Denmark

Denmark is known for its safe environment and high-quality education. The country is widely recognized for its excellence in design, architecture, sustainable innovations and pharmaceuticals. It is also among the most digitized nations globally. Moreover, Danish universities offer a wide range of courses taught entirely in English, making it an appealing destination for international students.

Why Denmark?

Tuition fees in Denmark depend on the level and duration of the program, with the most affordable degree starting at 6,000 EUR per year.

Denmark is considered a safe country due to its low crime rates. It is also welcoming to international students, as nearly all Danes speak English, making daily life easier for newcomers. While the cost of living can be high, it is balanced by relatively low tuition fees.

Accommodation costs range from 450 EUR to 800 EUR per month, depending on factors such as whether you live alone or with a spouse, as well as the city you choose. For instance, the minimum cost for a student living alone is around 450 EUR, but expenses tend to be higher in cities like Copenhagen.

Like many European countries, Denmark is bike-friendly, and public transport is widely used for commuting than private cars. Students can purchase a monthly pass for the metro, train, and bus, which costs approximately 40-50 EUR.

Types of Educational Institutions

There are five different types of educational institution in Denmark that offer the higher education. They are:

University Colleges: University Colleges are similar to universities, except they are professionally oriented (e.g., nursing, teaching, etc.). These institutions offer a bachelor’s degree.
Business Academies: Business academies offer professionally oriented short courses (typically 2 years long) and normal bachelor’s degree programmes.
Maritime Education and Training Institutions: These institutions offer vocational and professional training. They are focused on careers in the maritime industry, such as engineering, ship management and navigation.
Comprehensive and specialized research universities: They offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across a range of academic disciplines.
University Level institutions: They offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in fields such as architecture, design, music, and the fine and performing arts.

Language and Test Requirements

International students are required to demonstrate their English proficiency through tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Cambridge English tests.

Additionally, some graduate programs also require students to take entrance exams like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

Scholarships

Danish government scholarships for highly qualified international students (Non-EU/EEA): This is a merit-based scholarship provided by the Danish government to fund highly qualified full-degree students from non-EU countries. This scholarship is not open to students applying to institutions of architecture and art.

Erasmus Mundus: The Erasmus Mundus is a joint programme between Danish universities and other European university. Through the Erasmus Mundus programme, students can apply for a scholarship for a specific master’s programme or bachelor’s programme.

Post-study opportunities

As an international, it is required to have a residence permit to work in Denmark. Students receive a residence permit up to 3 years to look for a job after they graduate from a Danish higher education institution. The conditions for this permit are: the student must have been on a student residence permit during their studies and have been in a professional bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD program and have completed the program.

Visa application documents checklist:

Copy of all pages of your passport — including all empty pages and the passport’s front and back cover.
Acceptance letter from the institution you have applied to.
Proof of paid case processing fee to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). Note that payment status from the website will not be accepted as a receipt of payment.
Applicants below the age of 18 need to have a declaration of consent signed by both their parents.
Applicants below the age of 18 need to have a declaration from the school that the applicant has proper residence and study conditions in Denmark. The declaration must be signed and stamped by the school.

Student visa process

Fill in the online visa application form through the official Danish Immigration website. Note that the visa application will only be completed when you have paid the non-refundable fee of EUR 255.
Schedule a biometric submission appointment at the Danish embassy. In a biometric appointment, you provide fingerprints and a photo. Take your passport and a confirmation of appointment.
After completion of the first two steps, you will be called for a visa interview. The interview is an integral part, and you are asked about your financial capability to support your education, your academic plans and your plans after completion of your education in Denmark.
After the interview, it takes 60 to 90 days for the embassy to process your documents.