The learning environment in Denmark is worth considering. Danish higher education combines traditional lectures with student-centered teaching, open debate, teamwork, and problem-based learning. Aside from the high-quality education it offers, many programs encourage collaboration with fellow students, regardless of the student’s field of study.
Many Danish universities provide free tuition to EU/EEA and Swiss students, as well as to students who qualify for tuition exemption under certain residence-status rules. Students from other countries generally pay tuition fees, but they may be eligible for a range of scholarships and tuition waivers. Danish higher education institutions also offer many English-taught study programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, exchange, and summer school options.
In this article, we will give you a list of Danish higher education institutions that offer English-taught study options. This list will be useful for students who plan to study in Denmark.
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Denmark
| University | Undergraduate English-taught options | Graduate English-taught options |
|---|
| Aarhus University | English-taught bachelor’s programs include Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Data Science, IT Product Development, and Economics and Business Administration. | Aarhus offers more than 50 English-taught master’s programs across engineering, natural sciences, business, economics, political science, health, humanities, and technology. Ph.D. research is also widely conducted in English. |
| Aalborg University | Fully English-taught bachelor’s programs include Applied Industrial Electronics, Energy Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and Economics and Business Administration. | English-taught master’s programs are available across engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, technology, and health sciences. English-language Ph.D. opportunities depend on the department and research area. |
| Technical University of Denmark (DTU) | DTU offers one complete English-taught bachelor’s degree: the BSc in General Engineering. Other undergraduate programs are taught in Danish, although individual courses may be available in English. | DTU’s MSc in Engineering programs are taught exclusively in English and cover biotechnology, computer science, autonomous systems, energy, environmental engineering, sustainable technology, physics, applied chemistry, and other engineering fields. Ph.D. research is generally conducted in an international English-language environment. |
| Roskilde University | English-taught undergraduate options include Global Humanities, International Social Sciences, and International Natural Sciences. | Master’s programs currently open for general English-language admission include Computer Science, Environmental Science, Media and Communication, Molecular Health Science, and Nordic Urban Planning Studies. Ph.D. opportunities may also be available in English depending on the doctoral school and research project. |
| University of Copenhagen | Complete bachelor’s programs are taught in Danish. Exchange and guest students can take selected undergraduate courses taught in English. | The university offers numerous English-taught master’s programs in agriculture, biotechnology, computer science, economics, environmental science, food science, global development, health sciences, mathematics, neuroscience, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, and social science. Ph.D. research is widely conducted in English. |
| IT University of Copenhagen | The university’s English-taught undergraduate option is the BSc in Data Science. | English-taught graduate programs include Computer Science, Data Science, Games, and Software Design. Ph.D. study is also available in information technology and related interdisciplinary research areas. |
| University of Southern Denmark | SDU offers multiple English-taught bachelor’s programs across subjects such as engineering, business, economics, and the natural sciences. Applicants should confirm the current language and campus for each program. | A wide selection of English-taught master’s programs is available across SDU’s academic fields. Ph.D. opportunities are offered through five Ph.D. schools, with standard three-year and selected four-year routes. |
| Copenhagen Business School | English-taught bachelor’s options include Business Administration and Digital Management, Business Administration and Service Management, Business Administration and Sociology, International Business, International Business and Politics, and International Shipping and Trade. | CBS offers a broad selection of English-taught master’s programs in business, economics, management, finance, marketing, innovation, digitalization, and related subjects. Ph.D. routes include research fellow positions, the 4+4 scheme, independent study, and industrial Ph.D. positions. |
1. Aarhus University
Founded in 1928, Aarhus University is a major public research university in Denmark. Its academic structure covers arts, humanities, education, business, social sciences, health, natural sciences, and technical sciences. Most of its activities are based in Aarhus, with additional teaching and research locations elsewhere in Denmark.
Aarhus University offers more than 50 complete programs taught in English across the bachelor’s and master’s levels. English-taught bachelor’s options include Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Data Science, IT Product Development, and Economics and Business Administration. Its larger selection of English-taught master’s programs covers engineering, natural sciences, business, economics, political science, health, humanities, and technology.
Bachelor’s programs normally take three years, while master’s programs generally take two years. Aarhus University also states that its Ph.D. programs are conducted in English. Students from EU, EEA, and Swiss countries generally do not pay tuition, while other international students usually pay program-specific fees unless they receive a tuition waiver or scholarship.
What Current Students / Alumni of Aarhus University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Mohammad Tanvir Rahman
Master’s in Economics and Business Administration, Information Management | His program was English-taught, with classes and professors’ lectures delivered in English. | He did not need Danish for academic activities, but considers Danish important for pursuing a career in the Danish job market because employers may seek candidates who know both Danish and English. |
Meina Jia Sandal
PhD in Global Studies | All courses and seminars during her PhD were conducted in English, and she says coursework and research could be completed in English. | Danish was not academically necessary. Learning Danish helped with daily-life integration, local communities, cultural understanding, and informal conversations. |
Stangherlin
PhD-level Research Stay in Innovation and Sustainability | All academic activities during the research period were conducted in English, including seminars, meetings, conferences, and collaborative projects. | She did not speak Danish and said this was not an obstacle; English also worked for her daily interactions in Denmark. |
2. Aalborg University
Aalborg University is known for the Aalborg Model for Problem Based Learning. Students often work in groups on a large project each semester while also following lectures and other forms of instruction. This approach helps students build teamwork, problem-solving, and project-management skills that are useful in the labor market.
AAU currently lists four fully English-taught bachelor’s degree programs: Applied Industrial Electronics, Energy Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and Economics and Business Administration. The bachelor’s program in Language and International Studies, English is only partly taught in English and requires Danish at the highest level. At the master’s level, international students can study programs in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, technical sciences, and health sciences. Students can also continue into PhD opportunities depending on department and research area.
What Current Students / Alumni of Aalborg University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Meina Jia Sandal
Master’s in Culture, Communication, and Globalization | All courses and seminars in her master’s program were conducted in English. | Danish was not needed for coursework or research. Danish language courses helped her integrate into daily life, and she found Danish useful for local communities, culture, and informal conversations. |
Marco Rizzo
PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience | All PhD courses were conducted in English. In one course where he was the only international student, the class switched to English for him. | — |
Anannya
PhD in Participatory Design and Platform Cooperatives | Her classes and other academic engagements are conducted in English. | Danish is not identified as a classroom requirement, but the language can be a barrier during fieldwork involving citizens, collectives, and public-sector bodies. |
3. Technical University of Denmark
Founded in 1829 by physicist Hans Christian Ørsted, the Technical University of Denmark, commonly known as DTU, is a public technical university headquartered in Kongens Lyngby, north of Copenhagen. It specializes in engineering, technology, natural sciences, sustainability, and innovation.
At the undergraduate level, DTU offers one complete English-taught bachelor’s degree: the BSc in General Engineering. The program provides broad engineering foundations and incorporates interdisciplinary design projects. DTU’s Master of Science in Engineering programs are taught exclusively in English and cover fields such as biotechnology, computer science, autonomous systems, energy, environmental engineering, sustainable technology, physics, and applied chemistry.
The General Engineering bachelor’s program takes three years, while DTU’s master’s programs normally require two years. The university also offers English-language doctoral research opportunities across its engineering and science departments. Most Ph.D. candidates are employed by DTU or funded through external research projects, and available positions are usually advertised individually.
What Current Students / Alumni of Technical University of Denmark Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Ralph Carlo Evidente
PhD in Sustainability-Oriented Engineering / Energy Systems | All his classes were conducted in English. Lectures, assignments, laboratory work, research discussions, academic materials, presentations, and communication with professors were in English. | Danish was not an academic requirement in his experience. Not knowing it could create minor difficulties with administration, local documents, and interactions outside the university, while basic Danish helped with integration. |
Nicolae Darii
PhD in Electrical Compatibility in Converter-based Offshore Energy Systems | Classes and academic activities were nearly all in English at the master’s/PhD level, and English was used in his research environment. | Danish was not a barrier academically or in research, though he found it more relevant to life outside the university. |
4. Roskilde University
Established in 1972, Roskilde University is a public university located west of Copenhagen. It was founded as an alternative to traditional university education and is particularly known for interdisciplinary study, group work, and problem-oriented project learning based on real-world issues.
English-taught undergraduate options include Global Humanities, International Social Sciences, and International Natural Sciences. Roskilde also offers English-taught master’s programs in subjects such as Computer Science, Environmental Science, Global and Development Studies, International Politics and Governance, Media and Communication, Chemical Biology, and Nordic Urban Planning Studies.
Bachelor’s programs normally require three years, while standard master’s programs generally take two years. Roskilde University also has four doctoral schools covering humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, technology, communication, and interdisciplinary research. Ph.D. positions are typically linked to specific departments or funded research projects and generally use English as a working language in international research environments.
What Current Students / Alumni of Roskilde University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Rebecca
Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Global Studies | All classes she attended at Roskilde University were in English, although she noted that the university also has courses taught in Danish. | She did not expect students to face significant problems without Danish because English is widely spoken. |
Nicolai
Master of Science in Global Studies | His MSc in Global Studies at Roskilde University was conducted entirely in English. | — |
5. University of Copenhagen
Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is Denmark’s oldest university and one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. It is a comprehensive public research institution organized into six faculties covering health and medical sciences, humanities, law, science, social sciences, and theology.
The University of Copenhagen offers a wide range of English-taught master’s programs. Available fields include agriculture, biotechnology, computer science, economics, environmental science, food science, global development, health sciences, mathematics, neuroscience, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, and social science. Some international programs are jointly delivered with partner universities and may include study periods outside Denmark.
English-taught master’s programs normally take two years and require 120 ECTS credits. The university’s complete bachelor’s programs are taught in Danish, although exchange students can take individual undergraduate courses in English. Ph.D. research is widely conducted in English, with doctoral opportunities generally advertised as paid academic positions linked to specific faculties, departments, or research projects.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Copenhagen Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Faith Klijian
Master of Science in Security Risk Management | Her Security Risk Management master’s classes were conducted in English, including coursework, lectures, and exams. | Danish was not needed academically in her English-taught program. She recommends basic Danish for day-to-day life, cultural experience, and connecting with local people. |
Emma Tkach
Master of Science in Global Health | All of her classes were taught in English. | She said not knowing Danish caused no academic problems. |
Zachary Gavry
Master of Science in Global Health | His classes were conducted in English. | — |
Minaho Sugimori
Master’s in Global Health | Her classes were conducted in English. | — |
Rama Prajapati
Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences | Her classes at the University of Copenhagen were conducted in English. | — |
6. IT University of Copenhagen
Established in 1999, the IT University of Copenhagen, commonly known as ITU, is a specialized public university focused on information technology. Its teaching and research combine computer science with business, digital design, communication, games, data science, and the social effects of digital technologies.
ITU’s English-taught undergraduate option for international students is the BSc in Data Science. At the graduate level, it offers English-taught programs in areas such as Computer Science, Data Science, Games, and Software Design. These programs combine theoretical knowledge with projects, research, and practical collaboration involving companies and public organizations.
The bachelor’s degree normally takes three years, while master’s degrees generally require two years. ITU also runs an extensive Ph.D. program covering computer science, business IT, and digital design. Doctoral opportunities are usually advertised as salaried positions connected to particular research projects, and English is commonly used throughout research, supervision, and academic communication.
What Current Students / Alumni of IT University of Copenhagen Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Tomás Basile
Master’s in Physics of Complex Systems | All of his classes were conducted in English, and he described the university environment as operating in English for his international program. | Danish was not academically necessary in his experience; he reported no academic problems from not knowing it. |
7. University of Southern Denmark
The University of Southern Denmark offers English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs, as well as PhD programs through its five PhD schools. It is a good choice for students who prefer an inclusive, international study environment that values creativity, critical thinking, and academic ambition.
SDU offers multiple bachelor’s programs taught in English and a wide range of master’s programs taught in English. PhD applicants can apply through one of SDU’s five PhD schools. The standard PhD program is three years, while some schools also offer four-year routes for students who have completed the first year of a master’s program.
EU/EEA and Swiss full-degree students do not pay tuition fees at SDU. Non-EU/EEA students generally pay tuition fees, but SDU offers a very limited number of scholarships for non-EU/EEA citizens on programs at its Sønderborg and Vejle campuses.
8. Copenhagen Business School
Copenhagen Business School offers bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD study options in business-related fields. Its programs combine business studies with fields such as politics, sociology, IT, communication, entrepreneurship, and related disciplines.
CBS currently lists 15 bachelor’s programs and more than 30 master’s programs overall. At the bachelor’s level, CBS’s English-taught programs listed in its application guidance include BSc in Business Administration and Digital Management, BSc in Business Administration and Service Management, BSc in Business Administration and Sociology, BSc in International Business, BSc in International Business and Politics, and BSc in International Shipping and Trade. At the master’s level, CBS offers a broad selection of programs, and applicants should confirm availability and language of instruction on each program page. PhD applicants can pursue routes such as a research fellow position, the 4+4 scheme, independent PhD status, or an industrial PhD. Visiting PhD students may also arrange research stays through a relevant department.
If you are worried about learning Danish, or if your Danish is not yet strong enough for a Danish-taught program, this article shows that there are many English-taught study options at Danish higher education institutions. Do not hesitate to start your academic journey. Denmark offers a promising higher education environment for international students.
We hope you found this article on the best English-taught universities in Denmark informative and helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
