Denmark:

1. Brief introduction: Denmark, officially known as the kingdom of Denmark, is a Nordic country in northwestern Europe. Its political system is a constitutional monarchy organized as a parliamentary democracy. The government and national parliament are seated in Copenhagen which is the country’s capital, largest city, and main commercial center. Denmark has ranked the world’s happiest country on numerous occasions.

Furthermore, it is considered to be one of the most economically and socially advanced countries in the world. Denmark  enjoys a high standard of living and the country ranks highly in some indicators of national performance, including education, health care, protection of civil freedoms, democratic governance, LGBT equality, prosperity, and human development. The country ranks as having the world’s highest social mobility and security, a high level of income equality, has the lowest perceived level of corruption in the world. On top of this, it is the eleventh-most developed nation in the world having one of the world’s highest per capita incomes.

I. Academic year: September to July

II. International students: About 30, 000

III. Domestic students: 240, 000

IV. Population: 5,792,202

V. Literacy rate: 99%

VI. Number of universities: About 30 (7 of which are globally ranked)

2. Key facts to study in Denmark:

The Danish educational system is designed to promote creativity, innovation, analytical and critical thinking. As a student in Denmark, you will confront an up-to-date learning environment where you can learn from industry experts and undertake internships in internationally renowned institutions. When you go to study in Denmark, you will find a surprising education and approach to teaching as Danish universities combine teaching with research and conduct lectures in small groups where you will surely feel at ease.

Furthermore, study and research in Denmark reflect the cutting-edge knowledge and meet the needs of a global labor market as Danish institutions have partnerships with other global higher education organizations, businesses, science parks and public research institutes. Danish qualifications are recognized throughout the world and provide an excellent ground for your future career. Similarly, higher education in Denmark encompasses traditional lectures and tutorials with modern teaching that will help you develop strong problem solving skills. Open debate, innovation-driven and problem-centered learning methods will inspire you to express yourself, to experiment and to work collaboratively with others.

3. Top Danish cities:

1. Copenhagen

3. Odense   

2. Aarhus

4. Aalborg

5. Bornholm

6. Skagen

7. Ribe

8. Kolding

4. Top ten universities of Denmark:

1. University of Copenhagen 

2. Technical University of Denmark

3. Aarhus University

4. Aalborg University 

5. University of Southern Denmark 

6. Roskilde University

7. Copenhagen Business School

8. IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen

9. KEA – Copenhagen School of Design and Technology, Copenhagen

10. Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen

5.  Studying in Denmark

   1. Why study in Denmark

Frequently ranked among the countries with the highest quality of life and happiest people, Denmark is a heavyweight study abroad destination and is one of the most modern, innovative and progressive societies in the world. The learning environment in Denmark is friendly and motivating with students and teachers debating freely during class and lectures which leads to learning outcomes of high international quality.

Team building with other students on collaborative projects is a great way to get acquainted to new friends from around the world. The projects at Danish universities often address real-life challenges and draw on your ability to use your initiative and think freely.  Whichever field you choose to pursue a degree, you can expect high academic standards that are recognized worldwide. As Danish universities are well updated and modernized, an up-to-the-minute academic knowledge and a valuable practical perspective in their education and teaching is indeed guaranteed. Moreover, Danish universities, colleges and academies are state-of-the-art and provide students with free access to computers, libraries, learning facilities and Wi-Fi on campus.

   2. What to study in Denmark

Danish universities, also offers a wide range of popular courses in a three-cycle higher education system such as Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD. You can study a course degree in Denmark with a high level of academic standards.

Below are some of the most popular degrees in which Danish universities really excel:

• Arts and Humanities
• Engineering and Technology
• Life Sciences and Medicine
• Natural Science
• Social Sciences and Management
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Economics & Business

   3. What is the education system of Denmark like?

The Danish higher education system follows the same two-cycle model as the rest of Europe, dividing study into undergraduate (Bachelor’s) and postgraduate (Master’s and Doctorate). This system intends to facilitate and encourage international mobility within Europe, as the qualifications are equivalent throughout all European countries involved in the Bologna agreement.

Danish higher education institutions are categorized based on level of study and field of teaching consisting of a university sector, college sector and an academy sector. There are four types of institutions offering higher education programmes:

1. Academies of professional higher education (offering short-cycle programmes)

2. University Colleges (offering medium-cycle programmes)

3. Universities (offering long-cycle programmes)

4. University level institutions for educations in the arts

 4. Language requirements for studying at Danish universities:

The language proficiency certificates acceptable by Danish universities are different as follows:

All higher education programs in Denmark require a high level of English proficiency. Applicants to English-taught undergraduate and postgraduate programs must, as a minimum, demonstrate English proficiency comparable to ‘English B’ or a higher level ‘English A’, in the Danish system.

For English:

IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge Advanced English
* English B – a min. test score of 6.5 points	* English B – test scores in the ranges of 550-583 (PBT), or 213-237 (CBT), or 79-93 (IBT)	* English B – Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
English A – test score of at least 7.0 points	English A – test scores which range between 587-610 (PBT), or 240-253 (CBT), or 94-101 (IBT)	English A – Certificate of Proficiency (CPE)

For Danish language:

If your courses and degree programmes are Danish-taught. For admission into these programmes you must prove a satisfactory level of proficiency in Danish by taking the test called ‘Danish as a Foreign Language’ or ‘Danish Test 2’. Some programmes may require that you have passed ‘Danish Test 3’too. 

  6. Student visa:

• 1. Nationality:  EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a visa to study in Denmark. However, they will need to get a registration certificate, which is simply a confirmation of their rights as an EU/EEA/Swiss student.

In order to get this you will simply need:

• To prove your nationality and that you have been accepted onto a course of higher education
• To show that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself.

Non-EU/EEA students: need a student visa and must get a residence permit in order to study in Denmark. In order to get this you must:

• Demonstrate they have been admitted to a higher education program at a university, college or institute approved by the Danish government.
• Prove you have adequate financial means for the duration of your stay and proof of fee payment for the first semester or year.
• You must prove you can speak and understand the language of instruction of your programme and have a functional command of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German.

2. Visa cost: 255 EUR

3. Validity of visa: if you remain for more than three months in Denmark onto a programme, you require a residence permit and long-stay student visa to study In Denmark.

4. Eligibility: Student visa requirements differ according to whether or not you are from an EU/EEA country since Non-EU students need a visa to study in Denmark.

Required documents for student visa application:

• An acceptance letter from your university.
• Proof of English proficiency.
• Proof of financial resource.
• Proof of travel and health insurance.
• National passport with a copy.
• 2 copies of visa application form in Schengen countries with complements typed in letters in English language, and all lines completed and personally signed by the applicant.
• Proofs of sufficient creditability or income of the applicant that covers all trip costs
• Evidence on payment of tuition fee.
• Documents on higher education degree or records from the study institution.
• 3 colored passport-sized photographs (sized 35×45 mm); two of them should be stuck to application form.
• If the applicant is younger than 18 years old, the parental agreement certified by the notary on the trip should be submitted along with the Birth certificate.
• Documents should be translated into English language.

  7. Work permit

1. International students should apply for a work permit and should have a residence permit if they want to work during their regular study periods in Denmark while studying.

You can apply for the work permit and work part-time if you have a valid residence permit.

• Duration of work permit: as long as the student visa is valid.
• Max. Hours of work: 15 hours/week OR you can work full-time during semester’s breaks. EU/EEA students can work without restrictions provided that they have a residence permit.

 8. Living

            1. Estimated living costs on average: 10, 000EUR/year

            2. Estimated personal expenses: min. 700-800 EUR/month         

 3. Tuition fees:

Universities in Denmark are free to attend, at all levels, for EU/EEA (or Switzerland) nationals but students from non-EU/EEA countries will be required to pay fees, which on average range between (€6,000-16,000) per year (~$6,800-18,100). Also, some scholarships are available, offered by individual Danish universities and also via public initiatives.

4. Prices: Costs breakdown: Nonetheless, personal expenses may vary depending on your location and lifestyle in Denmark, students’ spending per month in personal expenses are expected to be:

• Food: 250 EUR
• clothing: 30 EUR
• laundry: 25 EUR
• Transportation: 45 EUR
• Rent: 300 EUR
• Books and supplies: 50 EUR
• Utilities (gas, electricity, water, phone, internet): 90 EUR

How to apply to a university in Denmark?

  1. Short information:

a) Undergraduates 

For bachelors’ Applications are submitted to the national admission website rather than to individual institutions and can be submitted from 1 February for the 15 March deadline.

b) Postgraduates

Deadlines for applications to postgraduate study may vary since programs are run by individual institutions. You are recommended to contact and check with your chosen institution directly for details.

General requirements to apply to a university in Denmark are as follows, however, some institutions have their own specific requirements.

1. Choose the right subject in Denmark;
2. Meet the language requirements;
3. Choose the right Danish university ;
4. Prepare to apply;

 2. Required documents

All international applicants, no matter their status or degree, will need to send these documents, translated into English:

• an internationally recognized Bachelor’s degree of good standard or equivalent to Danish degrees;
• proof of proficiency in English;
• proof of proficiency in Danish (if the programme are Danish-taught);

And these documents may be asked depending on a university:

• Birth certificate;
• Recent photos;
• Passport or national identity card;
• one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
• Academic transcripts;
• Letter of intent;
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Proof of financial means;

3.  Language skills

Usually, the tests accepted by the admissions offices in Denmark universities are:

For English (English ‘A’ or English ‘B’) according to standards of Denmark:

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• CEA
• C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency

For Danish language:

‘Danish Test 2’ or in some cases ‘Danish Test 3’ of language proficiency are required.

    4. Application deadlines

There are two intakes in a Danish academic year:

1. Autumn intake: The autumn semester generally starts in August/September for which the deadline is 15^th March;
2. The spring semester/intake starts from January/February in which case the deadline is 1^st September.