Scholarships to Study in Denmark

Overview

Denmark hosts around 28,000 international students, and how you fund your studies splits sharply along nationality lines. If you are from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, tuition is free and the question is living costs. If you are from outside that group, you pay tuition – and that is where scholarships in Denmark come in. The good news is that the main scheme is run by the universities themselves and is often awarded as part of admission.

Do you need scholarships in Denmark?

Be clear on your status first, because it decides everything:

• EU / EEA / Swiss students: tuition is free at public universities, so you do not need a tuition scholarship. Your route to support is SU through worker status.
• Non-EU / EEA students: a master’s typically costs between €8,000 and €18,000 a year, so funding is worth chasing.

Danish Government Scholarships

This is the flagship programme, funded by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and administered by each university for highly qualified non-EU/EEA students. The detail varies by institution, but the shape is consistent: a competitive award covering full or partial tuition, occasionally topped up with a grant towards living costs. Numbers are limited and selection is based on academic merit. Deadlines fall in line with admission – some as early as spring for the following autumn intake – so apply for your programme early.

Who’s eligible

Eligibility for the government scholarships is essentially the mirror image of who pays fees:

• Eligible: fee-paying students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, admitted to a qualifying full-degree programme.
• Not eligible: EU/EEA/Swiss students, since they do not pay tuition in the first place.

Beyond that, awards go to strong applicants, so your grades, motivation and fit with the programme do the heavy lifting.

Other funding routes

Government scholarships are not the only option for scholarships in Denmark. Look also at:

• University and faculty scholarships – many run their own awards beyond the government scheme.
• Erasmus+ – EU funding for exchange and some joint master’s programmes.
• Nordplus – mobility grants across the Nordic and Baltic region.
• External and country-specific scholarships – from foundations, your home government or employers.

How to apply

For the main government scheme there is rarely a separate form – the steps are simply:

1. Choose a qualifying programme at a Danish university and check its scholarship page.
2. Apply for admission early, before the scholarship deadline.
3. Submit a strong application – grades, a sharp motivation letter and references.
4. Watch your email for the offer, which often arrives alongside the admission decision.

Always confirm the exact rules and dates on the official portal and the university’s own page.

A note for EU students

If you are an EU citizen, these scholarships are not for you – but you are not left out. With free tuition and the possibility of SU if you work part-time, your costs can be very manageable.

Questions and answers

Are there scholarships in Denmark for international students?

Yes – chiefly the Danish Government Scholarships, a tuition waiver for highly qualified non-EU/EEA students, plus university, Erasmus+ and external awards.

Do EU students get these scholarships?

No, because EU/EEA/Swiss students do not pay tuition. They can instead pursue SU through part-time work.

Do I apply separately for a government scholarship?

Usually not. Most universities consider you automatically when you apply for an eligible programme – check each one’s scholarship page to be sure.

How much do non-EU students pay?

A master’s typically runs from about €8,000 to €18,000 per year, which is what these scholarships help offset.