Why study in Denmark?

Denmark, being at a zenith and recognized internationally has one of the best education systems. The robust, fast growing economy, with different outlooks and apparently being a happiest place to live, makes Denmark a suitable destination for education. It offers a great place to live, with contribution in bold innovative solutions depicting the quality education the University offers. Danish Universities offers a curriculum with problem solving based approach, with technical hold on various aspects and applications, thus making a way for good placements by preparing students for standing in the global labor market. The welcoming nature of the Danish people, with remarkable architecture and grandeur landscapes makes it a beautiful place to live. The spirit of modest inclusivity and egalitarianism having broadly low tuition fees with high-quality education in Denmark assures it as an attractive prospect for EU and non-EU students overall. All this boosts a student to apply for Denmark Student Visa today,

Nordic Citizens

For residents of Norway, Sweden or Finland no documentation is mandatory to live, study and work in Denmark without any documentation. You will also need a Danish personal identification number, for which the presentation of a passport or other form of photo identification is required on arrival.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals

Students belonging to the EU and Switzerland have a privilege to reside in Denmark for three months without any further documentation other than a valid passport. Those planning on for staying longer than three months will need a Danish registration certificate. In order to gain access to a registration certificate you must check with the Regional State Administration (Statsforvaltningen) within three months of your arrival along with your passport, two passport sized photos and an acceptance letter of admission from your university. A registration certificate thus makes it easier for a getting a personal identification number, which is a prerequisite for many things in Denmark including the right to work without restrictions.

International students

If you are from outside the EU/EEA, then the duration of your stay will decide Denmark student visa requirements for arrival. For a short stay duration which is of less than three months students will require a visa, and for a long stay exceeding more than three months will require a residence permit. The below details are as follows:-

Short-term stay Visa

Tourist visa is required for those studying in Denmark for a period of less than three months (this is not necessary for some non-EU countries). You can apply for a visa at any authorized Danish mission in your country of origin, including all Danish embassies and consulates present abroad –the website of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark can be helpful for such purposes.

Note: A Denmark student visa does not entitle students to work in Denmark.


Residence permit OR long-term stay

Those studying in Denmark for a period of more than three months will need to apply for a residence permit, which can be done at the Danish embassy in your home country. This permit allows the non-EU/EEA citizens to work for a part-time job in Denmark for a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Once granted subsequently the residence permit will be valid for a duration of your program, thus no need to worry about renewing it. You will be provided with an application form in your home country, which must be filled out and returned with the supporting documentation – it is hence advisable to begin the application process three months prior to your arrival date. Please be noted that the application will be turned down if you apply for a Denmark student visa and a residence permit at the same time.

Study pattern in Denmark

Since 2003, the Danish education system has followed the two-channel mode, bifurcating the study into undergraduate (Bachelor's) and postgraduate (Master's and PhD/Doctorate). This system facilitates an international mobility within Europe, as the qualifications are equivalent throughout.

Danish institutions providing higher education are categorized according to level of study and field of teaching:

  • Academies pertaining to professional higher education (Erhvervsakademier) offer short-term pre-Bachelor programs generally known as Academy Profession degrees
  • University colleges offer 3-4 year professionally orientated programs (Professionshøjskoler) corresponding to a Bachelor's degree
  • Universities offer programs which are either multi-faculty or specialize in fields such as engineering, technology and business
  • Universities of the arts do offer long-cycle programs – since regulated by the Danish Ministry of Culture they offer courses in streams such as visual arts, music, film, theater and media

The types of degrees available in Denmark are as follows:

  • Academy Profession degree (erhvervsakademigrad)

    This is a pre-Bachelor's qualification obtained after completion of 1.5-2.5 years of study, depending on the number of ECTS (European credits) required. Programs are channeled towards employment in business, science all types of industries, and entails a work placement for a minimum of three months. Sometimes the Academy Profession qualification can be summed up to become a Bachelor's with a further 1.5 years of study.

  • Professional Bachelor's degree (professionsbachelorgrad)

    The minimum duration for completion of this degree is 3 to 4 years, depending on the chosen program. It caters to vocational professions, and all programs involve a compulsory period of in-service training (for a minimum of 6 months). Taking a Professional Bachelor's provides a gateway to a Master's program in the same field. This is the degree that is awarded after the topping up an Academy Profession degree with an extra 1.5 years of study.

  • General Bachelor's degree program

    • Bachelor's degree: This one takes 3 years to complete, and is awarded after 180 ECTS have been completed. This degree can be awarded in all disciplines apart from the liberal arts and leads onto a Master's qualification in a similar field.
    • Bachelor's degree within the arts: This program also takes 3 years to complete and is awarded after 180 ECTS has been covered. It is a qualification for liberal arts such as fine art, architecture or music. A degree in filmmaking or musical theater is awarded after 4 years with 240 ECTS, and admission is usually conditional on passing an entrance exam.
  • Diploma (diplomuddannelse) degree

    These are the preparatory courses for students pursuing highly qualified occupational or vocational fields. Thus, a Diploma degree must be undertaken before admission to a Master's in such a field. The qualification is awarded after completion of 2 years or 60 ECTS, and admission to the course requires a relevant educational qualification and at least 2 years of work experience.

  • Master's programs

    • Master's degree (kandidatgrad) : A Master's degree usually takes 2 years for completion and requires 120 ECTS, however for certain programs like medicine and veterinary medicine time taken is longer, 2.5 and 3 years to complete
    • Master's degree within the arts: This qualification caters to the arts field and is 2-3 years long and requires 120-180 ECTS. Music academies thus offer a specialist degree of 2 to 4 years.
    • Master's degree (adult/continuing higher education): This is the postgraduate equivalent of the diploma degree. It is for students with highly qualified occupational or vocational pursuits such as engineering, technology and business. You are required to have completed a Bachelor's in the relevant subject along with 2 years of work experience.
  • PhD programs

    PhDs or Doctoral programs constitute a research project undertaken independently. You need to have completed a relevant Master's degree/ Diploma with great experience and subject knowledge, (PhDs are usually the culmination of 8 years of study), and the qualification itself usually takes 3 years.

    Requirements for University in Denmark

    Entry requirements shall vary with the institution and course of study, however there are a few points that have been mentioned below:

  • Entrance qualifications

    A) UNDERGRADUATE

    For a bachelor's degree, you will need all certificates of prior educational qualifications, attested with original stamps and signatures. Qualifications from other countries are also usually eligible, however they should meet the Danish criteria at ufm.dk/en/recognition. One will have to match the credits, if that is not met then you might want to take an entrance test for seeking an admission.

    B) POSTGRADUATE

    Requirements for University in Denmark

    For a Master's program in Denmark, a Bachelor's degree is necessary and should fulfil the number of credits (180 ECTS) along with the relevant subject matter. In some cases, a longer four-year PhD program is offered to students having a Bachelor's degree plus one year of postgraduate study.

  • Proof of language proficiency

    Denmark has many programs being taught in English, entry onto these courses requires a proof of high level of English. Proficiency is thus determined by international language tests TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge ESOL (CAE). For pursuing a degree in Danish you will need to prove your proficiency in Danish by taking the Danish language test- (Studieprøven i dansk som andetsprog) or 'Danish Test 2' (Danskprøve 2).

    You should inquire at the Danish consulate for the specific documentation that will be required, but you could be asked for the following:

    • A letter of acceptance from your university
    • Proof of language proficiency (in English or Danish, depending on which language you are undertaking your studies)
    • Proof that you have enough finance to support- which can be around 1000 EUR per month
    • Proof of travel insurance
    • Proof for accommodation and arrangements during your studies
    • A valid passport and passport size photographs
    • A visa application charges

Application process

  • UNDERGRADUATES

    For those applying to pursue a Bachelor's degree starting at the beginning of the academic year which is August/September, the deadline for admissions is 15 March. Few institutions give students an option to commence their studies half way through the year at the start of the spring semester that is January/February, in which case the deadline for applications is 1st September. Applications are then submitted to the national admission website rather than to individual institutions. The forms can be found and can be submitted from 1st February for the 15 March deadline. Responses to applications are received by 28 July.

  • POSTGRADUATES

    Deadlines for applications for post-graduation study may vary as programs are run by the individual institutions. It is recommended to contact your chosen institution directly for details and updated information.

    Tuition Fees structure in Denmark

    For international students, fees range generally from 6,000 to 16,000 EUR per year depending on the institution and the program of study. Meanwhile for degrees such as social sciences it is about 600 EUR per year, while specialist degrees like medicine can cost up to 35,000 EUR per year. The average fee for completion of a degree in Denmark costs around 12,000 to 15,000 EUR per year. You also need not pay tuition fees in Denmark if you have a permanent residence permit (despite your country of origin), or if you are staying with a parent who holds a residence permit.

  • PhD programs

    Danish PhD programs are usually partnerships between the universities and private companies, research institutions and business enterprises and hence are therefore fully funded. For self-financed PhD programs usually the cost lies between 10,000 and 16,000 EUR per year.

  • Scholarships

    The Danish government has several scholarships and grants which are available to students. A few national and European programs offer scholarships for international students through several means and with an accordance to norms of institutions in other countries. They are as follows:

    • Nordplus
    • Erasmus/Erasmus Mundus - it offers the funding opportunity to Master's students
    • Scholarships for international students - available to students who wish to pursue Master's and PhD courses, also for Bachelor's students who completed their studies in Danish for more than two years.
  • Cosmos's assistance:

    • Cosmos Immigration is one of the reliable immigration companies, which offers professional consultancy services for Immigration and various Visas.
    • Our team at Cosmos Immigration has many years of experience in immigration visa and citizenship law, with an emphasis on Skilled & Business Migration and Study abroad.
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It is quite safe to say that Denmark has a prominent, most modern, quiet innovative and advanced society. Frequently being one of the happiest, it has the prodigious spirit in all aspects. Low tuition fees and high-quality programs, makes Denmark a preferable choice for educational prospects among EU and non-EU students alike.

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