7 Best Scholarships in Denmark for International Students

Denmark has grown to be one of the best study-abroad destinations for international students looking for quality education and a welcoming atmosphere. Several Danish universities like the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Danish Academy of Music rank among the best globally. Additionally, most of the country’s cities like Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Roskilde are affordable and student-friendly.

As a popular destination for higher learning, Denmark offers a range of scholarships including government-funded programs, university-specific awards, and private funding opportunities to attract talented students from around the world. These scholarships not only provide financial support but also open doors to a world-class education at some of Denmark’s top universities.

Let us explore some of the best scholarships in Denmark for International students.

Top Scholarships in Denmark for International Students

If you are planning to study in Denmark without breaking the bank, here are some scholarship options to explore for your studies.

1. Danish Government Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Partial or full tuition
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

These are awarded to highly qualified non-EU/EEA students who wish to study at Danish universities. The scholarships are administered by the Danish universities, who make the selection of who to receive the scholarship based on the set criteria. The scholarships can either be full or partial and may be used to cover tuition fees and living expenses.

For example, the University of Southern Denmark offers government scholarships to international students enrolled in certain master’s programs like the MSc in Engineering specializing in mechatronics, Electronics, and Mechanical Engineering

2. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Partial or full tuition, travel, visa, and monthly stipend
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

Another great scholarship for international students in Denmark is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship. This is offered to students enrolled in specific joint master’s programs to cater to tuition and living costs. If you rank high during selection, you may be lucky to get a full scholarship to cover all your studies and living costs.

3. Fulbright Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: DKK 125,000
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D.

The Fulbright Scholarships are offered to US students to pursue master’s or Ph.D. studies in Denmark. They are offered as grants for one year of either full-time study or research. You must demonstrate outstanding academic performance to receive the grant and commit to being a good cultural ambassador of the U.S. in Denmark. Several universities in Denmark like the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Danish Academy of Music administer the Fulbright scholarship.

4. Aarhus University Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Tuition fee waiver, Monthly grant
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D.

Aarhus University is a top-ranking university in Denmark that is home to several international students. The university offers financial aid sponsored by the Danish state. These come in the form of tuition fee waivers and monthly grants. For example, students from countries like India and Indonesia receive a 75% tuition fee waiver. Other highly qualified international students receive a 25% tuition fee waiver.

Additionally, the university’s departments offer other scholarships to international students, like the tuition fee waiver and monthly grant from the Faculty of Arts.

5. Copenhagen Business School Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend of DKK 8,000
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

Copenhagen Business School (CBS) is one of Europe’s most prestigious business schools and a leading institution in Denmark for higher education in business, economics, and management. The school offers a tuition fee waiver and a DKK 8,000 monthly stipend for master’s students to cover living costs in Denmark. Note that, this grant is also a government-sponsored scholarship, so expect that the competition would be high. This scholarship will be awarded to around 25 students per year.

6. University of Southern Denmark Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Type: Full tuition
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s

The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) is another great Danish institution offering scholarships for international students. These are mostly program-specific scholarships with the current scholarship being offered to international students pursuing the Master’s programme in Robot Systems. The scholarship covers tuition for two years if the student is taking 30 ECTS per semester. If the number of courses you take exceeds the 30 ECTS, they will not be covered by the fee waiver.

7. University of Copenhagen Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Type: Full tuition, Living expenses
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.

The University of Copenhagen administers several scholarship schemes to international students enrolled in various degree programs. For example, all international students applying for a master’s degree at the Faculty of Humanities are automatically considered for the Danish Government Scholarships. The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences also offers scholarships to outstanding international students to cover either tuition fees alone or both tuition fees and living expenses.

Additionally, the Faculty of Science offers a limited number of scholarships to outstanding international undergraduate students. Students with the highest GPA are offered a scholarship to cover tuition fees and living expenses.

FAQs: Applying for a Scholarship in Denmark

How Difficult Is It to Apply for a Scholarship as an International Student?

As an international student, it is more challenging to apply for a scholarship because you are often competing against thousands of talented applicants from all over the world. Some eligibility criteria could pose a barrier to applying for certain scholarships like the proof of language proficiency. If you’re applying to study in a country where you’re not yet proficient in the local language, this could be a hindrance.

Additionally, some scholarships may only be available to students from certain countries or regions, like Aarhus University which offers scholarships to students from specific countries. Ensuring that you meet these criteria is the first step, and if you do, it simplifies the application process significantly. However, not meeting these requirements can make the process more difficult, as it may rule out certain opportunities from the start.

Can International Students Be Awarded with Two or More Scholarships?

Yes, international students can be awarded with more than one scholarship though this may be prohibited in some instances. For example, Roskilde University offers its Ph.D. students funding from various sources, in some instances combining university and external funding to support the Ph.D. fellows. Additionally, while the Technical University of Denmark offers tuition fee waivers to eligible international students, it also allows students to seek funding from other outside sources.

In some cases, your university might limit how much financial aid you can get if the combined value of two or more scholarships could exceed the total cost of attendance. Additionally, if you receive a full-ride scholarship from the university, you may not be allowed to stack it with another university-specific scholarship.

Denmark provides numerous scholarship opportunities for international students, making it an appealing option for those seeking high-quality education abroad. Whether through government-funded initiatives like the Danish Government Scholarships or university-specific awards like the Aarhus University scholarships, students have access to a variety of financial aids that can cover tuition fees and living expenses. We hope these scholarships will play an important role in making your educational aspirations in Denmark a reality.

We hope this article on Denmark scholarships for international students was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Denmark and Available Programs in Europe for more informative articles and study opportunities.