Higher Education in Denmark

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Denmark is a powerhouse of knowledge and higher education. Situated in Northern Europe, it is counted amongst the safest and happiest countries in the world. With a long history of secular, democratic ideals like equal rights and freedom of expression, Denmark is considered to be a socially progressive country. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top-scoring countries on the United Nations’ Human Development Index which takes into consideration life expectancy, per capita income indicators and education.

A number of international students opt for their higher education in Denmark owing to its high-quality of life and world-class education. Read on to find out why Denmark should be on your list of countries for higher education abroad.

In this blog:

1.     Higher education in Denmark
2.     Cost of Higher Education in Denmark
3.     Structure of higher education in Denmark
4.     Top universities in Denmark

Higher education in Denmark

Every year, Denmark welcomes more than 18,000 international students into its higher education system. International students have been actively opting for higher studies in Denmark due to its low-cost and high-quality education system. Higher studies in Denmark engage innovative teaching and learning methods, allowing students to think critically and creatively. Some of the top universities in Denmark have featured in international rankings lists such as QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education.

The capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen is a popular student city. It is home to two of Denmark’s most well-regarded universities– Copenhagen Business School and the University of Copenhagen. Along with programmes in the Danish language, Denmark higher education system offers a number of programmes in the English language too. In fact, English is the second most common language in the country.

Cost of Higher Education in Denmark

For bachelor, master and student-exchange programmes, higher education in Denmark is free for students coming from the EU/EEA area and Switzerland. For students from outside the EU/EEA area, tuition fees can vary between EUR 6,000–16,000 for each academic year. Degrees in social sciences programmes are less expensive and start from EUR 6,000 per year whereas specialized programmes like medicine can cost up to EUR 35,000 per year. Additionally, the cost of higher education in Denmark varies depending on the course and university. It is always recommended to check with the university for specific costs.

Structure of higher education in Denmark

 Denmark is a signatory to the Bologna Process, under which the European Higher Education System is made more compatible and comparable within Europe using ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). The signatory countries have adopted a homogeneous higher education system of three levels– bachelors, masters and doctoral.

The Denmark higher education system is categorized based on level of study and field of teaching and is explained below:

1. Academy Profession degree- Short-cycle pre-Bachelor programs lasting between 1.5–2.5 years, depending on the number of ECTS. They can be upgraded to a Bachelor’s degree with additional 1.5 years of study.
2. Professional Bachelor’s degree- Caters to vocational professions and includes a mandatory in-service training period. Duration ranges between 3–4 years. Academy profession degree can be upgraded to a professional bachelor’s degree.
3. Bachelor’s degree- Usually lasts 3 years and is awarded after completion of 180 ECTS. A bachelor’s degree in filmmaking or musical theatre is awarded after completion of 240 ECTS.
4. Master’s degree- Usually takes 2 years and 120 ECTS to complete. Programs such as medicine take longer to complete. A master’s degree in arts usually takes 2–3 years and 120–180 ECTS to complete.
5. Ph.D. degree- Involves an independent research project and 180 ECTS (3 years). A Ph.D degree can take up to 8 years of total higher education to complete.

Top universities in Denmark

With a population of just around 5 million, universities in Denmark have claimed some of the top spots in international rankings. Copenhagen is the hot-spot of Denmark and houses three of the best universities in the country– the University of Copenhagen, Technical University of Denmark and Copenhagen Business School.

In picture: University of Copenhagen

Here is a list of the top universities in Denmark–

1. University of Copenhagen
2. Aarhus University
3. Technical University of Denmark
4. Aalborg University
5. Copenhagen Business School (CBS)
6. University of Southern Denmark
7. Roskilde University

For more information on how to go about your higher education in Denmark, you could reach out to our consultant. You can also visit our nearest centre or call us.

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