Are you thinking about studying abroad in Denmark? Keep reading to find out estimates of tuition fees, accommodation costs and expenses for food, transportation(living costs), admission requirements, higher education system and low tuition universities in Denmark
About the Country
This is a small country with a population of approximately 5.78 million. It is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries and lies Southwest of Sweden and South of Norway and comprises the Jutland Peninsula and several islands.
Officially the Kingdom of Denmark, Denmark is a Nordic country, and shares a border with Germany.
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark. The country borders on Germany. The national currency of Denmark is Danish Krone (DKK). The official language of Denmark is Danish.
Higher Education System
The Danish education system follows the same two-cycle model as the rest of Europe, dividing study into undergraduate (Bachelor’s) and postgraduate (Master’s and PhD/Doctorate). This system serves to facilitate and encourage international mobility within Europe, as the qualifications are equivalent throughout all countries involved in the Bologna agreement.
The types of degree available to you in Denmark are :
Academy Profession degree:
This is a pre-Bachelor’s qualification obtained after 1.5-2.5 years of study. It depends on the amount of ECTS (European credits) required. Programs are geared towards employment in business, industry and science, and entail a work placement of a minimum of three months. Sometimes the Academy Profession qualification can be ‘topped up’ to become a Bachelor’s with a further 1.5 years of study.
Professional Bachelor’s degree:
This degree takes 3 to 4 years to complete, depending on the chosen program. It caters to vocational professions, and all programs include a compulsory period of in-service training (for a minimum of 6 months). Professional Bachelor’s degree provides a gateway to a Master’s program in the same or a similar field. This is the degree that is awarded after ‘topping up’ an Academy Profession degree with an extra 1.5 years of study.
Bachelor’s programs
- Bachelor’s degree: This takes 3 years to complete, and is awarded after 180 ECTS have been obtained. A Bachelor’s 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 and is awarded after 180 ECTS. It is a qualification in fine arts: architecture, design, music, etc. A degree in filmmaking or musical theatre is awarded after 4 years or 240 ECTS. Admission is usually conditional on passing an entrance exam.
Diploma degree:
These are preparatory courses for students assuming highly qualified occupational functions. A Diploma degree must be undertaken before admission to a Master’s in such a field. The qualification is awarded after 2 years of part-time study (60 ECTS). Admission to the course requires a relevant educational qualification and at least 2 years of work experience.
Master’s programs
- Master’s degree: A Master’s degree usually takes 2 years to complete and requires 120 ECTS. However, certain programs such as medicine and veterinary medicine are longer, taking between 2.5 and 3 years to complete
- Master’s degree within the arts: This qualification caters to the arts, is 2-3 years long and requires 120-180 ECTS. Music academies also offer a specialist degree of 2 to 4 years following the Master’s degree.
- Master’s degree (adult/continuing higher education): This is the postgraduate equivalent of the diploma degree. It prepares students for assuming highly qualified occupational functions. Entry requirements are a Bachelor’s in the relevant subject matter, and at least 2 years of relevant work experience.
PhD programs
PhDs involve a research project undertaken independently. You need to have completed a relevant Master’s degree. PhD degrees are usually the culmination of 8 years of higher education and research. The PhD program itself usually takes 3 years (180 ECTS).
Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s Admissions:
- Secondary School Education Certificate – similar to the Danish upper secondary school leaving certificate.
- Proof of English Proficiency
- Other program-specific requirements include;
- Certain subjects that must be passed with only A, B, C
- Certain subjects passed with a certain grade level
- The total result must be within a certain range
- Must pass a university-set entrance exam or department interviews.
Master/ Ph.D Admissions:
- Degree certificate from a well-accredited Bachelor program
- Masters certificate for Ph.D. applicants
- Test of English
- Proof of proficiency in Danish if applicable.
Tuition Fees
The tuition fees you pay will depend on where you are from. If you are from an EU/EEA country, you are able to attend Danish universities for free. If you are from any other country, you will pay tuition fees. Fees are different at each institution, as well as what level you are studying at. On average, you should expect to pay between DKK 45,000 and DKK 120,000 per year. There are scholarships available for students, and these are offered by individual institutions, as well as other initiatives.
Living Costs
These costs can go up or down based on your habits: how much you spend on shopping and going out, how much you travel, and so on.
Accommodation Costs:
If you start looking for housing early, you may be able to find places for 250 EUR/month in housing outside the city.
Main accommodation options for students in Denmark:
- Students living with their partner/a colleague – 500 EUR/month
- Students living alone – 450 EUR/month
- Student halls of residence – between 250 – 300 EUR/month
Food costs:
Average food expenses in Denmark will amount to 200 – 270 EUR/month, depending on your spending habits. You can find lower grocery prices at discount supermarkets such as Lidl, Bilka, Netto, Lidl, , Fakta or Aldi.
On average, dining out in the city costs 30 EUR/person, and a beer or a soft drink at a bar is around 5 EUR.
Transportation costs:
In Denmark, almost 50% of students use bikes to get to their university, while 30% use public transport. A monthly public transport pass for the bus, metro or train amounts to 40 – 50 EUR/month.
Low Tuition Universities in Denmark
- Copenhagen University
- Aarhus University (AAU)
- Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
- Aalborg University (AAU)
- Roskilde University
- Copenhagen Business School
- VIA College University
- University of Southern Denmark
- University College of Northern Denmark(UCN)
- IT University of Copenhagen.