A prosperous European nation, Denmark is located south of Scandinavia. Denmark offers a high standard of living, a safe environment, and a high degree of educational excellence, which attracts international students.
Danish universities already provide a sizable number of bachelor-level educational programs in English, in contrast to other Scandinavian nations. Since many people in Denmark are multilingual, international students frequently use English in their daily lives. However, knowledge of Danish is a need for individuals who intend to work in this country after graduation.
Denmark’s high standard of education rivals that of other leading European nations, and a degree from a Danish university ensures employment abroad.
Denmark ranked second among the Scandinavian nations and fifth overall in Universitas 21’s rating of the top countries for higher education in 2022. The academic staff at Denmark’s top institutions makes an effort to adopt cutting-edge teaching techniques and stay current with society.
Leading Danish universities focus on the structure of the educational process initially. The majority of instructional time is devoted to group projects:
- International students make presentations.
- Students work in a team in the laboratory.
- Participation in discussions on popular educational and other topics.
However, in addition to group lessons, the student must demonstrate his specific abilities, particularly through project work.
Danish universities frequently encourage their students for internships because of their tight collaboration with national and international programs. A semester is needed for practice, which is a required component of education and gaining future qualifications.
Enrollment Of Foreign Students In Denmark’s Best Universities
For successful admission to Denmark’s top colleges, international students must compile a package of documents.
Documents required for admission to Denmark’s top private institutions:
- Certificate of proficiency in English (Danish);
- Notarized educational certificate, diploma (translated into English or Danish);
- Motivation letter from applicant;
- General interview or in specialized subjects;
- Confirmation of work experience in the specialty for master’s or PhD programs;
- Recommendations from teachers or director of the current school of the applicant;
- Personal interview or via skype;
- Information of future research for admission to graduate school.
Foreign students can begin their studies in Denmark by taking preparatory courses at Danish institutions or by getting ready for their high school final exams.
Danish Higher Education For International Students
Studying in Denmark in accordance with university curricula is equivalent to receiving educational credits under the European system.
In Denmark, there are three different bachelor’s degree options open to foreign students:
- Basic (academic) education lasts three years. An academic bachelor’s degree is regarded a prerequisite for admission to a master’s degree program, but it is not required.
- Professional – 4 years, sometimes 4,5 years. The professional bachelor’s degree differs from the academic bachelor’s degree in that it is more practical in nature. Graduation work is not considered a thesis research in this institution, but rather a project relevant to the future profession. Certain specialties are related with a professional bachelor’s degree:
- Information Technology.
- Medical care.
- Schooling.
- Bachelor of Arts – 3 years educational program.
Because secondary education in Denmark lasts 12 years, it can be difficult to enter a bachelor’s degree program directly after graduating from a foreign school. Foreign students must apply for a bachelor’s degree after completing their first or second year of study at a local university or after passing two specialized final exams at a Danish institution. Foreign students may enroll in rare situations on the basis of a foreign educational certificate, subject to a high average score and high indicators of a language certificate.
For foreign students, studying at Denmark’s leading institutions is funded; the average tuition charge is 10.000-15.000 € per year, which is considered a cheap cost in Europe.
Tuition fee usually includes:
- Chosen educational program.
- Study materials.
- Final exams.
- Accommodation (not always).
- Extracurricular block.
- Some options are not included and is paid additionally to tuition fee:
- Flight tickets.
- Transfer in both sides.
- Meals.
- Pocket expenses.
At the same time, educational quality is comparable to that of the major European countries.
The Master’s degree usually takes 2-3 years (depending on the educational path).
Postgraduate studies typically span two to three years. Many postgraduate programs in Denmark are free to both Danish and international students.
Danish nationals and citizens of EU nations can enroll in any educational institution and study there for free. International students, on the other hand, must pay tuition. It is less expensive in Denmark compared to other European countries and may compete with top educational countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, and others.
Language Requirements For International Students Attending Danish Universities
The majority of programs at Danish universities are taught in Danish. English-language programs have been expressly designed for international students, allowing them to begin learning even if they do not know the local language.
- Students are frequently required to pass a Danish exam:
- Danish as a foreign language;
- Danskprøve 2 (third level is required at some universities).
The Danes believe that acquiring the local language takes at least three years in order to study in Danish and grasp everything mentioned in lectures.
The best situation for international students is to enroll in a preparatory English-language program while also taking national language courses, which are free for all international students.
In terms of English-language programs, Danish universities accept IELTS and TOEFL exam results.
Best Universities In Demark For International Students
1. International Business Academy (IBA)
The International Business Academy is a school that creates effective courses in finance, sales, marketing, communications, information technology, management, and production. If you need to develop your business skills fast and effectively, you can earn a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree, an AP degree, and a one and a half month (6 week) advanced preparation course here.
The university caters to students from all over the world and has over 85 foreign partner organizations, including those in China, South Korea, Brazil, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Romania. The Academy, as an active member of the International Business School Network, is continually organizing a range of tours, conferences, projects, exchanges, and internships for its students.
The institution comprises 120 permanent teachers and another 80 freelance teachers and guest lecturers. The International Business Academy selects 4,700 students each year as its alma-mother: 1,500 study full-time (obtain bachelor’s, master’s, and AP degrees), and 3,200 develop their professional abilities through short courses.
For more information, visit https://www.iba.dk/international/about-iba
2. Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Danish Technical University has a rich and illustrious history. Academic activities at Denmark’s Technical University (DTU), the top state educational institution, have been recorded from 1829. The urban-style educational facility and campus are located in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital city.
Institutional reputation
DTU is well-known in Denmark for consistently ranking in the top five of the national university rankings. As a result, parents of Danes choose it over other educational complexes. A well-deserved reputation has been earned by the release of high-level specialists in the fields of:
- Engineering;
- Medicine;
- Natural Sciences;
- Informatics and many other disciplines.
The world reputation is built on the university’s presence in the first hundreds of years and the excellence of its educational services. A well-qualified teaching team enables participation in world rankings. The key criterion for the relevance of education within the walls of the DTU is the significant demand in the labor market for university-educated specialists.
For more information, visit https://www.dtu.dk/english/
3. University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
The main structure and campus of Denmark’s highest educational institution, the University of Southern Denmark, are in Odense. The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) was established in 1966. The university is consistently ranked among the top five educational institutions in the country and ranks first in the globe. As a result, each student who enrolls receives a high-quality higher education.
University education is of the greatest caliber, and the students are taught by highly qualified professionals and lecturers. A similar criterion is derived by the university in a 5% ranking of the world’s best universities. Students can choose from numerous disciplines:
- Art and Humanities
- Social Sciences and Management
- Economics and business
- Life Sciences and Medicine.
For more information, visit https://www.sdu.dk/en
4. University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is Denmark’s oldest educational institution. Kbenhavns Universitet is the second institution of higher education on the Scandinavian Peninsula, having opened its doors to students in the Middle Ages. In 1479, Danish King Christian I created the university. The customary areas of the time were the original faculties of the institution. Here, students studied law, medicine, philosophy, and theology. A modern institution offers a diverse range of disciplines that are in high demand among applicants. A prominent research center was part of the University of Copenhagen. The university is a member of the prestigious academic association IARU, among institutions such as Cambridge, Tokyo, and Yale.
For more information, visit https://www.ku.dk/english/
5. IT University of Copenhagen
IT-Universitetet i Kbenhavn (abbreviated as ITU) is a state-run educational institution that has been involved in scientific and academic research since 1999. The main university building is in Copenhagen, the country’s capital city.
For more information, visit https://en.itu.dk/
6. Aarhus University
Aarhus University was formed in 1928 and is now one of the world’s leading research universities in a variety of fields. The university is one of the top ten educational institutions in the world, with a long history of collaboration with major research institutes and university networks. Aarhus prioritizes social development and tries to contribute to the resolution of difficult global problems through collaboration with authorities and the business sector. The university combines researchers’ high professionalism, the study of diverse subjects, and interdisciplinary communication. The research is conducted in close collaboration with the outside world, laying the groundwork for the university’s international competitiveness.
For more information, visit https://international.au.dk/
7. University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is an educational institution that fosters knowledge, a research culture, and high educational standards: it lays the groundwork for students to develop critical thinking, an interest in discovering the truth, and an understanding of the importance of working for the good of society.
The University of Copenhagen is one of the best universities in the world for excellent research and education, with a high reputation among Danish and Northern Region educational institutions. The University of Copenhagen has a history dating back more than 535 years, making it the oldest educational institution in Denmark and one of the oldest in Northern Europe.
For more information, visit https://www.ku.dk/english/
8. Copenhagen Business School
Copenhagen Business School has an excellent reputation among major corporations, conducts exchange programs, and is a member of the European University Association (EUA).
Management programs are ranked in the top 50 in the world, which explains why the university attracts students from all over the world: one in every five students is not a Danish citizen. Some programs are available through remote learning, which allows you to obtain a distinguished education without leaving your city.
For more information, visit https://www.cbs.dk/en
9. VIA University College
The merging of numerous modest educational institutions resulted in the formation of VIA University College in 2008. It is now the third largest university in the country, with approximately 20,000 students and over 2,000 faculty members. The primary campus is in Aarhus, with eight additional campuses distributed throughout the country.
Every campus has a student council or social organization whose mission it is to promote the quality of academic and student life. Over 16,000 students joined clubs, organisations, and interest groups. The Student Counseling Service assists students by providing answers and assistance with any situation.
There is a mentorship service for freshmen and international students: more than 100 experienced students give individual and group communication sessions to help freshmen and international students adjust to life in a new country or educational institution.
There are winter and summer schools at the university in addition to the major programs – bachelor’s and master’s. The educational institution has built strong scientific relationships with numerous European universities, allowing students to exchange for one or two semesters at any of them.
For more information, visit https://en.via.dk/
10. Aalborg University
Aalborg University was founded in 1974 as the Aalborg University Center, and it was until 20 years later that it gained its current name. The Danish Queen Margrethe II attended the University Center’s inaugural ceremony.
Other Danish universities (Esbjerg College of Engineering, Copenhagen College of Engineering) and the NOVI Science Park Research Center were later added to the university. As a result, three campuses were established in Aalborg, Copenhagen, and Esbjerg.
The university’s main areas of expertise were engineering, computer technology, and the humanities. Aalborg Universitet established a new faculty of medicine in 2010.
For more information, visit https://www.en.aau.dk/