Nursing is a highly fulfilling career. It involves working in a medical setting, serving the community, and supporting patients and their relatives. If that sounds appealing, nursing could be the right fit for you.
With that said, Denmark can be a strong study destination for students who want practical healthcare training. However, international students should note that most full-degree nursing programs in Denmark are taught in Danish. As an international student, it’s important to select an institution based on program details, language requirements, admission requirements, and location.
In Denmark, its top universities and university colleges combine classroom learning, research-based coursework, and practical experience. In this article, we will explore some of the best nursing schools in Denmark for international students. Here are the top schools to study nursing in Denmark:
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Denmark
1. University College Copenhagen
University College Copenhagen, also known as Københavns Professionshøjskole (KP), is a popular option for students interested in applied, professionally oriented education. KP’s teaching approach emphasizes independent thinking, collaboration, analytical rigor, academic reflection, and group work.
Its nursing program is a bachelor’s course taught in Danish. The program currently offers no modules in English, so students need fluency in Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian to study the full degree. Exchange or practice-placement options may be possible through KP’s International Team, but these should not be described as English nursing modules.
2. University of Southern Denmark
The University of Southern Denmark offers a master’s program in clinical nursing that develops academic, research, and clinical-practice competencies. The program offers two specializations: Clinical Nursing (KS) and Advanced Clinical Nursing (APN). Students work with scientific methods, evidence-based development, innovation, organization, and clinical practice. The program also includes social science, research-methodology, and nursing-science tracks.
The master’s program in clinical nursing is taught in Danish at SDU’s Odense campus. It is a 120 ECTS program that can be completed as a two-year full-time master’s degree. Students who are employed in a relevant position may also be able to take the program as a part-time professional master’s degree over four years.
For non-EU/EEA students, SDU lists the Faculty of Health tuition fee at EUR 15,000 per year, paid a full year ahead. EU/EEA/Swiss students and students with certain residence statuses may be exempt from Danish tuition fees.
3. University College of Northern Denmark
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s; Clinical Placement (exchange program)
University College of Northern Denmark is known for its practical, real-life approach to nursing education. Its nursing department collaborates with municipalities in the North Denmark Region and with mental and somatic hospitals in the region, giving students opportunities to connect academic learning with clinical practice.
UCN’s nursing program focuses on care and treatment of patients, communication with patients and relatives, and helping patients manage everyday life. The curriculum includes nursing, physiology, biochemistry, psychology, research methodology, public health, management strategy, interdisciplinary work, health sciences, social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Teaching methods include lectures, discussions, seminars, reflections, group work, project writing, and use of a fully equipped skills lab.
UCN’s full-degree nursing program is taught in Danish. However, UCN accepts exchange students for clinical placement in English in the spring and autumn semesters. Exchange students may come through Erasmus+, Nordplus, or partner universities, and they should expect to communicate in English; Nordic languages may also be used. Funding depends on the student’s exchange agreement and home institution, so Erasmus+ should not be described as automatically eliminating all financial burden.
FAQs: Nursing Studies in Denmark
Why Is Denmark Regarded as One of the Best Countries to Study Nursing?
Denmark offers high-quality health education and a tax-funded, universal healthcare system. For international students, the main practical limitation is language: the full-degree nursing programs listed above are Danish-taught, while English-language opportunities are generally exchange or clinical-placement options. Students who want English-taught nursing opportunities should review the specific program pages carefully before applying.
Denmark also offers scholarship options for international students. These include Fulbright Denmark grants for American scholars or postgraduate students at master’s or PhD level, Danish government scholarships for highly qualified full-degree students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and Erasmus Mundus scholarships for specific joint master’s programs. Scholarship coverage and eligibility vary by program and institution, so these awards should not all be described as fully funded.
Is It Possible for International Students to Find Nursing Jobs in Denmark After Completing Their Studies?
Yes, international students may be able to find nursing jobs in Denmark after their education, but this depends on their education, citizenship or residence basis, Danish authorization, and Danish-language skills. Denmark’s healthcare sector has shortages, but the Danish Patient Safety Authority currently states that there is no general shortage of nurses and has set the quota for nurse authorization applications from outside the EU/EEA to zero.
Foreign healthcare professionals generally need Danish authorization to work as nurses in Denmark. For nurses from outside the EU/EEA who are covered by the authorization process, a Danish 3 Exam language requirement applies as of July 1, 2025, unless an exemption applies. The requirement is more specific than a general B2 statement: applicants must pass oral communication with a minimum score of 10 and reading comprehension and written communication with a minimum score of 7 in each.
In summary, a nursing career requires academic knowledge, practical experience, and the ability to apply that knowledge in real-life situations. Denmark can be a valuable destination for students who can meet Danish-language and authorization requirements and who choose their program carefully based on delivery language, clinical opportunities, and career goals.
We hope that this article on the Best Nursing Schools in Denmark has motivated you to pursue a nursing course in the country. You may also check out our Denmark Page or learn more about the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
