Are you looking for the best universities in Denmark for international students? Denmark is home to internationally recognized universities, English-taught degree programs, and an education system known for collaborative learning, independent thinking, and practical problem-solving. The country also offers an excellent quality of life, ranking among the world’s happiest countries in the World Happiness Report 2026 and placing first among 182 countries in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.
International students who choose to study in Denmark can pursue programs across fields such as business, engineering, science, medicine, and the humanities while living in some of Europe’s most student-friendly cities. In this guide, we introduce the top universities in Denmark for international students and compare their academic strengths, available degree programs, admissions information, tuition fees, and scholarship opportunities.
Top Universities in Denmark for International Students
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| University of Copenhagen | Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Science, Health and Medical Sciences, and Theology |
| Aarhus University | Arts, Business and Social Sciences, Health, Natural Sciences, and Technical Sciences |
| Technical University of Denmark | Engineering, Technical Sciences, and Natural Sciences |
| Aalborg University | Social Sciences and Humanities, Engineering and Science, Medicine, and IT and Design |
| University of Southern Denmark | Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, and Engineering |
| Copenhagen Business School | Business Administration, Finance, and International Business |
| Roskilde University | Social Sciences, Environmental Science, and Communication |
1. University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is Denmark’s oldest higher education institution and one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. Founded in 1479, it has six faculties, 36 departments, and more than 200 research centers. The university has four campuses in Copenhagen and one in Taastrup.
UCPH offers education and research opportunities across a broad range of academic fields. International applicants should review the university’s program pages carefully because the language of instruction, admission requirements, and tuition rules vary by program and applicant status.
One student’s journey: Zachary Gavry completed an MSc in Global Health at the University of Copenhagen in 2017 with a Danish Government Scholarship covering tuition and a monthly stipend. There was no separate scholarship application and no standardized test was required; Gavry reported that the program admitted 38 of 440 applicants and estimated a roughly 6–7% acceptance rate for non-Danes. Having previously spent a semester in Copenhagen and then moved there full-time before submitting his master’s application may also have strengthened his candidacy; after graduating, he remained in Denmark, became a permanent resident, and works in life science in Copenhagen. View More University of Copenhagen recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at University of Copenhagen: Can Aygün: after completing his master’s in 2024, completed an internship with UNHCR and now works in the energy sector as a Change and Adoption Associate; Rama Prajapati: went on to complete a PhD in Pharmacy at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Connecticut; Mohan Krishna Chowdry Avilineni: after graduating from his joint master’s in September 2025, became Head of Certification at Carboneg in Prague.
2. Aarhus University
Aarhus University is a research-intensive university founded in 1928 and based in Aarhus. In addition to its main campus, AU has campuses in Emdrup, Herning, and Viborg, as well as locations in Roskilde and Flakkebjerg.
AU’s five faculties are Arts, Aarhus BSS, Health, Natural Sciences, and Technical Sciences. The university offers more than 50 full-degree programs in English at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, and its PhD programs are taught in English.
One student’s journey: Meina Jia Sandal, who previously studied journalism and communication, went on to complete a fully funded PhD in Global Studies at Aarhus University. For her Danish applications she prepared through official admissions sources and academic networks, earned an IELTS score of 7.0, and credits a focused research fit, a carefully structured statement of purpose, strong recommendations, and well-organised documents with strengthening her candidacy. She earned the Aarhus PhD in 2023 and afterward worked for one year as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen. View More Aarhus University recipients →
3. Technical University of Denmark
The Technical University of Denmark was founded in 1829 as the College of Advanced Technology. H.C. Ørsted, who discovered electromagnetism, founded the institution in the image of École Polytechnique in France. Today, DTU focuses on engineering and the technical and natural sciences.
DTU’s primary research areas include artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate technology, construction, cybersecurity, energy technology, environmental technology, food, manufacturing technology, quantum technology, space technology, and transportation.
4. Aalborg University
Internationally recognized for its problem- and project-based approach to learning, Aalborg University uses the Aalborg Model for Problem-Based Learning (PBL). The approach helps students work with complex problems through projects and collaboration. Students can apply this model across AAU’s four faculties: Social Sciences and Humanities, Engineering and Science, Medicine, and the Technical Faculty of IT and Design.
AAU offers programs in Aalborg, Copenhagen, and Esbjerg. Its project-based approach can include collaboration with businesses and organizations on specific issues.
A recipient’s path: Italian researcher Marco Rizzo completed his PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience at Aalborg University through the fully funded Marie Curie PhD Fellowship. His research proposal was central to his selection: he studied the host lab’s recent publications and proposed an original but feasible project aligned with its work, after a year as a full-time research assistant had strengthened his technical profile. After completing the PhD in November 2022, he moved directly into a postdoctoral fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. View More Aalborg University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Aalborg University: Taha Al Muhammadee Janjua: now works as a Research Engineer at Lundbeck in neuroscience research; Meina Jia Sandal: progressed to a fully funded PhD at Aarhus University and, after completing it in 2023, worked for a year as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen.
5. University of Southern Denmark
The University of Southern Denmark has five faculties and a main campus in Odense. SDU’s faculties cover humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, health sciences, and engineering. The university offers multiple bachelor’s programs and around 50 master’s programs taught in English.
Mohiuddin Mahbub’s path to University of Southern Denmark: Mohiuddin Mahbub chose a Master’s in Electronics at the University of Southern Denmark after receiving multiple European admissions and funding offers, including several 100% tuition waivers and another fully funded Erasmus Mundus option. He shortlisted programs around electronics, electrical engineering and renewable energy, checked each institution’s requirements closely, prepared for IELTS, and tailored his statement of purpose and CV to each program; he credits his 3.98/4.0 undergraduate record, published research and relevant experience with strengthening the application. His SDU funding covered full tuition plus a monthly stipend, and after the degree he built his career in Denmark as a Test Engineer at Danfoss Power Electronics. View More University of Southern Denmark recipients →
6. Copenhagen Business School
Copenhagen Business School (CBS) is a public business university located in Frederiksberg, within metropolitan Copenhagen. Established in 1917, it has developed into a large specialist institution with more than 21,000 students and a portfolio covering bachelor’s, master’s, executive, and diploma education. Its academic work is centered on business and economics while also incorporating disciplines such as politics, sociology, communication, law, and information technology.
The university offers 15 bachelor’s and 28 master’s programmes, including a number taught in English. International opportunities are supported by nearly 300 exchange agreements with universities on every continent, and students in many programmes can incorporate exchange periods or academic internships into their degrees. CBS also maintains extensive links with companies and other universities through research, teaching, and international academic networks.
Mishal’s path to Copenhagen Business School: Pakistani student Mishal pursued an MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Copenhagen Business School with a fully funded CBS scholarship. She spent weeks refining her motivation letter with feedback from several professors, secured recommendations from two to three faculty members, and retook IELTS after initially missing the requirement, ultimately scoring 7.5; she also drew on social-impact projects to demonstrate that her interest in entrepreneurship was backed by concrete work. Although she also received a 70% scholarship offer from the University of Jyväskylä, she chose CBS for its programme and scholarship support. View More Copenhagen Business School recipients →
7. Roskilde University
Roskilde University is a public research university in Roskilde, Denmark, founded in 1972. The university currently reports approximately 7,900 students and organizes its teaching and research through four departments covering Communication and Arts, People and Technology, Science and Environment, and Social Sciences and Business. Since its establishment, its academic model has emphasized interdisciplinary study and problem-oriented project work.
Research at Roskilde University spans the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, technology, business, and environmental fields. The university has more than 500 researchers and numerous research centres and groups, with notable activity in areas such as social and political change, environmental science, digital society, public-private collaboration, soft-matter physics, mathematical modelling, pandemic research, and international affairs. Its social-science research has a particularly visible position in international subject rankings.
A recipient’s path: Rebecca, an Italian graduate of the Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Global Studies, completed the fourth and final semester of her joint degree at Roskilde University, where she focused full-time on her master’s thesis with her supervisor and classmates. For the EMGS application, she researched the consortium and partner universities closely, reflected that knowledge in her motivation letter, arranged a recommendation letter early, and had to document a third language in addition to English and her native language. Her international experience, volunteering and motivation were, in her view, stronger differentiators than grades alone; during the program she also earned a second-year tuition-fee waiver that cut those fees by about 60%. View More Roskilde University recipients →
FAQs: Studying in Danish Universities
Is Denmark Good for International Students to Study In?
Yes. Danish higher education institutions offer more than 500 study programs taught in English, giving international students a broad selection of subjects available in English. Teaching approaches vary by institution and program, so prospective students should compare options based on their preferred field, study level, and location.
Can International Students Work in Denmark While Studying?
Part-time work while pursuing a degree can help students gain experience and supplement their budgets. International students should verify the rules attached to their residence status before accepting a job.
Nordic citizens are free to live, study, and work in Denmark. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can reside and work in Denmark under special rules. For students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who hold a residence permit for a state-approved higher education program, the limited work permit generally allows up to 90 hours per month from September through May and full-time work in June, July, and August.
Can International Students Stay in Denmark After Graduation?
Students who complete an entire state-approved higher education program in Denmark while holding a student residence permit may be granted either a six-month or a three-year residence permit to look for work, depending on the type of program completed. During the job-seeking period, the limited work permit generally allows the same hours as during study: 90 hours per month from September through May and full-time work in June, July, and August. Graduates granted a three-year job-seeking permit can also apply for a work permit without limitations after completing their program.
Graduates who want to remain in Denmark should review the available residence and work-permit schemes and apply for the option that matches their situation.
Pursuing higher education in Denmark can give students access to a broad range of programs and learning environments. Compare program content, admission requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, and residence rules before applying to a Danish university.
We hope this article on the best universities in Denmark for international students was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
