Study in Denmark

Study in Denmark – a happy choice

Denmark is often voted the happiest country in the world to live and offers a welcoming and modern environment in which to study. Students choosing to study in Denmark will enjoy no tuition fees for EU citizens, and the Danish education system emphasises acquiring practical skills and applying theoretical knowledge by taking part in projects run by multinational companies.

Teaching is personalised and takes place in small groups. Students are viewed as active partners, who work with their lecturers to acquire the skills they need to build an outstanding career.You will play an active part in your own education and learn all the better for the hands-on approach which is key to studying in Denmark.

In recent years Denmark has reduced the number of universities and options available to foreign students, however Elab – through its network of partner universities -can help you find a suitable place. Elab offers premium support for applications to Copenhagen Business School, Alborg, or Aarhus University.

Applying to Study in Denmark

Danish universities accept European final exam results, however, when it comes to the application process, it is equally ,if not more , important to demonstrate that you have completed the required number of hours’ teaching in the subjects which you intend to study. The subjects need to be in the same general area since, for example, applicants who wish to study psychology are unlikely to have been taught this at high school .Instead, they could submit proof of the hours they spent learning physics, biology or maths, as well as any work experience which is related to this field. Theory is well integrated with practice in the Danish education system, and you will find that team work is as important as independent study.

All teaching in Denmark is carried out in English, and therefore Danish universities require applicants to pass an English test. You can sit the test at Elab’s offices. Call us and we can tell you what to expect and book you in for an appointment to do the test.

In addition, you may well be asked to take part in a short inteview.Given the current pandemic, this will be done over the internet , and you will have time to prepare. Elab can provide you with information on what to expect, and put you in touch with one of our mentors in Denmark, so they can talk you through the interview process and likely questions.

Studying in Denmark - the education system

Prepare yourself for fewer lectures and more group work. Flexibility and independent learning are important – and you will develop great time-management skills.

Bachelor’s degrees are normally split into two stages:

AP degree, which lasts for 2 to 2.5 years and is the equivalent of 120/150 points on the ECTS scale. Once you have finished this stage, you can carry on and take a Top-Up course, to gain a full Bachelor's degree.
Top-Up Bachelor, this is an 18 month to two year course, which normally continues on from the AP degree,

In addition, institutions also offer a wide-range of single bachelor’s degrees in certain fields. Gaining a bachelor’s degree from a Danish university normally takes between 3 and 3.5 years.

Once you have completed your bachelor’s studies, you can study for a Master’s, which takes around two years to complete, depending on the university you are attending.

The Application Process

Denmark uses the Optagelse central admissions system, which opens at the beginning of February and closes on 15 March. You have to upload all the required documents to the system, and then print off the Signature Page, which you sign, scan and send off to the university which you wish to attend. You can apply to up to eight universities, and you do not need to pay a fee to do so, since the service is free.

Elab can help you gather and prepare documents, and check and submit your application: In order to apply to study in Denmark you will need to scan: your certificates, a chart of the hours you have studied, confirmation of the English language examination you have passed and the result, and evidence of your identity or your passport. A number of universities will also request a Personal Statement, references, a CV and a Verification Form. During the application process, an Elab Consultant will let you know exactly what documents you need to provide.