Denmark offers international students a range of higher education opportunities in cities such as Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Roskilde. Students can explore institutions such as the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Danish Academy of Music, as well as information about the cost of studying and living in Denmark.
As a destination for higher learning, Denmark offers a range of scholarships, including government-funded programs, university-specific awards, and private funding opportunities. These scholarships can provide financial support and help students access higher education in Denmark at universities across the country.
Let us explore several 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.
1. Danish Government Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or grants toward living costs
- Eligible Degree/s: Full-degree higher education programs; availability varies by institution
- Meet the Danish Government Scholarship Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys, including those of Faith Klijian from the United States and Meina Jia Sandal from China
These scholarships are awarded to highly qualified full-degree students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who meet the relevant eligibility requirements. Danish universities administer the scholarships and select recipients. Depending on the institution, support may be provided as full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or grants toward living costs.
For example, the University of Southern Denmark lists eligible master’s programs in Electronics/Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Mechatronics at its Sønderborg campus. SDU also lists eligible bachelor’s programs at its Vejle campus.
Here is what Danish Government Scholarship Scholars Say:
“This scholarship is merit-based, covering the entire cost of tuition for two academic years and providing a monthly stipend for 22 months to cover basic living expenses.”
Faith Klijian
“This scholarship is highly competitive and is awarded to only about two to three international graduate students outside the EU/EEA from the program’s entire faculty and department.”
Faith Klijian
“Because the Danish Government Scholarship is administered by the universities themselves, the key was to present a strong admission application.”
Meina Jia Sandal
2. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships
Another scholarship option for international students considering Denmark is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are international master’s programs jointly designed and delivered by groups of higher education institutions. Programs may offer full scholarships to the best-ranked students worldwide. These scholarships cover participation costs and contribute to travel, visa, and living expenses. Review the participating universities for each program to confirm whether it includes study in Denmark.
Here is what Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Scholars Say:
“Thanks to the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, my tuition fees were fully covered, and I received a monthly stipend to support my living expenses.”
Juan Carlos Pichardo
“For my programme, I was accepted as one of 25 students out of 356 applicants, and the competition has only become tougher in recent years.”
Shihabur
“My advice is to thoroughly read the programme descriptions, understand the learning outcomes, and reflect on how your academic background, interests, and career goals align with them.”
Farzana Shaheen
3. Fulbright Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: DKK 125,000
- Eligible Degree/s: Graduate-level study or research
Fulbright Denmark offers grants to U.S. students for one academic year of graduate-level study and/or research in Denmark. The student grant is DKK 125,000. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic performance and contribute as cultural ambassadors of the United States in Denmark. Applicants apply through Fulbright and independently arrange admission or affiliation with an eligible Danish institution. Undergraduate students are not eligible.
4. Aarhus University Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full or partial tuition fee waiver; some scholarships include a monthly grant
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
Aarhus University offers a limited number of Danish state scholarships to tuition-paying master’s applicants from outside the EU/EEA. Applicants are automatically considered when they apply for admission by the relevant deadline; no separate scholarship application is required. Depending on the faculty, a scholarship may be a full or partial tuition fee waiver, and some waivers include a monthly grant toward living expenses.
At the Faculty of Arts and Aarhus BSS, the typical scholarship is a tuition fee waiver plus a monthly grant toward living expenses. At the Faculties of Natural Sciences and Technical Sciences, the typical scholarship is a tuition fee waiver.
5. Copenhagen Business School Scholarships
Copenhagen Business School (CBS) receives a limited number of government scholarships each year for highly qualified full-degree students from outside the EU/EEA. Each current CBS scholarship includes a tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend of DKK 8,000 to assist with living costs in Denmark for a maximum of 22 months. CBS states that approximately 25 students receive a scholarship each year. Selection is based on applicants’ motivation and academic background rather than financial need.
Here is what Copenhagen Business School Private Scholarship Scholars Say:
“This scholarship covered my full tuition, monthly living expenses, and an additional stipend.”
Mishal
“I took the IELTS twice, as my first score didn’t meet CBS’s criteria, but I improved and eventually scored 7.5, which made me eligible.”
Mishal
“If I were to offer one piece of advice to future scholarship applicants, it would be to start early and stay intentional throughout the process.”
Mishal
6. University of Southern Denmark Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full tuition fee waiver
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) offers a limited number of scholarships for international students in selected programs at its Vejle and Sønderborg campuses. Eligible master’s programs include Electronics/Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Mechatronics. Eligible bachelor’s programs include Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Interactive Technology Engineering, and Software Engineering. The scholarship covers tuition for two years for a master’s program or three years for a bachelor’s program. The fee waiver covers up to 30 ECTS per semester; additional courses exceeding this limit are not covered. Students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress corresponding to 30 ECTS per semester.
7. University of Copenhagen Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or grants for basic living expenses
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The University of Copenhagen offers a limited number of tuition waivers and grants through the Danish Government Scholarship program. Eligible non-EU/EEA applicants admitted to a master’s degree program are automatically considered; no separate scholarship application is required. Faculty-specific conditions apply. For example, all non-EU/EEA students applying for a master’s degree at the Faculty of Humanities are automatically considered. The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences has a very limited number of scholarships that may cover tuition fees alone or tuition fees and living expenses.
The Faculty of Science also has a very limited number of scholarships for outstanding non-EU/EEA MSc applicants. Its scholarships cover tuition fees and living expenses for 22 months. Applicants are considered for a scholarship through their first-priority application if their bachelor’s GPA is above 90%.
FAQs: Applying for a Scholarship in Denmark
How Difficult Is It to Apply for a Scholarship as an International Student?
As an international student, you may face a competitive scholarship application process and scholarship-specific eligibility requirements. Requirements can include academic performance, nationality or residency, program choice, and language documentation. Some scholarships are restricted to particular groups.
For example, Aarhus University notes that, at some faculties, strategic focus may be placed on selected degree programs or applicants from specific countries. Review each official scholarship page carefully before applying.
Can International Students Be Awarded with Two or More Scholarships?
Whether international students can receive more than one scholarship depends on the terms of each award and the institution’s rules. Confirm compatibility with the scholarship providers before accepting multiple awards.
For example, Roskilde University describes several Ph.D. financing models, including projects funded partly by the university and partly by an external partner. This is a co-funding model rather than a general rule that individual scholarships can always be stacked. The Technical University of Denmark also lists external scholarship sources separately from its tuition fee waiver information. Applicants should check the conditions of each funding source directly.
Denmark provides numerous scholarship opportunities for international students seeking higher education abroad. Whether through government-funded initiatives such as the Danish Government Scholarships or university-specific awards such as the Aarhus University scholarships, students may find financial aid that covers tuition fees and, in some cases, 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 guide and Available Programs in Europe!
