SU for International Students

Updated By exploringdenmark8 min read

Denmark pays its students a monthly grant called SU – and yes, SU for international students is possible, but only in specific circumstances. By default it is for Danish citizens; as a foreign student you must first be granted “equal status”, and the usual route is working part-time alongside your studies. Here is exactly who qualifies and how to apply.

SU Monthly state grant Default: Danish citizens FOREIGN STUDENTS NEED EQUAL STATUS EU worker routeWork 10-12 hrs/week Danish rulese.g. 5 years’ residence APPLYminSU, thenequal status Non-EU students on a study permit usually do not qualify

Overview

SU – Statens Uddannelsesstøtte, the State Educational Grant – is money the Danish state pays students each month to cover living costs. It is one of the most generous systems in the world, but it is built for Danish citizens first. The question for newcomers is not “how much is SU” but “can I get it at all”, and the honest answer is: sometimes. This guide sets out the rules for SU for international students plainly.

Set expectations

If you are a non-EU student on a study permit, you almost certainly will not qualify for SU. The grant mainly reaches EU/EEA students who also work part-time, or foreigners with long residence. Plan your finances on that basis.

What SU is

SU is a monthly grant (not a loan, though low-interest student loans are available on top) for students on approved youth and higher-education programmes in Denmark. To receive any SU you must be enrolled on an SU-approved full-degree programme and hold a CPR number and MitID. A semester abroad at a Danish university does not count – you must be doing the full programme here.

SU for international students: who qualifies

As a starting point you must be a Danish citizen to receive SU. As a foreign citizen, you first have to be granted equal status (ligestilling) with Danes, under one of two sets of rules:

  • EU law – chiefly by being a worker in Denmark (the common route, explained below).
  • Danish rules – for example after around five years’ residence, or other specific situations.

The decision is made by Uddannelses- og Forskningsstyrelsen (the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science), based on the documents you submit. Note that UK citizens who moved here after 2021 are treated as non-EU and need equal status too.

The worker route (10-12 hours a week)

For most EU/EEA students, SU comes through worker status. The Agency expects you to:

  • work a minimum of 10 to 12 hours a week,
  • have done so for a continuous period of about 10 weeks before you apply, and
  • keep working those hours while you receive SU.

You document this with an employment contract and payslips. The Agency also weighs your monthly gross income, paid holiday, sick pay, the length of the job and whether a collective agreement applies – so a stable, genuine job matters more than scattered shifts. A part-time job is therefore the practical key to SU for many international students.

Non-EU students

If you are here on a student residence permit from outside the EU, you are generally not considered a worker for these purposes and so do not qualify for SU. Your route to funding is tuition scholarships and your own savings, plus the part-time work your permit already allows.

Scholarships in Denmark →
The realistic funding route for non-EU students
The student residence permit →
Funds, fees and your right to work

How to apply

Applying for SU for international students is a two-step process, in order:

  1. Apply for SU in minSU on the su.dk website, using your MitID.
  2. Apply for equal status from the receipt page – you must do this within three weeks of your SU application.

Your SU is only paid out once your equal-status application is approved, so do not count on the money until you have that confirmation.

The 2024 SU reform

Parliament passed a reform of the SU system in January 2024. If you start your programme on 1 July 2025 or later, the new rules apply to you, taking effect from January 2027. Because the rules for SU for international students are still bedding in, check the current position on su.dk before relying on any specific amount or rule.

Questions and answers

Can international students get SU in Denmark?

Sometimes. EU/EEA students who work about 10-12 hours a week can qualify through worker status; others may qualify after long residence. Non-EU students on a study permit generally cannot.

How many hours do I need to work?

The Agency expects at least 10-12 hours a week, sustained for around 10 weeks before you apply and maintained while you receive SU, documented by a contract and payslips.

Who decides if I get equal status?

Uddannelses- og Forskningsstyrelsen (the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science), based on your application and employment documents.

How do I apply?

Apply for SU in minSU on su.dk, then apply for equal status within three weeks. SU is only disbursed once equal status is approved.

Sources

  1. su.dk – the official SU authority and the minSU application portal.
  2. Life in Denmark (borger.dk) – SU and equal status for foreign citizens.
  3. University of Copenhagen – applying for SU and equal status.