teachers and academic advisors. The earlier you apply, the more time universities have to consider your application, and the more time you have to explore your options and make an informed decision.

• Higher education abroad is primarily the highest scientific and pedagogical level of teachers, whose qualifications serve as a guarantee of well—structured and comprehensive knowledge;
• Full immersion in the educational process;
• Familiarization with centuries-old traditions;
• The acquisition of valuable connections that will certainly help in future employment;
• Wide range of educational programs and include all areas of knowledge;
• Small educational groups;
• Personal approach;
• Safe environment;
• Personal attention.

The idea of obtaining higher education for foreign students in Copenhagen follows some disadvantages:

• Financial side of the issue. As practice shows, there are some institutions in Denmark when higher education is expensive. But Denmark among the countires with quite affordable tuition fee;
• Difficulties in filling out the necessary documentation;
• Problems with obtaining an educational visa for foreign students. If you submit it incorrectly, you may be refused.

The admission process here is standard and relatively simple: you need to choose a university and collect a package of documents. But for foreign students from non-EU countries, there are some peculiarities:

• In addition to the school certificate, you need to study at a university in your homeland for another year,
• Student visa must be renewed every year,
• When choosing a program in English, you need to take into account your profile — the direction in which the student studied in their home country.

International applicants can also take advantage of the opportunity to study on exchange.

The standard package of documents includes:

• School certificate, bachelor's degree (for admission to a master's program),
• Language tests in Danish and English,
• Recommendation letters
• Resume
• Portfolio — when applying to creative areas.

All foreign applicants (not from EU countries) must obtain a residence permit after enrollment in order to study at universities in Copenhagen. An important point is that you will  need to confirm financial solvency to live in Denmark.

Higher education for foreign students in Copenhagen is always paid. The average cost varies from €12,000 to €15,000 per year, depending on the chosen educational institution and program. The prices for studying at universities in Copenhagen are quite high, but the quality of education justifies all the costs.

In addition to education, quite a lot of money is spent on accommodation and food, including all the necessary household expenses (travel, communication, medical insurance, etc.). On average, students spend about €900 per month. But international students have the opportunity to reduce their educational costs by getting a scholarship or grant. To do this, they need to have outstanding academic achievements and additionally excel in the field of sports and/or art, and engage in social activities.

It should be noted that students from other countries who have entered universities in Copenhagen can work: 15 hours during their studies and 37 hours during the holidays.